The Baltimore County Council is considering legislation to protect Towson’s scenic Charles Street corridor from modern electronic signage.
The bill, which was introduced Wednesday by Council members David Marks and Vicki Almond, would ban electronic changeable copy signs on National Scenic Byways. The tree-lined stretch of Charles Street between the Baltimore City line and the Beltway, which winds through golf courses and past historic hospitals and schools, is the only such byway in Baltimore County.
“It’s something we’ve been wanting to do the past several years,” Marks said. “We’ve been seeing these digital signs really take route throughout the county. That’s a corridor I think deserves special protections because it’s a scenic route.”
via Bill would ban electronic changeable signage on Charles Street – baltimoresun.com.
Sure. I’m still not in agreement that Towson needs to become “the next great urban center” it seems to be described as lately by….developers and their political friends. Having it look like Vegas, Hong Kong or Times Square does not appeal to me.
Is there still anything on the Baltimore County law books about “Attractive Nuisances?”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attractive_nuisance_doctrine
Having a light show glaring from a formerly static, unanimated billboard would not only be a detraction, but a distraction; possibly causing a moment’s inattention and an accident.
To a lesser degree, billboard owners also use the technology to put multiple ads on billboards that flip through like a slide show. While it helps them deliver the message and makes their business more profitable, I’m not sure it adds to the worth of the community.