A controversial Downtown Rolling Rock billboard will come down, said the attorney for its owners, who wished to avoid a Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission hearing and vote that was set for today.

"In response to the Historic Review Commission's position, we made a decision to take down the sign," said Joel Aaronson, an attorney with Reed Smith, representing Washington, D.C.-based Capitol Outdoor Inc. "At least from our perspective, that ended the controversy."

The controversy started in July 2007, when Capitol put the sign on a building in a historic district without the approval of the commission, which is required under the city code. The installation was done with permits from city zoning and building officials. The Penn-Liberty Local Review Committee protested, and competing sign firm Lamar Advertising filed a zoning challenge that was later dropped.

The Post-Gazette reported on the billboard in April 2008, and city Solicitor George Specter said in March that it should undergo a commission review.

"The city took the position that it wasn't permitted, otherwise we wouldn't be before the Historic Review Commission," said Mr. Aaronson. "The owners of the sign, because of the city's opposition and the opposition of others, made a decision" to take down the sign within 30 days.

Commission Chairman Michael Stern said that if the sign does not come down, the commission will revisit the issue.

Capitol paid $750,000 to Liberty Pacific Media for the rights to that sign site and two others after both companies attended a November 2006 dinner meeting with then-Planning Director Pat Ford and, briefly, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. Liberty Pacific executives donated $27,000 to Mr. Ravenstahl's campaign in December 2006 and January 2007.