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Tuesday, May 22, 2007

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.

Labels:


9 Comments:

at 9:53 PM, May 22, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ice cream trucks, cable wires, and billboards. Will Monzel ever tackle a serious issue? Anyone? Bradford?

 
at 10:03 PM, May 22, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

It appears as if Bortz and his friends in the billboard industry will succeed in allowing billboards to pollute our neighborhoods.

 
at 10:22 PM, May 22, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder if Chris Bortz, Jeff Berding, Rob Nolan, Richard Cappel, or Dennis Smith have billboards next to their homes. I doubt it.
I am glad Monzel is sticking up for the me, a regular person, over the billboard companies.

 
at 10:24 PM, May 22, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bortz and Monzel are both right. Monzel is correct when he says that these large billboards that overshadow a neighborhood are a blight and detract from the value of the property. Bortz is right that we need to protect both neighborhoods and businesses. Between Monzel and Bortz we have the right ideas. Council needs to get this one done.

 
at 10:44 PM, May 22, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

BOO BIRD-ling

What was the deal Berding struck? Who will check the date when the Neyer contributions come to Berding? What did Berding promise the billboard company? To fight Monzel? Who will check for their contribution to Berding?

 
at 11:43 PM, May 22, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

lol, lol, lol

Did you forget our team player Giz and billboards?

Or Cranley, or Crowley, Thomas, etc. ?

The worst DINO is better than any RINO or wRong wingnut whacko like Monzel!

But hey, thanks for being a billboard "follower" !

PATHETIC !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007

 
at 10:53 AM, May 23, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

WHEN DO YOU PEOPLE STOP COMPLAINING. I BET YOU COMPLAIN IN YOUR SLEEP. BILLBOARDS???? YOU LIVE IN CRAP THEN YOU GET CRAP. THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR LIVING IN THOSE AREAS. NEXT YOU'LL COMPLAIN THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE AN ADVERTISEMENT.

STUPID PEOPLE REALLY MAKE ME LAUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
at 8:03 AM, May 24, 2007 Blogger Brah Coon said...

Can we swap characters with Mayberry; Chris Monzel and an idiot to be named later for Howard Sprague?

 
at 10:47 AM, May 24, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party Finance Committee is Tom Neyer, Jr. This is the same Tom Neyer of the Neyer Companies. The Neyer family is one of the leading contributors to the arts. Monzel is going against Neyer on the billboards; Ghiz is on Neyer's side. Monzel is going against Ghiz and Neyer on the arts funding. Neyer controls the GOP purse strings in this town.

Guess who is going to get all the money she needs? Guess who is going to have a lot of doors slammed in his face?

 
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