It seems like new, bright, blinking electronic message signs are popping up on a regular basis in Jefferson Parish. That has Debbie Settoon worried. "These signs are distracting drivers and that's a public safety issue," said Settoon, a civic activist and member of the Civic League. Parish Planner Katrina Van Every has been researching the issue for some time,...
It seems like new, bright, blinking electronic message signs are popping up on a regular basis in Jefferson Parish. That has Debbie Settoon worried.
The parish is conducted a study on electronic signs, not unlike this bank sign, to determine what regulations should be in place for businesses with electronic message boards. Currently, the parish has few regulations on electronic signs. "These signs are distracting drivers and that's a public safety issue," said Settoon, a civic activist and member of the Civic League.
Parish Planner Katrina Van Every has been researching the issue for some time, and said a proposed ordinance could reach the Jefferson Parish Council by August.
That's good news for the Civic League and others concerned about unregulated electronic signs in the parish.
Until last February, Jefferson had virtually no laws on the books regarding electronic signs, said Planning Director Ed Durabb. Former Parish Councilman Tom Capella requested a study on the electronic signs more than a year ago, which triggered some interim regulations until new rules could be written and approved.
Those interim rules were hammered out with the help of representatives of the electronic-sign companies, Durabb said. Those rules include a prohibition on flashing signs and a restriction that electronic signs cannot be closer than 100 feet to the nearest neighborhood.
In November, nine months after the study was approved by the council, the Civic League urged the parish to conduct the sign study as quickly as possible in a letter sent by Ralph Brandt, president of the Civic League.
"Our paramount concern is public safety, since these distracting signs are on major thoroughfares," Brandt said in the letter.
Preliminary research for the study has begun, Durabb said Friday. But he said there are anywhere from 25 to 30 studies awaiting a free planner at any given time. The department has only three planners, he said.
Van Every said her review of laws in place in other communities discovered at least three major issues that were present in virtually every law she looked up:
Automatic dimming. Most communities required that any electronic signs have dimming capabilities so the brightness can be adjusted for daytime or nighttime conditions.
One rule doesn't fit all. Electronic-sign laws also generally included different regulations during the day and at night, and many communities allowed for differing rules based on zoning district involved.
Malfunction display. In the world of electronic signs, some that malfunction go haywire with jittery images that are quite distracting. A majority of sign laws require that the signs have a display-lock feature when there is a malfunction.
Other issues Van Every said she will consider include the appropriate "dwell" time for signs. That's the period of time between messages, so the signs aren't flashing. Her review will also include all public safety concerns, as well as specific issues such as the height of signs, what is too bright and whether there should be a minimum distance between neighboring electronic signs.
In addition to public hearings that are a part of any planning study, Durabb said the department has also agreed to hold additional meetings with concerned parties, such as the sign industry and civic groups that have expressed an interest in the issue.
Settoon said she hopes existing sign owners can be included in the law with regulations that mandate that signs must be dimmed at night.
Parish Planner Juliette Cassagne said that's a possibility, but planning officials must first meet with sign manufacturers to better understand the technology and what is feasible as far as government regulation.
Durabb said planners recognize that the technology associated with electronic signs could make parish laws out of date fairly quickly. But with virtually no regulation in place, it's important to take the first step, he said.
"We need a baseline to deal with what is out there now," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if a year or two from now there will be a need to add to (a new electronic sign ordinance)."
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Bob Ross can be reached at rross@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7053.