Politics & Government
Township Council Approves New Sign Ordinance
Council set hours, intensity and colors for lighted signs and decided existing signs will be "grandfathered" into the ordinance.
Peters Township Council Monday night gave final approval to a sign ordinance that will govern the colors, brightness, and when electronic signs can be displayed in the township.
Council members voted to adopt the new ordinance, which had been advertised on the township website, by a 5-2 vote. Council members Frank Arcuri and Robert Lewis voted against the measure.
Council introduced the ordinance earlier this year, and tabled it to further review intensity of the signs, and changed the original recommendation that messages can be displayed for 20 seconds rather than 30 seconds, as was originally proposed. Signs on businesses will be required to have a black background with either red or amber text.
Find out what's happening in Peterswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The approval came after a second public hearing on the ordinance held at the beginning of the council meeting. Two business owners commented during the hearing. David Rauch and Tammy Hardy, who own buildings along Route 19, said they would like to have the option of using other colors than red or amber on a black background.
Resident Jet Miskis said the red and black signs would make the Route 19 corridor “look like a bordello instead of Las Vegas.”
Find out what's happening in Peterswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Existing signs will be “grandfathered” into the new ordinance, and their replacements will have to comply with the ordinance. The ordinance also requires that electric signs cannot be operated between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Council also approved redesigning of a bridge over Sugar Camp Road from Stahl Shaeffer Engineers. The bridge will be designed with three pillars, and the design will be sent to PennDOT for approval.
Council also heard a report from Parks and Recreation Board Chairperson Melissa Sickmund on activities in Peterswood Park over the last six months.
Council is expected to take action on at its next session on Aug. 8.
During the public comment portion of Monday's meeting, Miskis, a member of the Peters Township Marcellus Shale Awareness Group, implored council members to hold a public education forum on gas drilling, and invite the gas companies seeking leases, and the public, to attend.
