[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Shaler 4-9-2013 by Ord. No.
1916.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 225.
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter also superseded former Ch.
183, Signs, adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Shaler.
This chapter is intended to:
A.
Encourage sound practices with respect to size, spacing, lighting,
type and placement of signs for the purpose of safeguarding and enhancing
properties in each of the various types of zoning districts;
B.
Provide an environment which will promote the orderly growth and
development of business and industry in the Township;
C.
Protect public investment in public structures, open spaces and thoroughfares;
and
D.
Promote the safety and welfare of the community.
The regulations of this chapter shall govern and control the
erection, rehabilitation, enlargement, illumination, animation and
maintenance of all signs that are visible from the public right-of-way
or from property other than that on which the subject sign is located.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of the provisions
of any other ordinance or regulation applicable to signs.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A sign which has not been utilized for a period of 180 days
or more, or a sign, the content of which no longer identifies or advertises
a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product or activity;
or a sign, the contents of which pertains to a place, time, event
or purpose which no longer exists or applies or which has occurred.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered only elsewhere
than upon the premises where the sign is displayed.
The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing
the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or any figure
or similar character, together with any frame or other materials or
color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate
such sign from the background against which it is placed (excluding
the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign is placed or
apron designed to cover such uprights or work board installed to provide
a safe area for servicing such sign). Where a sign has two or more
faces on the same side, the area of all faces shall be included in
determining the area of the sign, except that in the case of back-to-back
signs or V-type signs, the area of the sign shall be taken as the
area of one face if two faces are of equal area or as the area of
the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy
or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door,
entrance, window or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
A type of light that illuminates a subject or letters from
behind.
A sign intended to be hung either with or without a frame,
possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied
to paper, plastic or fabric of any kind, excluding flags, emblems
and insignias of political, professional, religious or educational
organizations displayed for noncommercial purposes.
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere
or directed at one or more points not on the same lot or site as the
light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or
move.
An off-premises advertising sign with a changeable message
or display that pertains to a business, organization, event, person,
place, service or product not principally located or sold on the premises
upon which said sign is located. See "off-premises advertising sign."
Any structure having enclosing walls and roofs and requiring
a permanent location on the land.
See "facade, building."
The facade that includes the primary entrance is the front
facade.
A sign used to identify or list:
Any business, trade, occupation, work, commerce or profession
conducted for profit or benefit, either directly or indirectly, on
any commercial property in the Township.
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession
or industry located upon the premises where the sign is displayed;
to the type of products sold, manufactured or assembled; and/or to
the service or entertainment offered on such premises, and includes
electronic signs, projecting signs, supplemental signs and temporary
signs.
One who seeks or offers himself or herself or is put forth
by others for an office, privilege or honor, by election or appointment.
See "awning sign."
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Township of Shaler.
A temporary sign, either portable or nonportable, displayed
for a limited time, which carries information about a special event
or activity, such as an auction, flea market, festival, carnival,
meal, charitable or educational activities or fund-raising event of
interest to the general public.
A sign generally informational that has a purpose secondary
to the use of the lot or site on which it is located, such as "No
Parking," "Entrance," "Exit," "One Way," "Loading Only," "Telephone,"
and other similar directives, and provided that such sign does not
exceed three square feet. Directional, incidental signs shall be located
only in conjunction with site drive entrances and/or internal traffic
drive aisles.
The interval of change between each individual static message,
and which shall be at least 10 seconds, and a change of which must
be completed within one second or less. The dwell time shall not include
the one second or less required to change a message. There shall be
no special effects between messages.
Any sign, video display, projected image, or similar device
or portions thereof with text, images or graphics generated by solid
state electronic components. Electronic signs include, but are not
limited to, signs that use light-emitting diodes (LED), plasma displays,
fiber optics, or other technology that results in bright, high-resolution
text, images and graphics. See "off-premises advertising sign." See
also "business sign."
A notice as provided in § 616.1 of the Municipalities
Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10616.1, sent by the Township to
the owner or occupant of record of a parcel on which a violation of
this chapter has occurred, to any person who has filed a written request
to receive enforcement notices regarding that parcel, and to any other
person requested in writing by the owner or occupant of record, the
purpose of which is to initiate enforcement proceedings.
That portion of any exterior elevation on the building extending
from finished grade to top of the parapet, wall or eaves and the entire
width of the building elevation as determined by the Code Enforcement
Officer. For example, the front facade of a building would include
all of the wall area that would be shown on the front elevation of
the building plans.
Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors,
patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision,
or a religious, educational or corporate organization, provided that
such flags are displayed for noncommercial purposes.
A sign, the illumination of which is intermittently on and
off so as to flash or blink or the intensity of which varies so as
to appear to flash or blink. Such signs are prohibited.
A two-sided, freestanding business sign or business directory
sign that is not attached to any building and that is supported by
upright structural members anchored into the ground. The height of
a ground sign shall be measured from the ground elevation nearest
to the sign to the highest elevation of the sign structure, and the
overall height of the sign shall not exceed a height of 25 feet.
In the case of buildings, the vertical distance from the
mean level of the ground surrounding the building to the top of the
highest roof beams of a flat roof or the mean level of the highest
gable or slope of a hip roof. When the building faces on more than
one street, the height shall be measured from the average of the grades
at the center of each street front. In case of other structures, the
height shall be the vertical distance from the mean level of the ground
surrounding the structure to the highest point of the structure.
A sign used to identify:
Any sign erected, altered, moved, repaired, maintained or
replaced in violation of this chapter.
Any sign that has characters, letters, figures, designs or
outlines illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part
of the sign:
Backlighting: Illumination of an outside area or object by any
man-made device that shines from behind the object or area.
Internal lighting: Illumination of an outside area or object
by any man-made device that shines from within the object or area.
External lighting: Illumination of an outside area or object
by any man-made device that shines onto or reflects from said area
or object.
Hours of illumination: No billboard or electronic off-premises
advertising sign shall be illuminated between 12:00 midnight and 5:00
a.m., prevailing time.
A sign or bulletin board which identifies the name and other
characteristics of a public, semipublic or private institution on
the site where the sign is located. Institutions shall include churches,
hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other nonprofit and charitable
organizations.
Any sign giving information to employees, visitors or delivery
vehicles to an institution but containing no advertising. Such signs
may include the name of the institution but must predominantly represent
a directional or informational message.
An electronic sign that features real-time, full-motion or
pictorial imagery of television quality or better.
A liquid crystal display, electronic visual display or video
display that uses light-modulating properties of liquid crystals.
Light-emitting diode. A type of LCD screen; how the LCD screen
is backlit.
The photometric quantity most closely associated with the
perception of brightness. Luminance is measured in candelas per square
meters or "nits."
Any permanent, roof-like structure projecting beyond a building
or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building,
generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the
weather, and which provides an area for manual or electronic changeable
copy.
The depiction of movement or change of position of text,
images or graphics. Motion shall include, but not be limited to, visual
effects such as dissolving and fading text and images, running sequential
text, graphic bursts, lighting that resembles zooming, twinkling or
sparkling, changes in light or color, transitory bursts of light intensity,
moving patterns or bands of light, expanding or contracting shapes,
and similar actions.
Nits are a unit of measure of brightness or luminance. One
nit is equal to one candela/square meter.
A sign, lawfully existing on the effective date of this chapter
or subsequent amendment hereto, which does not completely conform
to the sign regulations applicable in the district in which it is
located. An illegal sign is not a nonconforming sign.
A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service
or entertainment conducted, sold or offered only elsewhere than upon
the premises where the sign is displayed and shall include billboards
and electronic signs.
Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether
or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire
or string, usually in a series, designed to move in the wind.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including,
but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels;
signs converted to A- or T-frames; sandwich board signs; balloons
used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached
to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way,
unless vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the
business.
A two-sided sign attached perpendicular to the building face.
See "business sign."
Any on-site noncommercial sign located in a district zoned
for residential uses that contains no commercial message and intended
to identify the name of the resident and/or the street number or apartment
number of the dwelling unit.
Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof
of a building, supported by the roof structure and extending vertically
above the top walk or edge of a flat roof, the eaves line of a building
with a gambrel, gable or hip roof or the deckline of a building with
a mansard roof.
Any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color,
form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing to identify and communicate,
announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity,
or to communicate information of any kind to the public.
Signs considered as a group; the design or use of signs.
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations
that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the
surface of the sign. A sign on which the only copy that changes is
an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall
be considered a time-and-temperature portion of a sign and not a changeable
copy sign for purposes of this chapter.
A long narrow flag, banner or pennant suspended from one
or more corners, used to draw attention to a business or its signs.
Any sign identifying special features or services of a trade
or business, including additional corporate or business logos, entrance
or exit signs, or signs identifying functions such as showroom, sales,
service or repairs. See "business sign."
A sign, placard or sticker which announces a political candidate
seeking office, political parties and/or political and public issues,
contained on an election ballot and includes, but is not limited to,
structures or devices upon which lettered, pictorial or other visual
information is painted, including paper, plastic or cloth banners,
pennants, balloons or other devices designed to attract attention.
A wall, window, awning, projecting or ground sign that provides
decoration and/or identifies advertising or nonadvertising information,
such as a business name, business address, owner, logo and/or building
name, relating to brief activity, the erection or display of which
is not to exceed a period of 30 days in any calendar year and which
takes place not more than one time a year. A temporary sign includes
a banner, cloth, pennant, streamer or other flexible material suspended
from a building, structure or pole. A business establishment may erect
or display only one temporary sign on a lot in any calendar year.
See "business sign."
The area of a sign shall include all lettering, wording and
accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether
open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, together with any material
or color forming an integral part of the background of the display
or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or building against
which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework and
bracing that are incidental to the display itself.
The Township of Shaler.
The Manager of the Township of Shaler.
The time it takes for static text, images and graphics on
an electronic sign to change to a different text, images or graphics
on a subsequent sign face.
Any sign displayed on a parked vehicle, where the primary
purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product or business or to
direct people to a business or activity during all or part of the
day. For the purposes of this chapter, vehicular signs shall not include
business logos, identification, or advertising on vehicles primarily
used for other business purposes.
Any sign painted on, attached or erected against the wall
of a building, the front or sides of a marquee or canopy with the
exposed face of the sign in a place parallel to the plane of the wall
or the marquee or canopy so that only one side is visible.
Any sign, picture, symbol or combination thereof, designed
to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity,
event, sale or service, that is placed inside a window or upon the
window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
All signs not expressly authorized under this article or exempt
from regulation hereunder in accordance with the subsequent sections
are prohibited in the Township. Prohibited signs shall include, but
are not limited to:
A.
All illegal signs and all signs not in compliance with this chapter
or any other ordinance or regulation of the Township.
B.
Signs not in good repair.
C.
Signs interfering with or impeding drivers' vision including
line of sight or vehicular traffic or safety signs.
D.
Any sign erected closer than five feet to any underground utility
line.
E.
Obsolete signs and abandoned signs. Each sign shall be promptly removed
when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
F.
Beacons.
G.
Flashing signs.
H.
Roof signs.
I.
Pennants.
J.
Banners.
K.
Vehicular signs.
L.
Portable signs.
The following types of signs are permitted in all districts:
A.
"For sale" and "for rent" signs as hereinafter specially regulated
in each district.
B.
Political posters and placards, which shall be removed by the person
erecting such sign, the person responsible for the land on which it
is erected, or the candidate or party upon whose behalf the posters
and placards are erected, within seven days after the election.
C.
Public service signs of such size and type and in such locations
as required to satisfy the public need in any district, including:
(1)
Convenience signs identifying location of rest rooms, freight entrances
and parking areas.
(2)
Government signs for the control of traffic and other regulatory
purposes.
(3)
Public transit service signs.
(4)
Public utility information signs and community special event signs.
(5)
Safety signs.
(6)
Signs erected by a public agency in the performance of a public duty.
(7)
Signs indicating scenic or historic points of interest.
(8)
Street signs.
(9)
"No trespassing" signs and "no hunting" signs.
(10)
Directional signs without advertising as may be deemed necessary
for the preservation of the public health or safety.
(11)
Directional signs with advertising and having a maximum size
of no more than three square feet per entrance or exit.
The following types of signs are permitted in residential districts:
E.
There shall be not more than two identification signs erected by
churches, schools or other similar institutions, each of which shall
be located on the premises and shall not exceed 32 square feet in
area. Additional directional and informational signs may be erected
on such premises as necessary, each of which shall not exceed three
square feet in area.
A.
For all uses within nonresidential districts along these corridors,
each business establishment is permitted to have one of the following
combinations of signage:
(1)
One ground sign and one projecting sign with a total area of 100
square feet.
(2)
One ground sign and one awning sign with a total area of 100 square
feet.
(3)
One wall sign and one projecting sign with a total area of 100 square
feet.
(4)
One wall sign and one awning sign with a total area of 100 square
feet.
(5)
One wall sign and one ground sign with a total area of 80 square
feet.
(6)
If granted a special exception for an electronic sign, one electronic
sign and one wall sign with a total maximum area of 80 square feet
for all sign faces.
B.
The maximum size of each sign is 50 square feet.
C.
Including additional signs and electronic signs, but excluding supplemental
signs, the maximum total signage area of all signs for each business
establishment along these corridors is 100 square feet for all sign
faces.
D.
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
E.
The maximum height of any sign attached to a building is one foot
above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
F.
The maximum height of any permitted sign not attached to a building
is 25 feet above the level of the ground.
G.
Supplemental wall signs with a maximum size of six square feet are
permitted.
H.
Electronic signs are not permitted except by special exception.
J.
Temporary signs:
(1)
The maximum number of temporary signs permitted per business establishment
is one temporary sign within a calendar year.
(2)
The maximum size of any temporary sign erected within any calendar
year is 12 square feet.
(3)
The maximum length of time a temporary sign may be displayed per
business establishment is 30 days within any calendar year, and the
temporary sign shall be removed within two days following the last
day of the event.
(4)
Window signs affixed to the inside of windows are not considered
temporary signs.
K.
The minimum distance of any sign from a paved portion of the public
right-of-way, except for a wall sign, is 15 feet.
L.
The minimum distance of any sign from a residential lot is 40 feet.
M.
"For sale" and "for rent" signs:
(1)
Maximum number of signs per lot is one sign, or two signs on a corner
lot.
(2)
Maximum size is 50 square feet.
(3)
Minimum distance from the paved portion of a public right-of-way
is 15 feet.
(4)
The signs may not be illuminated.
(5)
The sign shall be erected only upon the property for sale or being
rented.
A.
For all uses within nonresidential districts along these corridors,
each business establishment is permitted to have one of the following
combinations of signage:
(1)
One ground sign and one projecting sign with a maximum total signage
area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(2)
One ground sign and one awning sign with a maximum total signage
area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(3)
One wall sign and one projecting sign with a maximum total signage
area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(4)
One wall sign and one ground sign with a maximum total signage area
of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(5)
One wall sign and one electronic sign with a maximum total signage
area of 125 square feet for all sign faces.
(6)
The maximum size of each sign is 100 square feet.
B.
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
C.
The maximum height of any sign attached to a building is one foot
above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
D.
The maximum height of any permitted sign not attached to a building,
excluding billboards, is 25 feet above the level of the ground.
F.
Including additional signs and electronic signs but excluding supplemental
signs, the maximum total signage area of all signs for each business
establishment along these corridors is 125 square feet for all sign
faces.
G.
Supplemental wall signs with a maximum size of six square feet are
permitted.
H.
Electronic signs complying with this chapter are permitted.
I.
Temporary signs.
(1)
The maximum number of temporary signs permitted per business establishment
is one temporary sign within a calendar year.
(2)
The maximum size of any temporary sign erected within any calendar
year is 12 square feet.
(3)
The maximum length of time a temporary sign may be displayed per
business establishment is 30 days within any calendar year and the
temporary sign shall be removed within two days following the last
day of the event.
(4)
Window signs affixed to the inside of windows are not considered
temporary signs.
J.
The minimum distance of any sign from a paved portion of the public
right-of-way, except for a wall sign, is 15 feet.
K.
The minimum distance of any sign from a residential lot is 40 feet.
L.
"For sale" and "for rent" signs:
(1)
Maximum number of signs per lot is one sign, or two signs on a corner
lot.
(2)
Maximum size is 50 square feet.
(3)
Minimum distance from the paved portion of a public right-of-way
is 15 feet.
(4)
The signs may not be illuminated.
(5)
The sign shall be erected only upon the property for sale or being
rented.
A.
For all uses within nonresidential districts along this corridor,
each business establishment is permitted to have one of the following
combinations of signage:
(2)
Supplemental wall signs with a maximum size of six square feet are
permitted.
(3)
One ground sign and one projecting sign with a total maximum signage
area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(4)
One ground sign and one awning sign with a total maximum signage
area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(5)
One wall sign and one projecting sign with a total maximum signage
area of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(6)
One wall sign and one ground sign with a total maximum signage area
of 150 square feet for all sign faces.
(7)
One wall sign and one electronic sign with a maximum total area of
150 square feet for all sign faces.
(8)
The maximum size of each sign is 100 square feet.
(9)
For a building on a corner lot, either frontage may be used for calculation,
but the frontage selected will be the front where the sign is erected.
B.
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
C.
The maximum height of any sign attached to a building is one foot
above the roofline of the building to which it is attached.
D.
The maximum height of any permitted sign not attached to a building,
excluding billboards, is 25 feet above the level of the ground.
F.
Including additional signs and electronic signs, but excluding supplemental
signs, the maximum total signage area of all signs for each business
establishment along these corridors is 150 square feet for all sign
faces.
G.
Lots without buildings are permitted one ground sign with a maximum
size of 50 square feet.
H.
Ground signs must comply with all bufferyard requirements.
I.
Temporary signs.
(1)
The maximum number of temporary signs permitted per business establishment
is one temporary sign within a calendar year.
(2)
The maximum size of any temporary sign erected within any calendar
year is 12 square feet.
(3)
The maximum length of time a temporary sign may be displayed per
business establishment is 30 days within any calendar year, and the
temporary sign shall be removed within two days following the last
day of the event.
(4)
Window signs affixed to the inside of windows are not considered
temporary signs.
J.
Electronic signs complying with this chapter are permitted.
K.
Billboards complying with this chapter are permitted.
(2)
The face of the sign may not be visible within a ground-level sight
distance of 350 feet of property zoned residential, cemetery or professional;
a public park or playground of 1/4 acre or more; or a cultural and/or
recreation center.
(3)
The billboard must be within the lot where the base is erected.
(4)
Minimum distance from a public right-of-way is 15 feet.
(5)
Maximum height of a billboard sign is 40 feet.
(6)
Only one billboard is permitted per lot, but one sign may have a
maximum of two faces arranged back-to-back or deck style.
(7)
Maximum size: 240 square feet.
M.
"For sale" and "for rent" signs.
(1)
Maximum number of signs per lot is one sign, or two signs on a corner
lot.
(2)
Maximum size is 50 square feet.
(3)
Minimum distance from the paved portion of a public right-of-way
is 15 feet.
(4)
The signs may not be illuminated.
(5)
The sign shall be erected only upon the property for sale or being
rented.
A.
Uses within a professional district outside of a signage corridor
will use the signage standards for nonresidential uses in the most
restrictive directly adjacent district or corridor.
B.
All other nonresidential uses outside of a signage corridor shall
use the standards for the Babcock Boulevard/Evergreen Road corridors.
A.
Illuminated signs complying with this chapter are permitted in each
nonresidential zoning district.
B.
All signs may be illuminated with back-, internal or external lighting.
Each sign that is lit entirely by backlighting or external lighting
is permitted to increase the total permitted signage area by 5%. Backlighting
does not include internal lighting.
C.
All illumination must be cutoff lighting. All lighting must be limited
to a maximum candlepower of 2 1/2% of the total lamp lumens at
an angle of 90° above horizontal and a maximum candlepower of
10% at an angle of 80° above horizontal for any lateral angle
around the light.
D.
No illuminated off-premises advertising sign shall be illuminated
between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m., prevailing time.
A.
Electronic signs complying with the requirements of this chapter
may be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer in the Route 8 and
East Ohio Street corridors and the Babcock Boulevard and Evergreen
Road corridors in the Township.
B.
Electronic signs complying with the requirements of this chapter
are permitted as a special exception in the Mt. Royal Boulevard and
Seavey Road corridors of the Township.
C.
All electronic signs in the Township are subject to the following
criteria:
(1)
No electronic off-premises advertising sign shall be illuminated
between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m., prevailing time.
(2)
Electronic signs with large video display are permitted in the Route
8 and East Ohio Street corridors and the Babcock Boulevard and Evergreen
Road corridors in the Township.
(3)
Dwell time. The text, image or display on an electronic sign may
not change more than once every 10 seconds. Twirl time between subsequent
text, images or display shall not exceed 0.25 second.
(4)
Brightness. During daylight hours between sunrise and sunset, luminance
shall be no greater than 5,000 nits. At all other times, luminance
shall be no greater than 500 nits.
(5)
Location. No electronic sign may be erected except as authorized
herein.
(6)
Interference. No electronic sign shall be erected or maintained in
such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with
an official traffic sign, signal or device, or to obstruct or physically
interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting
traffic.
(7)
Controls; testing; annual certification.
(a)
All electronic signs shall be equipped with an automatic dimmer
control or other mechanism that automatically controls the sign's
brightness as provided above.
(b)
Prior to approval of any permit to operate an electronic sign,
the applicant shall certify that the sign has been tested and complies
with the motion, dwell time, brightness and other requirements herein.
(c)
The owner and/or operator of an electronic sign shall submit
an annual report to the Township, certifying that the sign complies
with the motion, dwell time, brightness and other requirements herein.
(8)
Maintenance. Routine maintenance of electronic signs is permitted,
including the replacement of solid-state electronic components, subject
to compliance with regulations set forth herein relating to motion,
brightness and dwell time.
A.
No sign shall be erected until the owner, occupier or applicant has
received a permit for the erection of the sign and pays to the Township
a fee in such amount as the Board of Commissioners may from time to
time set by resolution.
B.
A separate permit is required for the erection of each individual
sign.
C.
No permit is required for signs with an area of 12 square feet or
less.
D.
No permit is required for "for sale" or "for rent" signs.
All nonconforming signs in existence prior to the effective
date of this chapter are permitted to continue, provided that no such
sign shall be:
A.
Changed, altered or expanded in any way which increases the sign's
nonconformity; or replaced by another nonconforming sign, except that
copy may be changed on an existing sign.
B.
Relocated, except in conformance with the requirements of this chapter.
C.
Reestablished after it has been removed or is an abandoned sign.
Where a ground sign is permitted and the width of the sign at
its base would extend beyond the bounds of an established or proposed
bufferyard, the bufferyard must be expanded in a "cut out" so that
the entire base of the sign is within a contiguous landscaped area
with a minimum distance of two feet from the edge of the base of the
sign to the edge of the landscaped bufferyard area. The cut out must
be circular or semicircular in shape unless the lot shape and/or public
right-of-way do not allow for this shape, in which case, the cut out
should be rounded in shape.
The following signs shall be exempt from regulations under this
chapter:
A.
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal,
state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
B.
Any sign inside a structure not attached to a window or door that
is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the
lot line of the lot or site on which such sign is located.
C.
Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
D.
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only
from November through January.
E.
Memorial signs or tablets denoting the date of erection of a building.
F.
Auctions, garage or yard sale signs, provided that they do not exceed
five square feet and are removed as soon as the event or activity
has occurred, and provided that they shall not be permitted to be
erected more than seven days prior to the event and only permitted
at the site at which the event will take place and removed within
48 hours of the conclusion of the event.
G.
Signs and banners erected by a governmental body or under the direction
of such body.
H.
Community special event signs announcing a nonprofit event of a civic
organization for noncommercial purposes, where such sign does not
exceed four square feet in area and banners no more than 60 square
feet in area, for a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the start
of the event, and removed within three days after the conclusion of
the event.
If it appears to the Township that a violation of any provision
of this chapter has occurred, the Township shall initiate enforcement
proceedings by sending an enforcement notice as provided by 53 P.S.
§ 10616.1.
A.
Any person, partnership or corporation who or which has violated
or permitted the violation of the provisions of this article shall,
upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding
commenced by the Township, pay a judgment of not more than $500 plus
all court costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by
the Township as a result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be
imposed, levied or payable until the date of the determination of
a violation by the Magisterial District Judge. If the defendant neither
pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Township may enforce the
judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each
day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation,
unless the Magisterial District Judge determining that there has been
a violation further determines that there was a good faith basis for
the person, partnership or corporation violating the ordinance to
have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there
shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the fifth
day following the date of the determination of a violation by the
Magisterial District Judge, and thereafter each day that a violation
continues shall constitute a separate violation. All judgments, costs
and reasonable attorneys' fees collected for the violation of the
article shall be paid over to the Township.
B.
The court of common pleas, upon petition, may grant an order of stay,
upon cause shown, tolling the per diem fine, pending a final adjudication
of the violation and judgment.
C.
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed or interpreted
to grant to any person or entity other than the Township the right
to commence any action for enforcement pursuant to this section.
A.
With general police powers. If any person, persons, firms or corporations
or other organization carries on any activity within the Township
in violation of the provisions of this chapter, then the Township,
in addition to any other remedies, may institute any legal action
to prevent, restrain or abate any act constituting a violation of
this chapter and to require compliance with its provisions.
B.
Discrepancy between text and exhibit. Where a discrepancy exists
between any exhibit attached to this chapter and that which is described
in the text of this chapter, the text of the chapter controls and
shall be the final authority.
A.
Variances. The Township Zoning Hearing Board may approve variances from the requirements of this chapter. Requests for variances from the requirements of this chapter shall be subject to the application and approval procedures, requirements and standards for variances under Article XIV of Chapter 225, Zoning, of the Shaler Township Code, as amended.
B.
Special exceptions. The Township Zoning Hearing Board may approve special exceptions under this chapter if the express standards and criteria established by this chapter are met. Requests for special exceptions shall be subject to the application and approval procedures, requirements and standards for special exceptions under Article XVIII of Chapter 225, Zoning, of the Shaler Township Code, as amended.
In addition to those purposes stated in Article I, this article is adopted for the following additional purposes:
A.
The Township desires to regulate the placement of temporary political
signs within the Township in order to protect the public health, safety
and welfare of the community in accordance with the provisions of
the First Class Township Code.
B.
The Township desires to regulate the placement of temporary political
signs in order to protect automobile drivers from unnecessarily dangerous
distractions, to uphold the property values of the community by prohibiting
unnecessarily obtrusive political signs, and to uphold the dignity
and impartial, nonpartisan manner of public institutions.
C.
The Township desires to reasonably regulate the placement of temporary
political signs in order to assure that means will remain open for
political communication within the Township.
Temporary political signs posted or erected on public property
located within the Township are subject to the following general requirements:
A.
Number of signs. No more than one temporary political sign shall
be placed on public property on each leg of the intersection of roads
or streets for any one candidate.
B.
Area. Temporary political signs on public property shall not exceed
an aggregate gross surface area of 12 square feet per sign.
C.
Height. Temporary political signs shall not project higher than four
feet, as measured from the base of the sign or grade of the nearest
adjacent roadway, whichever is higher.
D.
Timing. Temporary political signs may be erected or maintained for
a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the date of the election to
which such signs are applicable and shall be removed within seven
days following the termination of the election.
E.
Illumination. No temporary political sign shall be illuminated in
any manner.
F.
Required consent. The Township reserves the right to deny a request
to post any temporary political sign on public property and to require
the removal of any temporary political sign at any time whatsoever
whenever such temporary political sign poses a threat to the public's
safety, health and welfare, specific prohibitions include, but are
not limited to, the following:
(1)
Temporary political signs shall be prohibited within five feet of
the edge of the paved surface of any road or street within the Township.
(2)
Temporary political signs shall be prohibited along any road or street
within the Township where it would obstruct the clear sight distance
of traffic, and no temporary political sign shall be placed in such
a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street by obstructing
the view.
(3)
No temporary political sign or sticker shall be posted, nailed, wired,
attached or affixed to any public property, including, but not limited
to, traffic signs, structures or devices, traffic control boxes, guardrails,
telephone poles, utility posts or Township street signs.
No temporary political sign shall be placed or erected on any
private property without first obtaining permission from such property
owner.
Every prohibited temporary political sign is declared to be
a public nuisance, and the person or persons having authority over
the public or private property may remove the same or cause it to
be removed immediately at the reasonable expense of the person placing,
maintaining or erecting the temporary political sign.
Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or organization who
or which violates any of the provisions of this article shall, upon
conviction in a summary proceeding, be fined not less than $300 and,
in default of the payment of the fine and costs, shall be committed
to the Allegheny County Jail for a period not to exceed 30 days. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to preclude the Township to seek
other relief or avail itself of any remedy that may be at law or in
equity to prevent continuing violations of the terms of this article.
