The Impacts of Digital Billboards and Light Pollution

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Key Issues. Introduction Control billboard blight Scenic Nevada is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, active since 2000. Promote Scenic Byways Principal activities are to educate the public about the economic, social and cultural benefits of scenic preservation. Promote sound wall alternatives We are an all volunteer group, advocating for sign control, scenic byways and protection of open spaces. Sustain Open Space Plans Scenic Nevada is an affiliate of Scenic America, a national group dedicated to scenic preservation. Minimize cell phone tower impacts

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Light Pollution Digital billboards emit light into the night sky, contributing to skyglow, a form of light pollution. (1) Built-in sunshade louvers do little to minimize digital signs’ impact on the night sky. (2) Global light pollution is increasing by 6% per year. (3) 2008 – about 800 digital billboards nationwide; 2014 - 5, 200 (OAAA Survey) One of the new dangers is a proliferation of digital signs, on and off premise, using industry standards adopted by public officials at the community’s expense.

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Impacts on Birds Migration - Most birds migrate at night and can be drawn off course by lighted structures in their flight path, regardless of height. (4) Mating - Artificial light may alter song bird mating patterns, causing male song birds to sing earlier and attracting females to perhaps poor quality mates. (5) Hazards - Dazzling city lights lure and confuse migrating birds, causing them to collide with buildings or circle light sources until exhausted. (6) Ignoring warnings and studies by some experts, officials here are permitting digital signs under regulations pushed by the sign industry.

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Digital Sign Details What Makes Them So Annoying Digital billboards at night are often more than three times brighter than traditional billboards. (7) Sign brightness study shows digitals are far brighter than non-digital. (8) Digitals operate 24/7. They can be any size, but larger digital billboards and signs cause the most concern and complaints. GSR wall sign is 90 feet tall and 48 feet wide. Reno has no limits on size or brightness levels for casino signs. “There are still many beautiful places in America, but to get to these places we must often drive through mile after mile of billboards, strip malls, junk yards, used car lots, fry pits, and endless clutter that has been termed ‘the geography of nowhere. ’ −Ed Mc. Mahon, Senior Resident Fellow, Urban Land Institute, Washington, D. C. (9)

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Threats On the Horizon Summit Sierra Digital Sign “We take stock of a city like we take stock of a man. The clothes or appearance are the externals by which we judge. ” − Mark Twain (11)

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Threats On the Horizon Summit Sierra Mall Digital Sign Proposal 71 feet tall – about 7 stories tall Digital portion – 646 square feet Almost as large as a roadside billboard (672) Flashing rotating ads every 10 seconds to 11 p. m. and every 30 minutes to from 11 p. m. to 6 a. m. Aimed at I-580 Drivers in either direction “The support for billboard control spans education levels, race, and gender; and it knows no geographic boundaries. People, in other words, are tired of watching their scenic roadsides transformed into oversized Yellow Pages. ” − Scenic America (10)

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Threats on the Horizon East Truckee Canyon - Mustang Exit Wild West Motorsports Park NC Truckee Restoration Project Tahoe Pyramid Bikeway “Clearly, I’m not interested in having more billboards. I really don’t want to drive over beautiful (Interstate) 580 and see billboards all over those gorgeous hills. ” − Washoe County Commissioner Marsha Berkbigler, November 2013 (13)

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Threats on the Horizon East Truckee Canyon – Wild West Motorsports Park Washoe County is rewriting their sign code. All Billboards are prohibited now. Draft includes an exemption to allow big recreational venues to get big, digital signs with an SUP. Other possible sites – Wadsworth and Bordertown If approved, can be up to 45 feet tall. No maximum limit – can be as big or bigger than a billboard, 672 square feet. The city of Reno routinely grants new billboard permits and allows new construction. Today there about 201 existing billboards and 93 permits awaiting a new location – an increase of 16 permits since the ban was enacted. (12)

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Threats on the Horizon East Truckee Canyon – Truckee River Restoration Project “I am a strong believer since starting my real estate firm in 1957 that better aesthetics leads to better cities and better economics. ” − Gerald Hines, founder of Hines, a global real estate, investment and development firm, at the 2014 Scenic America conference (14)

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Call to Action Golden Gate Audubon Society takes a stand against digital billboards. Timing is right for community to weigh in on digital signs. Reno City Council – two moratoriums – public participation on signs. Washoe County – sign code update – public preview – January 29. Scenic Nevada’s community meeting – January 29. Reno City Council Meeting – February 11 – Summit Sierra Sign Control billboard blight: Scenic Nevada works to control the number, height, size and placement of traditional and digital billboards to reduce visual impact.

The Impacts of Digital Billboards Resources 1. IO 9. com/what-to-we-really-mean-when-we-say-light-is-pollution-552474 (2013) 2. Illinoislighting. org/resources/ICROL-Digital Billboards. pdf 3. ecologyandsociety. org/vol 15/iss 4/art 13/ 4. http: //bird-friendly. audubon. org/documents/white-paper-explaining-lights-out-program-audubon-minnesota 5. http: //goldengateaudubon. org/conservation/make-the-city-safe-for-wildlife/learn-about-lights-out-san-francisco 6. Turning Night Into Day: Light Pollution’s Impacts on Wildlife | lighting. com 7. Digital LED Billboard Luminance Recommendations How Bright is Bright Enough 8. http: //www. scenicnevada. org/wp-content/uploads/2014/Final_Report_by_Wachtel_11 -22 -14. pdf 9. The Secrets of Successful Communities by Ed Mc. Mahon, published on Planners. Web. com – July 29, 2013 10. http: //www. scenic. org/billboards-a-sign-control/the-truth-about-billboards/100 -billboard-control-is-good-forbusiness 11. http: //www. scenic. org/resources/scenic-quotes 12. Testimony of Claudia Hanson, Reno City Planning Manger, Feb. 24, 2014, Scenic Nevada vs City of Reno 13. Washoe County Commission public meeting, Nov. 12, 2013 14. http: //www. scenic. org/blog/197 -film-of-scenic-americas-2014 -conference-now-available-online Scenic America estimates the nationwide total of cities and communities prohibiting the construction of new billboards to be at least 1, 500.