BUTLER TWP — Township commissioners are considering changes to the zoning ordinance concerning billboards.

During a public hearing held as part of the commissioners regular Monday meeting, Larry Lutz, township solicitor, explained commissioners are concerned about new billboards being erected and asked to review the zoning ordinances.

Proposed changes to the ordinance would restrict new billboard construction to Routes 422 and 8 only.

The signs would need to sit at least 75 feet from the roadside and could not be built within 500 feet of any commercial or residential building, churches or schools.

Lutz said the commissioners also are concerned about new LED billboards that project images and change images, so ordinance changes would not allow any billboards that are illuminated from within the sign. External lights used to illuminate a traditional billboard would be OK.

Finally, all billboards would be required to show the name and address of the owner, as well as be landscaped at the base including hedging and flowering trees.

Cindy Davis, zoning officer, told commissioners the township’s planning commission approved unanimously the proposed changes.

Commissioner Ben Simon asked for time to consider the changes and recommended the changes come up for a vote during the May 16 meeting.

At that meeting, commissioners will hold a public meeting concerning changes to the township’s stormwater ordinance, the specifics of which were not discussed Monday.

n In other business, the commissioners did not approve a waiver of fire inspection fees proposed by the Butler School District. The school board had requested the township waive the fire marshal’s fee during an annual fire inspection of all the district’s schools in the township. The fee would be $200 to $300 per school depending on the building’s square footage.

Commissioner George Shockey said while the township’s property tax rate is 8 mills, the school district’s is 88 mills. “They don’t seem to have any problem in raising that rate, and now they want these fees waived?”

Commissioner Joe Cavaliero said he thought, “this is probably the best $200 the school district will ever spend. Its for the safety of the children.”