City Cites Property Owner for Downtown Signage Violation

LOCK HAVEN—City government is sending a letter to a Grove Street property owner, alleging the owner violated the Lock Haven sign ordinance when a mural extolling Poorman College at Lock Haven University went up over the Labor Day weekend.

According to information from City Manager Greg Wilson at Monday night’s council meeting, the property owner, 114 Grove Street LLC has ten days to apply for the appropriate permit. Wilson said to date no one has applied to the city for a special exception. Wilson’s comments followed receipt of an opinion on the legality of the sign from city solicitor Justin Houser.

The mural had gone up on the north side of the concrete block building a month ago and the city began an investigation to find out how it got there. Wilson indicated Monday that the sign advertises an off-premise business, which is not allowed, and it exceeds square footage limits for such a sign.

The building had been sold by local businessman Stephen Poorman to a West Coast developer in June of 2009 for $28,000. Taxes on the property, according to county information, are mailed to 114 Grove LLC at Poorman’s E. Main St. office address. The mural promotes the Stephen Poorman College of Business, Information Systems and Human Services at Lock Haven University. Several years ago the university celebrated a property and cash pledge of $7.1 million towards its business school from Poorman and his wife Pamela A. Fisher-Poorman.

Poorman last month had told therecord-online that he did not believe a permit was required but said that if such a permit is required, “then we will get the necessary forms, have them filed and pay the fee.”