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StumbleLas Vegas looks to add regulations for ‘building wrap’ ads
The new ad on the side of the Luxor, designed by Sky Tag, a building-wrap design firm, is modeled after a camera screen, with a recording light at the top and the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign focused in the center of the frame. The ads are featured on both the west and south sides of the pyramid.
Monday, Nov. 22, 2010 | 1:55 a.m.
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- Ambiguous ad wraps Luxor in mystique (3-21-2009)
- Building wraps: Art or schlock? (11-14-2009)
The city of Las Vegas is considering an amendment that would regulate building wrap signs within city limits.
The bold advertisements aren’t new to the valley: Several iconic Strip hotels, including the Luxor and the Tropicana, have been draped in the banner-type ads for years. Those properties are outside city limits and are regulated by Clark County code.
The city has been looking to add regulations on signage to its codes for the past couple of years. The Las Vegas Planning Commission is now reviewing a proposed amendment that would define standards for building wrap signs.
The proposal under consideration designates a new type of sign called “building wrap signage” in the city code, which is generally defined as a large-format vinyl or mesh sign that is affixed or adhered to a building façade.
City building wrap signs would be limited to all-commercial buildings with a minimum of 10 stories and 200,000 square feet in the C-1 and C-2 commercial zoning districts, which are scattered throughout the city. Building wrap signage would not be permitted within an area called the off-premise sign exclusionary zone, in the northwest part of the city defined generally as the area west of Rainbow Boulevard and north of Sahara Avenue.
Margo Wheeler, the city’s director of planning and development, said the amendment would mostly affect the Fremont Street district because that's where most of the city’s commercial high-rise buildings are located.
Wheeler said there was no one reason or group behind the amendment, which the city has been discussing since 2008. Clark County has regulations on building wrap signs, so the city wanted to follow suit.
"We've been working on this for quite some time to try to find a way to allow this fairly new type of advertisement that businesses are interested in," she said.
Planning commissioners discussed the proposal during their meeting Thursday but tabled voting for 60 days so staff could receive input from outside advertising and gaming firms.
The proposal includes the following provisions: Banner ads must be a minimum of 2,400-square-feet with no maximum size, and may be illuminated internally or externally.
Building wraps are also limited to one sign per building and may not be oriented toward residential districts outside of the Centennial Plan, which roughly encompasses the area bordered on the north by Charleston Boulevard, on the south by Sahara Avenue and on the east and west by U.S. 95 and Interstate 15, respectively.
The proposal was met with hesitation by some planning commissioners, who requested that staffers work with industry representatives to finalize the language used in the amendment before it returns to the commission.
Commission chairman Ric Truesdell said he wished to add a time limit for the building wrap ads as well as a maintenance clause to ensure the signs don't become an eyesore after wear and tear.
Other commissioners questioned the intent behind the amendment.
“We’re allowing buildings to become billboards,” Commissioner Steve Evans said. “Who wants this? … It deters good architectural building. Why cover a good building with advertising?”
The finalized amendment will go before the Planning Commission on Jan. 25 for recommendation, after which it will go to the city council for final action.
Discussion: 6 comments so far…
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As if there isn't enough meddlesome by government into the struggling business world.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
What is the public need for these additional Regulations?
I noticed signs saying "Condos for Sale" on a number of high-rises.
People's property values are negatively impacted by boarded up buildings, big for sale/lease signs and fenced off properties.
Since the few stimulus/earmarked or government aided projects will be completed (bridge, VA Hospital, Symphony building, City Hall, etc.), the Republicans Heck and Heller will wreck the economy.
Some are predicting another 16% drop in property values. The vacancies will snowball, as empty buildings drag down the area. As in Detroit huge tracks will become vacant.
Mayor Goodman said he was concern about vacant buildings like car lots.
Thank God for the government controlling these out of control signs. I'm glad Lady Byrd Johnson began the campaign to remove billboards from the Nation's Highways.
The moving billboards should be banned unless they are electric vehicles.
mr.red==== "Thank God for the government"
Why don't you just move to North Korea?
Why is the city making new sign laws then they don't currently enforce the laws they have on the books.
Drive down Charleston, Eastern, Fremont on the east side of the valley and see all the non-conforming signs placed all over the buildings. The city does nothing about them and it is starting to look like little Mexico.
Instead of the city staff taking time to make up some new laws how about using that time and man power to enforce some of the current laws.
More government intervention. Just what we need. What happened to the independent spirit that helped to form this great state?
The independent spirit 2 houses down from my friend has a refrigerator on the front lawn, pink neon shutters, a car parked on his "lawn" and has weekly barbecues in his driveway...
If by independent spirit you mean do whatever you want with no regard for anyone else...then you know why there have to be limits set.
Chunky says:
There are a few things tasteful on the Strip and a few not so tasteful things on the Strip.
Does anyone really care what the casinos wrap their buildings in when we have "Hot Babes" roaming billboard vehicles cruising around and taxis with the sexy scenes for clubs splattered all over them?
Really?
Is this just a roundabout way to poke businesses eventually for a new "tax"?
Chunky wishes government would keep their noses out of the people's business and out of business's business! Leave us alone!
And finally, this is Las Vegas; people come here to see absurd people, buildings, entertainment and anything else they can see. Do you really think we're losing business because Marie Osmond's teeth are plastered on the Flamingo the size of a bus and someone thinks it is tacky?
Less government and more common sense is what is needed. Let survival of the fittest, smartest and mother nature sort it out!
That's what Chunky thinks!