LHU Sign Can Stay at E. Church and Grove Streets
LOCK HAVEN—After a two and a half hour public hearing Thursday night, Lock Haven’s Zoning Hearing Board approved a belated variance/special use request for a sign promoting Poorman College at Lock Haven University. The board’s several votes mean the sign, put up over Labor Day weekend in 2018, may remain in place.
The signage went up nearly nine months ago without any parties seeking permitting for its placement. In October of last year the city announced the process had begun for the building owners to apply for the appropriate signage permit.
In a series of three unanimous Thursday night votes, the 5-member board determined the rendering on the north side of the building on Grove Street was a sign, not a mural, and therefore subject to the provisions of the city’s sign ordinance; the sign was then approved for a special exception; and a variance was then granted to allow the size of the letters on the sign to remain unchanged.
Lock Haven businessman Stephen Poorman, whose name is prominently featured on the sign, provided background on how the sign came to be. He said Lock Haven University had approached him about a desire for “some presence” in the downtown and suggested a mural. He said he agreed to pay the $12,000 cost of the project and would make application to the city.
Lock Haven City Solicitor Justin Houser presented the city case before the hearing board votes and said his research showed the rendering meets the definition of a sign and advertises an off-premise business, which is not allowed, and it exceeds square footage limits for such a sign. The board agreed with his opinion that it was a sign and not a mural (as argued by Poorman) and then okayed the Poorman special exception/variance request. Houser said the city was voicing no opinion on the variance/special use request.
Poorman last year had told therecord-online that he did not believe a permit was needed but said that if such a permit is required, “then we will get the necessary forms, have them filed and pay the fee.”
Poorman also said Thursday night he was trying to donate the adjacent vacant lot at the corner of Church and Vesper Streets to the city. That lot, which previously housed the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, is currently listed for sale.
No one from the public attended the hearing and members of the zoning hearing board said they had no objections to the sign and its contents. Member Art Sanders said, “No one up here dislikes the sign.” ZHB chairman Larry Glenn chaired the meeting and board solicitor Frank Miceli offered guidance to the board.
