Developer Gil Moore Wants Small Slice of City Property for Sign

Gil Moore, the local developer whose hinge on his ability to advertise them with a freeway sign, says he hopes to buy a small piece of city-owned property to do just that.

The Elk Grove City Council on Wednesday night is scheduled to discuss the price and terms of a deal to sell that small slice of land, located between Highway 99 and E. Stockton Boulevard and south of Sheldon Road. The meeting will be closed to the public.

But Moore said while he has expressed interest in buying that land from the city, he hasn't been involved in any negotiations lately.

"Nobody has made me aware that the property I was looking at was even available," he said, adding that he's still interested.

"Of course," Moore said when asked if he still wanted to buy the land. "If they'll let me do it–if they'll let me put the sign up."

Moore said city staff told him if the parcel were to be sold, it would have to be auctioned off to the highest bidder; a city spokeswoman declined to comment on that because the item is scheduled to be discussed in a closed session meeting Wednesday.

Current city law only allows businesses to advertise along the freeway when their property touches the freeway, but .

The Elk Grove Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the creation of "overlay zones," areas near freeway interchanges where off-site signs would be allowed, at its Sept. 20 meeting (click here to read a PDF with more information).

Meanwhile, Moore said he's moving forward with gaining entitlements to develop the land, even though he's not sure it will ever be built. If everything stays on track, he said he will start construction in March of April of next year and finish six months later.

A recent ElkGroveNews.net post on this topic received numerous comments critcizing Moore. He said he didn't understand the criticism.

"All I want to do is have a business that works," Moore said.

He said he's always honest when responding to questions, and noted his phone number is printed on a sign at the site of his planned development. But despite the recent developments in his favor at city hall, he said it's hard not to get discouraged.

"It's just sad because, gosh, we've been waiting for so long to get this thing built."

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Elk Grove City Council - closed session meeting
5 p.m. on Wednesday
Elk Grove City Council Chambers,  8400 Laguna Palms Way
Click here to read an agenda (PDF)

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Elk Grove Planning Commission Meeting
6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20
Elk Grove City Council Chambers,  8400 Laguna Palms Way
Click here to read an agenda (PDF)

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