Zoning Hearing Board Votes for Poison Sumac!

What is more distracting, driving down Route 378 looking at poison sumac, or looking at a 625 square foot light emitting diode (LED) billboard?

Well, the ZHB voted for the poison sumac. Good decision in my book.

Last night, the ZHB voted 5-0 to follow the dictates of the zoning ordinance, which allows billboards in certain areas of the City, but keeps their size to 100 square feet, and no higher than 25 feet above the basic grade.

Penn Venture Capital, LLC, after having been denied by the Zoning Officer, appealed to the ZHB to have a 625 square foot LED billboard, standing 49 feet higher than the basic grade. The ZHB voted no. They voted  to continue allowing Route 378 to be lined with trees. It won’t last forever. The zoning ordinance permits billboards along 378, so, it will come to pass. Too bad.

David Harte, engineer for Penn Venture Capital, LLC stated that the main reason for wanting a 625 square foot billboard was for safety. He said the 100 square foot billboard was too small to read, and it would cause unsafe distractions for drivers since they would have to be within 200 feet of the smaller sign to be able to safely see the message. I don’t think the ZHB thought that argument was persuasive.

PVC, LLC also stated that the sign could have been used for silver or amber alerts, maybe once or twice a year. I don’t think the ZHB thought that argument was persuasive.

And Mr. Harte stated that PVC, LLC did not want the larger sign as a revenue generator. Mr. Bill Scheirer, a nearby resident, thanked them for their magnanimous gesture of wanting to put a 625 square foot billboard on Route 378 for the benefit of the driving public.

So, enjoy the poison sumac on Route 378, while it lasts. The LEDS are coming!