Old Bridge Township Zoning Board Approves Digital Billboard and Legalizes Three-Family Home

The Old Bridge Township Zoning Board meeting on April 3, 2025, was marked by notable decisions, including the approval of a digital billboard conversion on Texas Road and the legalization of a longstanding three-family home on Bay View Drive. These approvals addressed complex zoning regulations and community concerns.

17:23The board’s approval to convert an existing static billboard on Route 9 into a digital display was a central focus of the meeting. The proposal by CCP Outdoor LLC faced scrutiny over its compliance with township ordinances, particularly the required setbacks and proximity to other billboards. The board examined the billboard’s placement within a parking lot, its distance from the property line, and its separation from other billboards, which fell short of the required distance. Despite these challenges, the board was persuaded by testimony from experts in engineering and planning, who assured that the digital billboard would not pose additional safety risks or detract from the community’s aesthetic.

21:34A professional engineer testified that the billboard’s conversion to digital would not alter its height, location, or dimensions, thus maintaining its compliance with the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s regulations for highway signage. The engineer highlighted the billboard’s structural readiness for LED technology, including its ability to auto-adjust brightness to minimize nighttime glare. Further testimony from a traffic engineer confirmed that the billboard’s current placement did not interfere with parking or sight distances.

39:30Tiffany Morrisy, a professional planner, clarified that the project required a use variance due to non-compliance with specific township standards. Her testimony supported the applicant’s position that the digital upgrade would enhance advertising opportunities for local businesses without impairing the zoning ordinance or the master plan. The board’s unanimous approval was contingent on the billboard’s adherence to operational guidelines, including specific dwell times for advertising messages and restricted operating hours.

52:24In a separate matter, the board addressed the application to legalize a three-family home on Bay View Drive. The property had historically functioned as a multi-family dwelling, despite being located in a single-family zone. The applicant presented extensive documentation, including utility records and tax documents, to substantiate the property’s long-standing use as a three-family residence. Testimonies from long-time residents corroborated the property’s historical status, emphasizing its unchanged role in the neighborhood for decades.

01:19:16The board’s deliberations included an examination of parking adequacy, a concern given the area’s narrow streets and high vehicle ownership. The applicant proposed paving an additional parking space to meet the neighborhood’s needs. The board ultimately granted a certificate of nonconformity, recognizing the property’s established use and the owner’s efforts to align with zoning regulations.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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