Pittsburgh council hears sharp opposition to North Shore entertainment-district sign proposal

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council received competing views Jan. 20 on a zoning ordinance (Bill 20240959) that would create a North Shore Entertainment District and relax signage rules for stadiums and other destination facilities.

City Planning senior manager Kate Rekis told the council the draft ordinance was referred to the Planning Commission on June 25, 2025, and the version before council received a positive Planning Commission recommendation on Nov. 18, 2025 after a collaborative staff-applicant process. Rekis said mailed and posted notice for the hearing were completed at least 21 days in advance.

Sean Gallagher, representing North Shore stakeholders, said the measure responds to the distinctive architecture of facilities along the riverfront — citing Rivers Casino, the Science Center, PNC Park, Acrisure Stadium and the Warhol — and would create five subdistricts with tailored sign rules.

"The North Shore is the biggest collection of public destination facilities in Pittsburgh, and it needs unique signage that isn’t presently provided for in the zoning code," Gallagher said.

A designer for the applicant group described three tiers of sign review — large signs requiring Planning Commission review, mid-size signs reviewed by planning staff, and smaller signs entitled by right — and said the code would be simplified for building-attached signs and allow sculptural ground signage and additional large video displays on stadium-scale facades.

Opponents at the hearing said the draft goes too far. David Demko, assistant director of Scenic Pittsburgh, told council: "This is quite possibly the worst signage bill I've ever seen. This bill literally creates a billboard free-for-all zone." Demko noted that current city jumbo billboards are limited to about 750 square feet and said the proposal would permit temporary-event signage of much longer duration and greater number, minor temporary signs up to 500 square feet, and "public destination facility" ground or pole signs up to 2,500 square feet and 50 feet tall.

Zipporah Feldman, policy and research director for Scenic America, a national nonprofit, warned that special sign districts are being used nationally to bypass longstanding citywide controls. "Approving these proposals would move the city in the opposite direction," Feldman said, citing concerns about driver distraction, light pollution, energy use and the loss of local control.

Council President Lavelle, who participated remotely, thanked planning staff and stakeholders for their work and framed the proposal as a tool to support North Shore businesses during difficult times. Lavelle indicated the committee would return the item to the council agenda promptly and suggested a vote could be taken the next day.

No formal motion or vote occurred at the hearing; council followed the public-comment phase with a discussion of next steps and adjourned. The council hearing transcript and presenters’ materials will guide any revisions before the item returns to the agenda.