Church in Historic District upgrades to LED sign despite permission being denied

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A large LED sign was recently installed behind a wooden sign at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on the 300 block of Locust Street, which is in the Columbia Borough Historic District.

A sticker on the side of the sign's casing displays the manufacturer's name and contact information.

This STOP WORK sign, possibly related to the LED sign installation,  was posted on one of the entrance doors to the church.

According to an LNP article dated July 25, 2016, Columbia Borough Council denied the church permission to install an LED sign:
Council denied a proposed LED-lighted sign at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 340 Locust St. Glenn Shaeffer, Historic Architectural Review Board chairman, asked that council create an amendment not allowing this type of sign in the future.

“There are no other signs like this in the historic district and allowing it would open the door for others and have an impact on the historic nature of the district,” Shaeffer said. “The historic district should not look like the Las Vegas strip.”

Council members Kelly Murphy and Cle Berntheizel removed themselves from the vote because they are members of the church.


This sturdy metal frame was installed some time before October 2, 2017, when this photo was taken.


HERE is a video showing the manufacture and operation of various LED signs from ADvantageLED Signs.

Comments

Anonymous said…
God said "Show me the light", but not in LED
October 28, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Anonymous said…
How come the Coffee Club didn't stop this? They had to know it was being installed.
October 28, 2017 at 12:18 PM
Anonymous said…
So what is council going to do about this they should be made to take the sign down or is the council just going to do what they usually do not a thing maybe I would like to put a LED sign on my front lawn are you going to allow me to do it if they can do anyone in town should be allowed to do it answer please

like to put a LED light on my front l



October 28, 2017 at 4:19 PM
Anonymous said…
“The historic district should not look like the Las Vegas strip.”

Nah, people actually want to go to Las Vegas.
October 28, 2017 at 4:49 PM
Anonymous said…
You really don't understand the concept of zoning, do you?
October 28, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Anonymous said…
Oh they both knew,,, now let's see what happens.
October 28, 2017 at 6:28 PM
Anonymous said…
What was the end result of the vote after Cle and Kelley abstained? Did it pass or fail? If it was denied, its a no brainer, have it removed. The church's council or decision makers will learn a valuable lesson. No one should be above the law.
October 29, 2017 at 7:46 AM
Joe Lintner said…
At its July 11, 2016 meeting, council voted 5-0 to deny permission for the sign.
October 29, 2017 at 11:55 AM
Anonymous said…
I agree time to get rid of the whole council the only trouble is they all runing for office again on November 7th so where does that get us no where it won't get any better same old people and same old things it won't get any better also same mayor time for a change in this town or there soon won't be a town because who will want to live in this town high taxes falling apart school district time for change before it is to late
October 29, 2017 at 2:36 PM
Duke said…
Don't know that God said that, Pilgrim.

Do know that Rudolph and Zoey did, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BwtLeXLqew
October 29, 2017 at 4:14 PM
Anonymous said…
I bet if the Market House wanted a LED sign it would be allowed.
October 29, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Anonymous said…
I doubt it,,,,
October 29, 2017 at 7:56 PM
Anonymous said…
Why in God's name would any church need a sign like this? Makes zero sense.
Why DO we need to pay for consultants and studies? Nothing changes. There's at least 12+ buildings/businesses along Locust Street that will never be open in the evening and even if they were, they have nothing to offer to the visiting public. Then add in the vacant buildings and trash all over...there's not much curb appeal left. Thank God for the Murphys.
October 29, 2017 at 8:30 PM
Anonymous said…
Fighting a church. We have a council full of real tough guys.
October 29, 2017 at 8:34 PM
Anonymous said…
Council does not have to "fight" a church, the decision was made and the church has to obey the code regulations just like everyone else does. Taxpayers money goes to enforce these regulations.

October 29, 2017 at 8:49 PM
Anonymous said…
Yep, fighting a church. Tough guys. I bet if certain members of the community wanted a LED sign, it would be allowed immediately.
October 29, 2017 at 10:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Yeah, right. That sign would be up so fast, your head would spin.
October 29, 2017 at 10:36 PM
Anonymous said…
If you're lucky enough to own a home in the "historic district" you can't even get replacement windows, or point your bricks without permission/fight! So, this is just a slap in the face to home owners as is the storage facility! What an ugly eyesore at what should be a nice waterfront! How did that thing ever get approval. It has no historic features at all!
October 30, 2017 at 12:18 PM
Anonymous said…
That im sure was approved due to the person that, owned the property and had them built, its always about who you are around columbia,
October 30, 2017 at 1:06 PM
Anonymous said…
What does our HARB and it's paid advisor have to say???
October 30, 2017 at 2:34 PM
Anonymous said…
That's just pathetic!
October 30, 2017 at 4:12 PM
Anonymous said…
The application was denied at HARB. Went to council on appeal and council upheld the HARB recommendation for denial.
October 30, 2017 at 5:05 PM
Anonymous said…
Replacement windows are no longer reviewed by HARB, unless the size of opening is changing or the configuration is changing.
The storage facility is not in the historic district. If you're not happy about that, take it up with council, as they created the district.
October 30, 2017 at 5:09 PM
Anonymous said…
The church was told last year that they could not put up a LED sign so why did they go ahead and put it up I don't care if it is a church they need to obey the law and they need to take it down
October 30, 2017 at 8:43 PM
Anonymous said…
They made HARB even more useless. But this time in a good way. Although, I'd be happy if they'd get rid of the whole thing.
October 30, 2017 at 9:06 PM
Anonymous said…
Council better tread cautiously on this one, as allowing it will set a precedent for more to come. An obscene sign at a church, what a joke.

October 31, 2017 at 8:15 AM
Anonymous said…
Churches should be exempt from those dumb sign laws
November 1, 2017 at 12:14 AM
Anonymous said…
Actually I would think churches (and other businesses) would do a better job of setting an example at how to work together in a community.
November 8, 2017 at 3:11 PM
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