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Should floating billboards be allowed on Lake Washington?

BY Jamie Skorheim  on May 18, 2012 @ 9:44 am (Updated: 12:04 pm - 5/18/12 )

cedargrove
i Alternative Media tested out their new i AM Phibious billboards on Lake Washington on Thursday. (Image courtesy i Alternative Media)

An advertising and marketing executive wants to put floating billboards on Lake Union and Lake Washington in Seattle.

Seattle police and regulators say there are no rules against the floating ads.

But 97.3 KIRO FM host Luke Burbank thinks regulations are on the horizon.

"That law is going to get changed probably by the time the show is over today," Burbank said in a discussion of the story on The Ross and Burbank Show Friday.

"Nobody wants to see this," says Burbank.

Darran Bruce, with i Alternative Media, the company that came up with the idea, tells KING 5 he thought of it one day while driving across a floating bridge. He says, "I see scenery; I see beauty; I see opportunity."

Bruce tested a 14-foot-tall floating placard Thursday on Lake Washington. Sections could be linked together to create a 192-foot-long billboard towed by a boat.

"My heart breaks for the waterfront property owners," says co-host Dave Ross. "I hate the idea."

But for the purpose of discussion, Ross asks how this is any different from aerial advertising.

"The difference is that the sky is nearly infinite. Lake Washington and Lake Union are not at all. If you've ever been out there on a busy day, there are tons of boats. You're trying to avoid people," says Burbank.

They also discussed whether the person selling advertising should have to pay a fee for use of the lake.

"He's gone out and found this thing that we all own together and we all pay for the upkeep of, and he's monetizing it for his own good," says Burbank. "If you put up a billboard along Aurora, you can't just go on Aurora and pick your spot, drill down to the ground and erect a billboard and say 'here it is.' You've got to get the person who owns the land to allow you to do this."

Burbank suggests if this is going to move forward, the advertising company should be required to make payment to the parks or the county.

But Ross says there's already plenty of businesses making money off the lake.

"When the good time cruises sell tickets and cruise along Lake Washington, they don't pay the Lake Washington shore owners association anything for that. They just collect the money and tool around Lake Washington."

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
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Comments (20)


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  • fourstringfuror wrote...
    Aww
    May 18, 2012 11:19 am
    Yeah, my heart is breaking for all those poor homeowners who were forced to build on the shores of a lake in the middle of a vast metropolitan area. Just in pieces, I tell ya.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Too Funny!
    May 18, 2012 12:10 pm
    They need to put them right along the MEDINA & Mercer Island waterfront...Hilarious! How 'bout along the 5-20 Bridge taxes could be used to offset the tolls?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    this is NOT an original idea
    May 18, 2012 1:10 pm
    The late, great Ivar Hagland (Ivar's) used the same image as a chowder house ad in the 1960's. Although it was supposedly in Elliott Bay - and there never were any 'floating billboards'. BUT a couple of years ago someone actually 'dredged up' an old sign from the 60's and claimed it was a real relic. LOL - just make sure THESE are near Mercer Island so Dave can see them every day. And at night - NEON
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Absolutely. The 1% on the lake created this economic environment
    May 18, 2012 1:29 pm
    Why should they get to hide from it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RoPo wrote...
    Krazy Citizen
    May 18, 2012 4:01 pm
    The 1% pay for everything the other 50% don't pay for. Get over it and get a job. PS: I know the math is off but you probably have more time to figure that out than I do.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    RoPo: I'm OK in my wrong-side-of-the-tracks Bellevue home
    May 18, 2012 4:13 pm
    Even though I'm now under water while the lake folks party the night away. Don't assume disdain is equivalent to OWS-mindset.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Yo -CKT
    May 18, 2012 4:02 pm
    The Obama Admin has created this economic environment by DOING NOTHING to fix it. Don't fall for the "CLass Warfare" BS these incompetent liars are feeding you. The Democrats haven't even bothered to pass a badget in over 3 years. Pay attention.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Yo MF: I hear ya
    May 18, 2012 4:14 pm
    Doesnt mean I'm not for milking the whales
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    NO BADGET??????????????????
    May 18, 2012 6:24 pm
    Well, imagine that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Should advertising be allowed on our airwaves....??
    May 18, 2012 1:35 pm
    There ought to be a law.....when I'm breezing through the radio dial I wouldn't have my place of zen ruined.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Skykomish2 wrote...
    "I see scenery; I see beauty; I see opportunity."
    May 18, 2012 2:07 pm
    This is the problem with today - people have no sense of propriety. I'd hate to be out on a beautiful sunny day sailing and enjoying life and have a floating billboard float by. It'd be time for a new breed of torpedos....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    I prefer .........
    May 18, 2012 2:44 pm
    Mt.Rainer,MI,Laurelhurst,Husky Stadium,Madison Park,Evergreen point, Kirkland, not Starbucks ad;"How are you liking the fact that the Thunder is on their way with Durant?"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    And the first time a tagger drowns.....
    May 18, 2012 3:23 pm
    ...who will be sued for damages? The sign owner or the state?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Lake Washington isn't too far from
    May 18, 2012 4:17 pm
    Wall Drug.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    About 1236 miles, snout
    May 18, 2012 6:28 pm
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    Wow
    May 18, 2012 7:06 pm
    Look at all these haters. Do I detect CLASS JEALOUSY of those wealthy enough to buy waterfront property?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }