West Kittanning council aims to restrict permanent advertising size, brightness
It could cost businesses up to $500 to build a new advertising sign on their properties in West Kittanning — regardless of size — according to the borough's proposed sign ordinance.
Along with the permitting fee, council is also looking to set limits on the size, dimensions and brightness of permanent advertising signs and billboards throughout the borough.
“We need to make sure we've got regulations for all advertising signs,” said council President Bob Venesky. “It doesn't matter the size, it will be subjected to the permit fee and our regulations.”
Although council is still working out details — ranging from dimensions, height and location to electronic signs' brightness and permitted hours of operation — anybody wanting to install commercial signs would have to fill out a permit application and pay a $500 fee, Venesky said.
“Other than working out a couple details, the ordinance is ready to move ahead,” he said. He expects it will be ready in September.
A three-person committee, made up of council members Ken Trudgen, Cliff Neal and Paula Henry, has been discussing the ordinance for more than two years.
The borough doesn't have advertising sign regulations, although council did place a six-month moratorium on building new ones in April. The borough also doesn't have zoning regulations.
Trudgen said borough officials aren't allowed to prohibit advertising signs altogether, but the ordinance will give the borough control over their size and brightness.
“We can place limits on things that might become a problem down the road,” Trudgen said.
A lawsuit between borough residents Patty and Andrew Colberg and Butler-based Oliver Outdoor Advertising over an electronic billboard on Butler Road was a catalyst for the ordinance, Trudgen said.
The company is suing the Colbergs, claiming it lost $50,000 in revenue after the couple asked advertisers to pull their ads from the billboard, since its light shined brightly into their West Avenue home.
The couple filed a counterclaim for $50,000 in damages, claiming the company's lawsuit has caused them anxiety, emotional distress, embarrassment and economic hardship.
The countersuit asked that the billboard be removed or have its lights turned off at night.
Armstrong County Judge James Panchik heard preliminary arguments from the Colbergs and Oliver Outdoor Advertising in May.
“We're hoping this ordinance will keep more cases like this from happening,” Trudgen said.
Brad Pedersen is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-543-1303, ext. 1337, or bpedersen@tribweb.com.
