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City Votes To 'Grandfather In' Giant American Flag In Leesburg

LEESBURG, Fla. --

 Leesburg residents were protesting a move Monday that could bringdown a giant American flag, but the city council decided to instead'grandfather in' the flag.

SLIDESHOW:

Images Of 30-Foot By 60-Foot American Flag

VOTE:Agree With Decision To Let Giant Flag Keep Flying?

VIDEO REPORT:

Giant American Flag Gets To Keep Flying

The city said the flag is too big, but others call it a citylandmark. The city commission decided to make an exception Mondayto their own rules to keep the flag flying. They were facing alarge crowd of people who are at Monday night's meeting to stand upfor the stars and stripes and found a way to avoid any controversy.

If you drive Highway 441 through Leesburg, you can't miss it. It'sone of the largest, if not the largest, American flags in all ofCentral Florida and it flies over a car dealership.

Greg Clark says it's a tradition, not a trademark. Clark and mosteveryone else who crowded Monday's Leesburg city commission meetingbelieve an ordinance to limit the size of U.S. flags and polesshould be repealed.

The ordinance was originally passed in 2004, along with a new setof rules for signs in Leesburg's business districts. Some considerlarge signs an ugly sight and the city set deadlines for theirremoval, the first wave to hit next January. But because of theenormous cost involved and with some businesses struggling in tougheconomic times, city leaders might consider extending the deadlineanother two years.

As for the 30-foot-by-60-foot star spangled banner, the cityavoided a likely fight if they tried to bring it down. Members ofthe city council that Eyewitness News talked to Monday had saidthey thought patriotism would win out.

The car dealership was annexed into the city of Leesburg in 2006,but the flag has flown since 1987. For that reason, some believethe flag should be grandfathered in and allowed to remain flying.