The City Attorney recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing an agreement between the City of Houston (“the City”) and SignAd, Ltd. (“SignAd”). The proposed agreement provides for a significant reduction in the number of SignAd owned billboards within the City’s jurisdiction.
Many of the signs at issue are illegal as a result of litigation and the subsequent judgment, which ordered the removal of certain signs in the years 2009 and 2013 (Harris County Outdoor Advertising Assn., et al. v. City of Houston). Additionally, some of the signs at issue were originally removed due to Texas Department of Transportation road widening projects. Pursuant to the City’s Sign Code (Section 4617 of the Building Code), SignAd was permitted to relocate these signs to a new location for a period of ten years. These relocated signs are now due for removal.
In an effort to reduce the total number of billboards while simultaneously and summarily dispensing with many of the illegal signs currently owned by SignAd, the parties have negotiated a settlement agreement. The proposed agreement is a compromise which resolves the outstanding sign-related issues between SignAd and the City, without the expenditure of the considerable time and resources that would be required in the event of further litigation and enforcement regarding individual signs.
SignAd will remove the following signs that have expired as of 2009, pursuant to court order:
1. 706 Spring Cypress - ETJ
2. 400 Loop 494 - ETJ
3. 3448 Richey Rd - DISTRICT E
4. 4111 FM 2351 - ETJ
5. 406 Tidwell Rd – DISTRICT H
6. 1412 Greens - ETJ
7. 5052 Louetta - DISTRICT B
SignAd will remove the following signs that have expired as of 2013, pursuant to court order:
1. 4103 FM 2351 - ETJ
2. 13600 Bellaire Rd. - ETJ
3. 13800 Bellaire Rd. - ETJ
4. 11670 Jones Rd - ETJ
5. 13620 Cypress North Houston Rd - ETJ
6. 2931 FM 2920 - ETJ
7. 2933 FM 2920 – ETJ
SignAd will also voluntarily remove the following 30 signs:
1. 123 Alma St - DISTRICT H
2. 3026 Houston Ave - DISTRICT H
3. 1508 Cordell - DISTRICT H
4. 2701 FM 1960 – DISTRICT B
5. 860 Eastex - ETJ
6. 16900 Hwy 90 - ETJ
7. 7401 CE King - ETJ
8. 7900 CE King - ETJ
9. 4747 S Shaver - DISTRICT I
10. 3615 Gulf Fwy - DISTRICT I
11. 10530 Telephone Rd - DISTRICT D
12. 13900 S. Main - DISTRICT K
13. 9100 N HWY 6 - DISTRICT A
14. 18844 FM 529 - DISTRICT A
15. 18846 FM 529 - DISTRICT A
16. 11200 Hempstead Rd - DISTRICT A
17. 19335 Northwest Fwy - DISTRICT A/ETJ
18. 12050 SH 249 ETJ
19. 12114 Bammel N. Houston - ETJ
20. 18928 Kuykendahl Rd. - DISTRICT A/ETJ
21. 19832 Kuykendahl Rd. - DISTRICT A/B/ETJ
22. 303 Tarver - DISTRICT H
23. 3130 North Fwy - DISTRICT H
24. 3003 N. Sam Houston PKWY E - DISTRICT B
25. 903 Chartres - DISTRICT I
26. 300 East Sam Houston PKWY - ETJ
27. 301 Yale - DISTRICT I
28. 3628 Wiley – DISTRICT H
29. 21837 Eastex Fwy - ETJ
30. 22323 Eastex – DISTRICT E
In exchange for removing the 33 signs listed above, SignAd will retain 13 of its expired relocated signs for a period of 20 additional years:
1. 13600 North Fwy – DISTRICT B/ETJ
2. 13801 North Fwy – DISTRICT B/ETJ
3. 16000 North Fwy – DISTRICT B/ETJ
4. 25690 North Fwy - ETJ
5. 10500 Gulf Fwy – DISTRICT I
6. 12375 Gulf Fwy – DISTRICT E
7. 5545 Southwest Fwy – DISTRICT G
9. 6222 Southwest Fwy – DISTRICT J
8. 11420 Southwest Fwy – DISTRICT K
10. 11700 Wilcrest – DISTRICT F
11. 11211 Katy Fwy – DISTRICT G
12. 15625 Katy Fwy – DISTRICT G
13. 21326 SH 249 - ETJ
The subject agreement was negotiated in close consultation with Scenic Houston and Sign Administration, in an effort to identify those signs most needed for removal to enhance the City’s landscape. A similar agreement has been negotiated with another sign company, CBS Outdoor (Outfront Media). Negotiations with John Gannon, Inc. are ongoing.