Pittsburgh Planners to Vote on New Sign Rules.

Byline: Tom Barnes

Jul. 24--The city Planning Commission is set to vote today on restrictions on new signs that could significantly affect the city's future skyline -- and maybe its business climate.

The proposal, developed by the commission's staff, would ban any additional signs from being erected on the roofs of buildings, both Downtown and in city neighborhoods. Existing rooftop signs could remain.

The new rules would also limit the size and height of signs attached to the walls of buildings -- a factor which, some critics contend, would make Pittsburgh a harder place for businesses to operate. Most wall signs in neighborhood commercial areas would be limited to 80 square feet.

Businesses in the city "are in a competitive environment with suburban areas," said Steve Gerson, president of Visual Information Systems Inc., an Oakdale sign company.

"Corporations and retailers are concerned about identifying [their businesses] with signs," he said. "Getting an adequate identification is an important checkpoint when businesses do surveys to determine new locations."

Even with a "grandfather" provision allowing existing, oversized signs to stay in place, Gerson said the new, restrictive rules on sign sizes will discourage businesses from moving into the city. They'll go to the suburbs instead, he warned.