Looking to reverse a 36 year ban on new billboards, the San Jose City Council has a vote scheduled February 15th considering two digital billboards on Highway 101 near the San Jose Airport. If approved Clear Channel Outdoor would operate the signs and remove 8 existing billboards throughout San Jose.
Insider has previously reported on the proposal back in August, and since then the proposal has seen push back from several groups including the University of California’s Lick Observatory located 28 miles east of the airport. The staff argued that the billboards would brighten skies and hinder their astronomers.
SFGATE reports that the Federal Aviation Administration has reportedly cleared the project indicating that the signs will be tilted downwards and turned off between midnight and 6 a.m.
The latest hurdle to the project came from the San Jose Airport Commission who rejected the proposal in a 5-1 vote last week over concerns related to community pushback and light pollution.
The Lick Observatory posted the following on Twitter after the Airport Commission Vote.
We've cleared the first hurdle, the Airport Commission voted to RECOMMEND that the installation of digital billboards NOT proceed. The FINAL DECISION comes next month at the San Jose City Council meet. We are very grateful for your continued support for keeping our skies dark. ???? pic.twitter.com/zyzcCRpLMa
— Lick Observatory (@LickObservatory) January 28, 2022
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