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Planning commission backs conditional‑use recommendation for billboard at 333 W. Lafayette St.
Summary
The commission recommended that council advance a conditional‑use permit for a proposed on‑building billboard at 333 W. Lafayette St.; applicant counsel said technical review comments from Pennoni and the county will be addressed at permitting, and commissioners asked for lighting and licensing safeguards.
The Norristown Planning Commission recommended that borough council consider a conditional‑use permit for an on‑building advertising sign proposed at 333 W. Lafayette St.
Joe Clement, attorney for the applicant, presented photos and renderings of the building and said the proposal is an adaptive reuse of a large vacant structure owned by 333 West Lafayette Street, LLC. Clement said the project team has already appeared before borough council and the zoning hearing board and will comply with technical comments from Pennoni and county reviewers during the permitting stage. “We are will comply,” Clement said during his presentation.
Why this matters: commissioners flagged nighttime glare and public‑safety concerns from LED signage and asked how enforcement would work if an annual license were not renewed. One commissioner said modern LED billboards can be “absolutely blinding at night,” and staff explained that PennDOT review, the borough engineer and permit conditions would be used to set lighting standards and that finance/solicitor processes exist to collect unpaid licensing fees or pursue enforcement.
What was proposed and what’s next: Clement described the proposed on‑building sign (the transcript lists dimensions as “8 14 foot by 48 foot”; the exact dimension was unclear in the record) and said structural, signed and sealed drawings will be submitted at the building‑permit stage. The applicant stated it would accept content restrictions the commission or council felt necessary to avoid “unsavory messages.” Commissioners asked staff to ensure lighting thresholds and PennDOT requirements are addressed during permit review.
Outcome: after questions the commission indicated a recommendation to advance the conditional‑use application to borough council for final action. No roll‑call vote tally was recorded in the commission transcript; the record shows a motion and a second to recommend advancing the application.
