Community Development Director Matthew Sullivan described the proposed amendments to the city's sign ordinance during the Nov. 19 meeting of the Aldermanic Planning and Economic Development Committee. Courtesy photo/Nashua Community Television

NASHUA – The Aldermanic Planning and Economic Development Committee voted unanimously during its Nov. 19 meeting to indefinitely postpone the nine proposed amendments to the city’s sign ordinance that would allow for electronic messaging.

The amendments would no longer require the city to seek a special exemption from the Zoning Board of Adjustment as the signage would be permitted by-right in all zoning districts provided it is for governmental use.

“This is a good public policy for the city to be undertaking,” said Community Development Director Matthew Sullivan. “It is not limited to downtown only or Amherst Street only.”

He also said there are several city departments who have requested electronic signage with text that changes every five seconds.

“It’s an emergent thing that’s happening, they are coming asking to do changing signs,” said Sullivan.

Some of the proposed amendments to the sign ordinance are as follows:

“The electronic message area may not exceed 75 percent of the total area of the sign or 40 square feet, whichever is smaller, the sign shall not show moving images or videos, the sign shall be equipped with the ability to adjust the brightness of the sign and shall not be operated at a brightness which is substantially greater than other sources of illumination in the area, all illuminated elements on the face of the sign shall remain at a fixed level of illumination and with a fixed graphic for a period of not less than five seconds and signs would be allowed on city-owned properties in residential areas.”

Sullivan said the information on an electronic message board would have the same impact as a notice in the newspaper.

“The public interest outweighs the potential impact to areas as a result of electronic messaging,” he said.

Ward 2 Alderman Richard Dowd, who co-sponsored the legislation with Aldermen Vice President Michael O’Brien, said the Aldermen are often criticized for not sharing information with the public. Dowd said this legislation would rectify that problem.

“This is something that would improve the communication with the general public,” he said.

Dowd also said no more than one sign would be permitted on any city-owned parcel.

“We’re not going to make this Las Vegas,” he said.

Dowd said the Nashua School District could also benefit from having electronic signage.

“Typically, when the schools send something home, it never arrives in the parents’ hands,” he said.

Ward 5 Alderman Ernest Jette said he was “adamantly opposed” to the legislation and called attention to last year’s push for an electronic sign in front of the Public Works building at 848 West Hollis St.

Jette said the ordinance was amended in 2023 to allow electronic signage, provided that a special exception was granted by the ZBA, adding that a special exception is easier to obtain than a zoning variance.

“To grant a special exception, the Zoning Board must find that the requested use will not impair the integrity or be out of character with the district or immediate neighborhood in which it is located,” said Jette. “If this ordinance is adopted, the city will not need a special exemption from the ZBA to erect electronic messaging signs anywhere in the city.”

Ward 1 Alderman Tyler Gouveia also spoke in opposition.

“We have an ordinance on the books that makes us follow the regulations that we’ve set forward,” he said. “I don’t think the city should be above what anyone else would have to go through. Why does the city get special treatment? That doesn’t seem right to me.”