The familiar golden arches of the Hometown McDonald's restaurant will soon have an updated sign beneath them.

During a meeting Wednesday, the Rush Township Zoning Hearing Board unanimously granted McDonald's owner Robert Hughes, Macungie, a variance allowing him to replace the existing sign with an illuminated sign. The new sign will have a black background and amber-colored letters and numerals.Hughes told the board that he's been working to modernize the restaurant, which he purchased about eight months ago for $1.9 million. Hughes said he got his first job at a McDonald's when he was just 16, and worked up through the ranks since then."I've put about $450,000 into the restaurant; we've redone the Playland, made an outdoor patio with tables and repaired an existing problem with stormwater runoff," Hughes said. "I'd like to be able to advertise better to bring more customers in."Hughes said that he will also add community messages, such as phrases to support local schools, as well as the time, date and temperature. The new sign won't have flashing lights or multiple colors, he added.Zoning Hearing Board solicitor Bill Burke said that the sign was a "reasonable use to draw patrons to the establishment." Burke also said that several other local businesses, including Mauch Chunk Bank, Dunkin' Donuts and Seitz Brothers, also have illuminated signs.Hughes thanked the board for their support."We're here for the long term," Hughes said. "We want to be involved in the community."