HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 5809

As Amended by the House

BYSenator Amondson

Regarding shopping center directional signs.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (18)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Day, Gallagher, Haugen, Heavey, Jones, Nelson, Prince, Smith, D. Sommers, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (5)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Hankins, R. Meyers, Patrick and Todd.

House Staff:Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 6, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The current statutory criteria governing directional signs on state highway rights of way for regional shopping centers include the requirement that the shopping center be located within one mile of the roadway.  The majority of shopping centers are within one mile of a state highway and therefore are eligible for at least one directional sign.  The one-mile limit, however, does prevent some centers from qualifying for additional signing on other surrounding state highways.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that the shopping center be located within one mile of the roadway in order to qualify for a directional sign is changed to five miles.  The square footage for qualifying malls is reduced from 500,000 to 400,000 square feet, and the daily one-way vehicle trip count is reduced from 9,000 to 7,000.  No more than two directional signs for a qualified shopping center may be erected on each interstate or state highway located within five miles of the mall.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Randy Derwil, Washington Retail Association; Brian Olivi, Capital Mall.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Allowing shopping malls which are located up to five miles from an interstate highway or state route to receive directional signing is a benefit to the motoring public and the economy of the state.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.