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Council approves conditional use for 14×48 off‑premises electronic sign at 333 W. Lafayette with conditions
Summary
After a proffered case and public comment, Norristown council approved a conditional‑use application to install a 14×48‑foot changeable‑message off‑premises sign at 333 West Lafayette Street, subject to conditions including content prohibitions and compliance with PennDOT and municipal engineer requirements.
Council approved on Nov. 5 a conditional‑use application allowing a changeable‑message off‑premises electronic sign to be attached to the exterior of the building at 333 West Lafayette Street.
Joe Clement, attorney for 33 West Lafayette Street LLC, proffered testimony and a packet of exhibits and renderings. He said the proposed sign would measure 14 feet by 48 feet (reported in discussion as 48 feet in length) and noted the zoning hearing board had already granted variances. Clement said he and his client would comply with the municipal engineer’s comments and the Montgomery County Planning Commission review letter and would obtain any required PennDOT permit related to off‑premises advertising.
Under questions from council, Clement and the applicant’s witness, Joseph Wolf, confirmed several commitments that the owner and operator had made at the zoning hearing board, including prohibitions on adult entertainment, tobacco, alcohol and obscene materials on the sign; a willingness to allow municipal messages or emergency notices to be displayed temporarily; compliance with PennDOT standards governing electronic sign change frequency and animation; and delivery of structural plans to the engineer prior to issuance of permits. Clement also said the applicant had agreed to reasonable conditions suggested by the borough engineer if PennDOT did not address copy‑change timing.
During public comment, nearby residents raised pedestrian safety concerns at adjacent rail crossings and asked for clearer visuals of the proposed sign; representatives of the applicant brought packet images for public viewing. Council briefly went into executive session; on reconvening the council approved the conditional use by roll call. The president summarized the approval conditions, including compliance with permitting, the testimony on the record, and an explicit clause that “announcements” include special events, activities and municipal messages when reasonably requested.
No fine‑grained permit or PennDOT determination was made at the meeting; the council’s approval is subject to the conditions and downstream permitting, structural review, and any PennDOT permitting found to be necessary.
