At the end of Thursday night’s Township meeting, Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein brought up a proposal that he said had been on his mind for a while – requiring new homes being built to be outfitted with light-up addresses including the house number and street name.
The requirement would be included along with other requirements that need to be met in order to be approved for a building permit.
Committeeman Lichtenstein requested that the Planning Department look into enacting such a requirement and deliver their recommendations to the Township Committee.
He added, that the same idea had been brought up “10 or 12 years ago”, but the issue became complicated and was sidelined until now. He also argued that with the advanced technologies that many homes are outfitted with today, it is only sensible that they be equipped with a well-lit address as well.
The proposal would make it far easier for the correct home to be spotted by emergency vehicles if and when the need arises.
There are few, if any, residents of Lakewood who can attest to the need for lit up addresses outside homes than Committeeman Lichtenstein, who has served the community as a member of Hatzolah for many years. For years, Hatzolah has been urging residents to have a well-lit address sign outside their homes in order to save precious moments when they are most needed.
TLS spoke to several residents regarding Committeeman Lichtenstein’s proposal.
One resident who requested his name not be published said “Everybody understands the need for addresses that can be easily seen. But very few people take the initiative on their own. Codifying this as a requirement for a building permit is a smart idea.”
Another resident told TLS how his own homes light-up address had helped in saving the life of his child. “When Hatzolah came on to our block, they were immediately able to see where our home was. We were told after the emergency had been resolved how helpful our clear and bright sign was to Hatzolah in assisting us.”
The proposal is still in it’s infancy stages, but the Township’s Committee seemed receptive and eager to consider it.
Wonderful wonderful idea and necessity, It should be expanded to older homes on rentals & sales.
Long overdue
Yes it is a good idea for people to have lighted numbers – BUT I WOULD RATHER NOT CHANGE THE CODE, CHANGE THE FORMS, ADD MORE TIME TO THE INSPECTION ROUTINE, We are just lengthening the process which is ridiculous already. You go put this on the register, then 3 years later somebody says its not big enough, then 3 years later somebody says its too ugly – We have to publicize what we thing works and trust people to follow through, The government is too involved already and the process of getting inspections should be trimmed not expanded. You shouldn’t have to hold up getting a CO because your light wasn’t quite perfect and you have to replace it. Meanwhile there are people whose lives are turned upside down cause the inspector couldn’t come back and its a week before pesach and there is a baby on the way – keep the inspectors out – educate people to do what is prudent.
Great idea! Now anyone that would be building a house and doesn’t want to have that sign will just need one more variance.
lol
If you are writing laws about building permits – it should ONLY be about issues that affect others. (like if the street will be too congested etc) That’s what gov’t is for.
If someone wants or doesn’t want a light up address it’s his prerogative.
Only liberals care to create laws about what you do in your own home… (& neglect public safety like letting illegal criminals free, & overcrowding)
It’s not to say that it’s not important to have lit up address signs however we have a lot bigger problems facing our town right now
How about first enforcing the current law which requires an unlit house number? The lit up numbers tend to break quite quickly. (Someone will make nice money off this law) If we can’t maintain the current laws why add more bureaucracy to a semi-functional township?
THEY’RE STILL APPROVING MORE HOUSING IN LAKEWOOD????!!
Yes they are, and they are almost out of house numbers.
Cameras too.
This is a saftey issue just like smoke detectors. And should be enforced without worrying about cost. LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT.