Eatontown adopts ordinance to limit billboards along Routes 35 and 36

The Borough Council on March 25 adopted Ordinance 02-2026 amending Chapter 89 (Land Use) to regulate and restrict billboards within Eatontown. Attorney Bayer read the ordinance by title; the motion to adopt was made by Council President Virginia M. East and seconded by Councilmember Carl Lawson and carried on roll call.

Ordinance 02-2026 broadly prohibits billboards in all zoning districts but provides narrow, regulated paths for existing and limited new signs. The ordinance permits upgrades of preexisting billboards located in B-2 and B-5 zoning districts that front on State Highway 35 under conditions: replacements must be in the identical location, no larger than the replaced billboard and in no case have a single sign face exceeding 500 square feet; existing-replacement height is limited to 35 feet. The ordinance also allows a maximum of two new billboards within a 2,000-foot Billboard Zone measured from the intersection of State Routes 35 and 36, subject to special development regulations including site plan approval, New Jersey DOT permitting, maximum sign face of 672 square feet, a maximum height of 55 feet for new structures, and digital/changeable-copy restrictions requiring a minimum eight-second dwell time and prohibiting flashing or full-motion video.

Councilmembers did not receive public comment on the ordinance during the hearing. The roll call recorded all voting members present as "aye." The ordinance text references N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(d)(1) for requests falling outside the allowed conditions.