Pocono News Section

Proposed Billboard Stirs Controversy

Proposed Billboard Stirs Controversy - Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 4:27PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010 @ 04:27pm EST

PARADISE TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - Mount AIry Casino Resort wants to replace a normal billboard with a light up digital billboard. The board sits at the intersection of Route 611 and Woodland Road in Paradise Township. That's across the street from Big Daddy's Restaurant.

Eyewitness News visited the restaurant to find out what people think about the proposed billboard. Business owner Steve Ertle said he had, "no concerns at all." He explained, "They're not going to kill anybody or send anybody screaming down the road - they're very well done. You can tune the timing on them you can tune the brightness."

Some of his customers agree. Dario Belardi of Swiftwater said, "They're just trying to promote their hotel and they're just trying to promote prosperity in the Poconos."

But others think it's a bad idea. Theresa Nelson of Reeders said, "It doesn't blend very well with our natural settings around this area." Her friend Joan Vanmeerbeke added, "If you look then all of a sudden you're in the other lane then you're in trouble."

The proposed sign would be the same size as the current billboard. The message would change every ten seconds. Ertle said, "There's already a board there. It's going to make no difference whether it's a lit board or an LED board. It's still gonna be a sign there."

It's now up to zoning officials to decided exactly what type of sign should stand there. There is a meeting at 5:30 Tuesday evening.

The vote on the sign will come in March.