David Kilby, Managing Editor
CRANBURY The newly formed Signage Subcommittee will hold its first meeting Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in town hall to receive public input on the township’s sign ordinance and make changes if needed.
”The purpose of the upcoming meeting is to get public comment,” said Jason Stewart, Planning Board and subcommittee member. “We’re not deliberating or making decisions on the spot. There will be at least one follow-up meeting,” he said, adding that when the subcommittee is ready it will bring its suggestions to various boards.
At the Jan. 25 meeting the subcommittee will begin to determine what the priorities are in the public’s opinion, and what changes, if any, need to be made to the current signage ordinance.
Members of the subcommittee are Planning Board members Art Hasselbach and Mr. Stewart, Committeeman James Taylor, and Zoning Board of Adjustment member Brian Schilling, who is the chairman.
Last year the zoning board cited a few businesses for violating the current sign ordinance, and naturally the business owners got upset.
”That led to people coming to the township committee, which led to the decision to look at the township ordinance” Mr. Stewart said, adding that another objective of the subcommittee is to make it clear to the public what is allowed and what isn’t allowed.
The intention of the sign ordinance is to minimize the number and size of signs in the township while remaining consistent with safety and convenience requirements, reads section 150-37 of the township code.
All site plan applications have to submit a sign plan showing the size, location, colors, materials and typeface for all signs to be constructed, reads the code.
It also says if a sign on Route 130 is within 20 feet of the road, it must be between 8 and 15 feet high.
The code forbids many different kinds of signs, such as signs that move in any fashion or signs with lights resembling emergency lights.
The ordinance isn’t clear about how, when or what kind of temporary signs can be used.
”The ordinance is fairly restrictive,” Mr. Taylor said. “Like most ordinances it’s an evolutionary process. But at the end of the day, we have a declining economy, and businesses not getting noticed.”
Some businesses are back off the road and others are co-tenants in a building, he said.
Little A frame signs that say “breakfast special” or “live music”, technically do not meet the ordinance.
”The ordinance is hindering our businesses in terms of generating new customer bases,” Mr. Taylor said.
The subcommittee will look at how the ordinance is structured to come up with some recommendations on how it can be modified.
The intention is to maintain the historic character of the village while also helping businesses and highlight where they are and what they do.
The subcommittee encourages residents and businesses to come to the meeting Jan. 25.
”We’ll hear what they’re concerned about,” Mr. Taylor said. “It may be that all businesses have different issues. Or it may be that it’s a simple fix and that they have just one or two issues.”
Also, the Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company and First Aid Squad want the subcommittee to look at the numbering of buildings, because there have been times when they were called in an emergency and couldn’t find the address of the place that called. Some complexes, especially in the warehouse district, just have numbering on the outside of the complex and no numbers for the individual units inside.
After Jan. 25, another meeting at a date to be determined will be held. Valerie Kimson, Planning Board attorney; Richard Preiss, township planner, and a member from the fire company or first aid squad will be present at that meeting.
”At that meeting we’re going to have the reports from the businesses and residents,” Mr. Taylor said. “We’ll go into the following meeting with an idea of what we want to change in the ordinance, and will draft a revised ordinance for signage.”
Another public discussion will then take place at tentatively the last Planning Board meeting in February, Feb. 16.
Part of the challenge will be to design an ordinance that addresses signage issues in the village, warehouse district and on Route 130.
”If the signs become too large I think residents will have a problem,” Mayor David Cook said. “I think signs on Route 130 are one thing but in town are another. I think that’s where the rub comes in.”
He said the objective is to satisfy both residents and businesses. Businesses have been looking for permission to place temporary A-frame signs on the sidewalk of Main Street.
The subcommittee will come back to the Planning Board, and then the board will come to the Township Committee with its suggestions.
