Planning Commission to Consider Changes to Billboards in Industrial Park

The Benicia Planning Commission will be asked to approve two proposals to alter three billboard signs on city property in the Benicia Industrial Park at its meeting tonight, November 29 in city hall.

The proposal by Clear Channel Outdoor is to change two existing billboards to use new LED technology.

The proposal by CBS Outdoor is to change the old Nationwide billboard to LED as well.

Benicia residents who regularly cross the Benicia-Martinez Bridge can see a LED billboard as they near the southern end of the span in Martinez.

The Benicia Herald reports the brightness of all three signs would change as the ambient light changes.  The signs would be brighter during the day.

The signs sit on city owned property and new lease agreements have been negotiated with the companies.  “We’re at the point where the general counsels are reviewing the lease agreements,” said Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani.

The new agreements have the potential to help erase a significant portion of the $800,000 budget deficit that resulted from an unforeseen decrease in property tax revenue.

“Each agreement is a little different,” said Giuliani.  “There will be guaranteed monthly income.   In addition there will be some kind of revenue sharing.”

Yearly income from the modified billboards has the potential to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars according to Giuliani.

What do you think of the proposed new LED billboards?  Tell us in the comments.

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.