It’s not exactly a sign of God. It’s an LED. But it will shine a light on activities at St. Thomas More Church in Salisbury Township.

“It’s a sign of the times, having an illuminated sign with messages,” The Rev. John S. Pendzick, pastor, St. Thomas More Church, said.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board voted 2-1 to approve, with conditions, the appeal for variances of St. Thomas More, 1040 Flexer Avenue, to construct a free-standing LED (Light-Emitting Diode) changing-message sign.

The church is in the R3, Medium Low Density Residential zoning district in western Salisbury.

Conditions include that the sign must be turned off 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., which is in keeping with a township ordinance.

Also, the sign will only display messages about events taking place on the premises.

Variances granted in the approval were for the sign-face size: with 74.5-square-feet proposed and 12-square-feet permitted; height: 8 feet proposed and 6 feet permitted and LED messaging, which is not permitted.

A variance request was withdrawn for internal illumination, which is not permitted.

Attorney Joseph A Bubba, of Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, represented St. Thomas More at the hearing. Also attending was Pendzick.

Pendzick, is a graduate of St. Thomas More School, Class of 1983. He has been pastor at St. Thomas More for about five months. Previously, he was pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church, Fullerton, Whitehall Township.

Zoning hearing board member Joseph Kovach chaired the meeting in the absence of Attorney Kent Herman, zoning hearing board chair. Also excused was zoning member Attorney Ian Baxter. In attendance, in addition to Kovach, were zoning board members Nicole Ortiz and Ronald Evans and zoning board solicitor Attorney Victor F. Cavacini of Gross McGinley.

Salisbury Township Assistant Manager Sandy Nicolo spoke on behalf of the township because Salisbury Township Director of Planning and Zoning Kerry Rabold, who attended the hearing, had a conflict of interest in that she and her family are members of St. Thomas More.

Community activities held at St. Thomas More include sports programs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, food bank drives and blood bank donations.

“It’s part of the community,” Pendzick said of St. Thomas More.

In testimony during the approximate one-hour hearing, it was noted St. Thomas More has been in existence for 52 years. The 15-acre site includes a church, school, preschool, parish center and soccer field.

Also, according to testimony, 3,000 families are members and there are 7,000 to 8,000 parishioners at St. Thomas More. There are 520 students grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

During testimony, other message signs in the vicinity were mentioned. One LED sign is 14-foot-high and is 92-square-feet, it was said.

Among the 15 in attendance, three raised their hands as objectors and four raised their hands as interested parties. Those speaking included Thomas Germuga, Pam Adams, Gerry Mullins, Nicholas Casella, Dennis Ebert and Dennis Remilla.

“It will not be anything to disturb the residents,” Remilla said, a St. Thomas More parishioner.

“I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request, but I validate the concerns of the neighbors,” Ortiz said, adding, “I think it’s a need for the church.”

“It’s a difficult decision,” Kovach said, who voted against granting the variances.

“It’s a difficult case. It’s new technology,” Cavacini said.

“All things being advertised would take place on the property,” Bubba said.

Zoners voted 3-0 to approve the 2022 township zoning hearing board schedule. Hearings will be held the second Wednesday, instead of the first Tuesday, of the month.

The Salisbury Township zoning hearing board next meets 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 2022, in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.