Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-28
Reconstruction and Land
scaping of Existing Signs
Is Proposed.
NEW RESTRICTIONS LIFT
BAN ON FEW PRODUCTS
District Officials Depending Upon
Development of Vacant Properties
to Eliminate Billboards.

Finishing touches were applied by
District government officials today to
3 proposed modern sign code, designed
primarily to bring about extensive i'm
provements in the esthetic appearance
OF Washington through revision Of
restrictions on billboards and other
conspicuous outdoor advertising media.
The new code has two outstanding
features. The most important Of these
would provide for the reconstruction
thorized billboards and the landscaping
Of the sites surrounding them. Present
regulations decree that these boards
shall not be repaired or altered in any
way, but shall die natural death
through deterioration. Then the boards
are to be removed, never to be re-
placed.
National Products Admitted.
The other major provision in the pro-
posed code would permit limited num-
Der of nationally advertised products
to be included on signs used by mer-
chants to advertise their business.
Existing regulations prescribe that such
signs shall contain only q statement
of the business of the merchant.
Authorization for the rebuilding and
identification of the billboards was
written into the code on the theory
that as long as the signs are likely to
remain for some years to come, or I'M
I'll building development brings about
their destruction, the aesthetic appear
ance of the city might better be en-
HANGED by improvements on these forms
Of outdoor advertising while they last.
The question as to the ultimate fate
of the billboards is left in allegiance in
the new code, but District officials feel
confident that in the next decade
building development viii. year by year,
eventually wipe out all of these signs.
Many of them, 1t was pointed out, are
located on sites suitably adapted for
sIiIding purposes.
Additional BiIIbOards Barred.
The new regulations, however, would
not permit the erection Of any addi-
. donal billboards. The replacement or
Improvement could only be made on
sites where billboards are now au-
thorized.
p Another change proposed in the new
code would tighten existing regulations
by giving the Commissioners the au-
thority to determine when a sign
ton guficient to justify its removal
Such control is declared lacking under
present regulations
A bill empowering the Commissioners
to adopt the proposed new regulations
has been drawn and Ia awaiting their
approval. In anticipation of its en-
actment by Congress an item was in
ciuded in the 1881 budget providing
for an additional inspector in the ONCE
Of the building inspector, who would
have supervision over billboards, signs
and other form Of authorized outdoor
advertising.
Many Codes Studied.
The new code was drawn up by Mai.
Donald A. Dawson. Assistant Engineer
Commissioner of the District, after an
exhaustive study of sign regulations in
number Of American cities comparable
in size with Washington. The best fea-
lures of codes of these cities have been
put into Washington's new regulations,
modified to meet peculiar local condi-
tons.
The present sign code, Maj. Davidson
explained Is inadequate and legally I'M
sound. and District officials have found
1t impossible to carry out its punitive
provisions. These deficiencies, he said,
have been eliminated In the new regu-
lationS, which, IL adopted, will give the
beauty Of Washington precedence over
the demand for outdoor advertising
The new regulations, Mai. Davidson
said. have been thoroughly discussed
with business men and representatives
of the sign industry, and he believes
them to be satisfied with all features
including the regulatory provisions and
fees.