The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a settlement agreement with one of Houston's largest billboard companies that is expected to lead to the removal of 831 signs.

The agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor would remove 831 small and medium-sized billboards — a two-thirds reduction of all the company's billboards smaller than 288 square feet.

Some billboards had been slated to come down by 2013, but others could have remained up permanently because the city cannot regulate signs along federal roadways.

In exchange, the company will be allowed to keep 24 large billboards up for another 20 years.

An earlier proposal would have allowed the company to move some billboards, a provision that proved unpopular.

Mayor Bill White said the new deal was a good compromise. The council approved it without discussion.