Hearing To Address Sign Dispute Adjoining Properties In Conflict Over Right To Put Up Billboard

Two Division Street property owners have been arguing for seven months over who has the right to erect a billboard.

The latest appeal hearing will be held June 3 in front of the city hearing examiner.

Billboards may not be located within 300 feet of each other. Since Division Street is also a state highway, state and city permits are required to raise a billboard.

In October, Obie Media signed an agreement with Bob Evanson, owner of Northwest Bedding at the busy intersection of Francis Avenue and Division, to put a billboard on his property.

Obie was granted a state billboard permit.

Around the same time, though unknown to Obie managers, Tombari Properties applied for and received a city billboard permit for its commercial property next door to Evanson.

When Obie applied for its city permit, it learned Tombari already had permission for a billboard in the area. Obie was denied the city permit.

Obie claims the company will lose $5 million over the term of its lease with Evanson if the city doesn’t give it a permit.

It only becomes more confusing.

A recent hearing examiner’s decision says if Tombari doesn’t receive a state permit, Obie will be granted a city permit.

Tombari argued that the city can’t invalidate a city permit just because no state permit has been received.

Tombari asked the hearing examiner to reconsider his decision. Smith denied the request.

Finally, Tombari Properties has revised its site plan. Obie argues that because of the revision, Tombari should now have to reapply for the billboard permit.

Tombari is asking the hearing examiner to find that its city permit is still valid.