Hooksett's sign ordinance is a problem. The problem is that it's working as intended.

To prevent Route 3 from looking like Las Vegas, the ordinance limits the size of signs. A business on the first floor of a single building with only one tenant can have two signs no larger than 32 square feet. If the building has two tenants, each can have one 32-foot sign. If there are more than two tenants, the signs are restricted to 16 square feet.

That is too restrictive for a commercial strip like the Route 3 performance zone. As The Hooksett Banner reported last week, the new sign for indoor playplace Cowabunga's exceeds the regulations because the business owner got a waiver from the planning board. Even so, the sign is still too small to be read easily from the road, and it looks bad on the storefront. It is too small for the space, which looks silly.

Other businesses along that stretch of road have similar signage problems. That is bad for business. It is also bad for public safety. Drivers take longer to read signs that are too small. That keeps their eyes off the road longer. Bigger signs where appropriate would be better for everyone.

The town needs to work on a revised ordinance that allows for larger signs at some of the bigger buildings.