ZBA approves sign variances for EverHome Suites hotel at 1860 Easton Avenue despite one dissent

The Franklin Township Zoning Board of Adjustment voted April 3 to grant Somerset LLC variances to install two wall-mounted, lighted signs on the new EverHome Suites hotel at 1860 Easton Avenue (Block 468.10, Lot 26.04).

Attorney John DeLuca told the board the applicant seeks relief from the municipality’s sign standards (Section 112, Attachment 5), which limit hotel signage to a specific maximum vertical height and require a rear/side entrance sign to be no larger than the front sign. The applicant requested variances for both the number/placement and the size of the signs.

Project manager Linford Burkholder testified that the proposed primary wall sign is about 50 square feet, backlit and rated at roughly 3,152 lumens; a second sign on the building’s end is about 15.77 square feet at roughly 3,783 lumens. Burkholder described projection from the building of about five inches and said the signs will be illuminated day and night. Timothy O’Donnell, representing Somerset LLC, said the hotel is scheduled to open around August and that the signs are intended to aid motorists on nearby high-traffic corridors in locating the hotel.

A motion to grant Somerset LLC CBA250005 the requested sign variances was moved and seconded. Richard Prokhanick voted no, saying the applicant did not present the burden of proof on the positive and negative criteria for variances; the remaining board members voted yes. The motion passed by majority.

The board did not set additional conditions on the sign sizes beyond the application specifications noted at the hearing. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing’s public-comment portion.