Community Corner
Scenic San Diego Files Objection Over Proposed Electronic Billboard in Santee
The city says no environmental review is necessary for a sign that would stand 44 feet over SR-52, but a group against advertising blight thinks otherwise.
The group Scenic San Diego filed a formal objection to the City of Santee about a Negative Declaration denying the need for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) concerning a large electronic billboard proposed to be built along SR-52 in Santee, according to a post on the San Diego Reader.
The sign, called for by the Toyota Certified Center of Santee, would be atop a 70-foot pole over the area where state routes 52 and 125 meet, according to city documents.
The initial review found that since the sign would be visible in a largely commercial area and the portion of SR-52 is not considered scenic, the project would not have significant environmental impacts. The city found that no environmental review is required.
The nonprofit coalition, who states their purpose as "protecting our neighborhoods from billboard and display advertising blight," argued that there is a “fair argument" that the sign may cause a significant environmental impact, and therefore requires an EIR.
In addition, the complaint said that certain aspects of the proposed project violate Santee's own Municipal Code concerning signs.
Issues brought up in the complaint include:
- The sign would be 24 feet taller than legal height for signs along the freeway in Santee.
- The surface area of the sign would be about four times the size allowed by city code- two sides at 321 square feet each.
According to the report, the sign would stand about 44 feet over the highway adjacent to the dealership, on Fanita Drive near Mission Gorge Road.
The objection also includes reference to a Caltrans report on digital billboards:
"Studies regularly demonstrate that the presence of roadside advertising signs such as digital billboards contributes to driver distraction tat levels that adversely affect safe driving performance."
The objection doesn't mention it, but the potential "distraction" would be situated along a roadway with a recent slate of wrong-way driving accidents.
Comment: What do you think about the proposed sign?
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
