Will Electronic Signs Cause Edmond to Resemble Las Vegas?

[Plutonic Panda]

HELL NO, AND ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT SHOULD BE RELIEVED OF THEIR DUTIES! lol seriously though, that is a very ignorant statement. To think Edmond would resemble Vegas because there will be an electronic sign on every corner is ridiculous. In case you haven't heard, Edmond has recently approved electronic signs with 30 second pauses in changing the picture passed, thankfully, and now some former mayors are banding together to try and stop it. I think these signs are great and will be just another sign that brings Edmond to a part of the 21st century.

Former mayors push electronic sign repeal
James Coburn
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Three former Edmond mayors joined forces Tuesday in filing an initiative petition against the City Council’s recent approval of the electric sign ordinance. Randel Shadid, Dan O’Neil and Saundra Naifeh have 90 days to collect 640 signatures to send the issue to a vote of the people. Signatures must be given by Edmond residents.

The City Council voted 3-2 in January to allow electric signs in zoning districts. Councilwoman Elizabeth Waner and Councilman Darrell Davis voted against the item.

- See more at: Former mayors push electronic sign repeal » Local News » The Edmond Sun

Electronic message signs will be allowed in all zoning districts along arterial streets, as defined in the Master Transportation Study. These corridors are on Broadway, Second Street going east to Interstate 35, West Edmond Road and 33rd Street from Broadway to Boulevard, said Bob Schiermeyer, city planner.

O’Neil said the electronic message signs will lead to larger ones, much like the billboards seen on interstates.

“Competition for the drivers’ attention will lead to more and more of these signs until Edmond resembles Las Vegas,” O’Neil said. “That is not the image we want to reflect in Edmond.”

smh.... cities all over the US have allowed these signs and they don't resemble Vegas.

[jerrywall]

Electronic, flashing, an such signs are tacky. I think the codes and planning commission have done a very good job on improving our signage, and helping improve the look of our corridors (although we still have some overly large and trashy signs grandfathered in).

[Rom]

Don't OKC my Edmond

[hipsterdoofus]

It seems like everyone was against the former sign's code requiring the short height, etc but I am thankful for it every time I drive through some place like Midwest City that has 20 foot signs all over the place.

I think some small electronic signs may be acceptable, but some of them are very distracting. Case in point, Keyhealth that just bought Transformations Fitness put up a very bright electric sign that is really distracting to me when driving to work when it is still dark. I think the key is balance and common sense.

[bchris02]

Edmond's suburban development is by and large more aesthetically attractive than even the nicest areas of suburban OKC. I don't think electronic signs have anything to do with it though. It is more due to the fact there are less tin siding buildings and better landscaping in Edmond than OKC. I would say that's a very ignorant thing for the former mayor to say. Even if electronic signs are tacky, which it can be argued that they are, having them will in now way cause Edmond to resemble Las Vegas.

[Of Sound Mind]

What distracts me most are people so easily distracted by bright and flashy things.

[blink]

Plenty of the DFW suburbs, some way nicer looking than Edmond, allow them and it looks just fine. Not an issue if you base it on that really.

[Mel]

I've been to both. Don't see any resemblance.

[td25er]

There is an ugly strip mall on every corner and they are worried about modern signs? Idiots.

Happy almost life-long Edmond resident.

[Just the facts]

There is an ugly strip mall on every corner and they are worried about modern signs? Idiots.

Happy almost life-long Edmond resident.

So all those ugly strip malls will look better with electronic signs in front of them? If the signs aren't designed to attract the attention of drivers why would businesses install them?

[td25er]

So all those ugly strip malls will look better with electronic signs in front of them? If the signs aren't designed to attract the attention of drivers why would businesses install them?

Oh, I'm an idiot. I didn't read the whole thing and thought they didn't want to look like vegas because it's "ugly". Safety is another issue, but ALL signs are designed to grab a driver's attention. Might as well get rid of traditional billboards.

[Just the facts]

Might as well get rid of traditional billboards.

Lot's of cities are doing just that. Try putting up a new billboard somewhere.

[Plutonic Panda]

So all those ugly strip malls will look better with electronic signs in front of them? If the signs aren't designed to attract the attention of drivers why would businesses install them?

So in your view, ALL signs should be banned, so no one will be able to take 2 seconds (at most) to glance up and look at a sign.

Also, Edmond's code wouldn't allow the electronic portion of the sign to be that big and take up that much space and the message will only be to change every 30 seconds. What you're spreading is nothing but propaganda and looking at the bad parts. I have seen electronic signs that are ugly and have seen twice as many conventional signs that are ugly to every electronic sign.

[Plutonic Panda]

Lot's of cities are doing just that. Try putting up a new billboard somewhere.

For large billboards, I think they are ugly for the most part and should only be allowed in very few places. I could thing of probably 30-50 of them I would remove in OKC.

[Plutonic Panda]

Attorney: Sign petition seeks to eliminate all future digital messages » Local News » The Edmond Sun

[Just the facts]

So in your view, ALL signs should be banned, so no one will be able to take 2 seconds (at most) to glance up and look at a sign.

Also, Edmond's code wouldn't allow the electronic portion of the sign to be that big and take up that much space and the message will only be to change every 30 seconds. What you're spreading is nothing but propaganda and looking at the bad parts. I have seen electronic signs that are ugly and have seen twice as many conventional signs that are ugly to every electronic sign.

I am not for banning parking lot signs, I am for creating an environment where there isn't a place to put them.

[Plutonic Panda]

This is so dumb... can't believe this is even happening.

Edmond city staff members will verify signatures on petitions to ban electronic messages | News OK

[jerrywall]

Why not?

[Plutonic Panda]

Why not?

Oh I don't know... perhaps because countless other cities have them and they look great. Maybe this city needs to get with the program. Electronic signs are a great easy way to advertise specials and sales and if you are going to try and say it will cause distracted driving, then you better start pointing fingers at billboards and pretty much any sign period as they are designed to get your attention and let you know what business is there.

[jerrywall]

It's not just distracted driving. It comes down to appearances. I like that Edmond limits flashing signs, neon signs, etc. And I say this as someone who was a retailer in Edmond until recently, and I had my own run-ins with sign enforcement. I'd hate for Broadway to start looking like 39th Street.

[Plutonic Panda]

It's not just distracted driving. It comes down to appearances. I like that Edmond limits flashing signs, neon signs, etc. And I say this as someone who was a retailer in Edmond until recently, and I had my own run-ins with sign enforcement. I'd hate for Broadway to start looking like 39th Street.

They are going to limit the flashing to only changing the image to once every 30 seconds though. I don't think EVERY retailer or business will use them though. They're not cheap from what I understand but I really like the looks of them. I also believe they will be set inside of a structure so the electronic sign itself will only take up 60-80% of the entire sign.

[Plutonic Panda]

Edmond initiative petition against electronic signs has enough signatures | News OK

[Plutonic Panda]

It's not just distracted driving. It comes down to appearances. I like that Edmond limits flashing signs, neon signs, etc. And I say this as someone who was a retailer in Edmond until recently, and I had my own run-ins with sign enforcement. I'd hate for Broadway to start looking like 39th Street.

Let's finish this conversation since you think talking on FB is somehow making me insane.

Edmond didn't limit it, it was banned. You had to get a variance on them which was very rare to get and most only achieved by gas stations by a tiny sign.

[jerrywall]

And I'm OK with that. How is it that you seem to love Edmond, and the amazing progress and achievements, while disdaining the very folks who leadership, work, and vision has achieved that same progress?

I'm sure there are business on University that hate the removal of 2 lanes and the creation of the bike lanes. I'm sure it reduces traffic, makes parking harder, and effect business. Are the wants/interests of the business owners only valid on certain things, or should they dominate all things?

I'm very ok with requiring a variance. Keep the rules firm, and make someone justify an exception. Or maybe we should remove ALL zoning and permit requirements?

[Snowman]

Oh, I'm an idiot. I didn't read the whole thing and thought they didn't want to look like vegas because it's "ugly". Safety is another issue, but ALL signs are designed to grab a driver's attention. Might as well get rid of traditional billboards.

A lot of places are no longer allowing traditional billboards, many existing ones are just their since they are grandfathered by earlier permission, the electronic ones are harder for the human eye to ignore. Probably their main benefit from an aesthetic view verses a traditional version is it pretty much eliminates that at some points in time that the ad will have the pealed or hyper faded because no one is paying them enough to change it and they do not want to give free ads away, plus since they can time share the ads there is a wider base of customers so less likely to get to that point.

If they have not already started to try and un-repeal the ban in OKC, they probably will be trying soon. I noticed in the most recent Riverfront Design Committee that a group was trying to get permission to build a pole billboard that would be visible on from i40 near May. Since it was in violation of at least three city regulations, violated the development criteria for the district and carried a staff recommendation to deny they asked to have the item deferred till October. Not sure how any of that it is going to be any less prohibited by then.