The Township Council adopted changes to the current sign ordinance on March 16 that aim to cut down on the appearance of the commercial real estate lease signs seen up and down Alexander Road’s commercial sector.
The changes were triggered by Councilwoman Heidi Kleinman, who had stated she has asked for resolution to the problem over the past three years, and that the signs gave the impression that the “whole town is for sale.”
Feedback from the commercial real estate community had indicated that “on-site signs are actually an important means of conveying vacant space on the property,” so eliminating a person’s ability to advertise open office space entirely would be a bad idea, officials had decided.
Instead, the ordinance includes language that would permit leasing information on the permanent monument signs identifying the business. The information could be placed on the sign in a way that is esthetically appealing, while at the same time providing a forum for the dissemination of the information, officials said.
Upon adoption of the proposed ordinance, all of the temporary leasing signs would have to be removed, and the leasing information will have to be placed in the context of the monument sign.
However, the language in the ordinance still permits the placing of leasing signs on vacant properties because officials said that was an appropriate area in which a developer should have the opportunity to provide information about vacant space that will be available in the future.
But once a piece of land is developed, the ordinance would require a developer to address the sign with the Planning Board, which will have to approve the monument sign with the leasing informational part of the signage package during site plan review.
According to the New Jersey Real Estate Commission, all real estate sale or lease signs, whether they are advertising residential or commercial properties, are required by state law to list the broker name, agency’s name, broker office phone number, and real estate license, and an indication that they are a licensed real estate broker. There is no size or height requirement, so incorporating the information within the business indication/monument sign would be acceptable, officials said.
In terms of temporary noncommercial signage, including political signs, the ordinance requires that they would be removed no later than seven days after an election. Signs for cultural events, like carnivals or festivals should not exceed 16 square feet, and the person in charge of the event will need to get written approval from the zoning officer to put signs up around town.
Lawn signs that advertise contractors who are performing work done on a residential property will be only permitted to be displayed in a front yard. The size requirements for those signs has also been reduced under the proposed ordinance, going from 16 square feet to 4 square feet.
