ROBBINSVILE: Growing township addresses signs

Local leaders say changes are ‘business friendly’

By Matt Chiappardi, Staff Writer
   ROBBINSVILLE — The Township Council recently approved changes to the local sign ordinance to allow for larger signs and closer placement to roads.
   At the same time, the ordinance bans the use of signs with light emitting diode technology and makes it illegal for business owners to place temporary signs on the medians of major thoroughfares.
   That practice, something council members have been complaining about for at least the past few months, already is restricted by the state Department of Transportation, said township Business Administrator Tim McGough.The new local regulations now mirror state ones, he added.
   By unanimous vote, the council approved the revisions at its Dec. 3 meeting. Mr. McGough said at the meeting that the larger signs and closer placement to roads was meant as a “business-friendly” move.
   In a statement released the next day, Mayor Dave Fried touted the revisions as, “One of the most important things we have done to help the business community in years.”
   But at least one business owner expressed concerns with the new regulations at the council meeting.
   David Hicks is one of the owners of DBChocolate on North Main Street in the Windsor section of the township and has set up temporary signs in the middle of the road every weekend beckoning customers. He said Mr. McGough told him years ago he could do it because the state DOT rarely enforces its own sign regulations on weekends.
   ”It’s literally kept us in business,” Mr. Hicks said. “I understand the need to regulate these things, but what can I do now? Would I be able to have someone hold a sign and stand outside of the shop?”
   Mr. McGough, who also serves as township engineer, admitted he did tell Mr. Hicks he could break the DOT’s rules. However, he said that was before he was township engineer, and he would be enforcing the new regulations going forward.
   Having a person standing outside with a sign would not be in violation of the ordinance, Mr. McGough added.
   The new regulations increase the allowed size of signs depending on their location and purpose.
   For businesses in Town Center on Route 33, signs on outdoor walls may be as large as a maximum of 48 square feet as opposed to the old limit of 32 square feet.
   However, the regulation that signs cannot exceed 5 percent of the area of the front of the building still stands.
   Freestanding signs may be 12 feet high instead of the old limit of 6 feet.
   For businesses on Route 130, their wall signs now can be 75 square feet instead of the old limit of 50, and the freestanding sign regulations also have risen from 6 feet high to 12 feet high.
   Freestanding signs for farms and churches also now are permitted to be 12 feet. The previous regulation restricted farm signs to 6 feet and church signs to 9 feet.
   All freestanding signs now can be placed 10 feet from a road. The previous regulations restricted the distance depending on the type of establishment. Farms could set up signs only 30 feet from a road, churches 25 feet and golf courses 20 feet.
   Restrictions for other businesses were limited to 1 foot from the road per every 2 square feet of sign area under the previous rules.
   On Tuesday, Mr. McGough said there were no specific penalties for those who violate the ordinance beyond a notice from the township.
   ”We’re not trying to create a situation where we fine people,” he said. “We have an ordinance and if we find they’re not in compliance with it, they’ll need to amend their signs.”
   If people ignore the township notices, Mr. McGough said, he’d have township staff remove the signs in question.
   Other changes to the sign regulations include:
   • A prohibition on mechanical mascots and animals;
   • An allowance for businesses to have off-premise signs for a $100 fee;
   • A new $100 fee for temporary “grand opening” signs or banners (The banners cannot exceed 50 square feet and must be taken down within 30 days. Moreover, businesses may only be granted three permits for temporary signs per year.);
   • Signs for temporary events such as yard sales have been reduced from a maximum of 10 square feet to 6 square feet.
   In addition, the ordinance allows signs that already exist but do not meet the new regulations. However, if the signs are altered or fall into disrepair, they then would be subject to enforcement.
   The grandfathering of existing signs does not include LED signs, Mr. McGough said Tuesday.
   The new sign regulations do not apply to state and federal signs, according to the ordinance.
mchiappardi
@centraljersey.com