[Res. 98-05, 2/23/1998]
1.
The provisions of this Part shall apply to all overhead signs and
banners in New Britain Township, and duly issued permits shall constitute
the inclusion of the permitted sign under the provisions of this Part.
2.
Permits for overhead signs and banners shall be issued by the Township
Zoning Officer only in accord with this Part and all applicable zoning
requirements.
3.
Overhead signs and banners shall conform to the following, and permits
for such signs shall include the information necessary to document
compliance with same:
A.
Location: SR number and segment/offset.
B.
Vertical clearance above the roadway: minimum of 17 feet six inches.
C.
Size of banner as specified on permit: not to exceed 80 square feet.
D.
Description of activity: must constitute a national, state, regional
or local function or nonprofit activity sponsored by a political subdivision
or agency thereof or nonprofit organization recognized by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
E.
Message: no more than 20% of the message shall relate to naming or
advertising a commercial product, enterprise, business or company,
regardless of whether such entity is sponsoring the activity or banner
installation.
F.
Duration of display, approximate dates of installation or removal:
not to exceed 21 days.
G.
The banner will be removed within five days or less from the ending
date of the event for which the banner was displayed.
H.
The banner shall be installed under the supervision and control of
the Township on permanent cables at locations approved by and in accord
with specifications provided by the Township.
I.
Traffic control shall be performed in accordance with the most current
Department Publication 203.
4.
The dates of installation, duration and removal, as well as the size,
the message event and/or organization, may vary, but in all cases
the requirements of this Part will be satisfied.
5.
Upon the issuance of any permit pursuant to this Part, the Township
Zoning Officer shall promptly forward a copy of the permit to the
District Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
6.
The permit applicant assumes full responsibility for erecting, maintaining
and removing any such sign or banner and all liability for damages
occurring to any person or property arising from any act or omission
associated with the sign or banner, and a statement to that effect
shall be included on the application for the permit.
[Added by Ord. 2008-2-1, 2/11/2008]
1.
The provisions of this Part are intended to promote and protect public
health, welfare and safety by regulating and restricting the location
of signs, banners, and other advertising devices within the public
rights-of-way within the Township. The regulations are intended to
promote public traffic safety, to protect property values, to create
a more attractive economic climate, to eliminate litter, and to enhance
the scenic and natural beauty of the Township.
2.
Permits for signs, banners, or other advertising devices shall be
issued by the Zoning Officer only in accord with this Part and all
applicable zoning requirements.
3.
No signs shall be placed, either on a temporary or permanent basis,
within the public right-of-way of any state or Township road, within
any sight triangle at the intersection of public or private roads,
within the sight triangle of any driveway and a public or private
road, or in any other location where sight visibility or traffic safety
would be adversely impacted.
4.
Removal. Any signs, banners, or other advertising devices which are
placed in violation of this section may be removed by the Township's
Code Enforcement Officer; and the owner of the offending sign, banner
or other device shall be notified of the ordinance requirements. Upon
payment of a fine of $100, the owner may retrieve all signs collected
by the Code Enforcement Officer. If the fine is not paid within 48
hours of notification or the signs are not retrieved within 48 hours
of notification, the signs shall be destroyed. Each time that a violation
of this section of this Part occurs, the fine shall be doubled.
5.
The provisions of this Part may be enforced by the Township by an
action in equity brought in the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County.
All fines collected by the Township pursuant to this section are in
addition to all other remedies provided by this Part, and the Township's
rights and remedies provided in this Part are cumulative and in addition
to all other remedies provided by law.
[Added by Ord. 2008-2-1, 2/11/2008]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs,
for each and every offense and, in default of payment of said fine
and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day
that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part
shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.