Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Electronic Message Center topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Millcreek School District granted variances for larger electronic signs at six schools amid resident lighting concerns
Summary
The Millcreek Township Zoning Board approved variances allowing larger electronic message-center signs at six school sites. Staff read Section 14588 rules limiting animation, requiring dimmers and shut-off hours; a nearby resident urged earlier shut-off to avoid nightscape disruption and the district said it plans to turn signs off closer to 9–10 p.m.
The Millcreek Township Zoning Board approved a set of variances that will allow larger electronic message-center (EMC) signs at six Millcreek Township School District sites.
John Finn, representing HHS (architects/engineers), told the board the district seeks standardized, matching signs across locations to simplify maintenance and improve motorist readability. He said the proposed total sign face at several sites would be about 40.42 square feet — roughly 8.42 square feet larger than the 32-square-foot standard in the ordinance — with the electronic message portion sized to be legible during the short viewing windows motorists have when passing obstructed sites.
Finn walked the board through each location: Tracy Elementary (2624 West 6th), Bell Valley (5300 Henderson), Grand View (4301 Lancaster), Asbury (5875 Statitania, where a new sign is proposed for an entrance that currently has no sign), Walnut Creek (conversion of an elevated sign to ground level), and Westlake Middle (4330 Westlake Road). He described specific sight-line obstructions — hedgerows, tree canopies, road curvature and set-back distances — that the district said made a larger display necessary.
A resident, Brian Martin of 5215 Henderson Road, spoke for homeowners across from the school and urged caution about nighttime illumination: "I'm concerned that it may be illuminating the entire dark area," he said, asking whether the informational banner would run all night and how bright it would be.
Staff read the zoning ordinances governing EMCs (Section 14588): signs must be equipped with automatic dimmers; no animation, scrolling messages or video are allowed; messages must be static at least eight seconds; transitions must be nearly instantaneous; and signs must be shut off between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. with a maximum illumination of 500 nits from dusk until 11 p.m.
Aaron Oul, the district's CFO, told the board the district does not intend to leave the signs on until 11 p.m. "It would be closer to 9–10ish in that area," he said, adding the district will follow practices used at existing sites and be mindful of residents.
Before voting, the board’s solicitor disclosed his law firm represents the district and recused himself from deliberation on those items. After a brief recess the board returned and recorded motions to approve appeals 26-04 through 26-08. Each motion was seconded and recorded as "all in favor." The board therefore granted the requested sign-size variances for the six school parcels as presented.
Next steps: the board will issue written adjudications and the district will proceed with procurement and installation under the conditions stated in the ordinance, including dimming and shut-off rules.
