[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
1.
Signs shall only be erected and maintained in compliance with the
provisions of this Part, other Parts of this chapter and any and all
regulations of the Township relating in any way to the erection, location,
size, height, use, number, lighting, operation, alteration or maintenance
of signs, billboards, banners and other similar advertising devices
as defined herein.
2.
No sign shall be erected, altered, painted, relocated, remodeled,
expanded or maintained in any manner that is inconsistent with provisions
of this chapter and all other applicable Township ordinances. A sign
permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Officer prior to the erection
or alternation of any sign. The Zoning Officer shall review and approve
all sign applications and sign permits.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following regulations shall apply to signs in all zoning
districts:
A.
Restricted Signs. The following signs shall not be permitted in any
zoning district:
(1)
Banners or pennants, other than temporary special event signs
authorized by this chapter.
(2)
Signs placed on trees, utility poles, official traffic control
devices, or official traffic signs.
(3)
Signs which imitate traffic control devices.
(4)
Signs painted on fences or retaining walls.
(5)
Strings of lights, flashers, flags, pennants or other display
paraphernalia, except those displays specifically authorized by this
Part.
(6)
Overhanging signs, as defined herein.
(7)
Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked
on a public right-of-way, public property, or private property (other
than temporarily for overnight storage on the site of a business or
for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading or rendering a service
at any location) which are visible from the public right-of-way and
where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people
to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.
(8)
Signs located within public rights-of-way, except as otherwise
provided in this Part.
B.
Exempt Signs. The following signs shall be exempt from the regulations
of this Part:
(1)
Residential identification signs, as defined herein.
(2)
Holiday decorations displayed for recognized federal or state
holidays, provided they do not interfere with traffic safety or do
not, in any other way, become a public safety hazard. Holiday decorations
shall not include temporary special event signs, as defined by this
chapter.
(3)
Memorial/historical plaques.
(4)
Window display signs, as defined herein, provided they shall
not exceed 20% of the gross surface area of all windows in an establishment.
(5)
Signs erected by a governmental agency, including street signs,
official traffic signs and official notices.
(6)
Signs authorized by the Township to be located on Township facilities
and public rights-of-way.
C.
Lots with Multiple Street Frontage. In nonresidential zoning districts,
a lot having a total lot area greater than two acres which fronts
on more than one street shall be permitted to have one sign which
is permitted per lot, on each street frontage. This requirement shall
not apply to pole signs.
D.
Temporary Signs.
(1)
General. In all zoning districts where authorized by § 27-703, real estate signs, construction signs and development signs shall be considered temporary signs which shall be removed within 30 days of the completion of sale, lease or construction.
(2)
Restaurant Sandwich Board Sign. Sandwich board signs shall only
be permitted for restaurants, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
The sign shall be placed immediately adjacent to the entrance
to the facility, provided that the sign does not impede pedestrian
traffic. A minimum five-foot clearance shall be maintained for pedestrian
access.
(b)
The sign shall not be placed within a public right-of-way.
(c)
The sign shall be secured to the building or other fixed object
with a chain or similar device and shall be constructed of such design
and materials so as not to be displaced by a peak wind gust speed
of 60 miles per hour.
(d)
Placement of the sign shall be limited to the hours which the
restaurant is open to the public and the sign shall be removed daily.
(e)
Only one sandwich board sign shall be permitted per restaurant.
(f)
The size of the sign and its structure shall not exceed six
square feet.
(g)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(3)
Temporary Community Event Sign. One temporary community event
sign shall be permitted to be erected at a Township facility, public
building, place of worship, school or similar building, subject to
the following requirements:
(a)
The signs shall be constructed of weather-resistant material
such as wood, cloth and plastic.
(b)
The gross sign surface area of all such signs shall not exceed
32 square feet.
(c)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(d)
The signs shall not be digital, animated, or flashing.
(e)
No such sign shall be located within the clear sight triangle
or in such a position that it will cause a hazard by obstructing visibility
for traffic on a street or obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic
control device.
(f)
A portable sign shall not be considered a temporary sign under
this subsection.
(g)
Only one such sign shall be permitted per lot frontage. No such
sign shall be located within 100 feet of any other temporary sign.
(h)
The sign shall be displayed for a period no longer than 30 consecutive
days and shall be removed within one day following the event that
it promotes. This type of sign shall only be displayed on the subject
property no more than 30 consecutive days in any three-month period
and no more than 60 days in any calendar year. The duration and permit
period restrictions within this subsection shall not apply to signs
installed by the Township.
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Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection, a temporary
community event sign may be located across a public street right-of-way
subject to the approval from the governmental entity that has jurisdiction
over the specific public street right-of-way and compliance with the
design and location requirements of such governmental entity.
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E.
Changeable, Moving and Flashing Signs. Changeable signs, moving signs
and flashing signs shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial District
subject to the regulations contained in this chapter; provided, however,
the following portions of signs are exceptions to this requirement
provided that the following signs do not flash:
F.
Portable, Painted, Sandwich Board and Inflatable Signs. Portable
signs, signs painted on walls, sandwich board signs (except as permitted
under Subsection 1D(2)) and inflatable signs shall only be permitted
in the M-1 Industrial District subject to the regulations contained
in this chapter.
G.
Notification Signs. In all zoning districts, the number, location
and size of legal notification signs erected by public agencies shall
be in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Legal notification signs posted on private property by property owners,
such as "no trespassing," "no hunting," "no soliciting" and the like
shall be limited to a gross sign surface area not exceeding two square
feet. The placement and maximum number of signs permitted along street
frontages shall be one sign for every 30 feet of street frontage.
H.
Visibility. No sign shall be located in such a position that it will
cause a hazard by obstructing visibility for traffic on a street or
obscuring a traffic signal or other traffic control device. No sign
shall be located within the clear site triangle of any intersection.
No sign, other than official traffic signs, shall hang over the right-of-way
of any street. No sign, other than official traffic signs, shall be
erected within the right-of-way of any street, except as otherwise
provided in this Part.
I.
Illumination. Illumination, when authorized by this chapter, shall
be directed upon the sign face and not toward adjoining properties
or streets. Flashing or oscillating signs shall only be permitted
in the M-1 Industrial District. Lighting shall be stationary and constant
in intensity and color at all times. The intensity of any source of
illumination of any sign, whether indirect or internal, shall be controlled
so as to not create glare and to be compatible with the intensity
of ambient light and illumination on surrounding properties.
J.
Maintenance and Inspection. All signs must be constructed of a durable
material and maintained in good condition. Any sign found to be in
an unsafe condition upon inspection by the Zoning Officer shall be
declared to be a public nuisance and an enforcement notice shall be
issued to the owner, in accordance with the requirements of Part 14,
to repair or remove the sign within a reasonable time period. Upon
failure of the owner to comply, the Township shall remove the sign
at the owner's expense.
K.
Removal of Signs. Whenever any business or entity is discontinued
or vacated, all signs relating to such business or entity shall be
removed within 30 days of the discontinuance or vacation of the business
or entity. Whenever a sign permit expires for a sign, the sign relating
to the expired sign permit shall be removed immediately. Upon failure
of the owner to comply, the Township shall remove the sign at the
owner's expense.
L.
Permits Required. A sign permit shall be required for the erection
or placement of all signs with the following exceptions:
(1)
Notification sign.
(2)
Real estate sign.
(3)
Political sign.
(4)
Construction sign.
(5)
Off-premises directional signs erected by a governmental agency.
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The Zoning Officer shall issue the required sign permit upon
submission of an application which complies with all applicable provisions
of this chapter and payment of the required fee established from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
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M.
Expiration of Permits. Any permit issued by the Zoning Officer for
erection, alteration, replacement or relocation of any sign shall
expire automatically within six months of the date of issuance if
work authorized by the permit has not been initiated and diligently
pursued.
N.
Sign Location. Except for political signs and billboards, where authorized
by this chapter, all signs shall be located on the premises which
they are intended to serve.
O.
Gross Sign Surface Area. In computing the gross sign surface area
of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered provided
both faces are identical. If the interior angle formed by the two
faces of the double-faced sign is greater than 45°, then both
sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the gross sign
surface area.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following signs are authorized in all zoning districts:
A.
Bulletin Board Sign. One bulletin board sign which is nonilluminated
or indirectly or internally illuminated, and which does not exceed
30 square feet in gross sign surface area, shall be permitted in connection
with any place of worship, school, university, library, Township facility
or similar public building. The bulletin board sign may be provided
in the form of an electrically activated changeable sign provided
that the sign complies with the following requirements:
(1)
The sign shall be attached to a freestanding ground sign which
complies with the requirements of this Part.
(2)
The sign shall be nonilluminated or internally illuminated.
(3)
Messages on the sign shall not change at a frequency of more
than one time per minute, except for time and temperature signs.
(4)
The time interval used to change from one complete message/display
to the next complete message/display shall be a maximum of one second.
(5)
There shall be no appearance of a visual dissolve or fading,
in which any part of one electronic message/display appears simultaneously
with any part of the second electronic message/display.
(6)
There shall be no appearance of flashing or sudden bursts of
light, and no appearance of animation, movement, or flow of the message/display.
(7)
Any illumination or contrast of light level shall remain constant.
(8)
In a residential zoning district, the sign shall only be permitted
if it is located along an arterial street or collector street.
B.
Real Estate Sign. Real estate signs shall be permitted, subject to
the following requirements:
(1)
In residential zoning districts, one nonilluminated, temporary
real estate sign shall be permitted on each lot provided the gross
sign surface area shall not exceed six square feet.
(2)
In nonresidential districts, one nonilluminated, temporary real
estate sign shall be permitted on each frontage of a lot provided
the gross sign surface area shall not exceed 32 square feet per sign.
(3)
The real estate sign shall not exceed six feet in height.
(4)
The real estate sign shall be removed within 30 days of the
sale, lease or rental of the property on which it is located.
(5)
A real estate sign advertising an open house in a residential
zoning district shall be permitted provided that:
(a)
Only one such sign shall be permitted per development/subdivision.
(b)
The sign shall be placed on private property, outside of the
public right-of-way, at the entrance to the subdivision/development
for directional purposes.
(c)
The gross sign surface area shall not exceed two square feet.
(d)
The sign shall not exceed three feet in height.
(e)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(f)
The sign shall be removed daily, immediately at the close of
the open house period, and shall not be left overnight.
C.
Development Sign. One nonilluminated, temporary development sign
shall be permitted on each lot provided the gross sign surface area
shall not exceed 32 square feet. The development sign shall not exceed
six feet in height when located in any residential zoning district
and shall not exceed 10 feet in height in any nonresidential zoning
district. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the sale or
rental of the last lot or completion of the proposed construction
in the development.
D.
Construction Sign. One nonilluminated, temporary construction sign
announcing the names of contractors, mechanics or artisans engaged
in performing work on the premises shall be permitted on a lot; provided,
the gross sign surface area shall not exceed 12 square feet and the
sign shall be removed within 30 days of the completion of the work.
E.
Home Occupation Identification Sign. One nonilluminated home occupation
identification sign shall be permitted for an approved home occupation,
provided that the surface area of the sign does not exceed two square
feet and the sign shall contain only the name, address and occupation
of the resident, and shall not contain any logo or any other advertising.
F.
Political Sign. Temporary political signs shall be permitted, subject
to the following requirements:
G.
On-Premises Directional Sign. On any lot which contains two or more
multi-family dwelling buildings or nonresidential buildings, and/or
on any lot which provides more than 100 parking spaces, on-premises
directional signs shall be permitted, provided that (1) the gross
sign surface area of any one sign shall not exceed four square feet
and (2) the height of the sign shall not exceed three feet. On lots
with an area of less than 20,000 square feet, a maximum of two nonilluminated
or indirectly illuminated on-premises directional signs shall be permitted.
On lots with an area of between 20,000 square feet and one acre, a
maximum of four nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated on-premises
directional signs shall be permitted. For each additional acre, or
fraction thereof above one acre, two additional on-premises directional
signs shall be permitted.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following signs shall be permitted in all residential zoning
districts:
A.
Residential Plan Identification Sign. One nonilluminated or indirectly
illuminated permanent wall or freestanding ground residential plan
identification sign with a gross sign surface area not to exceed 15
square feet and containing only the street address and/or name of
a residential subdivision plan or multi-family dwelling building or
development. A sign identifying the name of a residential subdivision
may be affixed to a free-standing decorative wall, rather than to
a building wall, provided that the decorative wall meets all applicable
requirements of this chapter.
B.
Business Identification Sign. One freestanding ground sign for any
business use (other than a home occupation) which is a legal nonconforming
use, or which constitutes a use authorized by this chapter in the
subject residential district; provided, that:
(1)
No pole sign exists on the lot.
(2)
The gross sign surface area shall not exceed 18 square feet.
(3)
The structure height of the ground sign shall not exceed eight
feet.
(4)
The location of the ground sign shall be designed to not interfere
with vehicular traffic visibility entering or exiting the lot or traveling
on any street.
(5)
The foundation of the ground sign shall have a decorative finish
that compliments the principal building on the property and such foundation
shall have a minimum height of 18 inches above the adjacent ground
level.
(6)
The ground sign shall be nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated.
(7)
The ground sign shall be located at least 10 feet from the street
right-of-way line, or 40 feet from the center line of the street,
whichever is greater. Where the lot abuts a residential property,
the setback from the lot line of that property shall not be less than
50 feet.
(8)
No portion of the ground sign shall project over any public
right-of-way nor shall it be located within the clear sight triangle
of any street intersection.
(9)
The ground sign shall contain no more than two sign faces, one
per side.
[Ord. 658, 4/9/2015]
The following signs shall be permitted in all nonresidential
zoning districts:
A.
Temporary Special Event Sign. A temporary special event sign shall
be permitted, subject to the following requirements:
(1)
No more than one sign shall be permitted on any establishment
at any one time.
(2)
The sign shall be securely attached to the building.
(3)
The sign shall be displayed for a period no longer than 30 consecutive
days and shall be removed within one day following the event that
it promotes. This type of sign shall only be displayed on the subject
property no more than 30 consecutive days in any three-month period
and no more than 60 days in any calendar year.
(4)
The gross sign surface area of the sign shall not exceed 32
square feet per establishment. In the event that there is more than
one establishment on a property, the aggregate gross sign surface
area of all temporary special event display signs on the property
at any one time shall not exceed 80 square feet.
(5)
The sign shall be nonilluminated.
(6)
Portable signs shall not be considered temporary special event
signs.
B.
Changeable Sign. Changeable signs (including animated, digital and
electronic message signs) shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial
District. In addition to the authorized business identification sign,
one changeable sign shall be permitted per lot in the M-1 Industrial
District, regardless of the number of businesses on the lot, subject
to the following requirements:
(1)
The sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in gross sign surface
area.
(2)
The sign shall be permanently affixed to the wall of a building
on the subject property.
(3)
The sign may be nonilluminated or internally illuminated.
(4)
Messages on the sign shall not change at a frequency of more
than 12 times per hour, except for time and temperature signs.
C.
Business Identification Sign.
(1)
Wall Sign. Each business establishment shall be permitted to
have wall signs which may be illuminated or nonilluminated. The aggregate
gross sign surface area of all wall signs shall not exceed two square
feet for each lineal foot of width of the front wall of the building
occupied by the business. The wall sign shall not be located on the
roof, nor extend above the height of the building. The wall signs
may be placed on any side of the building which does not face residentially
zoned property.
(2)
Ground Sign. In addition to the wall sign, one free-standing
ground sign shall be permitted per lot, regardless of the number of
businesses on the lot; provided, that:
(a)
No pole sign exists or is proposed to be erected on the lot.
(b)
The gross sign surface area of the ground sign shall be subject
to the following restrictions:
(c)
The structure height of any ground sign shall be subject to
the following restrictions:
(d)
The location of the ground sign shall be designed to not interfere
with vehicular traffic visibility entering or exiting the lot or traveling
on any street.
(e)
The foundation of the ground sign shall have a decorative finish
that compliments the principal building on the property and such foundation
shall have a minimum height of 18 inches above the adjacent ground
level.
(f)
Ground signs shall be nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated,
or internally illuminated.
(g)
All ground signs shall be located at least 10 feet from the
street right-of-way line, or 40 feet from the center line of the street,
whichever is greater. Where the lot abuts a residential property,
the setback from the lot line of that property shall not be less than
50 feet.
(h)
No portion of any ground sign shall project over any public
right-of-way nor shall it be located within the clear sight triangle
of any street intersection.
(i)
A ground sign shall contain no more than two sign faces, one
per side.
(3)
Pole Sign. In addition to the authorized wall signs, one free-standing
pole sign shall be permitted, per lot, regardless of the number of
businesses on the lot and regardless of the number of street frontages
of that lot; provided, that:
(a)
Pole signs shall only be permitted in the M-1 Industrial District,
unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b)
No ground sign exists or is proposed on the lot.
(c)
The pole sign shall be nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated
or internally illuminated.
(d)
The maximum structure height of the top of the pole sign shall
be 25 feet.
(e)
The minimum structure height of the bottom edge of the pole
sign shall be 10 feet.
(f)
The gross sign surface area of the pole sign shall not exceed
40 square feet for one business, and 64 square feet if there is more
than one business on the lot.
(g)
No portion of any pole sign shall project over any public right-of-way
nor shall it be located within the clear sight triangle of any street
intersection. The location of the sign shall be designed to not interfere
with vehicular traffic visibility entering or exiting the lot or traveling
on any street.
(h)
All pole signs shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street
right-of-way line, or 40 feet from the center line of the street,
whichever is greater. Where the lot abuts a residential property,
the setback from the lot line of that property shall not be less than
50 feet.
(i)
The pole sign shall contain no more than two sign faces, one
per side.
(4)
Roof Signs. A roof sign may be illuminated or nonilluminated.
Roof signs shall be permitted only in place of a wall sign in the
M-1 Industrial District. The gross sign surface area of a roof sign
shall not exceed two square feet per each lineal foot of width of
the front wall of the building or 200 square feet, whichever is less.
A roof sign shall not project more than six feet above the highest
point on the roof on which it is placed.
(5)
Arcade Signs. In shopping centers or office complexes which
have pedestrian access ways covered by a roof, marquee or exterior
arcade, one arcade sign shall be permitted for each business in the
building; provided, that:
(6)
Awning Signs. Awning signs shall be permitted subject to compliance
with the following requirements:
(a)
The gross sign surface area of the awning sign shall not exceed
an area equal to 25% of the background area of the awning or awning
surface to which such a sign is affixed, or the permissible gross
sign surface area for a wall sign provided under subparagraph (1)
of this chapter, whichever is less.
(b)
Neither the background color of an awning, nor any graphic treatment
or embellishment thereto, such as striping, patterns or valances,
shall be included in the computation of the gross sign surface area
of an awning sign.
(c)
Awning signs and wall signs are mutually exclusive; an awning
sign may be erected, or a wall sign may be erected, but not both.
(7)
Menu Board. A menu board shall be permitted as part of a drive-through
facility for a high-turnover restaurant subject to compliance with
the following requirements:
(a)
The menu board shall be integrated with the drive-through facility.
(b)
The menu board shall be in the form of a ground sign.
(c)
The menu board shall be nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated
or internally illuminated.
(d)
The gross sign surface area of the menu board shall not exceed
50 square feet.
(e)
No more than 20% of the gross sign surface area of the menu
board shall be utilized for business identification purposes.
(f)
The structure height of any menu board shall not exceed six
feet.
(g)
The menu board shall be located on the subject property within
10 feet from the building which it serves. The location of the menu
board shall not interfere with internal traffic circulation.
