On Monday the Kidder Township Zoning Hearing Board approved a request to install two electronic signs at the entrances of Split Rock Resort.

Township Zoning Officer Ginny Compton had denied the request because the current township ordinance does not allow for signs which are "animated, sequential, flashing or oscillating."Split Rock also needed approval from the board because according to the ordinance, signs are not permitted within the right of way and a sign must be located on the same premises to which it refers.There are also a number of other issues related to the number of signs permitted on any one street frontage and the setback requirements.After hearing testimony from Compton and from George Hall, director of sales and marketing for Split Rock, as well as Split Rock's Managing Director Lee Bowden, the board opened the floor to residents for comments.Greg Harahus, representing Blue Ridge Realty, the owner of the property adjacent to the location of the sign that would be located just inside the Route 940 gate, told the board that Blue Ridge had no issues with the sign.Lorraine Barbella, whose property is adjacent to Split Rock's at the Lake Drive gate, was concerned that the sign would shine in her window and asked if it could be directed in such a way so that would not happen.The sign will be placed inside the gate, and should not be a nuisance to Barbella.Township Supervisor Larry Polansky told the board that he recalled that the reason for the current ordinance was that the township wanted to avoid electronic signs in areas of moving traffic."The reason was so as not to distract drivers, or to slow down the flow of traffic," Polansky said. "If these signs are inside the gates that wouldn't be a problem.""Research has shown that messages that run 30 to 45 seconds are the most successful in getting the information out," Hall said. "Our plan is to run the messages about the same length of time."Hall said that the messages would consist of photos and text and would flash from one to the next.Hall also added that the signs can be used to notify residents and guests of events, weather conditions, accidents or fundraisers in the township."These signs are fully programmable and can be updated from a laptop from anywhere," Hall added.The board approved the signs with three conditions:• The messages cannot be animated, oscillating or sequential;• The signs must be placed within 5 feet of the existing signs; and• The signs must not block or interfere with the line of sight of traffic.Anyone who objects to this decision or is aggrieved by it may appeal to the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the decision.