AGOURA HILLS : Court Upholds Sign Suit Against City

A Superior Court judge Wednesday refused to throw out a lawsuit brought against the city of Agoura Hills by a dozen businesses that want to put up freeway signs in the area.

The judge ruled against a motion by the city to dismiss the case, saying the suit merits at least another hearing, according to Greg Stepanicich, an attorney for Agoura Hills.

At issue is whether merchants have the right to post freeway signs to attract business as allowed under the state’s Business and Professions Code. The city, which has outlawed such markers, contends that the code does not guarantee the right to post signs but merely deals with size and height requirements.

Stepanicich said he was disappointed with the ruling, which came during the first courtroom meeting of the two sides.

“We were trying to get this dismissed before we all had to spend a lot more time and money to try the case,” he said.

A status conference has been set for March 15, at which time another hearing date will be set, Stepanicich said. It appears the case will probably go to trial, he said.

The businesses sued the city over the right to post freeway signs, which the Agoura Hills City Council banned as eyesores in 1985. The companies were to remove their signs by March, 1992, but refused. The markers are still standing.

Involved in the suit are Chevron, Unocal, Burger King, Texaco, Lumber City, Fence Factory, Roadside Lumber and Hardware, McDonald’s, Denny’s, Jack-In-The-Box, Horse Trailers International and Mobil.