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Planners favor allowing static electronic signs on main roads with limits; ask staff to tighten language
Summary
West Rockhill planning commissioners signaled support for an amendment that would permit static electronic (LED) signage on designated main roads with a refresh limit (once every 30 seconds) and asked staff to clarify which districts are covered and to refine buffer/illumination rules before advertising a formal hearing.
West Rockhill planning commissioners reviewed a proposed zoning amendment to allow static electronic signs in limited locations and asked staff to refine the language before advertising a formal public hearing.
Planning staff described the proposal as an amendment to permit electronic signs that present static messages rather than continuous video; the draft would limit refresh rate to roughly once every 30 seconds and apply only along specified main roads and in nonresidential commercial/industrial districts. Staff and commissioners discussed whether the map and text unintentionally include residential districts and whether to carve out exceptions for churches, veterans' organizations (VFW) or other nonprofits.
What the draft would do: The draft text discussed in the meeting would permit static electronic signs along roads such as Ridge Road, Bethlehem Pike/State Road (PA 152) and Long Avenue between Farmers Lane and Ridge Road. The draft distinguishes smaller size limits for residential areas (the transcript cites a 2‑square‑foot limit in section 2007) from larger signage in commercial/industrial districts (20 square feet), and references technical illumination guidance (transcript cites 5,000 nits daytime and 250 nits nighttime as comparators in the draft).
Concerns and clarifications requested: Commissioners asked staff to either explicitly limit permitting to commercial/nonresidential frontage on main roads or to remove residential districts from the permissive language; they also asked staff to clarify buffer planting rules so landscaping does not block sign readability, to confirm whether existing signs (such as a local VFW sign) would be grandfathered, and to consider an exception that would let some churches change message boards for service times without broader advertising. Commissioners agreed the concept has merit but requested the text be tightened before formal advertisement and hearing.
Quote from staff: "It's an amendment to the ordinance to allow electronic signs that present a static message," a planning staff member said, adding that "static doesn't mean permanent, but it limits how fast that it can refresh."
Ending: The commission expressed general support for further work on the ordinance and asked staff to return with clarified language addressing which districts are eligible, buffer plantings, size standards for municipal/multiuse sites, and any exceptions for churches or nonprofit organizations ahead of a formal advertised hearing.
