AGOURA HILLS : 2nd Ballot Item on Sign Heights OKd

In a bid to thwart an initiative that would allow towering pole-top signs along the Ventura Freeway to remain in place, the Agoura Hills City Council gave preliminary approval this week to a ballot measure that would limit the height of advertising signs to 35 feet.

The proposed ordinance, approved by the council Wednesday, would also allow tall signs only for businesses offering services to freeway travelers, such as gas stations, restaurants and motels. The council plans to officially place the measure on the Nov. 2 ballot at its July 14 meeting.

The council developed the ballot measure in response to an initiative drive spearheaded by a group of local merchants. The merchants collected more than 2,000 signatures to put to voters the question of whether business owners can keep the signs, some of which are nearly 100 feet tall. The merchants’ initiative would encourage, but not require, businesses to cluster their ads on the same pole.

In 1985, the council ordered all of the 35 or so pole signs removed within seven years, but agreed to allow the signs to remain in place while officials negotiated with the business owners. But those talks stalled, and the result was the two competing ballot measures.

Agoura Hills voters have four options: vote for either measure, both or neither. If neither measure is approved by at least half of the voters, the original ordinance banning the signs all together remains in effect. If both are approved by a 50% margin or greater, the one with the most votes wins.