5/23/2006
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller, [317] 327-6709 |
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City cites owners of illegal billboards; begins process to force their removal
Action taken after State’s highest court reaffirms ruling against billboards’ owners
INDIANAPOLIS - Zoning inspectors from the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development today issued citations to the owners of ten illegal billboards erected along local interstate gateways without city permits. The citations clear the way for city prosecutors to begin enforcement action in court to force the removal of the illegal signs.
Last year, in a clear and decisive ruling, the Indiana Supreme Court granted victory to the city in its case against Pinnacle Media, LLC, the sign company that put up the illegal signs despite a city-issued order to halt construction of the billboards. The legal proceedings continued when Pinnacle lawyers asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling, but recently the State’s highest court reaffirmed its unanimous decision, allowing the city to begin enforcement action and seek a court order to force Pinnacle to take down all ten billboards.
“The highest court in our state has ruled - twice now - against the owners of these illegal signs. It’s high time for these folks to comply with our local laws and take down these unlawful billboards,” Peterson said. “This case is about standing up for neighborhoods and maintaining our quality of life.”
“For decades we have worked to keep billboards away from interstate gateways that act as a front door to our city and its historic neighborhoods and downtown skyline,” the Mayor continued. “Not taking action against these illegal billboards would set a terrible precedent and send a bad message to our neighborhoods.”
City ordinances prohibit billboards along interstates inside the I-465 loop. In 1999, Pinnacle took advantage of a loophole in existing laws that left land near interstate highways unzoned, erecting two billboards on the Northeast side of the city. Mayor Peterson, working with community leaders and the City-County Council, moved quickly to amend the ordinance, placing the small stretches of right of way near interstates under city jurisdiction and requiring city permits for any construction activity in those areas.
Despite this amendment to local law, Pinnacle continued to erect billboards without local permits, leading to the Supreme Court’s ruling, which found that the ordinance change was on the books before Pinnacle began constructing ten other signs.
“Pinnacle clearly defied our local ordinances, and now they will have to pay the price by taking down these illegal billboards,” the Mayor stated.
The Mayor said the city will soon move to prosecute Pinnacle and seek a court order to force the removal of the signs, provided that the owners do not comply with the citations issued today.
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