Over 1400 residents in Gallatin Gateway and Big Sky joined forces to keep billboards out of the canyon on Highway 191 leading to Big Sky. But in a decision just days ago, the Gallatin County Commission shot down the billboard ban. Now residents are asking Governor Schweitzer to step in to have an existing billboard removed and stop others from going up.
Residents had hoped a new zoning district would make the owner of the existing billboard in the canyon, take it down after three years. In August, supported that idea in a two to one vote. But commissioners reversed that decision saying that Saunders Outdoor Advertising Company, the owner of the exisiting billboard, had the permits to keep the sign there.
The owner of the existing sign, Weston Saunders, gave us this statement:
"Saunders Outdoor Advertising has a legally established business and is entitled to all property rights associated with such. The county commission voted against the new zoning regulations because it violated those rights. It is our position that the only solution is through amicable negotiation, and not by a forced taking of our property. Amortization is not fair market compensation. In August, Saunders offered to negotiate a settlement with the county to relocate the sign, but has yet to receive a reply."
Residents say it's not over. They plan to resubmit a new zoning regulation request with new language allowing the exisiting sign to stay up for 10 years instead of three, and to stop anymore billboards from going up.
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