At first glance, rezoning this area seems to implement the stated lofty planning goals of:

·      Promote employment and generate tax base.

·      Take advantage of the proximity to the interstate highway system

·      Encourage high quality development serving the traveling public around the interchanges with I-35, while ensuring adequate access controls.

The opponents to rezoning to Highway Commercial have been able to neuter this rezoning and make it worthless by adding the following:

·      Development is limited to low-impact uses that do not require centralized utilities

What kind of highway commercial development is low-impact and does not require centralized utilities?  It seems the only chance these landowners have to take advantage of the rezoning is to rent their land for billboards.  Billboards would do the following for these people and for Rice County: 

            a.            Income for Infrastructure.  To develop the land as highway commercial will require a great deal of infrastructure. The income from the billboards will provide income to pay for the infrastructure.

            b.            Increase Options.  With a monthly income to pay increased taxes and assessments caused by future development, the landowners will not be forced to sell to payfor the increases.  With increased options the landowners can realize a greater profit.

            c.            Identify Land as Commercial.  Presently, persons passing this land on I-35 would think it is merely agricultural land; billboards will identify this land as highway commercial and attract prospective buyers thus increasing the land value.

            d.            Identify Local Government as Pro Business.  Billboards on commercial land sends a message to commercial developers that local government is pro development.  The prohibition of billboards carries the opposite message.  Developers are attracted to pro development areas. This increases the land values for all of the commercial land, not just the land with billboards.

            e.            Promote Employment and Generate Tax Base.  Billboards will let commercial developers know the land is zoned for commercial development and local government is flexible and pro development.  If more companies are attracted to the area the chance for quality developers is greater. 

            f.            Take Advantage of Proximity to the Interstate Highway System.  Until Centralized Utilities are Available, Limit Development to Low-impact Uses that do not Require Centralized Utilities.  Billboards are a low-impact use that does not require centralized utilities.

            g.            Encourage High Quality Development Serving the Traveling Public Around the Interchanges with I-35, While Ensuring Adequate Access Controls.  Billboards, by showing high quality developers that local government is helpful rather than obstructive, will increase competition among developers for land in this zone, not just the land with billboards. The more competition the more chances to attract high quality development. 

The opponents of there zoning thought of everything. Billboards are prohibited in this Highway Commercial Zoning.  The landowners are prohibited from using their land for Highway Commercial purposes.  The present use of their land no longer conforms to the zoning making any change or expansion in their agricultural use illegal.

ARE THE RICE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SERIOUS 

ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? 

Tell your County Commissioner to change the ordinance to allow billboards in Highway Commercial.  Help your neighbor and your tax base.

Interstate Outdoor Advertizing, LLC is solely responsible for this message.