City considering request for double-decker billboard

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 20, 2003

City officials are mulling a request from a developer to waive a city ordinance and allow a new billboard to go up along Interstate 20.

Developer Paul Campbell wants to place a double-decker sign along the South Frontage Road between Haden Hardware and a former BancorpSouth branch, but a city ordinance that went into effect in April bans billboard signs with two advertising faces stacked one on top of the other.

The city’s Zoning Board of Appeals had denied the request based on the new rules, and now it will be up to the mayor and aldermen to decide if they will make an exception.

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“What Mr. Campbell is asking for is a level playing field,” said Campbell’s attorney, J. Mack Varner. “There are already other signs out there like this so it won’t make any real difference.” Varner is also judge of the city’s new community court, created to enforce code laws.

Campbell said that today there are about 12 double-decker signs along the interstate in Vicksburg. They can remain since they went up before the ordinance, but could not be replaced if taken down.

City officials say they don’t want to keep Campbell from being able to compete with other sign owners along the interstate, but said they were also obligated to honor the community’s desire for fewer signs.

Mayor Laurence Leyens also pointed out that since Campbell has owned the property for two years, he could have built the sign before the new rules went into effect.

“He’s had an opportunity to compete, but he chose not to,” Leyens said.

J.B. Haden, the owner of Haden Hardware, said he and Campbell worked out an agreement about the location of the sign and that he does not have a problem with it.

“I still don’t like signs, but if they do it the way they said, I will not oppose it,” Haden said.

The new rules adopted last year also banned the use of temporary signs and limited the size of signs. Last week, city officials vetoed a Zoning Commission ruling against the Ford dealership on North Frontage Road. The dealership had requested permission to put up a sign too large under the city law , and the Mayor and Aldermen granted the variance.

Billboards along the interstate and highways are regulated by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Under current state rules, double-decker signs are allowed, but those laws will change July 1 to limit billboards to a single sign.

In other matters, the city board:

Approved the board meeting minutes.

Recognized the employees of the city Action Line.

Approved an ad for the American Legion Auxiliary Magnolia Girls State for their annual program booklet.

Approved an ad for the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

Authorized the sale of a surplus police vehicle to the Mayersville Police Department for $50.

Declared property surplus and authorized its sale at auction.

Ordered demolition and site clearing on dilapidated buildings and property.

Approved the claims docket.

The city board will meet again 10 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall Annex.