County to tackle billboards again

Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2001 | 9:31 a.m.

Clark County commissioners on Wednesday will consider a law that would allow billboards in new areas, while restricting the signs from others.

The introduction of the ordinance marks the third time this year that commissioners have considered amending rules governing billboard placement.

Rules drafted by Commissioner Erin Kenny and the billboard industry were rejected by the commission in April amid protests from homeowners, who feared the effect of the signs on residential areas.

Three months later Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates proposed a substitute that would have strengthened the existing rules, essentially restricting billboards to the central resort area, roughly bordered by Sahara Avenue, the Las Vegas Beltway, Paradise Road and Decatur Boulevard.

Those on both sides of the debate agree that a change is needed because county commissioners have frequently granted waivers allowing billboards outside the existing "billboard overlay zone." Those waivers have weakened the existing law.

The newest ordinance would enlarge the billboard overlay district to include the resort corridor along Las Vegas Boulevard South to Robindale Road, along the boulevard north from Lone Mountain Road to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and along Casino Drive in Laughlin.

The new rule would not allow the county to accept waivers to go outside the billboard district.

Among other standards proposed in the revised ordinance:

* Signs would have to be at least 300 feet from homes unless "completely obstructed by another building or topographic feature."

* Signs would have to be at least 300 feet from another billboard on the same side of the street, 150 feet from a billboard on the opposite side of the street, and 150 feet between billboards on opposite corners of an intersection.

* Along Interstate 15 between Sahara Avenue and Windmill Parkway, billboards would have to be at least 500 feet apart. Along other stretches of freeway, the signs would have to be at least 2,500 feet apart.