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Planning Board allows larger illuminated sign for Asia Market at Montgomery Place with lighting conditions
Summary
The board granted a variance allowing a 71.66‑square‑foot illuminated channel‑letter façade sign (net channel area ~59.26 sq ft) and taller lettering for an anchor Asia Market, conditioned on a lighting plan, a 2,700K color temperature limit and a timer to switch lights off at midnight.
The Montgomery Township Planning Board on Aug. 12 approved amended site‑plan and signage relief for the Asia Market at Montgomery Place, allowing an internally illuminated façade sign larger than the township's 50‑square‑foot cap for a single tenant.
Mike, representing Effective Sign Works, told the board the proposed sign measures 71.66 square feet when measured by a bounding box but that the channel‑letter net area excluding negative space is about 59.26 square feet. He said the tallest letter would be about 58 inches and the top‑to‑bottom height of the assembled sign about 8.33 feet. "We're 21 square feet over, roughly 45% over the 50 square foot allowance," he said in testimony about the boxed measure.
Planner John McDonough argued the sign is proportionate to the unit's large storefront and sits well within the architectural frame. "Given the mass of the unit and the setback from the roadway, the sign integrates with the overall design and the relief is warranted for this anchor use," McDonough testified.
The board discussed previous conditions from a 2016 resolution and asked for a lighting plan showing foot‑candle impacts. The applicant agreed to submit a lighting plan for consultant review, to use warm lighting at roughly 2,700K per staff recommendation, and to have the sign lighting turn off at midnight per the center's prior approvals. The board also emphasized that the larger sign approval applies to this tenant and location only; other tenants must comply with the ordinance or seek their own variances.
The motion to approve passed on a roll call. The resolution will replace prior sign conditions for this unit and require the applicant to provide the lighting plan and confirm the internal illumination and timer settings prior to sign permit issuance.
