Osage Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. State Highway Commission

696 S.W.2d 805, 1985 Mo. App. LEXIS 3440
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 25, 1985
DocketNo. WD 36072
StatusPublished

This text of 696 S.W.2d 805 (Osage Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. State Highway Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Osage Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. State Highway Commission, 696 S.W.2d 805, 1985 Mo. App. LEXIS 3440 (Mo. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

PRITCHARD, Judge.

Respondent ordered the removal of three prior nonconforming use highway signs without compensation. The signs advertised Champlin petroleum products, and were erected on Interstate 70, near its Kingdom City junction of U.S. Highway 54. Each sign referred to the Kingdom City Truck Terminal.

On October 2,1979, the parties stipulated these facts as to each of the three signs: “The ‘Kingdom City Truck Terminal’ which is referred to on the sign is owned by the Champlin Petroleum Company and was closed on June 30, 1977, and said truck terminal has not reopened for business. Before that date Osage Outdoor Advertising entered into a contract with Champlin Petroleum Company pursuant to which Osage Outdoor Advertising agreed to maintain the sign thru a period of time through June 1, 1979. Champlin Petroleum Company made and continued to make the monthly payments to Osage Outdoor Advertising to maintain the advertising on this sign until June 1, 1979. Champlin Petroleum Company continues to sell ‘Champlin’ products, but not at the Kingdom City Truck Terminal.”

Attached to copies of the respondent’s review record filed in this court are photocopies of photographs of each sign. Although far from clear, they do show Champlin’s logo and its name in the upper left corners. To the right of the logos are the words “Kingdom City Truck Terminal”, and to the right of that appear exit directions.

Pursuant to the legislative authority of § 226.530, RSMo 1978, respondent adopted regulation 7 CSR 10-6.060(3)(E), effective October 15, 1977, which is:

“(E) Abandonment and Discontinuance. A non-conforming sign shall not be abandoned or discontinued after the date the sign becomes nonconforming. Abandonment or discontinuance occurs whenever:
1. The sign for a continuous period of twelve months or more advertises services or products no longer available to the travelling public because the services or products have been discontinued or cannot be obtained at the destination or by directions indicated on the sign; or *

The notices sent to appellant by respondent on August 6, 1979, informed the signs had lost their nonconforming status and must be removed because the products or [807]*807services advertised had been discontinued or could not be obtained at the destination or by directions indicated on the signs as prohibited by the above regulation. After hearing respondent ordered the signs removed which was affirmed by the trial court.

Respondent found that since June 30, 1977, the signs have advertised for 12 months or more continuously services and products no longer available at the destination and by the sign directions. It concluded that the signs were lawful, nonconforming signs before June 30, 1977, but that for a continuous period of 12 months after October 15, 1977 [the effective date of the above regulation], the signs advertised services and products no longer available to the travelling public at the destination or by the signs’ directions.

Although respondent contends that appellant’s Points I, II and III are waived because not presented in the Commission hearing [citing Perez v. Webb, 533 S.W.2d 650, 655-656[5][6] (Mo.App.1976); and Independent Stave Co. v. State Hwy. Com’n, Etc., 625 S.W.2d 246, 249[2] (Mo.App.1981) ], because, apparently, this is the first time that an issue has been presented on the obsolescence of advertising of signboard services and products at a designated destination, the issues will be considered.

In its bifurcated Point I, appellant contends that the advertising was in place before the effective date of the regulation (October 15, 1977). That is true, but the facts as stipulated show that for 21 months after the regulation became available, there were no products or services available at the advertised destination, the Kingdom City Truck Terminal. As respondent points out, appellant had 12 months after the effective date of the regulation to correct the sign’s message but did not do so. The contention is without merit. It is next contended that the Champlin company and its products continued to exist through the period in question. It is so stipulated and also that its products are not sold at the Kingdom City Truck Terminal. Thus the regulation applies because the products cannot be obtained at the destination or by directions indicated on the sign. The contention is overruled. It is then contended that the signs were not abandoned or discontinued so as to bring the factual situation within the provisions of the regulation. The regulation clearly provides that abandonment or discontinuance occurs when the products or services cannot be obtained at the destination or sign directions, thus the facts bring the sign within the purview of the regulation, contrary to the contention. Appellant next contends that the application of the regulation in the manner sought by respondent is outside the purpose of the highway beautification laws. The stated purpose of that law, as contained in 23 U.S.C.A. § 131, is: “(a) The Congress hereby finds and declares that the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising signs, displays, and devices in areas adjacent to the Interstate System and the primary system should be controlled in order to protect the public investment in such highways, to promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, and to preserve natural beauty.” Note also Nat. Advertising Co. v. State Highway Com’n, 549 S.W.2d 536, 537 (Mo.App.1977), “The purpose of the legislation was to promote an orderly display of outdoor advertising by, among other things, providing funds to the states for the removal of unsightly outdoor advertising in the restricted area which cluttered open space or was unattractive by its appearance.” See also Boyce Industries v. Mo. Hy. and Transp. Com’n, 670 S.W.2d 147 (Mo.App.1984), holding that the primary purpose of the Billboard Act. is to obtain removal of the unlawful signs. Expanding on these general purposes is 23 CFR § 750.707(d)(6), “The sign may continue as long as it is not destroyed, abandoned, or discontinued. * * * (j) Each state shall develop criteria to define destruction, abandonment and discontinuance. These criteria may provide that a sign which for a designated period of time has obsolete advertising matter * * * may constitute abandonment or discontinuance. * * The removal of signs deemed to [808]*808have been abandoned by reason of obsolete advertising messages, and thus being rendered unlawful, is certainly within the highway beautification laws under both the federal and state regulations, and the contention is denied. It is of no consequence that the Kingdom City Truck Terminal may still be in existence, inasmuch as the stipulation is that Champlin products and services are no longer there available, which is the dispositive fact relieving respondent of further proof, thus its burden is sustained. Point I in its entirety is overruled.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

National Advertising Co. v. State Highway Commission
549 S.W.2d 536 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1977)
Boyce Industries, Inc. v. Missouri Highway & Transportation Commission
670 S.W.2d 147 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1984)
Perez v. Webb
533 S.W.2d 650 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1976)
Independent Stave Co. v. State Highway Commission
625 S.W.2d 246 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1981)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
696 S.W.2d 805, 1985 Mo. App. LEXIS 3440, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/osage-outdoor-advertising-inc-v-state-highway-commission-moctapp-1985.