East Deer to take comments on proposed billboard ordinance this week

East Deer taxpayers will get the opportunity to comment on the township’s proposed billboard rules during a township commissioners’ meeting this week.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing Thursday on a proposed billboard ordinance, which, if adopted, amends the township’s zoning ordinance for the regulation of billboards within East Deer.

East Deer has been grappling with the proposal for several months.

In June, the township’s zoning hearing board held a hearing to build four electronic billboards requested by America First Enterprises, also known as Oliver Outdoor. The signs would be visible from Route 28.

Finding the township’s zoning was exclusionary to billboards, the zoning hearing board granted approval for three of Oliver’s billboards and requested more information before issuing a decision on the fourth. The township has appealed that decision, and Allegheny County Judge Mary C. McGinley scheduled a second status conference for Jan. 9 in that case.

While the draft ordinance won’t impact Oliver’s proposal, it does prevent other billboard applications from being submitted until its adoption.

In August, East Deer sent its draft to township and county planners for their review. East Deer then followed their recommendations for the proposal which brought it to its current state.

The proposal allows billboard signs as a conditional use in industrial-zoned districts. A sign’s surface area cannot exceed 300 square feet, which includes both sides if it’s a two-sided sign.

The proposal also sets height and size limits of signs, as well as landscaping requirements being considered, on a case-by-case basis during the conditional-use process.

It states that a billboard’s lighting and special effects will be determined during the conditional-use process and sets standards for special effects. All parts of a sign’s special effects display must be within the boundaries of the sign’s faces. Billboards that rotate images must display each image for a minimum of eight seconds.

Images and messages displayed must be static, and the transition from one display to another must be instant and without transition effects, the proposal said. The billboard must be equipped with a light-sensing device that adjusts the sign’s brightness as the day goes on.

If the board malfunctions, its operator must have monitoring in place that either turns off the display or shows a full black image.

Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani said the township drafted the proposal to protect the residents of the township and the integrity of East Deer’s zoning ordinance, and also to comply with state and federal standards.

The public hearing is just part of the process, he said.

“We simply followed the procedure as is called for,” he said.

Commissioners could vote on the proposal following Thursday’s public hearing. People interested in viewing a copy of the proposal can contact the township at 724-224-3434, ext. 4.