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Mayor’s office and Plan Commission discuss phasing out billboards, consider amortization approach
Summary
The Plan Commission heard a workshop from the mayor’s policy adviser on off‑premise signs and billboards, including discussion of municipal options such as amortization schedules to phase out nonconforming billboards and address abandoned signage and graffiti.
Adam McDaniel, a policy adviser in the mayor’s office, briefed the Spokane Plan Commission on July 23 about off‑premise signs and possible regulatory responses, including a phased amortization approach similar to one used in Wenatchee.
McDaniel said the comprehensive plan has long called for elimination of billboards over time and that a 25‑year gap has left the policy unimplemented. He said the mayor’s office has been asked by council to explore regulations after a moratorium on new billboards was adopted earlier in the year. “The comp plan is called for provision on new billboards and also to eliminate billboards over time,” McDaniel said.
Why it matters: Off‑premise signs (billboards) and abandoned signage are concentrated in parts of the city and are linked to maintenance, graffiti and litter concerns. Staff said the policy discussion touches on private‑property rights, sign code enforcement, streetscape aesthetics and public safety.
Options discussed and responses from commissioners - Amortization: McDaniel described an amortization schedule — a timebound requirement for sign owners to remove nonconforming billboards — and cited Wenatchee as an example that used a roughly 10‑year phasing plan with a target date around 2030. Commissioners broadly supported further study while noting enforcement and legal risks. - Scope: Commissioners asked whether the work should address both abandoned signs and active off‑premise billboards. McDaniel and staff said the topic would include abandoned and nonconforming signs; respondents suggested including on‑premise sign standards in the broader project. - Equity and geography: Commissioners noted a high concentration of billboards in certain districts; one staff slide and a commissioner comment cited that about 63% of billboards fall in a single district, underscoring geographic concentration of impacts.
Next steps: Plan Commission staff confirmed off‑premise signs is on the commission’s work plan; commissioners asked staff and the mayor’s office to return with a proposal describing legal implications, amortization timing, enforcement mechanisms, and outreach to sign owners and affected neighborhoods.
Ending: McDaniel said he would pursue initial research and bring back options; commissioners signaled support to pursue the topic but asked staff to scope workload and legal considerations before drafting code language.
