Normally, the Brick Township Planning Board is supportive of land use ordinances introduced by the Township Council, but recently, in a rare exception, the board found itself in opposition to a change to an existing ordinance proposed by the governing body.
The change sought by council members would remove restrictions regarding the display of political signs, allowing them to be placed throughout the year rather than for a period of 30 days before an election and 10 days after an election. Proponents of the change argue that the current restriction is an infringement of “free speech”; however, there are legal arguments on both sides of the issue.
Planning Board members believe that the presence of political signs year-round would create a visual eyesore that most Brick Township residents would not appreciate. Even with current restrictions, many political signs are not removed and eventually deteriorate, blow down and clutter open space and neighborhoods long after election campaigns are over. With no restrictions, this situation would persist continually. Further, the Planning Board believes that the current ordinance has worked reasonably well since its inception and that there is no valid reason to change it.
Accordingly, at its June 7 meeting the entire Planning Board, except for two members who were absent, voted unanimously to pass a resolution opposing the change to the ordinance.
We hope that our action opposing the unrestricted use of political signs is consistent with the will of the people of Brick Township. This letter is to inform the public, who may not ordinarily be aware of it, that on this issue the Planning Board is not in support of the Township Council’s proposed change.
Salvatore R. Petoia
member
Brick Township
Planning Board
Brick