Scenic Rapid City

BREAKING NEWS!

Press Release: A VICTORY for the City of Rapid City as it defends the public opinion and the vote of its citizens on Video Digital Billboards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2011

CIRCUIT COURT UPHOLDS CITY’S DENIAL OF PERMITS FOR VIDEO BILLBOARDS
Circuit Judge Wally Eklund has upheld the City’s denial of Lamar Outdoor Advertising’s request to convert six of its current signs to digital billboards.
Lamar made the request to convert the billboards to digital faces in April of 2011. Lamar’s request was made shortly before the June election where the City’s voters overwhelmingly approved prohibiting any new digital billboards. The City denied the permits because Lamar refused to obtain conditional use approval for the signs. Lamar appealed the denial of the permits to the City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment which upheld the denial. Lamar then appealed the Zoning Board’s ruling to the 7th Circuit Court in Rapid City.
Lamar asked the Court for an order requiring the City to issue the permits. Lamar argued that the City was legally prevented from denying them the permits. In upholding the City’s denial of the permits, Judge Eklund ruled that substantial evidence supported the City’s decision and Lamar’s reliance on any past City approvals was not reasonable.

Blightfighters Documentary includes a chapter on our efforts here in Rapid City

Below is a short documentary on the billboard issues and initiatives in Rapid City. It is a telling story and shares the process and progress of what a community and its people can do to make a change for its future.

This documentary has been released across the country to tell a story and help other communities as they search for ways to change the way the big billboard companies do business in their city.

Pass it on.....

and thank you for keeping Rapid City scenic!

Rapid City Voters Send Anti-Billboard Message - We are Viewed as a National Leader by Scenic Organizations

Nearly one third of Rapid City voters showed up at the polls on June 7 to overwhelming approve both of our initiatives with a two thirds vote. National billboard control advocates are viewing this victory as a model that can be used in other communities. Go to the News page for all the media coverage of this ground breaking effort.

You CAN Make a Difference: Send a Letter to the Editor

You can help by sending letters to the Rapid City Journal, to the Editor, or on line by going to the Rapid City Journal Link: Submit YOUR Letter on THEIR website.

The Challenge

Let's keep Rapid City Scenic!

Unlimited growth of billboards will deteriorate the beauty and the image of Rapid City to the traveling public.

In addition to the traditional billboards, new off-premise digital signs are coming to Rapid City.

It's particularly important to get ahead of this trend with intelligent planning because unlike a TV, you can not turn these devices off. They are on 24 hours a day!

Remember

You Can't Turn Off
"Television on a Stick"

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In areas of the country where people have suddenly found them popping up like weeds, it has been too late to do anything about their overwhelming presence.

Learn more about Digital Billboards by going here to our educational page, be sure to sign the petition and e-mail our city government to ask for their support on this voter issue.

We Can Make a Difference

Our initiatives were on the ballot for June 7 municipal election and we won.

The Initiatives

The first initiative put a permanent moratorium on new digital billboards, doubled the spacing requirements for new billboards and fixed the maximum billboard size at 250 square feet.

The initiative put a 20-year expiration date on sign credits, the city's currency for the construction of new billboards. Sign companies receive one sign credit for every billboard taken down and cannot put a new sign up without first surrendering two credits.

You can help keep Rapid City Scenic by sending letters to the Rapid City Journal, to the Editor, or on line by going to the Rapid City Journal Link: Submit YOUR Letter

Take Action

The efforts of our volunteers were amazing in gather petitions and getting the vote out to allow us to win the election.

See TV news coverage here of our volunteers bringing them by the wheel barrow full to the Rapid City Finance Office Desk.

Now we need to remain vigilant.

Help make our city a better place to live, work and visit by joining us today!