Proposal: One billboard now, one later for Stuart

July 6, 2007

STUART — An advertising company is willing to wait two years to build one of two proposed electronic billboards if the city gives the firm permission to erect the other one now.
Lamar Advertising Co. has offered to delay construction of a sign slated for the southern part of the city, according to a report sent to city commissioners. Meanwhile, the proposed agreement would give the company the permission it has sought to begin erecting the other sign on private property just north of the Roosevelt Bridge.

Under the terms of the proposal, Lamar would choose seven of its existing traditional billboards to tear down within 90 days of the electronic sign's installation. It would clear the other six after the second sign goes up in two years.
In a June 2006 settlement agreement, Lamar agreed to take down all 13 standard billboards in exchange for permission to build the two electronic signs.
City Attorney Paul Nicoletti said the two-year delay for the southern sign would give the city and Lamar time to find a more suitable location for it. The City Commission did not like Lamar's plan to put the sign at the intersection of Kanner Highway and Monterey Road.
The proposal would also give the city 6,000 eight-second spots per month for public service announcements on the proposed billboard near the Roosevelt Bridge.
"It's half a loaf as far as Lamar is concerned, but hopefully, they still find it better than nothing," Nicoletti said. "The city's side of it is it's half of what we intended to obtain out of it immediately as far as getting the signs down."
The City Commission voted 3-2 in April to lease public land for the new signs to Lamar for $1.7 million over 20 years and the ability to post Amber alerts and hurricane warnings.
The commission reconsidered that decision at a June 11 meeting, telling the company it would like to renegotiate the settlement and keep the traditional signs.
In a letter sent two days later to Nicoletti, an attorney representing Lamar said the company intended to stick to the settlement. He added that Lamar expected the city to approve a permit application submitted in May for a digital billboard on private property near the intersection of Wright Boulevard and U.S. 1.

Source: TC Palm News, By JEREMY ASHTON