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Hammond council introduces optioned billboard rules; owners favor regulatory approach
Summary
Council introduced proposed UDC amendments to regulate billboards, offering two options: ban new billboards or a regulatory framework requiring maintenance, spacing and removal‑for‑new rules. Owners and stakeholders told council they prefer the regulatory option.
Hammond, La. — The Hammond City Council on Nov. 18 introduced revisions to the Unified Development Code that would change how billboards are regulated, including two options presented by planning staff.
Planning staff said option 1 would effectively prohibit new billboards, while option 2 would create a regulatory framework that allows new billboards only if owners remove a specified number of older structures and meet maintenance and spacing standards. The proposed rules would increase minimum spacing between billboards (from 500 to 1,000 feet in option language shown) and prohibit stacked billboards.
Business and billboard representatives urged the council to adopt option 2, warning that option 1 could imperil substantial investments. Scott Jones, a resident who said he reviewed both options, told the council that option 2 is “pretty fair” and urged enforcement of existing regulations and consideration of additional measures he supplied in writing.
Staff said they had conducted an exhaustive survey of existing billboards and would provide counts and examples of nonconforming signs at the Dec. 9 public hearing. One staff member emphasized the proposed changes aim to improve maintenance and provide a point of contact for enforcement by requiring clearer labeling on structures.
The council voted to introduce the amendments; a public hearing on the proposed UDC changes is scheduled for Dec. 9, when staff will present the inventory and draft language for public comment.
Next steps: planning will present detailed counts, photos of nonconforming signs and draft ordinance language at the Dec. 9 hearing for further public comment and council consideration.
