07 City Council (7/10/03) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Regular City Council Meeting July 10,2003 Page 5 Lamar County and one of the deadliest intersections in this city. Mr. Banks advised that he travels through that intersection daily and he has lived within sight of that intersection for the last 20 years. He said over the years he has seen numerous wrecks and fatalities at this location. Mr. Banks said he was not an advertisement expert, but in his mind, billboards are put up to attract the attention of the traveler whether it is the passenger or the driver. He felt that the billboard that Mr. Kyle is going to be putting up is a computerized billboard that will be changing logos or something to attract the attention of the traveling public. Mr. Banks said this will be a major distraction for that intersection and all it takes is one split second for a driver to be looking at the billboard, the light changes, and there is an accident. For those reasons, Mr. Banks was opposed. Rashmi Patel, Manager and President of the Victorian Inn, was present speaking against the petition to have a permit of a billboard at 495 35th Street N.E., which joins the property next to the Victorian Inn. Mr. Patel's objections to the placement of the billboard were that it would reduce the curb appeal of the Victorian Inn and that the noise of the sign would detract from the Inn. He said 70 percent of his clientele choose the Victorian Inn because of its appearance from the highway. It would also create a hazardous condition for people traveling the Loop. Mr. Patel indicated that a person has only about twenty seconds to attract a customer and if the billboard sign is put in, the visibility will be even less for his business. The billboard will only add to the congested sign area and hurt the existing businesses. Ron Holmestead, General Manager of the Holiday Inn stated that he has been in Paris for five years. He thinks this is not a good place for a billboard. Mr. Holmestead said after talking to some of the local people, they feel it is probably time the city grows and changes, but people should think about what the city looks like. Mr. Holmestead said he belongs to and supports the beautification of Paris. He said he was fortunate that his owners, one of which is David Glass, has allowed him to participate in the landscaping of the highway project in front of the Holiday Inn. Mr. Holmestead advised that they invested, over the last five years, about ten thousand dollars in that grassy area.