Court Rules with Lower Merion on Five Points Billboard

The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas has denied a request to keep a billboard at the Five Points intersection in Bryn Mawr.

Lower Merion Township issued billboard company AdSmart Outdoor Advertising, Inc., a zoning violation in 2010, which the group appealed in November of that year. AdSmart shares the same owners as Bartkowski Investment Group, which is fighting to put up five billboards in Haverford Township, including two along Route 30/Lancaster Avenue that would overlook the Bryn Mawr section of Lower Merion.

The decision from the Court of Common Pleas regarding the Five Points intersection came Feb. 2, the same day that closing arguments were made before the Haverford Township Zoning Hearing Board. 

“The decision can be further appealed to the Commonwealth Court; however, thus far the township has achieved another big victory and excellent result against a billboard that doesn’t belong in our community,” Lower Merion Township Commissioner Scott Zelov wrote in an email to residents Feb. 2 announcing the decision.

currently leases the ad space there, according to spokeswoman Bridget Therriault.

Zelov said he was happy the court ruled against the existing billboard, adding that the billboard will come down. 

"It was a victory against billboards in our suburban community," he said. 

Anthony Leone contributed to this report.