The Montgomery Shopping Center Seeks Approval for a New Facade with Bigger Signs

By Barbara A. Preston | Posted October 31, 2024

With many new commercial and residential buildings popping up all around it at the Route 206/518 intersection, The Montgomery Shopping Center owners are scheduling a face-lift.

The new proposed look of the Montgomery Shopping Center,.

A current view of Montgomery Cinemas at the Montgomery Shopping Center.

Hilton Reality/MontPen SC, the owners of The Montgomery Shopping Center on Route 206 in Skillman, plan to appear before the Montgomery Planning Board on November 25 at 7 pm. On the agenda will be "Facade Alterations" to the 19.5-acre strip mall built in 1967 and last renovated in 1995, according to LoopNet. The project will encompass four buildings on the property — including ShopRite, Montgomery Cinemas, Halter's Cycles, and the stand-alone Santander Bank.

The applicant seeks minor site plan approval to modify the facades of existing buildings within the shopping center and to construct new façade signs, electric vehicle charging stations, lighting, and bollards. The applicant requests variance relief from the maximum sign size.

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Jeffrey H. Sands, sole owner of Mont Pen SC and managing member of Hilton Realty, located in Carnegie Center off Route 1 in West Windsor, states in his applications that following the Montgomery Township ordinance requirement for size of new facade signs would result in "unproportional signs in relation to the facade." As a result, "the shopping center will not attract tenants who need signage large enough to advertise their service or merchandise. "The proposed deviation from the zoning requirements for signage would promote the buildings' requirements of being architecturally compatible in scale/proportion."

The requested variances would also allow sufficient area to install back-lit channel signs and "would not result in substantial detriment to the public good because the signs would be ... more readable," according to the application. The plan requires 31 sign variances, three bulk variances from architectural design requirements, and two design exceptions for lighting.

The ShopRite main entrance would not change much.

Current tenants who would all get new signs include: Montgomery Cinemas, Just Bathrooms, Beniamino's Cucina, Kumon, Skillman Wine & Liquor, Carbon Health, Twin Boro Physical Therapy, Ya Ya Noodles, Sahara Restaurant, Montgomery Cleaners, Village Shoes, ShopRite, True Value, T and T Pet Supplies, Luigi's Shoe Repair, IL Botique II, Massage Envy, State Farm, Caring Hart Animal Hospital, Star Glow Salon, Robinson's Chocolates, Closet Possible, Chill Cryotherapy, Montgomery Eye Care, Great Clips, Ahn's Tae Kwon Do, Garbo Jewelry, Halters Cycles, and Santander Bank.

There are some empty store fronts for lease. The new facade design would have the appearance of flat-top roof, as opposed to the current sloped roofs and pillars with arches.