Judge allows billboards to go electronic

A ruling issued Friday in Platte County Circuit Court will allow Lamar Advertising to proceed with conversion of more than a dozen Kansas City billboards into electronic billboards.
First up — a sign near Interstate 29 and Northwest 64th Street.
Lamar went to court seeking an injunction against a Kansas City moratorium that in effect has prevented construction of new billboards since March 2006.
Next week the city is to consider an ordinance that would prohibit construction of new billboards along city streets.
Carol Winterowd, a south Kansas City resident who has led the charge against what she termed “billboard blight,” called the ruling “a sad day for the visual beauty of Kansas City. Digitals are the worst of them all.”
Digital signs are becoming more popular.
“The industry loves digital signs because they can get more money off those,” she said. “And they can change those signs in the office with the flick of a switch. It’s a real efficiency move for the industry.”
Although the city cannot appeal the injunction, assistant city attorney Maggie Moran said she found another issue to pursue.
She said the planned digital Northland billboard was illegal because it was built too close to housing.
“We just found that out this week,” Moran said. “We’re going to start an enforcement action.”

Source: The Kansas City Star By KAREN UHLENHUTH