Action sought on Oconee billboard moratorium

The Oconee Planning Commission and the county’s Economic Alliance will take up the issue of a possible moratorium or prohibition on future billboard construction in the county. Following an executive session to receive legal advice on the matter during Tuesday’s Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to refer the issue for recommendations. In July, the Council asked county attorney David Root to research the legal implications of such a moratorium. The issue was raised in July by District 3 Councilmember Paul Cain of Seneca, who noted that many billboards he sees along Hwy. 123 have gone unused for several years, advertised as available. Cain has said, that indicates that the county had enough or even too many billboards for the market, really unsightly nuisances. “Since we’re wanting to be a tourism destination,” Cain added at the time, “It’s time we considered a billboard moratorium.” Council members Wayne McCall and Glenn Hart have questioned the legality of such a move by the county. Oconee County already has a billboard ordinance regulating size and placement of billboards. Billboards are defined as signs over 75 square-feet in area and usually off the premises of the business they advertise.