Commonwealth Court affirms ruling against LED sign
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A billboard proposal that roiled city of Pittsburgh government in 2008 was dealt a blow today when the Commonwealth Court affirmed a judge's ruling against the sign.
The court's opinion, by Judge Robert Simpson, backed up rulings by Common Pleas Judge Joseph James, and by the city Zoning Board of Adjustment before him, that a 19-by-58-foot LED sign can't be placed on the Grant Street Transportation Center, Downtown.
"The court has affirmed that this [sign] should never have been approved in the first place," said city Councilman Patrick Dowd, who had insisted on a public process for the sign. He called today's ruling "a huge victory for the citizens as far as zoning and the public process involved in zoning," and thanked his lawyers, Patricia McGrail and Isobel Storch.
Sam Kamin, attorney for Lamar, had not read the decision late this afternoon and could not say whether he would appeal.
The sign's partial erection, without hearings or votes despite its prominent location, was challenged by city council members. That challenge ended in an agreement by Lamar to go through a public process. That process, though, resulted in a split Zoning Board decision that had the effect of a denial of the firm's bid to complete the customized, multi-million-dollar sign.
The sign controversy also split city council and led top the resignation of former Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford.
First Published June 23, 2010 5:45 pm
