Brook Park planning committee advances conditional-use request for municipal-campus billboard tied to Browns stadium

The planning committee moved a conditional-use resolution to the full council for a digital billboard on the municipal campus, a proposal the administration tied directly to the Cleveland Browns stadium project and expected event traffic.

"The main purpose for this project for the city is to be able to help alleviate the concerns, with being able to put information on this billboard to help people get to the airport," the mayor told the caucus, describing how signage could direct event traffic and reduce congestion. He said the city would issue requests for qualifications for vendors to lease, build and operate the billboard and that lease proceeds could be directed to recreation operations.

Council members asked for details about location, design and content controls. The mayor said the billboard would be located on municipal-campus property between Sylvia and Holland roads, at least 250 feet from roadways as required, and that the city would retain ownership of the land while pursuing a long-term lease for the structure. "We will maintain ownership of the land," he said.

Several members expressed concerns about proximity to residential areas and to schools, and about the zoning precedent for placing billboards outside warehousing or industrial districts. Councilwoman DeFore asked whether ODOT must approve new billboard locations along highways and whether alternative traffic-direction methods should be considered; the mayor said the administration is already working with ODOT and other regional partners.

Committee members voted to place the measure on the Jan. 20 council agenda under verbal approval so the full council can consider the conditional-use permit and subsequent requests for qualifications and lease terms.

Next procedural steps include drafting the conditional-use ordinance, issuing requests for qualifications for vendors to lease and manage the billboard, and, if approved by council, negotiating a lease that would include content restrictions and revenue-sharing terms to benefit city recreation operations.