We have only one electronic billboard in Polish Hill, right at the edge of the neighborhood at Bigelow Boulevard at Herron Avenue.  We have a lot of the ordinary kind, though.  Many of these might not be legal today, but are grandfathered in because there have been billboards in those locations for decades.

There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at  2:00 p.m. about proposed zoning code text amendments on electronic advertising.  There is growing public support to limit or ban, electronic billboards, supported by organizations like Scenic Pittsburgh,who, as described in a recent article in Pop City, hope that Pittsburgh can craft a billboard policy that could become a national standard.

The Planning Commission is currently considering a revised version of previous legislation which would regulate electronic identification signs as well as electronic advertising signs. It also includes a newly proposed use category, community message sign. Additional information on the proposed text amendments may be obtained at the Zoning Office on the 3rd floor of 200 Ross St., Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Information may also be found on the City Planning page of the City of Pittsburgh website.

The February 22nd  public hearing on the proposed text amendments will be held at the John P. Robin Civic Building, 1st Floor 200 Ross Street.

Testimony presented by individuals will be limited to 3 minutes each.  Testimony presented by a spokesperson representing an organization will also be limited to 3 minutes each, and the spokesperson shall provide a “Letter of Authorization” from the appropriate officers. Prepared comments may be presented in lieu of testimony, and testimony should not be read from a prepared statement but may be summarized as testimony with the prepared statement handed to the Commission for their review.