The Lehighton borough zoning board approved a request last week filed by Joseph Bennett for an electronic sign to be placed at 575 S. Ninth Street, the site of the recently opened St. Luke's new facility just off Route 443.

Flashing or animated signs are considered special use by the borough's zoning ordinance, so a special use exception is needed. The sign will show what services are being offered at the facility, as well as to display timely messages about things such as seasonal vaccinations.Edward Reed of the Reed Sign Company said that in his experience making such signs for St. Luke's he has received no complaints about the messages, nor has he heard complaints about brightness. Reed said the brightness of signs such as the one proposed for the S. Ninth Street location can be reduced if the sign causes problems. Reed also said that the size of the sign should not be an issue for drivers."It won't be much bigger than a TV," Reed said at the meeting.David Gava, network property manager for St. Luke's, said that given how many services the facility offers, it would be excessive to use multiple static signs. To appropriately advertise all six primary services offered at the location would take far more sign footage than one electronic display, Gava said. The board also saw photographs of other St. Luke's locations that use similar signs.The facility is a new medical center offering services such as a walk-in lab, an X-ray lab, OB/GYN services and physical therapy.The board also approved an application from Dennis Blocker of MD Developers for a variance on lots 604 and 605 on North 7th Street for two single-family residential dwellings.Blocker, the owner of multiple lots on the street, said he wants to build manufactured homes on the properties to sell these homes to seniors who want to downsize or re-enter the community at an affordable price.Blocker said that the planned housing is 4 inches too large on a side yard for zoning ordinances, but that to re-engineer the homes would drive prices up for those looking to buy.