'Are We Up For Sale?' Residents Oppose Bridgewater Electronic Display

BRIDGEWATER, NJ ? Concerns over light pollution and driver distraction were raised by residents over a proposed electronic "billboard" monument display at the recent township council meeting.

"Are we up for sale? Are we up for rent? I don't want to live in a town that rents ourselves out. I thought that we wanted to preserve our quality of life," said resident Cathy Franco at the April 20 meeting.

The township council unanimously voted in March to approve the first reading of an ordinance to award a lease to 100 Commons L Bridgewater LH, LLC to construct the display on the municipal complex site visible to Route 202/206 near the Interstate 287 merge.

In return for the monument being erected, the township would receive a one-time lump sum payment of $1 million to the township and $1,000 a month over the 30-year lease, according to Bridgewater Township Attorney Christopher Corsini. Read More: Electronic Monument Billboard To Be Erected In Bridgewater

A final vote and public hearing on the ordinance has been pushed to the May 4 council meeting. Since the introduction, many residents have spoken out in opposition to it.

"The proposed location will attract the attention of drivers and it's going to be a distraction for drivers, it's going to be out of character for the neighborhood and I hope the council preserves the long-range views of the community to preserve the integrity of the township," said resident Allen Ramsey last week. "Based on safety, I think we should all focus on what the detriment of what the sign would be."

Resident Virginia Schrum reminded the council that when the CVS Pharmacy on Route 28 in the Finderne section of town wanted to have a billboard the zoning board at the time "vehemently opposed it" saying "we do not want to look like neighboring towns."

During the April 20 meeting, Mayor Matthew Moench said he was clearing up some misinformation on the sign. He said the sign will not remove trees by KidStreet and will instead be by the solar panels.

The township also released information on the proposed sign including its dimensions, location, and hours of operation.

$1 Million Payment

Moench also noted that the $1 million payment to the township would be used for park and recreation projects "that will last us for decades to come as opposed to putting it in for a one-time budget benefit."

Some of those proposed projects include pickleball courts, skate parks, dog parks, cricket pitch, upgrades to KidStreet, upgrades to neighborhood basketball courts, Middlebrook trail rehab, and baseball fields, said Moench.

"I think the public will see a lot more benefit out of an extra million dollars if we do park projects," said Moench. "Those are the projects we are looking at. Depending on the final price we will be able to do maybe not all of them but certainly a lot of them."

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.