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Five opponents tell county: Billboard deal too lenient
By LISA GREENE, Times Staff Writer
Pinellas County should keep fighting billboard companies, five county residents told commissioners Tuesday. "They're not going to take these billboards down," said Charlie Rutz. "You're just kidding yourselves." Commissioners held their first public hearing Tuesday on a proposed settlement to their legal fight with Clear Channel Outdoor Inc., which owns 125 billboards that would be affected, more than any other company. The county decided in 1991 to ban billboards on all but a few busy highways in unincorporated Pinellas. But when the 1999 deadline arrived to start removing signs, three billboard companies fought the ordinance instead. The county settled last year with two of the companies and has been negotiating since with Clear Channel. Under the proposed deal, Clear Channel would remove at least 22 billboards within a year. Others would come down gradually. But the proposed deal would allow Clear Channel to leave up dozens of billboards until 2042. And many billboards could remain as long as they were annexed into cities. The residents at Tuesday's meeting said the proposal is too lenient. No one spoke in favor of the settlement. "I, too, am overwhelmed at 40 years," said Saundra Curry, president of a coalition of Clearwater homeowners groups. "It seems excessive and one-sided." Commissioner Bob Stewart also said he opposes the proposal. But Commissioner Susan Latvala said the settlement, while "not a perfect solution," will bring billboards down and end the costly legal fight. Commissioners are scheduled to hold another public hearing and vote on the issue March 18.
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
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