Zoning board OKs larger electronic sign on Market Street, limits message transitions

The City of Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board on record approved a dimensional variance allowing a 175-square-foot electronically changing wall sign on the west facade of the M&T building at 213 Market Street, conditioned on limiting message transitions to six per minute.

The sign request, filed by the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, seeks relief from the Downtown Center district limit of 75 square feet. Planning Director Jeffrey Knight told the board the existing sign is already nonconforming and that the applicant proposes a larger replacement to improve legibility at a visually congested intersection. "The allowance in the zoning code for the downtown center District in which the property is located is 75 square feet, and the applicant is proposing a…