New message signs could be popping up in parts of Mt. Laurel after an ordinance Township Council passed last week.
Passed on second reading during the last meeting, the new ordinance will permit freestanding signs for “permitted institutional uses.”
The ordinance defines permitted institutional uses as community centers operated by a Homeowners’ Association that’s located in a PARC zone. The use for the signs must be fore administrative, social, cultural and recreational uses.
Electronic signs were previously only permitted by variance, according to township manager Maureen Mitchell.
She said that several communities, such as Holiday Village East and Birchfield, had approached the township in hopes of getting an electronic sign. The signs would help advertise events and other information for the developments.
The new signs, which can be no bigger than a total of 32 square feet in area, are permitted to use digital and LED lighting technology. Changes were made to the existing sign ordinance “to accommodate emerging technologies regarding electronic bulletin or reader boards.”
There will be restrictions regarding the boards, however. The boards may only display text. The ordinance strictly prohibits pictures, video or any type of animation.
In addition, the message boards are not permitted to be color. The color of the message may be white or amber only.
To appease residents who live near electronic signs, the signs must be dimmed at night and any within 200 feet of a residential area must be turned off between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. The only time of day where the brightness on the sign can change is during sunrise and sunset.
Mitchell mentioned that the township will be able to upgrade its own sign at the municipal building thanks to this ordinance. The hope is that the township will be able to announce events in a more efficient manner with a new sign.
In other news:
• Mt. Laurel Council passed an ordinance requiring the registration of all second-hand dealer transactions last week. The ordinance was introduced on first reading at the previous Council meeting on Oct. 7.
• The first reading of another ordinance will change traffic flow out of The Learning Experience on Church Street if passed. The ordinance will prohibit left turns out of the early childcare center between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
• Mt. Laurel Council will hold its next regular meeting and work session on Monday, Nov. 18.
