Business Sign Survey (and more)-Finalized 4/22/25
This Survey was commissioned by the East Windsor Chamber of Commerce which collected data/input from over 40 *businesses located in the Town of East Windsor. * 2 of these Businesses have left the Town and not all respondents were EWCC Members.
The following information is done without naming Businesses names as many were concerned that voicing their opinion may cause them to have unexpected negative impact on their businesses.
It was a simple survey asking what the businesses felt or had encountered in regards to Signage for the Business or other matters when dealing with the Town of East Windsor especially in regards to the Planning & Development Dept.
Note 1
In comparing East Windsor to other Towns in the area we do have some of the most stringent regulations in regards to businesses.
Note 2
During the recent international health crisis most Businesses suffered extreme loss of Business and still have not regained a solid foothold as they were before the pandemic.
Note 3
Businesses main competition is not with other local /area businesses but competition provided by Companies like Amazon or web presences like Tik Tok (non brick and mortar businesses that Our Community does not benefit from.)
Note 4
Other communities have relaxed enforcement of Sign Regulations for the benefit off the Community (as we are hearing from the businesses).
Note 5
The staff of the East Windsor Chamber of Commerce has spoken directly to over 25 of respondents to the survey for clarification of the responses they gave.
Results of Survey-
Open Signs/ Flags –
Over 80% of respondents felt the lack of being able to have Open Signs or Flags etc. hinder the stoppage of customers or them to even know they exist. All of the Small Business respondents felt this way.
** 2 Businesses that left the Town felt the lack of Open signs affected the business’s bottom line and contributed to the decision to relocate somewhere else.
General Business Signs –
Many felt that the Commercial Corridors (RTE 5.140 and Warehouse Point area) should be allowed more signage to capture the Customers that are traveling these roads thru Town (but not stopping to spend money).
** All felt that safety in sign display needs to be taken into consideration but once items like line of sight for cars is considered other options need to be on the table- IE Signs on the actual buildings should not be so limited in size etc.
Enforcement of Sign (and other) Regulations-
100% of the businesses that responded agreed that they felt the Town is not enforcing by complaint but picking and choosing which business to enforce the regulations on. Many felt they were profiled by the enforcement officers.
Other Items-
Events at Plazas/Strip Mall (etc)-
When a Business within the plaza/strip mall or the plaza/strip mall itself has an event it should not require a Town permit as the North Central Health District is in charge of making sure health codes etc are followed. However All agreed that a notification to Police and or Fire Depts was a reasonable request by the Town and should be handled directly with those entities.
How Enforcement Occurs-
Over 60% of the Businesses that responded felt that Zoning Enforcement is left too much in the hands of the Staff’s discretion. The same percentage has had (for a lack of better term) poor experiences with enforcement and felt they were being singled out. * Note the East Windsor Chamber of Commerce does not necessarily agree with this thought but there does seem to be a lack of planned enforcement and not always a written complaint by someone.
Non Communication between Businesses & Town-
70% of the respondents felt when Business regulations are decided upon there seems to be no reaching out or consulting of the Businesses but just what Staff suggests.
Since the Business Community represents over 35% of the Tax base the Town should do more to involve them in the drafting of regulations.
*One business claims that as a result of their investing in our community by building here that new regulations were created by staff to stop/control other such businesses in the future.
Final Thought (Conclusion)
East Windsor continues to be a growing community with needs for Services and new Infrastructure for the Residents.(Schools, Fire and Police Depts etc.)
Businesses are the key to having a tax base big enough to provide the Services and Infrastructure.
This will continue to allow East Windsor to have part of the town be more small town like and even maybe assist in keeping our history of being a Farming community going.
The areas that are identified as Commercial Corridors (for at least the last 30 years) need to be allowed to grow with regulations that benefit the Business.
However if the Town does not provide the opportunities for Businesses to stay or locate here with more reasonable regulations on items like Signage in the Town’s Commercial Corridors then we will have failed in providing or continuing to have a large Commercial Tax base and and any new Town Infrastructure will fall directly on all the Taxpayers.
