Chartering against billboards

Last month’s resident uproar over digital outdoor advertising signs may have stopped developers in their tracks, but some Maitland City Council members and citizens want to take the denial a step further into the city charter.

At Monday’s meeting, the Council moved to allow Councilman John Lowndes to begin drafting an ordinance to be voted on at the next election banning billboards – which are already prohibited in city code – and digital outdoor advertising signs, the caveat name under which the most recent boards were proposed.

“This is not a dead issue,” Lowndes said. “If it’s not this developer it’ll be another developer … It’s not over until its over, and I think if you put it in the charter, it’s over.”

This proposal comes after more than 200 residents packed the city’s previous Council meeting crying foul over the city came within one vote of allowing the signs to spring up near Interstate 4. Put in the charter, this ban would prohibit future Councils from taking similar steps.

The drafted ordinance is set to be presented to and discussed by Council at its July 8 meeting.