North Huntingdon Township has sued its own zoning hearing board and a Greensburg developer, seeking to overturn the board’s decision granting a permit to place a billboard along Route 30, just east of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Irwin interchange.
In a suit filed in Westmoreland County, the township wants a judge to reverse the zoning hearing board’s April 2 decision that overturned zoning officer Thomas McGuire’s denial of DeNunzio Properties Inc.’s request for a permit to erect a billboard on a wooded lot fronting the westbound lanes of Route 30. McGuire determined the square footage of the billboard exceeds what is permitted, based on the design submitted and the Route 30 front footage of the lot the developer intends to buy. DeNunzio Properties appealed McGuire’s decision to the zoning board.
If the court won’t reverse the 3-1 zoning board’s decision, the township is asking the court to order a new hearing on DeNunzio Properties’ appeal.
Township Manager Jeff Silka, township solicitor Bruce Dice and zoning board solicitor George Butler could not be reached for comment.
Latrobe attorney Daniel Hewitt, representing DeNunzio Properties, declined to comment, saying he had to review the lawsuit.
DeNunzio was granted a special exception to the zoning ordinance in 2017 to build a billboard on one parcel fronting Route 30 and another special exception in December to build a billboard on an abutting parcel behind the first one, according to the suit.
The billboard in question would be 39 feet above the ground. The local ordinance limits the height to 30 feet, according to the township.
The township says in the suit drawings from DeNunzio indicate a V-type structure with a billboard on each side. The township says that would be two billboards on each lot instead of the one the zoning board granted by special exception.
The township claims the zoning board acted on “erroneous advice” of its solicitor and without deliberation.
North Huntingdon claims in the suit the zoning board’s decision would affect any billboards constructed on both lots.
