The purpose of this section is to promote and
protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing
and proposed outdoor advertising and outdoor signs of all types. It
also protects property values; creates a more attractive, economic
and business climate; enhances and protects the physical appearance
of the community, preserves the scenic and natural beauty of designated
areas and provides a more enjoyable and pleasing community. It is
further intended hereby to reduce sign or advertising distractions
and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce
hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over
public rights-of-way, provide more open space, and curb the deterioration
of natural beauty and community development.
A.
Existing signs. Any sign which lawfully existed and
was maintained at the effective date of this chapter may be continued,
provided such sign is constructed of durable materials and is kept
in good condition and repair.
B.
General regulations applying to all signs.
(1)
Determination of size.
(a)
The size of the sign shall refer to the area
of the sign facing, including any border framing or decorative attachments.
In the case of open signs made up of letters, figures and designs,
the space between such letters, figures and designs shall be included.
When such sign consists only of letters, designs or figures engraved,
painted, projected or in any manner affixed on a wall, the total area
of which such sign consists shall be considered the area of said sign.
(b)
Where a sign has two or more faces, the area
of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign,
except that where two such faces are placed back to back and at no
point more than three feet from one another, the area of the sign
shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal
area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal
size. Structural members and supports required by building codes and
not bearing advertising matter shall be excluded from the sign area.
(2)
Location/projection of signs.
(a)
Signs must be located so that they do not interfere
with any clear sight triangle as defined by this chapter.
(b)
For all uses an advertising sign and a business
sign must be at least 60 feet apart, and no sign exceeding 30 square
feet in area may be located within 75 feet of a residential zone.
(c)
No sign may project over a public sidewalk area
or over a public highway or street unless specifically authorized
by other Township or state regulations.
(d)
Sidewalk signs shall be placed in such a manner
so as not to extend more than three feet from the building line. In
any event, a minimum four-foot pedestrian area must be maintained
from the curb to the sign so as not to obstruct pedestrian traffic.
(e)
No sign may be attached to or interfere with any traffic regulation
or street identification sign unless specifically authorized by other
Township or state regulations.
[Added 12-9-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-6]
(3)
Illumination of signs.
(a)
Flashing, rotating, and intermittent lights
are not permitted.
(b)
Signs permitted in the residential zones shall
be illuminated only by indirect lighting and shall not be illuminated
between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(c)
A sign may be illuminated only if the lighting
is so screened that it is not directed or reflected toward any residence
within 100 feet or so it does not obstruct the vision of motorists.
(d)
Signs which are illuminated in the colors red,
green, or amber, either by colored bulbs or tubing, or in high reflection
by the use of special preparations such as fluorescent paint or glass,
may not be located within a radius of 200 feet of a highway traffic
light or similar safety device or from the center of any street intersection.
(4)
Advertising painted upon or displayed upon a barn
or other building or structure shall be regarded as an advertising
sign board and the regulations pertaining thereto shall apply.
(5)
Nothing in these regulations shall be construed as
prohibiting signs intended for viewing principally from within a building
or signs temporarily attached to the inside face of a display window,
announcing a sale or similar feature. Such signs shall be permitted
in addition to any of the specific sign types designated on the charts
to follow.
(6)
Buntings and pennants. Buntings and pennants are permitted
only to announce the opening of a new business or industry, or in
connection with a civic event, and must be removed after 30 days.
(7)
Construction and maintenance. Signs must be constructed
of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed
to become dilapidated.
(8)
Termination of enterprise. Upon termination or abandonment
of a commercial or industrial use, all signs pertaining to the enterprise
must be removed.
(9)
Signs not provided for herein shall be permitted only
by special exception and shall be in general conformance with the
district regulation in which it is proposed.
C.
Permit procedure
(1)
Application for permit. Application for the permit
shall be made to the Township, in writing, upon forms prescribed and
provided by the Township and shall contain the following information:
(a)
Name, address, and telephone number of applicant.
(b)
Location of building, structure, or land to
which or upon which the sign is to be erected.
(c)
A detailed drawing or blueprint showing a description
of the construction details of the sign and showing the lettering
and/or pictorial matter composing the sign; position of lighting or
other extraneous devices; a location plan showing the position of
the sign on any building or land, and its position in relation to
nearby buildings or structures and to any private or public street
or highway.
(d)
Written consent of the owner of the building,
structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected,
in the event the applicant is not the owner thereof.
(e)
Such other pertinent information as the Township
may require to insure compliance with this chapter.
(3)
Permit exceptions. The following operations shall
not be considered as creating a sign and shall not require a sign
permit:
(a)
Replacing copy: the changing of the advertising
copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign or on a theater
marquee and similar approved signs which are specifically designed
for the use of replaceable copy.
(b)
Maintenance: painting, repainting, cleaning
and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a sign structure
unless a structural change is made.
(c)
Window signs and signs exempt under the definition
of "signs" in this chapter are also exempt from permit requirements.
(4)
Revocation of permit. No sign, whether new or existing,
shall hereafter be erected or altered, except in conformity with any
provisions of this chapter. However, notwithstanding any provisions
contained herein, the sign must be kept clean, neatly painted and
free from all hazards, such as but not limited to faulty wiring, loose
fastenings, and must be maintained at all times in such safe condition
so as not to be detrimental to the public health or safety. In the
event of a violation of any of the foregoing provisions, the Township
shall give written or personal notice specifying the violation to
the named owner of the sign and the named owner of the land on which
the sign is erected, sent to the addresses as stated in the application
for the sign permit, to conform or remove such signs. The sign shall
thereupon be conformed by the owner of the sign and the owner of the
land within 30 days from the date of said notice. In the event such
sign shall not be made to conform within 30 days, the Township shall
thereupon revoke the permit, and such sign shall be removed by the
named owner of the sign and/or the named owner of the land.
D.
Violations. Any sign erected on or after the effective date of this chapter which does not comply with the applicable provisions of this section shall be removed by the owner of the premises upon which such sign is located after written notice in accordance with § 255-77C of this chapter. The Township, upon determining that any such sign exists, shall notify the owner of the premises, in writing, to remove the sign within 30 days from the date of such notice. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the prescribed time, the Township may remove or cause removal of such sign, and shall assess all costs and expenses incurred in said removal against the land or building on which the sign is located.
(1)
If the Township shall find that any sign regulated
by this chapter is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public,
written notice may be given to the named owner of the sign and the
named owner of the land upon which the sign is erected, who shall
remove or repair the said sign within 30 days from the date of said
notice. If the said sign is not removed or repaired within the time
period, the Township shall revoke the permit issued for such sign,
as herein provided, and may remove or repair said sign and shall assess
all costs and expenses incurred in said removal or repair against
the land or building on which such sign was located.
(2)
The Township may cause any sign which is a cause of
immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and
without notice.
Only the types of permanent signs listed on
Chart A,[1] which follows, shall be permitted throughout the Township. Permanent signs must conform to the standards set forth in Chart A, as well as satisfy the general regulations of § 255-62B.
[1]
Editor's Note: Chart A is included at the end of this chapter.
[Amended 11-13-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-5]
Only the types of temporary signs listed on
Chart B,[1] which follows, are permitted throughout the Township. Temporary signs must conform to the standards set forth in Chart B, as well as satisfy the general regulations of § 255-62B. Temporary signs not expressly permitted may be removed summarily by the Township without notice, and the owner of the temporary sign or person placing the sign may be assessed the costs of removal.
[1]
Editor's Note: Chart B is included at the end of this chapter.
Advertising signs shall be permitted in the Industrial and Commercial Zones subject to the provisions of § 255-62B and the following criteria:
A.
Only one advertising sign per lot shall be permitted.
B.
No advertising sign shall exceed an overall size of
75 square feet for a commercial use, or 150 square feet for an industrial
use, nor exceed 35 feet in height.
C.
No advertising sign shall be located within 300 feet
of another advertising sign.
D.
All advertising signs shall be a minimum of 50 feet
from all side and rear property lines.
E.
All advertising signs shall be set back a minimum
of 25 feet from any street right-of-way line.
F.
No advertising sign shall obstruct the vision of motorists
or adjoining commercial or industrial uses which depend upon visibility
for identification.
Portable signs shall be permitted in the Commercial and Industrial Zones subject to the provisions of § 255-62B and the following criteria:
A.
A sign permit must be obtained from the Township Zoning
Officer. For charitable and nonprofit organizations the fee will be
waived.
B.
No flashing lights are permitted.
C.
Only one portable sign shall be permitted per street
frontage with a minimum setback from the right-of-way of 10 feet or
the building face.
D.
The placement of the sign shall not be located on
the lot for more than 30 consecutive days per event. In addition,
the placement of the sign may not exceed two events per year. However,
special event signs for charitable or nonprofit organizations would
be exempt from the requirement of only two placements per year.
E.
The maximum height allowed shall be 10 feet, and the
maximum projection from any building shall be 12 inches.
F.
Removal shall occur within 15 days after the event.
G.
The maximum size permitted shall be 32 square feet;
such area shall not be included in the computation of maximum surface
area for any other type of permitted sign.
H.
The placement of such sign shall not interfere with
traffic or with sight distance at street intersections and accesses
to the public right-of-way.
