Council Tables Vote on Sign Regulations

The Borough Council has waited to adopt the first reading of an ordinance regulating sign usage, saying at a meeting Monday it needed more information on the matter before making a decision.

Councilman Bruce Harris summarized some of the changes the borough Planning Board has proposed to the current sign ordinance. It decided to make the changes after a business owner complained last year about the municipality's current regulations, saying they were overly restrictive.

But Harris said the Planning Board's planned changes didn't necessarily loosen some of the restrictions governing sign usage in the borough.

"I think we'd be hard put to say that the revisions make the ordinance more business friendly," he said.

The new regulations stipulate that small, incidental signs that give directions, for instance, can't necessarily be lighted. Political signs must be removed seven days after an election. There are also several other new requirements.

Council President James Collander said he was unsure why some of the regulations were proposed, and said he wanted more feedback from the Planning Board.

"Perhaps it would be better if we table it for now," said Councilman Joseph Marts.

The council did table it, saying it will wait for the Planning Board to provide more information.

Regardless, according to Borough Engineer and Zoning Officer Vince DeNave, people have been complaining about signs on Main Street for some time. He said he has gotten several complaints in recent weeks.

"People think there are too many signs out on Main Street now, that it looks terrible," he said.

Council members said sign regulations are often difficult to enforce. DeNave often goes out and does a large sweep, but when he does that the borough gets complaints from business owners who say the regulations make for a restrictive business environment.

"People say, 'What are you doing?'" said Harris. "You're killing our business."