Lots of Support For Cincinnati Billboards

Councilman Chris Monzel's proposal to keep any new billboards at least 200 feet outside a residential boundary drew a lot of opposition today from some popular local businesses.



He spoke very passionately about this being a quality of life issue. He said he understands that billboard companies do good things for the community in terms of donated advertising, "but they also hurt in some ways...I mean, how many times have we gone in a neighborhood and seen a billboard that says, We Buy Ugly Houses'?"



But of the 14 speakers at economic development committee today, a dozen spoke against the change. Among them: officials of Cappel's, Busken and John Nolan Ford.



Rob Nolan, who also owns a Harley-Davidson store, said he is concerned that limiting billboards will just make advertising cost more on the existing ones. Richard Cappel, co-owner, said his family company has used billboards almost exclusively for the past decade to help Cappel's compete with national chains.



Dennis Smith, president of Paper Products Co. in South Fairmount, said the income he gets from the billboard on his property helps him keep the property in good shape. As a provider of boxes for Busken and Graeter's, he said he thinks "the city needs to develop a pro-business attitude."



After an hour of talk, the issue - on council's agenda for almost a year - returns to economic development again in two weeks. That time will allow the solicitor's office to weigh in on any legalities and for more discussion on whether the billboard restriction should be measured by a radius or by linear foot.



Monzel still prefers a 200-foot radius, which is more restrictive than the 100-foot radius or 150-foot linear counter proposals from billboard companies. He did agree to lowering that to 150 feet, but company representatives rejected that, saying it's still too restrictive.



Two options are on the table now - a 200-foot radius and 200 feet, linear.



Chris Bortz, committee chairman, said officials have to strike a balance between protecting residents from having billboards too close to their houses and not hindering local companies from doing business. "We're walking a fine line between the two pressures."



"We've been discussing it for a year because we want to get it right," he said.



Others, like Carl Uebelacker of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Council, believe the issue has dragged on because officials are letting billboard companies have too much control over the debate.



On a related note, Jeff Berding announced that Lamar today had the sign boards taken off the billboard at Delta Avenue and Columbia Parkway, where Neyer is building the Columbia Square development. Now, Neyer's free, he said, to take down the poles and proceed.