Planners say no to big, lighted sign at Fountain Valley-Costa Mesa border

After a litany of complaints from Costa Mesa residents, the Fountain Valley Planning Commission agreed Wednesday that a proposed 79-foot-tall electronic advertising sign off the 405 Freeway would pose more harm than good.

Five commissioners, with one absent, voted not to recommend a 30-year deal for Clear Channel Outdoor’s sign at 10955 Ellis Ave., a city-owned parcel that also contains a large water reservoir.

The sign would be on the northeastern edge of the property, highly visible to 405 Freeway drivers, and would consist of two 672-square-foot, light-emitting diode (LED) displays forming a “V” shape.

The proposal next goes to the Fountain Valley City Council, which will take the commission’s disapproval into consideration and have final say. The council is to discuss the issue at its Sept. 15 meeting.

Fountain Valley stands to gain $150,000 annually from the agreement, with incremental increases afterward. Clear Channel would take down three other non-LED billboards in the city.

The project’s environmental report noted that the sign poses “significant and unavoidable” visual effects on northwest Costa Mesa households, specifically within the State Streets neighborhood near Moon Park.

Clear Channel’s sign is not expected to negatively affect any Fountain Valley residences.

One Costa Mesa city official and about 25 State Streets residents spoke against the sign, many from Alabama Circle, whose backyards abut the Santa Ana River trail.

Alabama Circle resident Rebecca Captain said she would be able to see the nearly 80-foot sign from her home.

“I will be seeing this sign from my backyard,” she said. “I will be seeing this sign from my bedroom, from my bed. None of you would want that.”

One of Captain’s neighbors on Alabama, Peggy Partnoff, called the digital billboard a “blight” that, because it contains national advertising, wouldn’t even benefit local business.

“Let us retain the family image and respectful character Fountain Valley has always had,” Partnoff said.

Fountain Valley resident Leston Trueblood noted that the city would not permit an LED sign on private property, yet on city-owned property City Hall seems to “make up the rules” as it goes along.

John Duong, Clear Channel Outdoor’s Southern California division vice president of real estate and public affairs, said his company would obey all state and federal regulations regarding the sign. It would not advertise tobacco or sexual material.

He also cited various studies that indicated electronic signs are not overly distracting to drivers and don’t cause accidents.

Duong cited Clear Channel Outdoor’s willingness to let the sign be used for public service announcements, such as Amber alerts. He pointed to other Clear Channel signs in Los Angeles that law enforcement agencies used while tracking down rogue Los Angeles Police Department Officer Christopher Dorner or fugitive mobster James “Whitey” Bulger.

Duong disputed a claim that the so-called “ground zero” of 78 affected Costa Mesa homes would lose an estimated $5.5 million in property value because of the sign. Citing recent property transactions, he indicated that State Streets homes did not lose value after the contested LED signs at South Coast Collection were installed.

Duong’s comments — and those from former Olympian swimmer Kaitlin Hogan, who praised Clear Channel Outdoor’s contributions to a foundation she supports — were not enough to sway the Fountain Valley planners.

“This is not the time or the place for this sign,” said Commissioner Patrick Harper.

Chairman Brad Gaston echoed Trueblood’s concerns that the sign wouldn’t be allowed in the city if it were on private property.

“What really bothers me,” Gaston said, “is that the city is taking advantage of a loophole in the law.”