Somerton drills hole
in dentist’s sign plan

The Somerton Civic Association last week voted unanimously to oppose an application by a Bustleton Avenue dentist to erect an electronic message sign outside of his office.
An attorney for Dr. Dmitry Karagodsky of Philmont Dental Care, 11880 Bustleton Ave., reported to the civic group on May 8 that the dentist bought the office property about 18 months ago and hoped to put up the new sign as part of a building renovation and expansion.
A 6-foot by 8-foot illuminated sign featuring a cutout of a tooth currently stands in front of the commercial building, which contains other professional offices as well.
The proposed sign would be a "changing display," the attorney said, and be 5 feet by 7 feet in dimension. It would primarily promote the names of tenants in the building.
SCA zoning chairman Dominic Ragucci said that the civic group as a policy opposes the kind of sign sought by the dentist, although three such signs exist on Bustleton Avenue between County Line and Red Lion roads at two chain pharmacies and a school. The civic group views the signs as gaudy and a possible distraction to passing motorists.
"It could end up looking like a honky-tonk strip or like Route 1 north (in Bensalem Township)," Ragucci said. "You all know what it looks like when you go to Neshaminy Mall at night." ••