More sign ordinance changes introduced

By Audrey Levine Staff Writer
   HILLSBOROUGH — To comply with the recent standards set in the newest amendments to the township’s sign ordinance, the Township Committee unanimously introduced an ordinance Sept. 9 changing regulations for signs in the new Gateway A and B districts, and the Town Center zones.
   ”The Gateway districts and Town Center have separate sign regulations because they are different types of zoning,” Township Planner Bob Ringelheim said.
   According to Mr. Ringelheim, the main changes in the regulations come from the allowable sizes of the signs throughout the Town Center and Gateway districts.
   In the previous regulations, signs were required to be only 20 square feet, but the new regulations increase the sign size to 30 square feet. They are not to exceed 8 feet in height.
   ”This is a slight decrease (from the regular sign ordinance),” Mr. Ringelheim said of the recently approved ordinance that increase sign sizes throughout areas of the township to 40 square feet. “It serves as a signal at the area leading into the Town Center.”
   In addition to this change, Mr. Ringelheim said the size of wall signs has been increased from 10 square feet to 20 square feet.
   Sidewalk signs – which are not permitted to be placed in public right-of-ways, or impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic – have been increased in size from 4 square feet to 8 square feet.
   Mr. Ringelheim said these sidewalk signs may be placed on the sidewalk or walkway of a commercial development.
   Finally, Mr. Ringelheim said, the ordinance also states that lighting in the Gateway districts and Town Center must comply with the rules of the township, with light sources not exceeding a height of 15 feet.
   These changes, Mr. Ringelheim said, have been introduced so as to distinguish the Gateway districts and Town Center from the other sections of the township.
   ”The Gateway districts are different because they function as entrances to the Town Center,” he said. “They are all more pedestrian-friendly.”
   Public hearing for the ordinance will be held on Oct. 14.