BILLBOARD CURBS SOUGHT IN RADFORD

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 28, 1992                   TAG: 9201280382
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JUDITH SCHWAB SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short
BILLBOARD CURBS SOUGHT IN RADFORD
City Council on Monday denied the Planning Commission's request for a moratorium on billboards, but it will seek an interim ordinance to restrict the size and placement of signs.
The commission had requested a citywide ban until action is taken on a revised zoning ordinance, which would limit the size of signs and restrict their placement to industrial sections and interstate corridors.
City Attorney John Spiers told council members they could not issue a moratorium. The best they could do would be an interim ordinance, bringing parts of the new ordinance into effect until the entire ordinance can be decided upon.
Permits obtained before an interim ordinance is adopted would fall under the current law, Spiers said. Council decided to hold a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission and to seek an interim ordinance as quickly as possible.
The request for the moratorium stemmed from an increase in requests for sign-building permits. David Ridpath, community development director, said the city had 12 requests in the past 30 days.
Completion of the new zoning ordinance may take at least three more months, Ridpath said. Obtaining an interim ordinance could take 30 days, he said.
In another matter, Vice Mayor Polly Corn suggested revising street-paving plans to improve main thoroughfares such as First Street before completing improvements on some lesser streets.
Council also accepted the city engineer's recommendation to name two streets, at Bergen Pines Apartments, Sanford Circle and Stump Street.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB