Painted Sign Gets to Stay, Ross Zoning Board Votes 3-1

Voting 3-1 Wednesday, the Ross Township Zoning Hearing Board allowed a painted advertising sign to remain on the side of Kaule's Screen Works at 7730 Perry Highway, but asked the owner to reduce the size of its lower border. 

The original 462-foot-square sign exceeded the dimensions of such signs permitted under the township's zoning laws. Commercial signs must not exceed 1 square foot for each foot in length of the portion of the wall devoted to the business. 

"It was definitely decided it was not a mural," said chairman of the board, James Atzert, who also described it as clean and professionally done. 

Although ruling that it was commercial signage and not a piece of art, Artzert said the board didn't feel the sign obstructed adjoining property or traffic and thus granted the business' variance request. 

In exchange, the board asked the property owner to reduce the size of the lower black border, allowing more of the building's original paint to be seen. 

"I think that's fine," said Garrett Kaule, co-owner of Kaule's Screen Works, which has been in business for about five years.

"I think it's great that they're letting us keep it up," he said. 

Board member Frank Kodrich was the dissenting vote. Reached Thursday, Kodrich said he was concerned about the overall size of the sign, relating it more to a billboard than a business sign. He declined to comment further, saying he'd need to speak to the township solicitor before doing so. 

Board member Rick Avon was absent Wednesday. 

Also Wednesday, the board approved 4-0 a variance request by George T. and Mary C. Sabina for an additional 24-square-foot area for a garage on property at 198 Link Avenue. 

A third variance request on the agenda, by Gretchen J. Marker, for property at 131 Brunner Court, was withdrawn.