Signs may be erected or altered only in conformance with the
standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this article
and any and all other ordinances and regulations relating to signs
and similar devices. Sign permits will be required for the erection
or alteration of all permanent signs unless otherwise indicated in
this article.
The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this
chapter:
A.
Signs necessary for the direction, regulation and control of traffic;
street name signs; warnings at railroad crossings; and other official
signs which are similarly authorized or erected by a duly constituted
governmental body;
B.
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal,
state or local law, regulation or ordinance;
C.
Any sign inside a building, 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 property on which such sign is located;
D.
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message; and
E.
Traffic control signs on private property, such as "Stop," "Yield"
and similar signs, the face of which meets PennDOT standards and which
contains no commercial message of any sort.
A.
The following types of signs shall be allowed in the Borough without
a permit.
(1)
Signs owned and associated with uses operated by the Borough. Signs
necessary for the direction, regulation and control of traffic; street
name signs; signs for parks and Borough buildings; legal notices;
warnings at railroad crossings; and other official signs which are
similarly authorized or erected by a duly constituted governmental
body.
(2)
Residential nameplates identifying the name of a home, its occupant,
or both, not including name listing on a mailbox.
(3)
Property control signs (e.g., "No Trespassing," "Private Property,"
"No Hunting or Fishing," "Posted," "Private Drive," or similar type
signs).
(4)
On-site directional, entrance, exit, restroom, and other informational
signs.
(5)
Temporary signs of contractors, architects, mechanics, landscapers
and artisans, displayed only while actual on-site work is in progress.
(6)
Temporary real estate "For Sale," "Sold," "For Rent" or "For Auction"
signs when placed upon the property (unit) to be rented or sold.
(7)
Temporary political signs.
(8)
Temporary special event signs for businesses, churches and nonprofit
organizations (e.g., grand openings, change of use or ownership, closeout
sale, clearance sale, holiday sale, festivals, bazaars, etc.).
(9)
Temporary directional off-premises signs for open houses, auctions
or similar events being held in the Borough.
(10)
Temporary signs for governmental activities and/or sponsored
events.
B.
All other types of signs shall require a sign permit.
A.
If a sign requiring a permit under the provisions of this article
is to be placed, constructed, erected or modified on a property, the
owner of the property shall secure a sign permit in accordance with
the requirements of this section.
B.
Applications. All applications for sign permits shall be submitted
to the Borough on an application form or in accordance with application
specifications published by the Borough.
C.
An application for construction, creation or installation of a new
sign or for modification of an existing sign shall be accompanied
by detailed drawings to show the dimensions, design, structure and
location of each particular sign. One application and permit may include
multiple signs on the same premises.
D.
Fees. Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by
the applicable fees, which shall be established by Borough Council
from time to time by resolution.
E.
The owner of any property containing signs requiring a permit under
this chapter shall at all times maintain in force a sign permit for
such property.
The following types of signs and no others shall be permitted
to be erected or maintained:
A.
Identification, informational or directional signs erected or required
by governmental bodies.
C.
Signs indicating the location and direction of premises available
for or in the process of development and having inscribed thereon
the name of the owner, developer, builder or agent may be erected
and maintained, provided that:
D.
Signs of mechanics and artisans during the period such persons are
performing work, provided that:
(1)
Such signs shall be erected only on the premises where such work
is being performed.
(2)
The area on one side of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square
feet.
(3)
Not more than one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.
(4)
Such signs shall be removed promptly upon completion of work.
E.
Signs for public recreation areas, schools, colleges, churches, hospitals
or other similar public institutions or uses may be erected and maintained,
provided that:
F.
Signs prohibiting or otherwise controlling trespassing upon particular
premises, or indicating the private nature of a road, driveway or
premises, or otherwise controlling the use of the property, may be
erected and maintained, provided that the area on one side of any
such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
G.
Signs indicating the name of a particular civic, social or fraternal
organization, home for the aged, nursing home or convalescent home,
farm or estate may be erected and maintained, provided that:
H.
Name or address signs and home occupation signs may be erected and
maintained in any residential district, provided that:
I.
Business or industrial signs may be erected and maintained, provided
that:
(1)
The area on one side of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 80
square feet in the Highway Commercial, Industrial or Mixed Use Districts
and three square feet in any other district.
(2)
Not more than one freestanding sign shall be erected on each street
frontage.
(3)
In Highway Commercial, Industrial or Mixed Use Districts, the area
of any sign attached to a building shall not exceed 15% of the wall
area on which the sign is placed.
(4)
In other than Highway Commercial, Industrial or Mixed Use districts,
the area of any wall sign, suspended sign or projecting sign attached
to a building shall not exceed 10% of the wall area on which the sign
is placed or three square feet, whichever is less.
(5)
The sign placed on any building or lot shall be related to the business
conducted on such premises.
J.
Off-premises signs may be erected and maintained, provided that:
(1)
Off-premises signs are only permitted in the Highway Commercial (HC)
District.
(2)
Any off-premises sign shall be separated by a minimum of 100 feet
from any other off-premises sign located on the same side of the street.
(3)
Only one off-premises sign per business shall be permitted on each
side of PA Route 272.
(4)
No off-premises sign or sign face shall be attached in any way to
any other off-premises sign.
(5)
No off-premises sign shall be located within 150 feet of an existing
dwelling or residentially zoned land.
(6)
No off-premises sign shall exceed 20 square feet in size.
(7)
Any applicant for erection of an off-premises sign must furnish a
copy of an agreement with the owner of the property on which the off-premises
sign is proposed to be located.
K.
Temporary off-premises directional signs indicating real estate for
sale or rent, real estate open houses, public sales and auctions,
or similar events shall be permitted, provided that:
L.
Temporary signs advertising a sale or event sponsored by a civic
or religious group may be erected and maintained provided that such
sign shall not be displayed in excess of one month and shall be removed
promptly after the event. No more than two sale or event signs shall
be permitted per premises in any district within the Borough.
[Amended 11-2-2021 by Ord. No. 409]
N.
Signs not provided for. Any type of sign not specifically provided
for in this article may be approved by the Zoning Hearing Board as
a special exception. Any such sign shall be generally consistent in
size and height with other signs permitted in the zoning district
in which it is located.
The following regulations shall apply to all permitted sign
uses:
A.
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger
to vehicular and pedestrian traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
B.
No sign or sign-bearing structure other than official traffic signs
and public utility signs necessary for the operation, identification
or protection of public utility facilities shall be erected within
or extend into the right-of-way of a public road.
(1)
Other signs forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property,
except in conformance with the requirements of this section, shall
be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition
to other remedies hereunder, the Borough shall have the right to recover
from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal
and disposal of such sign.
C.
The following signs shall not be permitted, erected or maintained
in any district, notwithstanding anything else contained in this chapter
or elsewhere:
(1)
Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing, moving or changing
illumination or sign faces or with illumination which varies in intensity
or which varies in color, and signs which have any visible moving
part, visible revolving parts, or visible mechanical movement of any
description, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical
pulsations or by actions of normal wind currents, except when not
visible from motor vehicles traveling on public roadways. Electronic
screen signs, using technologies such as (but not limited to) LCD
or LED screens, are prohibited within clear sight of public roadways,
except when used as necessary traffic control devices by either Adamstown
Borough or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation under the
guidelines of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (most
recent edition). However, signs displaying only weather and time information
shall not be prohibited under this section.
D.
No part of any sign shall be more than 35 feet in height or more
than the maximum height limitation for buildings within the zoning
district, whichever limit is less. The sign shall be setback from
all street rights-of-way and property lines a distance equal to or
greater that the height of the sign.
E.
In addition to the above requirements of this article, every sign
referred to in this article shall be constructed of durable materials
and must be kept on good condition and repair.
(1)
All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of any building
and electrical codes as adopted by the Borough.
(2)
Except for banners, flags, temporary signs and window signs conforming
in all respects with the requirements of this article, all signs shall
be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached
to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment
to a rigid wall, frame or structure.
F.
Illumination. Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ
only lights emitting a constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated
by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or
lights or contain any other moving element, except to show time and/or
temperature. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device
be so placed or so directed as to permit the beams and illumination
therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public street, highway,
sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that
may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
G.
Utility pole placement. All signs shall adhere to Act 360 of the
State of Pennsylvania, which controls the placing of signs on utility
poles.
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 material and is maintained in good condition and repair.
No person shall place or cause to be placed or maintained in
such a location as can be viewed by persons on any public street any
sign or signs, photographic, pictorial or other graphic representation,
that depict in whole or in part the following:
A.
Acts or simulated acts of sexual intercourse, masturbation, sodomy,
bestiality, oral copulation, flagellation, or any sexual acts which
are prohibited by law.
B.
Scene wherein a person displays the vulva or the anus or other genitals.
C.
Scene wherein artificial devices are employed to depict, or drawings
are employed to portray, any of the prohibited signs, photographs,
or graphic representatives described above.
D.
Any other graphic illustration pertaining to specified sexual activities
and/or specified anatomical areas.
