Based on yesterday's supreme court decision regarding the rights of municipalities to restrict signage, I'm wondering if the proper lawsuit might be able to get the recently passed proposition thrown out. My layman's understanding of the decision is that a town cannot restrict signage that communicates one type of message if it allows others, and the Edmond ordinance permits time and temperature signs and gasoline pricing signs.

Based on yesterday's supreme court decision regarding the rights of municipalities to restrict signage, I'm wondering if the proper lawsuit might be able to get the recently passed proposition thrown out. My layman's understanding of the decision is that a town cannot restrict signage that communicates one type of message if it allows others, and the Edmond ordinance permits time and temperature signs and gasoline pricing signs.

David,
And what about the large cross at I-35 and Edmond Rd.? I believe it's currently Life Church.
C. T.

Eh, I'm not sure.. it seems to me the ruling has to do with content, and the type of entities putting up signs, not zoning restrictions. I could be reading it wrong though.

David,
And what about the large cross at I-35 and Edmond Rd.? I believe it's currently Life Church.
C. T.

I'm not following how that is relevant to the specific topic at hand.


Eh, I'm not sure.. it seems to me the ruling has to do with content, and the type of entities putting up signs, not zoning restrictions. I could be reading it wrong though.

The reason I'm wondering about this is that Edmond's restriction arguably allows some content (time and temperature signs and gasoline pricing signs) while disallowing others. It's entirely possible that I'm chasing a rabbit trail here since Edmond may be perfectly willing to allow non-electronic signs with no restrictions based on type of content.

Smarter people than me will have to figure this out... it's always hard to know the ramifications of SC rulings.

ctchander's point, I'm guessing, about the giant cross is that now they might have to approve other giant signs? I remember not long after the cross was approved someone tried to get a variance to put a giant sign up with a crab on top.

I'm not following how that is relevant to the specific topic at hand.

David,
Actually, it had nothing to do with this thread (electronic signs), you just jogged my memory when you said "Based on yesterday's supreme court decision regarding the rights of municipalities to restrict signage". The Edmond city council had to approve the church's request due to it's size. If that's not relevant to your comment, then I misunderstand your point. By the way, maybe Jerrywall stated my thoughts more clearly.
C. T.

Ahh, gotcha. Yeah, that is a good question. Does the equality of permission just effect signs, or would it extend to anything else that a city says yes on one hand to and no on the other. A giant cross is arguably speech, as is any number of other comparable large-scale installations. I seem to recall that St. Luke's is looking to put up a similar installation a bit to the north of Life Church's, could they say no to a Islamic or Buddhist religious facility wanting to do the same?

I'd say they couldn't (and I'd honestly not expect them too). Of course, it would depend on location, style, etc.

This isn't really in Edmond, but close enough. An electronic billboard was placed by the corner of Danforth & Western, on the east side of Western, right across from the Sonic. There's a brand new addition that has being built, just to the south of where the sign was placed, and it completely lights up the backs of the homes there. It's so bright that it actually makes it hard to see when driving north on Western approaching Danforth. .... It's ridiculous. It pissed me off just driving by it. I feel sorry for the folks who bought new homes there..... If I were them, I would be raising hell.

This isn't really in Edmond, but close enough. An electronic billboard was placed by the corner of Danforth & Western, on the east side of Western, right across from the Sonic. There's a brand new addition that has being built, just to the south of where the sign was placed, and it completely lights up the backs of the homes there. It's so bright that it actually makes it hard to see when driving north on Western approaching Danforth. .... It's ridiculous. It pissed me off just driving by it. I feel sorry for the folks who bought new homes there..... If I were them, I would be raising hell.

What's really frustrating is since that's right at the edge of Edmond city limits, you'll have someone suing soon to be able to place a similar electronic sign inside of the city limits near there, to be "competitive and fair".

What's really frustrating is since that's right at the edge of Edmond city limits, you'll have someone suing soon to be able to place a similar electronic sign inside of the city limits near there, to be "competitive and fair".

It is annoying that OKC has allow some of this and some other annoying things in recent years, right on the border of some of the suburbs that I have seen the planning commission reject in other parts of the city.

What's really frustrating is since that's right at the edge of Edmond city limits, you'll have someone suing soon to be able to place a similar electronic sign inside of the city limits near there, to be "competitive and fair".

JerryWall,
It has already happened and the person/company lost. I don't remember the company, but they were on the East side of a street in Edmond and the West side was OKC. The Edmond city council denied their request for a variance.
C. T.

JerryWall,
It has already happened and the person/company lost. I don't remember the company, but they were on the East side of a street in Edmond and the West side was OKC. The Edmond city council denied their request for a variance.
C. T.

It happened more than once. The OnCue at 33rd and Kelly got their variance. So it begins... the creep into Edmond.

Oh, and one of the ex-mayors who pushed for the ban is also the person who was paid to fight for the variance. How convenient. Must be nice to be able to manufacture your own cases.

I can't believe the electronic billboards aren't required to have daylight sensors and automatically dim. Especially the lower ones can really obstruct your vision at night.

I was wondering the same is there are settings to control the intensity at night . I drove by the new one at Danforth & Western this morning, and it looks like it has been turned down some. Not quite as bright as when I first saw it. I still wouldn't want it shinning in my windows.

I finally got to drive by this last week. What a shame. It is literally almost in those homes backyards. I dunno if it was built before or after those houses, but the owner of that billboard should be ashamed of themselves.