Majority of Planning Board Says No to Outdoor Neon Signs

Members of the Westwood Planning Board talked about neon signs last week during Master Plan discussions and decided, in a split decision, that no neon signs should be permitted in store windows.

Five members said they did not want any neon signs outside while four said they wouldn't mind a small sign indicating the business was open to appear in one color in the window. Two board members were absent from the meeting Thursday.

Eight of the nine members present said they didn't object to businesses having neon signs inside the establishment at least 10 feet from the windows as long as there are guidelines regulating the size and number of colors. Mayor John Birkner Jr. was the lone objector. He said several times that he opposes neon signs.

Westwood property owner Bruce Meisel addressed the board, saying he didn't believe neon signs fit in the borough. "They're just not consistent with the character of a pedestrian downtown," he said.

He said he considers Westwood closer to towns like Ridgewood and Princeton, which do not allow neon signs, than those that do, including Cliffside Park, Hackensack and Bergenfield.

Meisel said whatever the ultimate decision, he will not allow his tenants to use neon signs of any kind, even inside the building. He added that if the signs are prohibited, business owners won't complain about not having them.

Planning Board Chairman James Hodges said that the idea was to allow neon signs at least 10 feet from the windows so they wouldn't be too noticeable from the outside. He said was a good example. He added signage like that on would be prohibited.

While Birkner said he was opposed to neon, he did say he saw one that he described as "tastefully done." He said it was very simple, without flashing lights or multiple colors. He said that would be the only type of neon sign he could see in the borough.

Hodges said a neon open sign could be beneficial for business owners. Daniel Olivier, Councilwoman Cynthia Waneck and James Schluter joined Hodges in supporting that use. The others in attendance said they did not want even a neon open sign to appear. Board members William Martin and Keith Doell were not present at the meeting.

Discussions about the borough Master Plan are expected to continue at the next Planning Board meeting, scheduled for June 9.