Steen files appeal against L&I
ZBA Hearing: January 16, 2007 at 9:30 am
1515 Arch St. 18th Floor
In 2006, a Cedar Park resident noted Steen Outdoor Advertising erecting
sign faces on the rooftop of Chocolate City Hair Salon the week of July 24th.
She called in a report of possible illegal billboard construction to the City
Department of Licenses and Inspections. They conducted an inspection on July 27th,
and in talking with the owner discovered that although there had been a permit
issued for billboards at that location in 1949, that
use had been abandoned for more that 10 years, rendering the permit invalid.
L&I issued a citation requiring the property owner to obtain a license or remove
the billboards.
Steen Outdoor Advertising is appealing the citation to the ZBA, arguing that they have a valid permit. SCRUB will be at the zoning hearing because the city has indicated they will not pursue the citation or seek removal, but will allow an independent arbitrator to decide if the billboard will be allowed to remain. They claim this is part of their August 9th agreement with the billboard companies to legalize existing billboards in the city. The 4800 Woodland Ave. billboards were reconstructed by Steen two weeks before the agreement was signed.
This location, directly across from the 48th and Woodland playground, is identified as a priority block for revitalization and landscaping as a community gateway. Philadelphia’s billboard control law does not allow a billboard to be constructed within 660’ of a park or playground or within 300 feet of residential properties. This rooftop billboard is within 50 feet of both. If legalized by the ZBA, any redevelopment seeking to remove the billboards will have to negotiate compensation for removal with Steen Outdoor Advertising, adding potentially thousands of dollars to the project.