VIRGINIA BEACH
If the city's two-year-old battle with Admobile wasn't personal before, Admobile's owners say it is now.
"We took two steps forward, and five steps back," Admobile co-owner Elaine Cayton said after a planning commission hearing Monday. Planners were presented with a proposed ordinance that Cayton said "would put us out of business."
Two years ago, AHR Communications Inc., which operates the high-profile Admobile box trucks with the revolving billboards, was cited for violating city zoning laws.
Admobile argued it had been issued a business license by the Beach and built the business on the basis of that. Of the company's five trucks, only one is dedicated to the Beach - but Cayton said she'd lose half of her business if she's banned from the city.
Beach zoning officials sat down to work out a compromise.
"We had a series of positive discussions," co-owner Mary White said. "They gave us good guidance."
Then the boom was lowered, Cayton and White said, with the ordinance under consideration - one even stricter than the law on the books. Both said they think the law targets their business, specifically.
The law would apply to signs on motor vehicles used primarily for advertising purposes. No more than two signs would be permitted on such vehicles with no greater than 6 square feet per sign.
"A lot of what drives this is something you can't quantify - community values," Karen Lasley, the city's zoning administrator, said in remarks before the meeting. "It's about wanting an environment without a lot of signs and distractions."
Several Beach residents and business owners spoke at Monday's planning commission hearing, all against the proposed ordinance.
Matthew Ridnouer, who runs an embroidery business in the Beach, worried the ordinance's reach could spread.
"Where do you stop?" Ridnouer asked planners. "Wrapped cars? Real estate signs?"
In fact, the ordinance would prohibit some "shrink-wrapped" cars.
City Councilman Ron Villanueva also spoke, urging the planners to forward a compromise to council, "rather than a black and white scenario."
The planning commission is set to make a recommendation on the ordinance May 14. On May 27, the City Council is scheduled to take up the planners' recommendation.
John Warren, (757) 222-5114, john.warren@pilotonline.com
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Prime Example of Government Gone Brain-Dead
As noted in an earlier posting, look around at the next stop light. There are literally dozens of examples of extreme signage on vehicles in the CoVB. Busses, trucks and even cars are covered with signage either commercial, fun, or otherwise. The AdMobile? No different from others in any meaningful way. If offered the opportunity, the HRT and other companies would jump at the chance to make more cash by having rolling ads on the sides of their carriers. It is offensive to see boats with ads cruising the ocean front waters. It is offensive to see and hear the droning of planes lingering over the beaches during the summer pulling this ad and that. The AdMobile is not offensive, but innovative and should be allowed to continue in operation where ever in this City they choose to travel. This locality has many more serious problems that the governing entities should be focusing on, such as removing cigarette butts from roads and beaches, counting the number of stars in the sky, making sure the sky is blue for the summer tourists. Let AdMobile stay.
Admobile
I have been watching this from the beginning. Here is the bottom line: The city was irritated by a “tiff” with a former manager of a local billboard company about 20 years ago. Just like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s, the “tiff” rages on today. Billboard disputes have typically been in favor of the city, because the city makes the rules. Admobile’s fight is largely due to the history of billboard disputes in the past. While Admobile does many things every day, it looks like a billboard, and yes, they sell advertising.
Two points. First, the ordinance. Admobile is disputing an ordinance within The Board of Zoning. They govern city property. Admobile drives on state funded roads, so the city has no ability to enforce the ordinance. Secondly, if Bob's Plumbing had these trucks, and used sign space for their own ads, it would be legal.
I agree to disagree
I agree those trucks are a distraction when driving, more than once have I been beside an "ad truck" while the person in front of me was to busy waiting to see it change to notice that the stoplight had already changed.Now with that said "who here has seen the HRT busses that are completely painted from top to bottom or the hundreds of other "wrapped" vehicles running around town.This is not a City Council issue it's a State Inspection issue.If it passed Va State inspection and is legal to drive how can they stop you? So does this mean all the "semi" trucks with company logos and pictures can no longer drive at the Beach? Don't the Trolleys have "ad space" all over them?It has to be all or nothing!
I can certainly see where
I can certainly see where the bigger picture of this issue would certainly be a concern. It would start here banning something, in this case ad mobiles, that I truly despise. But where would it end is right?
Will this apply to all ads on all trucks?
Pretty much every truck I see has an ad for the company that owns it.
What is the difference between a truck with an ad for one company 100% of the time and another with ads for 10 companies 10% of the time each? All are there for commercial gain.
This is clearly discriminatory. Has VA Beach simply chosen to make a hobby of losing lawsuits?
They pay taxes too
Frankly with the economy going south, I say leave them alone. We need the revenue.
Typical VB
That's why I moved to Chesapeake.
Why do you people keep
Why do you people keep voting the same old city counselors back into office? Get out and vote next time and get rid of the rotten wood in there once and for all. This city has waaaaaay too many silly rules and restrictions. It's time for major political changes in this city.
VB - City of Privilege
So, somebody with friends on council decided they didn't like the AdTruck. Does this law apply to the airplane banners? What about the AdBoat, that abomination that destroys any waterfront view? Tractor trailers? Busses? Hey, those stinking Trolleys have more than two ads on 'em. Do they have to go? What about car lots that have a different sign on every vehicle out front? Where does this end? Next Election!
HRT Buses & Other commercial vehicles
Does this mean that the shrink wrapped HRT Buses with their billboard sized advertisements will also be prohibited in VB? Will this prohibition extend to the multitude of semi-trailers that advertise their companies or wares on their sides? What's the difference between a 53' long Doritos ad and the mobile sign truck?
In other words, leave the lady and her company alone. They are hurting no one and providing a service to other businesses that have a demand for her service.
Everyone riding HRBT busing...
...better find alternative transportation. I know quite a few of those busses are wrapped and have signage that exceeds the new "standard." What about the trolleys, don't they have large signs on them?
More big government telling YOU what you can do when you are supposed to tell THEM what they need to be doing. Then again for the people, by the peoplle means nothing to most government leaders nowadays...
What a joke!!
This city council has lost there way. I have seen these ad-trucks many times and in no way are they a distraction or eyesore in any way, shape, or form. It is not your job as a government to find backdoor ways to restrict our freedom. These ad-trucks are of no danger to anyone so I ask why you are even wasting my money trying to restrict FREEDOM.
CONSERVATIVE in my home, LIBERAL outside my home, that is what makes this THE GREATEST COUNTRY EVER!!!!
Signs Signs
I wonder if this new ordinance includes the airplane pulled banners at the beach?
Politicians don't like signs?
Any sign ordinance should hold politicians to the same sign restrictions.
this is ridiculous - no more freedom in this country!
Virginia Beach needs to mind their own business about this. It is a sad day when a hardworking person cant start a business because of all the red tape. This business harms no one does not affect anything that the City should be worried about. They need to mind their own business and enforce real laws not petty ordinances like this!
Isn't there an old adage that states:
Be careful of micro-management.
Does'nt the Planning People Have Something Better to Do?
VB is so wierd. This city needs to get a life!
A Scary Ordinance
Welcome to the People's Republic of Virginia Beach, with Comrade Orbindorf (sp) and her fellow Comrades on the so-called City Council imposing their will upon the people.
Virginia Beach is going insane. Let's see, a HUGE budget surplus, enough to keep everyone from paying real estate taxes for a year...naw, we have the money, let's use it for what we, the omnipotent city council want. No, you cannot have a convention (2003) about sexuality, because sex is not family oriented (hmm, how did those childen GET here exactly?) Now, we cannot exercise our free speech rights by placing statements (paid or otherwise) on our own vehicles..
What's next....?
Perhaps elections.....?
You would think city government would have better to do.
This is rediculous, it almost sounds as though Karen Lasley (the city's zoning administrator) has a grudge against Elaine Cayton. What? Did Cayton steal a boyfriend away from Lasley in high school or something? If this is the kind of issue the citizens of VAB want their government to take on, then so be it. If that's the case though, VAB needs to do away with all signs bigger than six square feet, rather it's mobil or stationary. Personally, I like the mobile signs, it gives me something to do when I'm stuck in traffic around the poorly planned "town center". Maybe Lasley doesn't have enough to do to keep her busy. If that's the case, then her job can be done away with. I'm tired of government creating problems where citizens feel there are none. If it's "up-scale" look that Lasley is trying to portray of VAB, there are far better and more effective changes to make other than preventing advertisement on a truck that is just passing by. The extremely loud thumping on car sound systems is a good place to start. I've been black listed by the Pilot so this probably won't be seen.