Nov 12, 2015 3 min read

CANONSBURG – Cindy Davis wants to keep her pink sign posted in her window along Giffin Avenue thanking Canonsburg police and warning drug dealers that neighbors will turn them in. But at least one complaint about the sign prompted Canonsburg Manager Bob Kipp to issue a notice of violation, along with a potential fine of $500 each day it’s left up.

Yet Kipp told District Judge David Mark the whole thing could be resolved amicably if Davis would take down the sign until January, when a new list of zoning ordinances are expected to be voted into the borough code, which would permit the sign. Mark continued Thursday’s hearing on the matter, meaning the sign will stay up in lieu of any fines or action at least until the next scheduled court appearance.

“We’ve been contacted by at least one neighbor who’s complained they’re having difficulty selling a property, and that this sign might be a part of it,” Kipp said, “and if we don’t act, we’re fearing potential suits from people if we selectively enforce our ordinances.” Kipp said a complaint was filed in May.

Kipp told the court the sign is a “non-conforming sign” in a residential area, but smaller signs can be approved as non-conforming uses. The ordinance expected to be voted on in January would allow “signs of personal expression” in residential areas to be 2 feet by 2 feet, and people could have multiple signs. But for Davis, the fact that her sign is just inches larger than current ordinance allowances is only half the frustration.

“I have a letter saying I could go before the zoning hearing board without paying the $350 fee (for approval of a sign), but then I was told I would have to pay it anyway (if I went through with it),” Davis said.

“Unfortunately, the board didn’t follow my recommendation to honor that,” Kipp told the court.

Davis said other neighbors had been issued notices of violation and took down their signs. She said she’ll continue to fight for her right to publicize efforts of the Canonsburg Crime Watch Facebook group.

“We don’t want to fine Davis. In fact, this is one of the issues that brought to our attention why we should revisit our ordinances. The way they were done five years ago was a mess, and they didn’t address signage very clearly,” Kipp said.