From: Brian Bates
------------------------------------------ History of Saint Paul's Billboard Struggle ------------------------------------------
Newspaper archives revealed a long history of conflicts over billboards in Saint Paul. A review of the struggles between city officials, neighborhood preservationists, and billboard forces over this past century helps put Saint Paul's most recent beautification campaign in context and may offer some insight.
But the indecencies, the inappropriatenesses, the downright immoralities, of the billboard, have never caught the eye of the ordinance makers, however much many of us may have desired to train ordinance against them except in California. ... But the fact that such a civic regulation has been made anywhere will encourage those elsewhere who cannot endure to look upon the billboard when it is red or yellow or when it is over tall.
Saint Paul Dispatch, July 30, 1907.
1907 In an editorial, the Saint Paul Dispatch pointed out the 12 foot height limit for billboards and asked why the commissioner of public works did not enforce that limit against double decker billboards at least twice as high.
An ordinance is passed limiting the height of billboards, "board fences - for that is practically what the unbroken series of display boards is becoming," and providing a 150 foot setback from parks or parkways.
1908 Governor Johnson, impressed by Washington D.C. vistas, declared war on billboards around the Capitol. If the billboards were not removed he would send out the "janitorial force of the state house and demolish the offenders in the name of the state."
1909 Assemblyman Herbert Keller proposes an amendment requiring the consent of contiguous property owners and the majority of all property owners on the block before a billboard could be erected. "I am getting complaints every day about these billboards. [A homeowner] has a right to be protected from these unsightly billboards appearing right at his elbow and damaging his property." When the billboard ordinance came before the Saint Paul Assembly two years later, this provision had been eliminated.
1929 A bill was introduced in the state Senate to remove all billboards within 1/4 mile of the Capitol building. The billboard forces agreed to 1/8 mile. The bill was amended to an 1/8th mile and passed.
1953 The City Council acted to block the construction of a billboard opposite the Saint Paul Public Library on the south side of Kellogg. Mr. Clifford Janes, Friends of the Public Library, and Mrs. B.H. Ridder, Saint Paul Woman's Institute, led the opposition.
Saint Paul City Planning Director, C. David Loeks, submitted a long report of proposed billboard regulations to the City Council.
1967 Mayor Thomas Byrne requests the study of a more comprehensive billboard ordinance.
1968 Mayor Byrne, in a reelection campaign, proposes excluding billboards from "residential and scenic areas" and a setback of 330 feet from freeways.
Mayor Byrne proposes a 660 foot setback, or two blocks, from either side of Warner and Shepard Roads, Interstates 94 and 35E, Highways 61 and 280 and the Lafayette Freeway. The provision was later eliminated.
D. D. Wozniak, attorney and former state legislator, and S. Douglas Kelm, a political figure, formed the organization "Ban Billboards Committee" to protect Saint Paul freeways. They argued for a 660 foot setback from federal highways, Minnesota 280, Warner and Shepard roads and the Short Line expressway.
The City Council enacts a weakened ordinance which protects approximately half of the City's expressways, limits the size to 750 feet, height to 50 feet and requires a 660 feet interval between boards.
Up against billboard builders, our mayor and city councilmen are very timid souls. When our City Council has every right to demand that our freeways and scenic roadways be kept clear of the billboard clutter, that same council acts as if it has only a partial right to make that demand, as if it must compromise with the billboard interests. So they look pretty silly.
Editorial, Saint Paul Dispatch, February 23, 1968.
The Minnesota Supreme Court rules the Village of Minnetonka's ordinance removing billboards through amortization over three years constitutional. The court said that "the pleasant appearance of a district or community has a direct and beneficial effect on property values and on the well-being of its residents."
1972 Mayor-elect Lawrence Cohen promised to continue the struggle over billboards. "I'm going to come down hard on billboards," Cohen promised: "I'll sponsor one of the most rugged, anti-billboard laws possible." Saint Paul Dispatch, April 26, 1972.
1973 Mayor Cohen and Councilman Roedler ask billboard companies to voluntarily reduce their use of lighting.
1974 A billboard ordinance, prompted mostly by the planning staff, is proposed to strengthen the 1968 City ordinance. All billboards along Saint Paul freeways and highspeed routes would be removed through amortization over three years. Mayor Cohen complained "some areas of the city have really been desecrated by signs." After complaints by businessmen, the proposal was dropped.
1980 The Saint Paul Planning Commission proposes a strong billboard ordinance and includes a provision to remove billboards in downtown, the river corridor and historic areas through a five year amortization. A City Council committee removed the amortization provision and loosened restrictions on billboard size and distance from houses, parks and public buildings.
You know the democratic process has been at work when an effort to tighten
up certain restrictions ends up with a general loosening up instead.
That, Councilwoman Ruby Hunt tells us, is exactly what is happening with
a Planning Commission sign ordinance proposal.Editorial, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, December 11, 1980.
1987 After two years of work, the City Council adopts a new billboard ordinance. The ordinance contains size, height, and distance restrictions; a prohibition against rooftop billboards; and, protection for historic districts. Existing billboards are grandfathered in.
1999 At the urging of the billboard industry, the state Legislature takes from all Minnesota municipalities the ability to amortize any land use, including billboards. Municipalities are left with the legal tools of nuisance and eminent domain to adjust land uses.
After a century of struggle, Saint Paul has more billboards than any city in Minnesota. Had any of the above efforts to control billboards resulted in the common sense approach of banning new construction of billboards, no doubt, Saint Paul would have many fewer billboards than it does today.
_____________________________________________
To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
