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Electronic Billboard Ordinance Debate In Pocono Township

POCONO TOWNSHIP — You can’t miss them: those huge, bright electronic billboards being used now to advertise along the road. But a community wants to...
mon electronic signs

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- You can't miss them: those huge, bright electronic billboards being used now to advertise along the road. But a community wants to make sure the signs don't get out of hand by proposing a new ordinance to control them.

Electronic billboards line Route 611 in Pocono Township. You can find one in just about every size and color outside businesses and along the roadway.

Now the township is trying to lay down some ground rules to try to cut down on the distractions to drivers

"We have a lot of scenic areas around here in Pocono Township. We don`t want signs all over the place. We don`t want distracted drivers, so we`re just trying to strike that balance," said Pocono Township Manager Gregg Schuester.

Township commissioners have proposed an amendment to their sign ordinance that for the first time would specifically regulate these glowing ads.

Terri Burkle, Pocono Brewing Company's general manager, said it's not surprising.

"Cause there are so many signs on 611. There are so many signs. It`s an overwhelming amount of flashing lights coming up and down 611 trying to read those signs," Burkle said.

The current proposal would limit how fast the signs could change: every 90 seconds if it's by an on or off ramp, and every minute if it's on a straight-away. Right now many of the signs change every ten seconds or less.

"They want to have these signs rotate as quickly as possible. We understand that. It creates a lot more advertising time. It can also cause a lot more distractions."

David Wotring lives near 611 in Pocono Township. He says these bright lights distract him.

"The bigger, the worse they are. Yes, I know that. And how that happened I have no idea, but yeah, I`m not in favor of them," Wotring said.

He's glad the township is trying to take some control.

Many business owners declined to comment.

Pocono Brewing Company has had a sign for more than a year. Owners are looking forward to working with community leaders to find a balance.

"Steps in the right direction, feedback from the community members and the business owners.  We`re here to comply, but we are here as a business."

We contacted some of the companies that make the signs for comment and have not heard back.

The township is asking for written feedback and plans to review it all at a public meeting in May, hoping to get closer to finding an ordinance everyone can live with.

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