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Council annexes 2020 South College Street; agreement to remove oversized billboard after current lease
Summary
Auburn City Council approved annexation of about 4.4 acres at 2020 South College Street with a condition requiring the existing on-site billboard lease not be renewed after the current license; a separate consent agreement allows the billboard to remain under its existing lease for approximately three more years.
On Feb. 4 the Auburn City Council approved annexation of roughly 4.4 acres at 2020 South College Street and required that the property owner’ s existing billboard lease not be renewed when the license expires. The Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval at its Jan. 9 meeting, including the condition that the billboard lease be allowed to expire and that the condition be recorded by written agreement prior to annexation.
Staff told council the annexation brings the parcel into the city as a nonconforming use (rural zone) because the site is already built; that status prevents expansion of the nonconforming use without rezoning at a future date. Council discussion stressed that annexation itself is not a rezoning and does not authorize expansion of the existing use. As one councilmember put it, the property “comes in as nonconforming which just means, it didn't meet the zoning ordinance requirements because it is not the city limits.”
The annexation is linked to a consent‑agenda item authorizing a billboard-removal agreement with Life Storage LP for the South College Street property. That consent agreement will allow the existing billboard to remain under its current lease for about three years; the city will not renew the lease when it expires. Councilman Griswold noted public concern about billboards and said the agreement is a mechanism to remove the sign as soon as the lease permits: “I don't want anyone to think that we are going out and approving billboards throughout the city limits. Absolutely the opposite.”
Council members also explained the practical driver for the annexation: the property sought city water service, and as a condition of receiving water the owner agreed to petition to annex within the required time frame. Staff said bringing parcels on South College into the city helps the city exercise zoning authority and coordinate utilities.
The council voted by unanimous consent to adopt the annexation ordinance with the billboard‑lease condition; the related Life Storage LP removal agreement was approved on the Consent Agenda earlier in the meeting.
Ending: The condition that the billboard lease not be renewed will be recorded by written agreement prior to the annexation taking effect; staff said the sign will be removed after the existing lease expires in approximately three years.
