By: Gregory Brewer
To the editor:
In an Aug. 4 letter to the editor, which sounds like the opening salvo in a renewed political campaign, unsuccessful Republican council candidate Carol Higgins fires broadshot, including a personal attack on the mayor, all stemming from township opposition to the recent Department of Transportation commercial sign program.
Let me simply respond to the state sign issue. As a member of the Planning Board, I know how much time and care the Planning Board, Zoning Board and council members spend trying to plan our town so we can be proud. It is truly incredible that the NJDOT, without the consent or even knowledge of township officials, unilaterally put up commercial so-called "directional" signs on routes 130 and 33 through East Windsor in violation of our local planning and regulations, cluttter our roadways and harm our appearance, interfere with safety by distracting drivers from important traffic signs, and all without any legitimate public purpose served.
And while the mayor may have led the charge against the NJDOT signs, she has lots of company on this issue.
1. The council members and township Planning Board unanimously oppose the NJDOT commercial signs.
2. The NJ League of Municipalities has urged the NJDOT, "On behalf of the state’s 566 municipalities to reconsider the process whereby these billboards are being erected along state roadways in conflict with local zoning and planning."
3. Other affected towns, such as Franklin and Bridgewater in Somerset County, have begun campaigns against these state commercial signs.
4. The Windsor-Hights Herald editorial (Aug. 4, 2000) titled "State’s roadside billboard program should be junked" notes that there isn’t any real public service provided by placing a state-approved sign in front of the Mediterranean Diner pointing the way to Taco Bell."
5. The Trentonian piece, (July 19, 2000) titled "Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs," said the NJDOT should take their signs down, observing "you can see the restaurant without the signs" and what is the DOT doing anyway, running a billboard agency.
We appreciate the quick and strong support of our town by our state legislators Asssembly Members Linda Greenstein and Gary Guear.
And to further underscore the state’s unacceptable intrusiveness, under this program’s guidelines, a state sign could be erected in downtown Hightstown ( a state road) pointing the way to Dunkin’ Donuts in East Windsor. Or near the route 130/571 intersection in East Windsor with an arrow to Capuanno’s or First Wok in West Windsor, hardly promoting East Windsor business.
This issue is a no-brainer, and had nothing to do with supporting or encouraging successful business in our commnuity. Let’s make sure we all work together to nip it in the bud right now, before these signs overtake our township (and borough) roadways.
East Windsor