PITTSBURGH -- Flashy, electronic billboards have a bright future in Pittsburgh -- but a six-month moratorium will slow down the pace.

When an electronic billboard was recently approved for Grant Street -- reportedly as a surprise to the City Council -- members decided to take up the issue.

On Tuesday, the council unanimously passed a moratorium on erecting any new roadside advertising billboards, to give lawmakers time to write tighter zoning restrictions for them -- particularly brightly-lit, electronic ones.

"In my opinion they don't need to be tightened," said Councilman Bill Peduto. "They've already been interpreted by the courts, and they're there for a purpose that the public has a process in this."

Some council members said they believe a three-stage process for approval was avoided when Mayor Luke Ravenstahl gave Lamar Advertising the green light to build a LED billboard for the new transportation terminal, which is now under construction downtown.

"Whether or not LEDs are good for Pittsburgh, that's not the issue," said Peduto. "Following the laws and making sure that everyone follows them equally, that's the issue at hand."

Councilman Bruce Kraus, the author of the new legislation, said he wants to see "that the proper process is followed when these billboards are awarded and that would be going before the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Adjustments, to City Council for additional use."

"It's not about the billboards, it's about the process for approval," Peduto said last week. "Every municipality has rules, and the city of Pittsburgh has specific rules that need to be followed."

"Things change at a rapid pace," said Kraus. "What was new yesterday is old today, and I think it is prudent to have a cooling off period."

"The whole debate has gotten out of control, unfortunately," said Councilman Jim Motznik.

Motznik supported the moratorium but has concerns about the message it sends to businesses.

"It doesn't help to show that our actions are possibly getting in the way of businesses operating in the city," he said.

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