Digital billboards and supergraphics would be limited to 21 areas of the city under a proposed ordinance approved Tuesday by the Los Angeles City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

The full council is expected to take up the issue on May 20.

Electronic signs and supergraphics, which are oversized advertisements that cover at least one side of a building, would be banned except in 21 "sign districts," that include Hollywood, Encino, Canoga Park, Boyle Heights and Los Angeles International Airport.

City Councilman Tom LaBonge urged the committee to limit billboards to the downtown area.

"Suitable locations already exist there for the placement of off-site signage. Limiting sign districts to downtown would curb visual clutter in other areas of the city.

"I am a great admirer of architecture and it concerns me to see beautiful buildings covered in advertisements," LaBonge wrote in a letter to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

The purpose of the ordinance is to create a uniform, citywide policy, said Councilman Ed Reyes, the committee's chair.

"Our intent is not to hurt business, it's not to do the type of negative impacts we've been hearing. It is to try to be comprehensive and consistent," Reyes said.

The regulations are opposed by the California Sign Association and Los
Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

"Having drafted sign ordinances for nearly 20 years, I can categorically say that this is probably, although well-intended, one of the most poorly drafted proposals I've had a chance to view," said Jeff Aran, legal counsel to the California Sign Association.

Chamber representative Vanessa Rodriguez said the proposal fails to
distinguish between billboards and the signs that businesses post outside their doors to publicize products.

The city has a temporary ban on new billboards and supergraphics. The City Council has also backed a state measure that would place a moratorium on
digital signs.