by TRC_Admin | Feb 3, 2021 | Advertising Industry, Billboards, City Signs, Legal
Photo: Nate Smallwood, Tribune-Review
“The state Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with Lamar Advertising, finding that a large vinyl banner the company put on its Mt. Washington billboard nearly five years ago does not violate a Pittsburgh zoning ordinance.
The banner in question was placed over a previous electronic billboard overlooking the city in May 2016. It advertised Sprint, the telecommunications company, in black lettering over a gold-yellow background. The space now advertises Iron City Beer in large red letters on white.
The court, in a 4-3 opinion written by Justice David Wecht, found that the vinyl sign does not violate the zoning code cited by the city.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto once called the banner an ‘eyesore…’
The original billboard at issue was erected in the mid-1920s on a parcel of land owned by Lamar on Grandview Avenue. It is a concrete structure measuring 7,200 square feet and until May 2016 included a 4,500-square-foot electronic advertising sign. It has been used for local brands like Bayer, Iron City Beer and Alcoa.
Then, without approval from the city, Lamar placed the vinyl Sprint sign over the existing electronic sign.
A month later, the city issued a violation notice to Lamar alleging the sign violated two sections of the zoning code: one that bars the enlargement or addition to an already non-conforming sign (as the electronic one had previously been categorized) without approval, and another that requires the removal of an advertising sign when a business has been terminated.
In November 2016, the Pittsburgh Zoning Hearing Board heard testimony that the vinyl sign did not change the existing structure of the sign but increased the total advertising space from 4,500 square feet to 7,200. The board ruled against Lamar, finding that the alterations to the sign would change its structure. Further, it found that the changes required conditional use and site-plan approval under a previous court case involving Lamar in Monroeville…
The company appealed to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.
The judge there reversed the zoning board, finding that it had exceeded its jurisdiction by “venturing beyond the two provisions under which [the city] had cited Lamar. The court also agreed with Lamar that it did not need a permit to change the Mount Washington billboard …”
Commonwealth Court, in August 2019, affirmed that decision, finding that because Lamar did not increase the size of the sign, there was no violation. The city appealed to the state Supreme Court, which heard the argument in September.
In the 14-page opinion issued Wednesday, the court said that the previous case involving Lamar’s attempt to transition 17 existing static billboards in Monroeville to electronic ones is not applicable.
In that instance, the court ruled against Lamar, finding that the transition to electronic billboards in Monroeville required significant structural alterations to the existing structures, ‘whereas its placement of the vinyl sign over the sign structure of the Mount Washington billboard did not require any structural alterations…'”
— Paula Reed Ward, Tribune-Review
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by TRC_Admin | Dec 30, 2020 | Placemaking
Photo: Mike Lang, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“Florida Reindeer with lighted horns flock to Lights in Bloom every year. Over 2 Million LED lights are used to transform Selby Gardens…
Still basking in the glow of national recognition, Marie Selby Gardens’ annual outdoor lighted holiday display returns this year with a few safety tweaks. Selby Lights in Bloom made USA Today’s Top 10 Botanical Garden Holiday Lights shows in 2019… Thru Jan 2.”
— Vicki Dean, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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by TRC_Admin | Dec 30, 2020 | Environmental, Greenways, Zoning
Photo: Sierra Club
“…Pinellas County Government and City of Dunedin officials have announced new developments in the effort to acquire land in North County for environmental preservation and passive recreation.
‘We’re very pleased with the public and private funding commitments we’ve been able to garner thus far for the property, and look forward to working with the estate to preserve the property for future generations,’ said Pinellas County Administrator Barry A. Burton.
‘Our community believes acquisition of this property is an intergenerational imperative,’ said Dunedin City Manager Jennifer K. Bramley. ‘The City of Dunedin looks forward to working with our partners, both public and private, to place a strong offer before the estate.’
County and City officials also announced they will submit a joint application next week to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for a Florida Communities Trust state grant. They hope that the grant, coupled with an ongoing community fundraising effort, would contribute toward the final acquisition and environmental restoration costs for the Douglas-Hackworth property…”
— Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Patch.com
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by TRC_Admin | Dec 30, 2020 | Planting
Photo: Scenic Jacksonville
“Scenic Jacksonville is happy to announce our gift of natural beauty to the entrance of Sulzbacher Village! Now, the center is graced with trees and a landscaped garden that matches its mission of growth and renewal for families and children. ‘This has been a collective effort by so many to make this happen, just in time for the holidays and with Spring around the corner,’ said Susan Caven, president of Scenic Jacksonville. ‘We are thrilled to make an important contribution to this special place.’
Scenic Jacksonville donated the landscape design by Board Member Karen McCombs, and the butterfly garden that will enhance the entrance and complement the live oaks. little gem magnolias and palm trees in the right of way.
Many thanks to the team effort included John November and the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida who managed the overall project, the City of Jacksonville and the Tree Commission for approving the funding the trees, Alfred Romeu of Native, Uncommon Plants for installation – and of course the amazing Cindy Funkhouser, CEO of Sulzbacher Center for her help in making the the property more attractive and inviting for both residents and visitors.
‘What a beautiful time to plant the perennials, Oaks, Little Gem Magnolias, Fringe trees and the Washingtonia Palms along the streets around the Village. As the Village grows, so will the landscape!’ added Caven.
Sulzbacher Village is a community of permanent and emergency housing for women and families. Located near Gateway Center just north of downtown, the village also houses a pediatric health center offering care to children in the surrounding area.”
— Scenic Jacksonville
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by TRC_Admin | Dec 30, 2020 | Greenways, Nature, Zoning
Photo: Google Earth, Tampa Bay Newspapers
“Landings referendum
Clearwater voters Nov. 3 soundly rejected a bid to transform the Landings Golf Course into a light industrial complex.
Just over 61% of voters (35,464) voted no on a referendum question on whether the city could lease approximately 58 acres of city-owned property across the street from the Clearwater Airpark to Harrod Properties.
The owners of the course currently lease the property from the city for $1,000 a month. City code states that voters must approve the sale of any city-owned property identified as recreation/open space on the comprehensive land use plan…
City economic development officials say redeveloping the underused golf course into an industrial park would’ve brought major financial benefits, including generating $9.735 million for the city during its first 10 years and also creating 3,281 jobs with an average salary of about $47,000.
Council member Kathleen Beckman and many neighbors of the project led the charge against it, claiming it wasn’t compatible with the area and expressed concerns about traffic and the environmental impact of eliminating the green space…
‘Once these 77 acres are gone and they’re not green anymore, they’re gone,’ Beckman said in June.”
— Chris George, Tampa Bay Newspapers
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