By MIKE KRAFCIK
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The Knox County Commission has taken the first step toward a ban on all new outdoor advertising, including any new signs, billboards, and electronic billboards, if the signs are not attached to the business they're advertising.
Commissioners on Tuesday accepted the recommendations from the Metropolitan Planning Commission.
The commissioners voted to send the MPC's recommendations for a vote at commission's next public meeting on Monday, January 23.
The ban could be the first of its kind in the county. Since 2001, Knox County has had a moratorium in place against new outdoor advertising signs in certain areas.
"From a standpoint from being an aesthetic tool to use in a community, it will certainly help with the appearance of the community long term," said Buzz Johnson, with the Metropolitan Planning Commission.
The MPC made the recommendation in December.
The proposal closely defines the advertising in question as outdoor advertising, billboards and electronic message center signs (electronic billboards).
The more than 200 billboards already in the county would be grand fathered in.
Lamar Advertising says it owns about 80 percent of outdoor advertising signs in Knox County. The company employs 35 people in the metropolitan Knoxville area.
"It's a private property rights issue, as well as freedom of speech, to be able to use outdoor advertising to get their message out and be able to bring tax dollars in their business and therefore tax revenue in Knox County," said Lamar Advertising Vice President and CEO David Jernigan.
