Council to Talk More About City's Stance on Freeway Signs

The City Council will hear and possibly adopt an order to amend its city codes governing billboards in Newark that can be seen from freeways.

, the council gave initial approval to a plan that would allow billboards and signs in these locations to be non-site specific. That proposal needs a final OK at the council's meeting tonight to become official.

The photo above, of a sign near Union City's Whipple Road freeway exit, was provided by the City of Newark as an example of a non-site specific sign.

To date, the city has only allowed signs visible from Interstate 880 to identify a building, person, firm, corporation or product.

City Manager John Becker has said the city is in preliminary talks with a company that has approached Newark about erecting such signs.

Community Development Director Terrence Grindall has said the company interested in constructing the signs is proposing to build two at locations along Interstate 880 and State Route 84. He did not disclose the name of the company involved.

This evening's meeting will also include two public hearings.

One will be focus on a proposal to revoke a conditional use permit granted in 1998 for a wireless communication facility at 7220 Central Ave. The City Council approved a conditional use permit for a T-Mobile West Corporation wireless telecommunications facility at 37600 Central Court on .

A second hearing will allow public comment on the city’s master fee schedule for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at . To see what else is on the council agenda, click here.