The Montgomery City Planning Commission discussed a proposal to install a large‑format digital display at 82 Commerce Street and heard staff explain the substantial regulatory changes that would be required to permit it on a locally designated historic site.

Applicant Josh Bush and partner Tajon described the project as a "landmark digital experience" intended to increase tourism and downtown foot traffic and said they would reserve 15% of display time for city and community content. "We will voluntarily commit to offering the city controlled, digital space ... we will commit 15% of display time that we reserved for simply ... city events," Tajon said.

Interim planning director Warren Adams told the commission that the SmartCode currently prohibits billboards in SmartCode districts and that the city's billboard regulations bar billboards on historic properties within 250 feet of locally designated historic districts or National Register sites. Adams said the applicant had not provided draft amendment text and warned that allowing billboards in SmartCode districts or on historic structures could lead to proliferation that would harm downtown's character. "Staff doesn't support the request to amend SmartCode as the proposed amendments could lead to a proliferation of billboards in the downtown area," Adams said.

Commissioners raised questions about whether the applicant had documented consent from adjacent building occupants, how light pollution would be managed and whether the request was a site‑specific exception or a broader code change. The applicant said the project could proceed with private funding if the city chose not to partner and offered blackout curtains and curfew/display limits to reduce nighttime impact. Commissioners asked the applicant to return with written evidence of neighbor consultation, draft amendment wording and a visual presentation; no text amendment was approved at the meeting.