Details Of Proposed Bridgewater Electronic Monument Display Shared

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The hearing for the remaining application proposing to erect an electronic monument display on Route 202/206 in Bridgewater Township has been postponed, announced Councilman Timothy Ring.

"At the request of Catalyst Experiential, the Tuesday, April 11 plan review before the Planning Board has been postponed. The Planning Board meeting will still take place, so as to address other items on the agenda," said Ring.

The application will be tentatively rescheduled for the Planning Board's Tuesday, May 2 meeting. The Township Council was set to also hear the second reading of an ordinance to award a lease to 100 Commons L Bridgewater LH, LLC to construct the display at the April 20 meeting.

With the planning board postponement, the second reading and public hearing for the Township Council will now be moved to Thursday, May 4.

Ring also shared more information on the specifics of the monument — which some have called a billboard — for residents this week to avoid misinformation from being shared.

Among the information was the location of the electronic monument. Some had suggested it will be next to KidStreet. The renderings submitted to the planning board show the sign is being proposed for the area next to the solar panels, south of the back side of the animal shelter, along 202/206 southbound.

The total structure is proposed at roughly 51 feet wide and roughly 36.5 feet high. The electronic display itself is proposed at roughly 45 feet wide by roughly 18.5 feet high.

The electronic display will sit on top of brick veneer columns and the monument will also have some white and black aluminum cladding.

The display would also have Bridgewater Township's name on the bottom and not only feature advertisements but also township messages - such as for town events, activities, etc. - as well.

In return for the monument being erected, the township would receive a one-time lump sum payment of $1 million to the township and $1,000 a month over the 30-year lease, according to Bridgewater Township Attorney Christopher Corsini. Read More: Electronic Monument Billboard To Be Erected In Bridgewater

Some residents have voiced their opposition to the display, which was originally said to look similar to one in Raritan Township in Hunterdon County.

At the March 16 meeting, Wendy Pinchinson said the sign in Raritan Township, is "quite an eyesore, it's very bright at night, very distracting. I'm concerned about it being erected where it is proposed in the township."

"The monument display, AKA electronic billboard, does not scream scenic to me," said Pinchinson at the meeting.

Catalyst Experiential of Newton Town Square, Pennsylvania previously had three more electronic monument displays proposed to be built throughout the township. Those three applications were withdrawn last week due to lack of support from the Planning Board. Read More: 3 Monument Display Applications Withdrawn In Bridgewater, 1 Remains

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