Borough Sign Ordinance up for Final Approval

Among the items up for approval at the Chatham Borough Council meeting Tuesday is, at last, a final set of changes for the sign ordinance.

The ordinance outlines the guidelines for signs throughout the business, industrial and residential zones of the borough, including which signs require permits, how long signs can be kept on display and what times of the year different signs can appear. Properties with signs that violate the ordinance will receive notification from the borough's Zoning Officer, Vincent J. DeNave.

The ordinance specifically forbids any policitcal signs from being posted in front of the or the . Additionally, every tax lot is allowed only 1 sign per candidate per political race, except on privately-owned residences.

Political signs can be no more than 4 ft. sq. and can be displayed no more than 30 days before and 5 days after an election. At the Sept. 26 council meeting, borough resident Ed DiFiglia told the council that he knew of similar restrictions on political signs that had been overturned on grounds of restricting political speech.

If the changes are approved, permits will be required for all but the following signs:

• Temporary window or incidental signs in the business and industrial districts, as long as they are not illuminated or 1-square foot.
• Signs for the house of worship, as long as those signs are located on the same property as said house of worship.
• Any tax lot can have one sign promoting a nonprofit, educational or religious campaign for no more than 15 days, as long as the signs are less than 2-square feet.
• Governmental flags, as long as they are "in reasonable proportion to the length of the pole from which it is displayed," according to the draft. Flagpoles can be no more than 32-feet high.
• Building marker signs.

Changes to the ordinance include the following allowing light displays in the business and industrial districts from Oct. 15 through Jan. 15, and for up to 10 days before and 3 days after any federal holiday. The lights must be solid white or clear lights and displayed no more than 15-feet above the ground.

The following signs are prohibited:

• Any sign tha may cause a danger to pedestrian or motor traffic because of their location or wording,
• Inflatable signs or tethered balloons (excepting noncommunicative balloons no more than 12 inches in diameter, as stated under the ordinance,
• Flashing, rotating, animated or fluttering signs,
• Wind signs, including flags not specified elsewhere in the ordinance,
• signs with more than two dispay surfaces,
• Signs located above a roof or building, unless those that may be required by the FAA,
• Any sign indicating that a property has been leased or sold and
• Signs with projected images.

The Chatham Borough Council meets Tuesday (delayed one day due to Columbus Day) at the Chatham Borough Municipal Building at 7:30 p.m.