62-Foot-High Digital Billboard Proposed To Be Erected On Route 202 In Raritan

RARITAN, NJ — A 62-foot-high double-sided digital billboard is being proposed to be erected off Route 202 in Raritan.

The Raritan Planning Board is expected to hear the application by IAAT Services LLC at its Sept. 24 meeting.

The six-story digital billboard is being proposed at 605 Route 202 or the corner of 2nd Avenue and Route 202 North, where Papa John's and Angelone's Florist is located.

The double-sided billboard will be 14 feet by 48 feet in size with a pole of 50 feet and a maximum height of 62 feet.

A billboard is not a permitted use of the property, and the applicant is seeking preliminary and final minor site plan approval, as well as several variances, including:

1. Section 207-116.A & 207-108.A.: Permitted Uses: digital billboards are not permitted in the B-3 and R-4 Zones; a double-sided digital multi-message billboard is proposed; therefore, a 'D-1' use variance(s) is/are required
2. Section 207-116.A & 207-108.A: Permitted Uses: not more than one principal use is permitted in the B-3 and R-4 zones and two (2) principal uses are proposed; a new billboard and existing retail business use; therefore, a 'D-1' use variance(s) is/are required
3. Section 207-108.A. Permitted Uses: The existing retail business use is not permitted in the zone; the addition of a billboard will constitute an expansion of an existing nonconforming use; therefore, a 'D-2' use variance(s) is/are required
4. R-4 Section 207-116.F & 207-108.F: Max. Building Height: 2 stories/30 ft. in the B-3 Zone and 2.5 stories/35 ft. in the R-4 zone are permitted/required; less than 2.5 stories exist and Applicant proposes 62 ft.; therefore, a D-6 variance is required for the proposed height
5. Section 207-116.F & 207-108.F: Max. Impervious Coverage: 75% max. in the B-3 Zone and 30% in the R-4 Zone are permitted; 77.2 or 25,539 SF is existing and Applicant proposes 77.2 or 25,557 SF; therefore, a variance is required
6. Section 207-116.F & 207-108.F: Min. Front Yard Setback (principal building): 50 ft. in the B-3 Zone and 25 ft in the R-4 Zone are permitted; 50.5 ft exist and Applicant proposes 5 ft.; therefore, a variance is required
7. Section 207-116.F & 207-108.F: Min. Exterior Yard Setback (principal building): 15 ft. in the B-3 Zone and 25 ft in the R-4 Zone are permitted; 14.1 ft exist and is proposed; therefore, a continuation of the existing non-conformance is required
8. The Applicant also seeks approval for any and all variances, waivers, exceptions, interpretations, and any other incidental relief that may be required or deemed necessary during the review and consideration of this application by the Municipal Land Use Board and its professionals or by the Applicant during the application and hearing process, including but not limited to that which may be generated by way of revised plans and submission of same

To view the application, visit raritanboro.org/pages/planning-board-application-plans-and-documents.

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