Hearing canceled for Signage bill 100013
This just in from SCRUB:
“Councilman DiCicco has pulled the East Market Street Billboard Bill off of tomorrow’s Committee Meeting Agenda. Wednesday, May 12th. We will keep you informed regarding the next hearing. Thank you all for communicating with elected leaders about this bill.”
PLANPHILLY BACKGROUND:
First District Councilman Frank DiCicco has said his proposal to allow for bigger, flashier signs on East Market Street could help revive an important part of Center City.
Right now, DiCicco said, Market East is a “dead zone after 5 o’clock. The street dies.” No city can live up to its potential if a street in its heart goes silent in the evening, he said.
Mary Tracy, executive director of SCRUB, an organization that fights blight in public spaces, agrees Market East needs help. “I applaud the councilman for saying, ‘let’s take a look at Market Street,’” she said.
But Tracy believes the reduced sign restrictions contained in the bill would have a huge consequence: Severely hampering the ability of the city or concerned citizens to prevent just about any billboard from going up anywhere in the city.
DiCicco said he’s open to suggestions, and the bill he introduced to City Council in January, No. 100013, is just meant to start the conversation. “I want to look at what is currently permitted on Market Street and see if any adjustments need to be made to move forward.”
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