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Board says ordinance hasn't kept pace with EV branding; grants sign variances
Summary
Planner told the board that local sign rules don't contemplate on-unit EV branding; the board granted C-variance relief after finding benefits (renewable energy, ADA access) outweigh detriments and conditioned approval on plan updates and owner confirmation.
Princeton planners and the board acknowledged that municipal signage rules do not specifically regulate branding applied directly to EV charging equipment, a gap that required C-variance relief for the proposed Iona/Ayanna chargers. Planner Marella Traina said the ordinance is "silent on EV charging stations," and that the proposed decals and top-hat identifiers on the chargers triggered the need for a variance even though the accessory EV use itself is permitted.
Traina concluded the signage variance met the C2 statutory standard because the project advances renewable-energy infrastructure and provides ADA-accessible charging near a commercial destination. "I don't believe that the proposed signage will pose a substantial detriment to the public good," Traina testified. The board approved the variance but instructed the applicant to update plan sheets and work with staff on any color or size clarifications and to provide a written owner confirmation.
