Palmer Seeks Injunction Over Digital Billboard

Palmer Township is going to court over the controversial digital billboard on Route 22.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion Monday night for Solicitor Charles Bruno to file an injunction in Northampton County Court for the billboard developer to comply with several township code violations.

"This is something very serious. We've never done this before," Supervisor Bob Lammi said. "This could take months as far as zoning and go on and on. We should move forward with the injunction."

Supervisors then decided that developer Abraham Atiyeh should only be given 24 hours to get in compliance or have the court order him to shut off the billboard until he does so.

"I think we should file an injunction against him until he gets his ducks in a row," Supervisor K. Michael Mitchell said.

Township Manager Christopher Christman told a room full of Hay Terrace residents—who say the billboard is ruining their quality of life—that the developer never received a certificate of occupany not had the illumination tested and was sent a notice from the township on March 15 to get in compliance.

He said the cost to conduct an illumination test is $140 per hour and will take at least 90 minutes.

The tests have to be done twice: once when the billboard is on and once when it is off.

"We need to find out if he is even remotely in compliance," Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver.

Supervisors Mitchell and Anne-Marie Panella said the injunction was the best way to go.

"Our laws must be met by everyone," Panella said.

Despite residents' objections, Colver wanted to make one thing clear: That if the developer is in compliance, the billboard won't be coming down.

"The sign is staying there," Colver said. "It has the proper permit. It's legal. I don't want to lead people that the sign will be getting torn down and relocated."