It's a sign…what to do with billboards
Community will grapple with signage issue
By Jenna Buehler Comet writer-intern

With economic development on everyone's mind, residents could be anticipating an increase of billboards in the county. Special interest groups question whether economic enhancements will threaten the scenic appeal of their historic home.

Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser spoke at the March 20 Area Plan Commission meeting about billboards in the area.

"I found out from Area Plan that Burkhardt Advertising was interested in putting up billboards," Strasser said. "The commission asked for my thoughts. When I spoke with APC, my point was to protect the Hoosier Heartland right-of-way."

Carroll County Zoning Administrator Kathy Mylet said the county's regulation on billboard placement depends on where the billboard is placed.

"It really depends on how the area is zoned. There are individual limitations and ordinances for each. Anyone can apply for a permit to put up a billboard, but they're typically erected by advertising companies."

"The first issue I wanted to address (with APC at the meeting) was that billboards were in the construction rightof way the corridor land purchased by INDOT," Strasser said. "The second issue was that context sensitive groups in the area did not want billboards in context sensitive areas."

"For future growth we want to make sure we protect the right-of-way," Strasser explained.

Tippecanoe County APC planner John Burns said it was economic growth that sparked limitations and caps on billboard placement in Tippecanoe County 10 years ago.

"We created new development standards in 1998. Tippecanoe standards prior to that time dated back to 1965 and were not as strict because the economy was substantially different from today. Back then, there were not as many concerns, I-65 wasn't even built yet. Only later on did the highway evolve into something greater."

Burns explained billboards in Tippecanoe County are required to be 300 feet away from residential use, or zone, and must never be closer than 1,000 feet from one another in Tippecanoe County. However, intersection allowance permits them to be no closer than 600 feet from one another. He added that billboards must be 600 feet away from an intersection, cannot be larger that 300 square feet, cannot have more than one advertising face, cannot be stacked and cannot stand side-by-side."

Cass County Assistant Planning Director Arin Shaver explained the procedure for billboard placement in Cass County.

"Someone interested in putting up a billboard would come in, prove that the billboard would be within 500 feet of the required zoning setbacks and would get a permit from Board of Zoning Appeals. Overlays are allowed for development review. Within Cass County's overlay is the 'front door corridor' for the Hoosier Heartland which will come through highway SR35 and SR24."

Strasser emphasized the city would regulate, not limit, billboard construction.

"We're working through updating our comprehensive land use ordinances," he explained. "It will go into process around mid-to-late summer. There has been a proposal to protect a right-of-way around the corridor from any kind of development. With a suggestion of a developmentprotected area, billboards would not be allowed within 1,000 feet of the proposed right-of-way."

"These ordinances won't stipulate a number but will define how the billboards can look," Strasser said. "As for regulations, there are state standards for billboards. You need a permit to put them up."

"With the Hoosier Heartland highway coming in, billboards are not an issue. But some people have expressed concerns about littering in and around Carroll County," concluded Strasser. "They don't want to see billboards all the way from county line to county line."