[Amended 11-9-1993 by Ord. No. 446; 5-4-2016 by Ord. No. 605]
In "A" Residence District, the following signs shall be permitted:
A.
One nameplate for each dwelling unit, attached to and parallel with
the street wall of a building and not exceeding one square foot in
area.
B.
One bulletin board per street for each church, cathedral or temple,
each not exceeding 36 square feet in area; provided, however, that
a bulletin board which is at right angles to the street or property
line may be 30 square feet in area on each side
C.
Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of real estate.
Real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in area and not
more than one such sign shall be erected for each 10,000 square feet,
or portion thereof, of property held in single or separate ownership.
All real estate signs shall be located within the property lines.
Such signs must be removed by the person or persons erecting them
upon completion of the sale or rental of the property.
D.
Directional or public service signs, such as those advertising the
availability of rest rooms, telephones or similar conveniences. Such
signs shall not exceed two square feet.
E.
Signs announcing no trespassing or beware of dog, signs indicating
the private nature of a road, driveway or premises and signs controlling
the hunting or fishing on the premises; provided, however, that the
area of any one side of such sign shall not exceed 200 square inches.
[Amended 11-9-1993 by Ord. No. 446; 5-4-2016 by Ord. No. 605]
In "B" Residence District, the following signs shall be permitted:
A.
One nameplate for each dwelling unit, attached to and parallel with
the street wall of a building and not exceeding one square foot in
area.
B.
One bulletin board per street for each church, cathedral or temple,
each not exceeding 36 square feet in area; provided, however, that
a bulletin board which is at right angles to the street or property
line may be 30 square feet in area on each side
C.
Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of real estate.
Real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in area and not
more than one such sign shall be erected for each 10,000 square feet,
or portion thereof, of property held in single or separate ownership.
All real estate signs shall be located within the property lines.
Such signs must be removed by the person or persons erecting them
upon completion of the sale or rental of the property.
D.
Directional or public service signs, such as those advertising the
availability of rest rooms, telephones or similar conveniences. Such
signs shall not exceed two square feet.
E.
Signs announcing no trespassing or beware of dog, signs indicating
the private nature of a road, driveway or premises and signs controlling
the hunting or fishing on the premises; provided, however, that the
area of any one side of such sign shall not exceed 200 square inches.
F.
One identification sign not exceeding 12 square feet in are for each
conforming multiple-family dwelling having four or more dwelling units,
and for each conforming main building other than a dwelling.
G.
One business and/or professional identification sign not exceeding
1 1/2 square feet in area for each dwelling unit wherein the
business and/or profession of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, chiropody,
chiropractic, or minister of religion is conducted.
[Amended 11-9-1993 by Ord. No. 446; 5-4-2016 by Ord. No. 605]
A.
Nameplates, real estate, and directional signs, etc., the same as
prescribed in "A" and "B" Residence Districts.
B.
Identification sign limited in area to one square foot for every
six lineal feet of frontage occupied, located only in yards abutting
streets, one to each street frontage, erected to a height not less
than 10 feet or more than 20 feet above the ground and not projecting
into a public street or way. No sign unattached to the wall of a building,
however, shall exceed a total of six feet in height, regardless of
the lineal feet frontage of the subject premises.
C.
One identification sign limited in area to two square feet for each
lineal foot of frontage occupied, but not exceeding 100 square feet
in area, provided it shall pertain only to a use conducted within
the building, shall be attached to a main wall of the building, project
horizontally not more than 12 inches therefrom, and shall face the
street which is the principal access to the building or may be similarly
affixed to a side wall which abuts a parking area or which faces a
side street if the entire sign is within 50 feet of the principal
access street. In no case shall a sign project above the roof line.
D.
Signs on and identifying the pumps of an automobile and gasoline
service station.
E.
Business sign, provided that when the sign is attached to the wall
of a building, it shall not project more than 12 inches over a public
street or way.
F.
Advertising sign, provided it shall be located so as not to project
into a public street or way, nor extend above the roof line of any
building to which it may be attached.
[Amended 9-12-1989 by Ord. No. 401; 11-9-1993 by Ord. No. 446; 5-4-2016 by Ord. No. 605]
General provisions regulating signs shall be as follows:
A.
In the case of business and advertising signs attached to a wall
of a building when the exposed portion of wall has an area of:
(1)
One thousand square feet or more, the total square foot area of signs
shall not exceed 25% of the area of said exposed portion of wall;
B.
Billboards and/or poster panels are hereby prohibited and specifically
excluded in all districts.
C.
In the case of a sign not attached to the wall of a building, the
lettered, pictorial, or sculptured matter designed to convey information
shall not exceed a total of six feet in height.
D.
Any sign, except a directional sign, whether or not conforming by
reason of location in any particular district, shall be held to be
nonconforming if it projects into or overhangs any public street or
other public property more than 12 inches.
E.
No freestanding sign may occupy an area designated for parking, loading,
walkways, driveways, fire lane, easement, cartway of the right-of-way
or other areas required to be unobstructed.
F.
The requirements of this Article VI shall not be held to prohibit the erection of a marquee or canopy, provided such marquee does not bear advertising matter contrary to the provisions herein.
G.
Permit procedures.
(1)
It shall be unlawful to erect, construct, or significantly alter
any sign, including temporary signs, without first filing with Port
Vue Borough an application in writing to the Zoning Officer, which
shall include the following:
(a)
The name, address, and telephone number of the property owner,
and the signature of the owner or duly authorized agent for the owner.
(b)
Two copies of a plan drawn to scale depicting:
[1]
The design of each sign face and sign structure with the dimensions,
total area, sign height, depth, structural details, materials, lighting
scheme, and proposed location;
[2]
The building elevations, existing and proposed facades, parapet
walls, cornices, and the location and size of all proposed and existing
signage;
[3]
Such other information as requested by the Port Vue Borough
Zoning Officer.
(2)
Permit fees: Upon submitting an application for a sign permit, a
permit fee must be included as follows:
(a)
Signs between zero and eight square feet: $50.
(b)
Signs nine square feet and over: $75.
(c)
Temporary signs (including political signs): $50 (deposit) for
each 50 signs or fraction thereof. Deposit shall be returned if signs
are removed within one week following the special event, election,
or cessation of use.
H.
Temporary signs.
(2)
Special event display. Temporary special event signs shall be permitted
on all nonresidential uses in all zoning districts per the following
requirements:
(a)
One nonilluminated temporary special event display shall be
permitted on nonresidential structures provided that no more than
two nonilluminated signs or banners with an aggregate surface area
not exceeding 48 square feet shall be erected on any establishment.
(b)
All such signs shall be self-supporting or wall-mounted. Banners
may be permitted as a conditional use.
(c)
Such signs shall not be reflective or illuminated unless permitted
as a conditional use.
(d)
Temporary signs shall be erected and maintained for a period
not exceeding 30 days during any consecutive twelve-month period and
they shall be securely attached to the building or to the permanent
supporting structure for the business identification sign.
(e)
Such signs shall be terminated one week following the special
event or cessation of use.
(f)
Temporary special event displays for public, semipublic, or
civic events (associated with any public building, church, school,
or building that houses a nonprofit organization) shall require a
permit and shall be permitted to be placed over a public right-of-way
on an arterial or collector street provided the owner of the right-of-way
grants permission.
(3)
Real estate sales sign. Temporary real estate signs shall be permitted
in all districts, per the following requirements:
(a)
One nonilluminated real estate sign shall be permitted on a
lot that is being sold provided that the sign is properly maintained
and shall not exceed six feet in height.
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in surface area when
located on a property in residential districts.
(c)
Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in surface area when
located on a property in commercial areas.
(d)
Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the sale or rental
of the property on which it is located.
(4)
Development sign. Temporary development signs shall be permitted
in all districts, per the following requirements:
(a)
One nonilluminated development sign shall be permitted on a
lot that is being developed provided that the sign is properly maintained,
is a ground sign and shall not exceed 32 square feet in surface area.
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed six feet in height when located on
a property in a residential district.
(c)
Such sign shall not exceed 10 feet in height when located on
a property in a commercial district.
(d)
Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the sale of the
last lot or completion of the proposed construction in the development.
(5)
Construction sign. Temporary constructions signs shall be permitted
in all districts, per the following requirements:
(a)
One nonilluminated construction sign that shall be a ground
sign and shall not exceed 12 square feet in surface area shall be
permitted.
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed four feet in height in a residential
district and shall not exceed six feet in height in a commercial district.
(c)
Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the completion
of the work.
(6)
Garage sale, yard sale, or other temporary activity. Signs advertising
garage or yard sales shall be permitted in all districts, per the
following requirements:
(7)
Political signs. Temporary political signs shall be permitted in
all districts per the following requirements:
(a)
The gross surface area of such sign shall not exceed four square
feet in all R-1 and R- 2 districts.
(b)
Such signs shall not project higher than 30 inches from the
base of the sign or grade of the nearest adjacent roadway, whichever
is higher, and shall not be located in the clear sight triangle at
driveways or intersections.
(c)
Such signs must be removed within one week following that election.
(d)
The owner of the property upon which such sign is erected shall
be responsible for the placement, maintenance, and removal of such
sign in accordance with the terms of this article.
(e)
No sign of a political nature shall be reflective or illuminated.
(f)
All such signs of a political nature shall be self-supporting
or wall-mounted. Overhead signs, arched signs, and banners are prohibited.
(g)
No person shall post any sign of any kind whatsoever upon private
property without permission of the property owner.
(h)
Such signs are permitted on any Borough-owned property or Borough
maintained open space provided a proper permit is secured. On election
days, political signs are permitted, and do not require a permit,
for that day and that day only at polling places.
I.
Flashing, moving or oscillating lights are prohibited.
J.
Nonconforming signs, once physically removed, may be replaced only
with conforming signs.
K.
Sign materials:
(1)
Sign materials should be consistent with and complement the original
construction materials and architectural style of the building facade
on which they are to be displayed.
(2)
All signs, excluding awning and window signs, shall be constructed
only of wood, metal, stone or other appropriate material with painted,
engraved or raised messages. Plastic sign inserts shall be permitted
for internally lit signs in commercial districts only.
L.
Illumination of signs:
(1)
Illuminated signs as defined herein are only permitted in commercial
districts.
(2)
A sign may be either internally or externally illuminated if such
illumination is confined to and directed to the surface of the sign.
(3)
Externally lit signs: If externally lit, the illumination of a sign
shall be so shielded that the source of light shall not be visible
from any point off the lot on which the sign, building, or structure
being illuminated is erected, and so that only the sign, building,
or structure is directly illuminated.
(4)
Internally lit signs: If internally lit, sign lettering may be back-lit,
halo-lit illumination, or reverse channel letters with halo illumination.
(5)
No illumination utilizing red, green, or yellow lights, or a combination
thereof, shall be utilized if such sign interferes with the effective
visibility of any adjacent traffic signal or if such sign is located
adjacent to a roadway where such illumination might give the appearance
or impression of a traffic signal.
(6)
No illumination involving flashing or movement, or causing the illusion
of movement by reason of the lighting arrangement, shall be permitted.
(7)
Illumination shall be permitted only to the extent necessary to allow
signs to be seen and read at night at a distance not to exceed 500
feet.
(8)
Neon lighting and simulated neon lighting is not permitted in residential
areas.
M.
Nonconforming signs.
(1)
Any sign legally existing at the time of the adoption of this article
that does not conform to the requirements of this article shall be
considered a nonconforming sign and shall be bound by the regulations
herein:
(a)
All nonconforming signs may be repainted, resurfaced or repaired,
provided that they are not substantially destroyed or abandoned, and
provided such does not increase the dimensions of the existing sign.
(b)
In the event that any nonconforming sign is damaged by casualty
to the extent of 75% of its cost of replacement at the time of destruction,
or becomes dangerous, dilapidated or an imminent hazard, such sign
shall not be restored or replaced except in conformity with the regulations
of this article.
(c)
A nonconforming sign must be removed within 30 days after notification
by the Zoning Officer or be made to conform to this article in every
respect whenever:
[1]
It is not securely attached to the ground, wall or roof and
can be easily moved or damaged; or
[2]
It becomes so deteriorated that it no longer serves a useful
purpose of communication and is a nuisance as determined by Port Vue
Borough; or
[3]
It is abandoned by the owner or the use is abandoned. (Note:
abandonment does not apply to properties wherein the owner is actively
seeking a new tenant or owner).
N.
Sign removal. A sign shall be found in violation of this article,
and may be required to be removed by the Zoning Officer, under the
following circumstances:
(1)
The sign has not been maintained in good condition and safe repair,
and has deteriorated to the point that it cannot perform its intended
use, or creates a safety hazard. The Zoning Officer shall specify
a period of time in which the owner of the sign may repair or rehabilitate
the sign, thereby restoring its intended use or correcting the safety
hazard.
(2)
The sign has been erected without an applicable permit or does not
comply with the other requirements of this article.
