Politics & Government

Palmer Digital Billboard Protesters Fading Away

For three months, Hay Terrace residents have protested almost everything about a digital billboard on Route 22. But those protests may finally be coming to an end.

For three months, Hay Terrace residents have protested almost everything about a digital billboard on Route 22. But those protests may finally be coming to an end.

Charles Diefenderfer has led the charge at every Palmer Township Board of Supervisors meeting since early March, usually bringing family members and neighbors in tow to fire round after round of complaints regarding the new digital billboard on Route 22 that has blinded—and infuriated—residents.

Monday night's meeting was no different.

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Diefenderfer and residents first complained about the billboard's brightness. Then he raised issues with how hearings were not publicized properly to give residents a fighting chance about it.

He then stated that the billboard was illegal. Diefenderfer then pushed township officials toward filing an injunction against the billboard developer to meet code compliance.

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At every meeting, the supervisors listened patiently and tried to offer up an explanation, saying that the rules were followed and that the billboard would remain.

At the supervisors May 28 meeting, Diefenderfer stated that the billboard was still a problem.

"Nothing has been done on this after months of complaints," he said.

That's when Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver couldn't bite his tongue any longer.

"Everything on the hit list has been completed, everything has been done," Colver said. "It's done. It's approved. It's not going anywhere."

"Your comments are always framed that we're involved, that we're profiting," Colver continued. "It's hard to sit up here and listen to this every week."

On Monday, Diefenderfer appeared before the supervisors with some more items on his "hit list."

While the supervisors meeting only lasted 20 minutes, Colver said Diefenderfer was the only resident there regarding the billboard. 

He was told that an orange fence that had been on the billboard site from a crash on Route 22 had been taken care of by PennDOT. There was also talk about large trees being put up to block some of the billboard glare and then a possible onsite meeting between the developer and residents.

"They seemed satisfied with that approach," Colver said.

So will the protesters be back? The Board of Supervisors meets at 7 p.m. Monday. 


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