Planning Board Discussed Increasing Signs in Westwood

The Westwood Planning Board addressed the issue of sign visibility in Thursday night’s continued discussion of the Master Plan revisions.

In the CBD (Central Business District), businesses further from the street requested the Board reconsider the size limitations on storefront sign lettering. Borough Planner Ed Snieckus recommended the Board increase the maximum letter size on these primary business entrances from 12 to 18 inches.

“In those locations they are asking for the lettering to be allowed to be higher because they are at sort of a disadvantage,” Snieckus said. “Normally the buildings are closer to the street and more visible.”

Storefronts at least 100 feet from the street were considered in this discussion. These are at a greater distance than the average building in Westwood, according to Snieckus.

The board members present agreed that an increase in size of the letters would be beneficial to these businesses.

“We’re recommending the criteria that allows them to increase their letter size if they are over 100 feet away from the property,” Snieckus said after the meeting.

He will work on the language of this proposal and present it to the Board at the next meeting. If approved, the 18-inch maximum letter size on storefront signs at least 100 feet from the street will be implemented in about a year, pending government approval of the revised Master Plan.

Snieckus also proposal the Master Plan allow businesses on Westwood Ave. display perpendicular signs in their storefronts.

“That idea was more of an approach to allow a little bit of additional signage in the Central Business District – to permit greater visibility for the individual storefronts along the corridor, because the streetscape of Westwood Avenue is so narrow, the cone of vision is so narrow that it’s difficult to see the larger signs that are on the buildings,” he said.

There is a lack of visibility for people driving cars down this street. Snieckus believes perpendicular signs would be easier for them to see. The other members of the Board agreed to consider perpendicular signs on Westwood Ave. in greater detail at the next meeting.