What’s happening?
The billboard—featuring two business advertisements on each side—is managed by MediaChoice, which handles a portfolio of static and digital billboards throughout the state, according to its website. Located at 16420 RM 620, in Round Rock’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, the signage violates a city sign ordinance that prohibits billboards from being placed within 150 feet of the roadway, City Manager Brooks Bennett told Community Impact.
Bennett said the city has “been in discussion with the attorney of the property owner [and] that they intend to come into compliance with our code,” which would mean the removal of the billboard. There is no indication of when the billboard will come down.
“For code issues, we like to see positive progress to come into compliance, but we know it was probably complicated for them to remove that billboard, and we handle all of our code issues that way, where we want to give people the latitude and the appropriate amount of time to come into compliance,” Bennett said.
The background
In 2022 and 2023, MediaChoice met with Round Rock officials to express the company’s desire to build new electronic billboards along I-35 and SH 45. The advertising company unsuccessfully attempted to lobby City Council to reverse its current ban on new, off-premises signs and billboards.
Following these discussions, a political action committee called Keep Round Rock Safe began a campaign in late 2023 to install privately-owned and operated signage that would feature local advertising as well as public safety messaging, such as Amber Alerts and local emergency notices. At the time, the PAC’s now-defunct website displayed a variety of local businesses as supporters of the coalition, including MediaChoice.
The PAC then began canvassing area neighborhoods, attempting to collect signatures for a ballot initiative to change the city charter. Per state law, Texans may petition their local government to enact new policies, and to bring the measure to a vote requires the petition to be signed by either 20,000 registered city voters or 5% of the voters. According to the city, a large portion of the signatures submitted were collected from residents outside of the city limits, specifically from individuals who live in municipal utility districts.
The PAC announced in December 2023 that it had submitted just under 4,200 signatures to the city. Nearly 1,400 signatures were determined invalid. Of those, 1,268 were tossed due to the signees living outside the city limits.
In other news
The latest billboard in the Round Rock area comes after the city of Austin filed a notice of violation regarding another billboard in its ETJ. MediaChoice was also responsible for this billboard, placed near the intersection of Bee Caves Road and River Hills Road, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
The city of Austin’s Development Services Department did not receive any requests or applications for the billboard, and the city of Austin did not issue a permit for the billboard structure, a department representative said. MediaChoice was also issued a notice of violation from the city of Austin on July 30, which described the construction as being “unpermitted” and “prohibited,” and recommended removal of the sign as well as its associated electrical service.
What else?
Bennett said the city received indication from the attorney of the property owner of the Round Rock site that they intended to file a request to deannex a portion of Round Rock’s ETJ. A state law, passed in 2023, allows residents of an extraterritorial jurisdiction to leave a city’s ETJ through a petition or election.
However, he said the city clerk never received any document to deannex the land.
Round Rock City Council plans to consider entering executive session at its Aug. 28 meeting to consult with the city attorney regarding potential litigation related to the signage.
MediaChoice did not provide comment by press time.
