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Green Tree council eyes enforcement of 11 p.m. sign-lighting rule, sends ordinance to planning commission
Summary
Councilors and residents debated enforcing an 11 p.m. sign-illumination limit, whether LED and 24-hour facility signage should be grandfathered, and voted to ask the planning commission to study possible ordinance updates and enforcement steps.
Councilors at Green Tree's Feb. 16 workshop discussed enforcing the borough's existing sign ordinance and asked the planning commission to research updates to address modern LED illumination and special-case operations.
Council member Schwartz (S2) opened the discussion, noting the ordinance generally prohibits signs from remaining illuminated after 11 p.m., with exceptions for businesses that provide food service, fuel or lodging. Several participants said some businesses do not comply and urged the borough to prepare an enforcement plan.
"It's my opinion that we should enforce the ordinance, as written for the time being," said a council speaker (S9), recommending that the borough compile a list of businesses that remain illuminated after 11 p.m. and give them notice to comply. The council asked its code enforcement officer to assemble that list and for the planning commission to research modernizing the ordinance language and possible exemptions.
Residents raised examples: the Pennsylvania American Water warehouse sign was discussed as possibly being considered a 24-hour facility and therefore grandfathered; councilors also questioned whether older ordinance language that referenced individual light bulbs applies to today's LED displays. Speakers agreed that business feedback would be important before changes are proposed.
Next steps: council agreed to send the matter to the planning commission for research and recommended the code enforcement officer provide a compliance list and proposed notice period; no final ordinance changes were adopted at the workshop.
