Elk Grove Mayoral Candidate Comes Out in Support of Highway Billboards

At tonight's Elk Grove City Council meeting, one of the six candidates vying to become the city's first directly elected mayor came out in support of allowing placement of billboards along Highway 99 and I-5.

Speaking during the public comment portion of tonight's meeting, small business owner and mayoral candidate Grey Higley said he would support changing the city's current ordinance that currently allows only businesses that are directly adjacent to the city's two highway's from placing billboards. Citing the boost it could give local businesses, Higley said the signs would encourage people to stop in Elk Grove.

The billboard controversy started last spring when local developer Gil Moore said he needs to place a highway billboard to ensure the success of a McDonald's and AM/PM gas station he hopes to build that is not adjacent to a highway. Numerous Elk Grove residents have spoken out against loosening the current sign ordinance.

Higley noted the billboards would need to meet stringent design standard and could be aesthetically designed. "I think it would be an asset to the city," Higley said.