Is Dale Mabry turning into Vegas Strip?

CARROLLWOOD, Florida - As competing eye doctors create what some call competing eye sores along the side of N. Dale Mabry Highway, nearby residents are starting to wonder if their community is turning into the new Las Vegas strip.

"We see these current signs going up and think, 'where is it going to end,'" asked Leah Wooten, a 10 Connects viewer who wrote in because she was concerned about the bright signs between Fowler Ave. and Bearss Ave.

Wooten says the multiple LED signs installed this year by the St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute and Newsom Eye & Laser Center - some over 150 sq. feet in size - are the latest eye sores along the highway.

Hillsborough County officials say every sign was approved because they are in commercial zones along Dale Mabry. However, the county tries to protect drivers by limiting LED signs from changing more than once every six seconds.

Wooten says the animation and motion in the LED signs in her neighborhood violates the spirit of the county code.

"As you're driving down the road," she said, "these are flashing messages at you and they're taking your attention away from what you need to be doing and that's driving."

She plans on contacting county commissioners to re-think the policies.

"(We are concerned) with public perception, traffic safety or following county regulations," wrote a representative from St. Luke's, adding that they didn't participate in any sign duel because theirs was up first. "We believe our sign is tasteful, informative, and offers an aid to our patients and the community at large."