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Balch Springs council approves development agreement for digital LED gateway sign on Elam Road
Summary
The Balch Springs City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute a development agreement with Balch Springs Gateway Digital LED Sign LLC for a double-sided digital sign at 12302 Elam Road, to be city-owned and privately operated; staff described size, costs and content controls during the meeting.
Balch Springs City Council on Monday authorized the city manager to negotiate and execute a development agreement with Balch Springs Gateway Digital LED Sign LLC to allow a digital LED gateway sign at 12302 Elam Road.
City staff told the council the proposed sign would be 14 by 48 feet, located on city-owned land in the city center/downtown master‑plan area near Interstate 635 and Elam Road, and constructed on a masonry base. Staff said the sign would be owned by the city but privately operated, would cost up to $650,000, and would provide the city with a monetary contribution and an ad slot for city events and promotion.
The proposal ties to the city’s strategic plan and the 2050 comprehensive plan, staff said. Staff described review steps including a plat application, a building permit, and review by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Staff said the operator must comply with TxDOT rules about spacing (the packet referenced a 500‑foot consideration), is required to address maintenance issues within a time window after notice (described as between 48 hours and 14 days), and must remove any content found to conflict with the city’s mission or vision within 24 hours of notice and meet with staff to resolve disputes.
Developer representative Conrad Radnicki of Lakewood Capital Partners told the council the sign would be double‑sided and that operators can dim and angle the displays at night to reduce light impacts on nearby residents. “These billboards are managed at night, so you can actually toggle up and down as far as how much light you can have,” Radnicki said, adding the project team would model angles and use dimming to reduce light pollution.
Councilmember Hill moved to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute the agreements; the motion was seconded and approved in a roll call vote. The council did not set a construction start date during the meeting.
Council members asked about nighttime brightness and views toward adjacent neighborhoods; staff and the developer said dimming, display timing and mounting angles would be used to limit impacts. Staff also said final legal documents had been reviewed by the city attorney’s office and would return to the city manager for final execution if the council approved.
The council approved the motion by unanimous recorded voice/roll call. The development agreement packet in the council materials included sample renderings and referenced city planning documents and the city center master plan.
