582.20. - Findings and purpose.
The outdoor advertising sign industry has begun to reface or retrofit existing billboards with new electronic technology, some of which include digital technology. Digital technology permits billboards to display an electronic image similar to a color television set. Digital technology further permits the image displayed on the electronic billboard to quickly change from one image to another. The city council finds that a billboard that has been resurfaced with electronic panels utilizing digital technology does, or arguably may, substantially expand the impact of that billboard on surrounding lands and uses.
The city council finds that it is necessary to preserve the status quo regarding the city's regulation of off-premise advertising signs and billboards.
The city council finds that it is necessary to preserve the status quo regarding the city's regulation of off-premise advertising signs and billboards in order to study the impact of these new electronic billboards to determine whether there may be public safety and aesthetic implications created by this type of billboard that would be detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare.
The city council notes that the zoning code currently regulates "flashing" signs in Chapter 544 by prohibiting them in the city, except in the downtown opportunity billboard district. However, the council finds that the city's existing definitions and regulations as set forth in the zoning code may need to be amended to codify its current intent and purpose and also may be inadequate to respond to emerging technology in this industry. Therefore, the council finds that a planning study is necessary to determine whether the existing zoning code regulations are adequate to regulate advertising signs and billboards using digital technology or whether it is necessary to adopt new regulations dealing with this emerging technology.
The city council establishes by this interim ordinance a moratorium protecting the public health, safety, and welfare and preserving the status quo with respect to the establishment or retrofitting of off-premise advertising signs and billboards with new digital or electronic technology, pending the conclusion of a zoning study on the same. (2007-Or-036, § 1, 6-15-07)
