Quorum Court backs six‑month moratorium to halt rapid billboard installations after ETJ repeal

The Pulaski County Quorum Court voted to forward an ordinance imposing a six‑month moratorium on development that would be inconsistent with previously enacted land‑use rules, citing a rapid rollout of new billboard poles in areas where city extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) authority was recently repealed.

"This is just a 6 month pause to figure out some kind of regulation for the billboards, so that we can get on top of it before they're everywhere on Canis," Justice Davis said, explaining the urgency after multiple billboard poles were installed within days of the ETJ change. Davis said the measure is intended to preserve time for the planning board and staff to craft regulations without unduly burdening individual property rights.

County attorney Adam (first name not specified in the record) said the office had reviewed case law and planning moratorium standards. He described the moratorium as a temporary measure that "will reinstitute for a limited time those regulations and give the planning board an opportunity to consider and craft a plan within that time." Mark Wilson, chair of the Pulaski County Planning Board, said the board had not received presentations from billboard companies and that the proposed pause is reasonable; planning staff are already working with consultants on a comprehensive plan for unincorporated areas.

The court moved to send ordinance 25I57 to the full court with a due‑pass recommendation. The roll call recorded 13 ayes.