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Buckhannon discusses digital billboard

BUCKHANNON — City Council on Thursday approved a recommendation from the Buckhannon Planning Commission to allow a digital billboard in the Corridor H zone of the city.

The issue was discussed during a regular 7 p.m meeting at the Buckhannon Safety Complex, where officials dedicated the facility’s new meeting room.

A digital billboard company has a tentative agreement with a landowner to place an electronic sign near Racen on West Virginia 20 near U.S. 33, Mayor David McCauley said. However, city ordinance does not permit these types of signs inside city limits.

City Council voted unanimously to amend city code to allow an exception for the C-4 zone only. The exception is only for the area around W.Va. 20 north and Corridor H. McCauley noted signs of this type would not be permitted in any other area of the city.

Councilwoman Mary Albaugh is a member of the Planning Commission. She said the group considered the measure carefully. The Commission found the placement of a one-sided billboard will not have a negative visual impact for traffic, she said. The sign would be 12-feet-by-24-feet or 10-feet-by-20-feet, depending on the site evaluation.

The Commission offered a public hearing, but no members of the public attended, Albaugh said.

In order to amend city code and permit the sign’s installation, Council will have to approve two readings of an ordinance changing the statute for signage. Included in that process will be another public hearing, McCauley said.

If Council approves installation of the sign, the city will be able to work with the owners to post community information free of charge. Albaugh said the city would receive 8 seconds a minute of time for any community notices it wishes to post. She said this arrangement, in addition to promoting the numerous events in the city, could be useful in the event of emergencies, street closures, boil-water advisories or any instance in which the city needs to disseminate information.

In other business

• Council appointed Councilman C.J. Rylands to the Buckhannon Airport Authority.

• Council appointed Jessica Fabbricatore as the West Virginia Wesleyan College representative to Stockert Youth Center’s Board of Directors.

• Council voted to join the National Complete Streets Coalition.

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