The Gloucester County Planning Commission recommended approval of a code amendment for non-residential, permanent, off-premise signs during a meeting last Thursday night in the colonial courthouse.

A commission subcommittee was formed at the advisory body’s July meeting to review the referral from the Gloucester Board of Supervisors regarding permanent agribusiness signage. The board asked that the commission consider an amendment which would allow for some permanent, off-premise signage in the Highway Corridor Overlay zoning district for agribusinesses.

Following much discussion at its September meeting, the commission decided to take to hearing permanent off-premise sign provisions for non-residential uses without frontage on Route 17 or Route 14. The proposed changes would provide sign options for agribusinesses, planner Emily Gibson said, as well as marinas and boat yards, schools, churches and others without frontage on Route 17 or Route 14.

No one from the public turned out for the public hearing on the code amendment. All commissioners present supported the measure except for Keith Belvin and Michael Winebarger. Belvin said he did not support it because the commission did not receive any public input; Winebarger indicated he opposed it principally because no electronic or illuminated signs would be allowed. Mark Stawn and Larry Dame did not attend the meeting.

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