[Ord. 1998-5, 7/20/1998; as added by Ord. 2006-8, 8/29/2006,
§ 9.200; and amended by Ord. 2012-3, 3/20/2012, §§ 1,
3 — 7]
Words and phrases used in this Part shall have the meanings set forth in this section. Words and phrases not defined in this section but that are defined in Part
2 shall be given the meaning as set forth in Part
2. All other words and phrases shall utilize the meaning given in Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, located at the Township Municipal Building. Diagrams are for illustrative purposes only, are intended to supplement the definitions, and do not serve as the only example of that definition.
ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign used to advertise or announce a business. For the
purpose of this Part, advertising signs shall include awning, canopy,
ground, location, marquee, neon, projecting, blade, vehicular directory,
shopping cart corral, pedestrian information sign plaza, wall, and
window and door signs.
ANCILLARY SECONDARY ENTRANCE WALL SIGN
A type of wall sign (other than the principal wall sign designating
the nonresidential building or use in question) used to identify a
secondary or ancillary entrance to a building that has multiple entrances
so as to identify goods or services provided in the area of the secondary
or ancillary entrance, such as "garden center," "indoor lumber yard,"
"pharmacy," "drive-through entrance," "drive-through pharmacy," "food
mart," "one-hour photo," etc. An ancillary wall sign may be used in
any retail building, office building, or industrial building that
has multiple entrances.
ANCILLARY USE WALL SIGN
A type of wall sign used to identify a significant secondary
or ancillary use, uses, or products within a nonresidential building.
The ancillary use wall sign may identify the ancillary or secondary
use or product offered or sold by name, logo, trademark, or other
identifying symbol or any combination of name, logo, trademark, or
other identifying symbol of the secondary use, uses, or products.
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict
action or create a special effect or scene; any sign that utilizes
mechanical movement.
AUTO DEALER VEHICLE SIGN
An incidental sign specific to new and used automobile dealerships
which contains information specific to that particular vehicle (i.e.,
price, warranty, etc.).
AVERAGE GRADE LEVEL
The elevation calculated by averaging the elevation at all
sign structure supports and the elevations at a distance often 10
feet and 25 feet from the center of the sign in all four compass point
directions (See Figure 27-9-1).
Figure 27-9-1
Average Grade Level
|
AWNING
Any non-rigid material such as fabric or flexible plastic
that is supported by or stretched over a frame that is attached to
the exterior of a building.
AWNING SIGN
Any sign that is part of or attached to an awning (See Figure
27-9-2).
Figure 27-9-2
Examples of Awning Signs
|
BACKLIGHTING
The use of a light source behind an awning, canopy, or other
semi-transparent material to illuminate or intensify the effect of
that material.
BANNER
A banner is any device intended to be hung with or without
frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentation
applied to flexible material such as, but not limited to, paper, plastic,
or fabric of any kind. National, state or Township flags shall not
be considered to be banners. All banners are special event signs but
not all special event signs are banners.
BEACON
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere
or directed at one or more points not on the same property as the
light source; any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD
An off-premises sign (See "obstructive sign").
BLADE SIGN
A sign suspended from a marquee, canopy, awning, or porch
roof or ceiling that would exist without the sign.
BUILDING MARKER
An individual sign indicating the name of a building and
date and incidental information about its construction, which sign
is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent
material and attached to the building.
BULLETIN BOARD
An individual sign identifying a religious institution, school,
library, community center, club, or similar institution or civic organization
and the announcement of its institutional or organizational services
or activities.
BUSINESS NAMEPLATE
An on-premises sign attached to the front facade of a nonresidential
building giving the name(s) of the individual occupants of the nonresidential
building such as nameplates denoting the names of professionals in
a professional office building.
CANOPY
An extension of the roof of a building or a freestanding
structure that has a roof with ground support, but no walls.
CANOPY SIGN
Any sign that is part of or attached to a canopy (See Figure
27-9-3).
Figure 27-9-3 Canopy Sign
|
CHANGEABLE SIGN
A sign with the capability of content change by means of
manual or remote input, including signs which are:
MANUALLY ACTIVATED — Changeable sign whose message copy
or content can be changed manually.
|
ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED — Changeable sign whose message
copy or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized
on-off switching combinations of alphabetic, numeric, graphic and/or
pictographic components arranged on a display surface. Illumination
may be integral to the components, such as characterized by lamps
or other light-emitting devices; or it may be from an external light
source designed to reflect off the changeable component display. For
the purpose of this Part, an electronic message sign and a multi-message
sign shall be classified as electrically-activated changeable signs.
|
COMMERCIAL AREA
Zoning districts established as Neighborhood Mixed-Use (C-1),
General Commercial (C-2), Limited Commercial (C-3), Enterprise Park
I (EP-I) and Enterprise Park II (EP-2).
CONSTRUCTION SIGN
A temporary individual sign identifying an architect, contractor,
subcontractor, engineer, financial institution, or material supplier
involved in the construction, reconstruction, or repair of a building
or buildings on a lot.
DECAL
Signs and street graphics, affixed to windows or door glass
panels, indicating membership in a business group or acceptance of
credit cards, and not advertising any commercial activity.
DECORATIVE FLAGS
Flags containing no commercial message or insignia and often
used for holiday or seasonal decoration. All decorative flags are
personal use and information signs but not all personal use and information
signs are decorative flags.
DOOR SIGN
An individual sign affixed to an exterior door of a building.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN
An electrically activated sign that can be electronically
changed or programmed including, but not limited to, light emitting
diode signs and all types of digital signs, such as plasma display
panels, liquid crystal displays, computer monitors, and televisions.
FACADE
The exterior walls of a building exposed to public view or
that wall viewed by persons not within the building.
FARM PRODUCT SIGN
A temporary individual sign used to advertise the sale of
produce when used in conjunction with an approved temporary farm market
or produce stand.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors,
patterns, or symbols and used as a symbol of a government, political
subdivision or other governmental entity.
FLASHING SIGN
Any sign which has intermittent or changing lighting or illumination.
FLUORESCENT SIGN
Any sign containing fluorescent colors in the text, graphic,
or background.
FOR SALE SIGN
A personal use and identification sign used to announce the
sale of a used product personally owned by the seller.
FUEL DISPENSING EQUIPMENT SIGN
Fuel dispensing equipment sign means a permanently installed
sign affixed to, or integrated into, an enclosure containing fuel
dispensing equipment, such as a gasoline pump.
GARAGE SALE SIGN
A personal use and information sign advertising a Township
approved garage or yard sale.
GRAPHIC
A lettered, numbered, symbolic, pictorial, or illuminated
visual display that is visible from a public right-of-way.
GROUND SIGN
A freestanding on-premises sign supported by one or more
uprights, posts, or bases placed upon or affixed in the ground and
not attached to any part of a building (See Figure 27-9-4).
Figure 27-9-4
Examples of Ground Signs
|
HISTORICAL MARKER
An individual sign erected by a public agency and intended
to mark or honor a historical site, structure, or event located on
or near to the location of the sign.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
Any combination of lights; posters, or other material temporarily
displayed on traditionally or legally accepted civic, patriotic, or
religious holidays related to observance of that civic, patriotic,
or religious holiday.
ILLEGAL SIGN
A sign which does not meet the requirements of this Part
or which is not a registered nonconforming sign. This specifically
includes a sign that remains standing when the time limits set by
the permit are exceeded and any sign not removed after notification
from the Zoning Officer to remove the sign.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
An on-premise sign for the convenience of the public giving
directions, instructions, facility information, or other assistance
around the site, such as location of exits, entrances, one-way signs,
parking lots, driveways, delivery or service area entrances, specific
locations within a specific nonresidential development, lot or site,
group of nonresidential buildings, and housing units, to provide direction
and/or orientation to pedestrians and/or vehicles to assist in proper
circulation.
INDIVIDUAL SIGN
A sign or street graphic allowed for a specific purpose and
subject to standards allowing the purpose and intent of the sign to
be fulfilled without adversely impacting the public health, safety,
or welfare. Individual signs include, but are not necessarily limited
to, auto dealer vehicle signs, bulletin boards, construction signs,
farm product signs, flags, incidental signs, murals, nonprofit special
event Signs, personal use and information signs, political signs,
business nameplate signs, real estate signs, special event signs,
subdivision identification signs, and vending machine signs.
INFLATABLE SIGN
An inflated balloon or other device 18 inches or greater
in diameter or length used to attract attention to a business or activity.
INTERIOR SIGN
A sign which is fully located within the interior of any
building or stadium or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building
and which provides information relevant only to the interior of the
building and/or provides information which can only be read from inside
the building.
INTERNAL ILLUMINATION
A light source concealed or contained within the sign and
which becomes visible in darkness through a translucent surface.
ITEM OF INFORMATION
A word, abbreviation, logo, symbols not part of a numeric
graphic, a single digit by itself if not part of a group of numbers,
two or more numbers grouped together including attendant symbols,
or other graphic displayed on a sign face.
LED SIGN
A sign made or illuminated, in whole or in part, with light
emitting diodes.
LOCATION SIGN
An on-premises sign designating a nonresidential, multi-use
or multi-tenant building, lot, site, or development. All location
signs are ground signs but not all ground signs are location signs.
MARQUEE
A roofed structure comprising not more than 25% of the building
facade and projecting at least three feet, which is supported by a
building and erected over a doorway or doorways as protection from
the weather, such as at a theatre.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign that is part of or attached to a marquee (See Fig
27-9-5).
Figure 27-9-5
Marquee Sign
|
MASTER SIGN PLAN
A site plan and accompanying documentation that identifies
all existing and proposed signage for a nonresidential development,
lot, site, structure or use(s).
MEMORIAL SIGN
Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, statutory, or
other remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in
nature.
MENU BOARD
Menu board means a permanently installed sign affixed to
a pole, post or column, or to a wall of a principal building or accessory
structure, consisting of a list of products and/or services offered
for sale and/or pictorial display of product offered for sale which
may include the price of products and/or services, which list and/or
pictorial display is posted on the premises of a business near the
point of ordering. For the purpose of this Part, menu boards consist
of the following types:
A.
PARKING STALL MENU BOARDParking stall menu board means a menu board located immediately adjacent to a vehicle parking stall on the premises of a business utilizing drive-in parking stalls where customers remain seated in a vehicle.
B.
PEDESTRIAN MENU BOARDPedestrian menu board means a menu board permanently installed on a principal building or accessory structure for the purpose of providing product and/or service information to pedestrian patrons of a business. For the purpose of this Part, a fuel dispensing equipment sign, such as gas pump signage, which is not an incidental sign, shall be classified as a pedestrian menu board.
C.
DRIVE-THROUGH MENU BOARDDrive-through menu board means a menu board used solely for drive-through service at a business where customers remain seated in a vehicle occupying a drive-through service lane to the point of a drive-through service window or other service area of a business.
D.
PREVIEW MENU BOARDPreview menu board means a menu board which contains a limited list of products and/or services and/or pictorial display of products offered on a drive-through menu board of a business. A preview menu board abuts a drive-through service lane and precedes the drive-through menu board for the purpose of expediting the ordering of products and/or services from the drive-through menu board.
MULTI-MESSAGE SIGN
An off-premise electrically-activated changeable sign that
uses mechanical movement to allow for the display of more than one
sign copy, usually, but not necessarily, by rotation or revolution
of sign components and may be referred to as trivision or variable
message signs.
MURAL
A picture painted directly on a wall.
NEON SIGN
Any sign using neon tube illumination bent to form letters,
symbols, or other shapes.
NEON TUBE ILLUMINATION
Illumination caused by electrically-charged gases within
a glass or plastic tube, specifically including cold cathode and other
similar light sources but not fluorescent light sources.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign, sign structure, or any part thereof that does not
comply with the provisions of this Part where such sign or sign structure
lawfully existed prior to the effective date of this Part.
NONPROFIT SPECIAL EVENT SIGN
A sign allowed by the Stroud Township Board of Supervisors
and advertising a special event for a nonprofit organization.
NUISANCE SIGN
Any sign or sign structure that has been damaged and which
has not been repaired within 45 days.
OBSTRUCTIVE SIGN
Any sign erected or maintained at the intersection of roads
in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision of the intersection;
any sign located in a sight triangle.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign advertising a land use or promoting a commercial or
noncommercial message unrelated to the activity conducted on the lot,
development or site where the sign is located; a sign which directs
attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment, or attraction
sold, offered, or existing elsewhere than on the same lot, development
or site where the sign is located.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
Signs and street graphics accessory to commercial, industrial,
or institutional activities, the purpose of which is to sell or index
a product, service, or activity or to provide information regarding
a commercial, industrial, or institutional facility. On-premises signs
are located on the same lot, development or site as the advertised
use.
PEDESTRIAN INFORMATION SIGN PLAZA
A freestanding on-premises sign that is not attached to the
exterior of a building that lists the tenants or occupants of a group
of nonresidential buildings which may indicate the tenant's or
occupant's business activities, profession, or use within any
of said buildings which is used to direct pedestrians to the location
of the tenant's or occupant's place of business in the group
of nonresidential buildings in question. A pedestrian information
sign plaza may also include a map depicting various locations within
the group of nonresidential buildings and appurtenant premises in
question.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or otherwise flexible or
reflective material, whether or not containing a message of any kind,
suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed
to move in the wind.
PERSON
Any individual, association, company, corporation, firm,
organization, or partnership, singular or plural, of any kind.
PERSONAL USE AND INFORMATION SIGN
An individual sign installed on a personal and private residential
property by the owner of that property for informational purposes.
Personal use and information signs and street graphics include but
are not limited to street addresses, nameplates, private street signs,
home occupation signs, property names, for sale signs, warning signs,
garage sale signs, and alarm company signs.
POLE SIGN
A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole(s), post(s)
or column(s).
POLITICAL SIGN
Any and all political signs and graphics used or intended
to be used for the display of any announcement, advertisement, or
notice of any individual or slate of candidates for any public office,
erected by a person or entity other than by a property owner or tenant
of a property in question.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign, magnetic or otherwise, not permanently attached
to the ground or other permanent structure; 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, menu and sandwich
board signs, balloons used as signs, and umbrellas used for advertising
(See Figure 27-9-6).
Figure 27-9-6
Examples of Portable Signs
|
PREMISES
A lot, parcel, tract, or plot of land together with the buildings
and structures thereon.
PRIVATE DRIVE
A personal use and identification sign located at the entrance
of a private drive and denoting that access as private.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign, any portion of which extends perpendicular to a facade
(See Figure 27-9-7).
Figure 27-9-7
Examples of Projecting Signs
|
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION SIGN
A temporary public use and information sign installed by
a government employee that provides public notice of a government
event.
PUBLIC USE AND INFORMATION SIGN
Signs and street graphics installed by an authorized representative
of Stroud Township, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or agency thereof,
or United States Federal Government or agency thereof. Public use
and information signs include, but are not limited to, street signs,
traffic control signs, public notification signs, and any other sign
required by the Township to provide services to its residents. Public
use and information signs also include, but are not limited to, off-premises
signs located in the public right-of-way that are constructed and
erected by a governmental agency stated in this definition at the
request of an advertiser to direct motorists or pedestrians to a specific
location.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A temporary individual sign announcing the proposed sale
or lease of a building or real property.
RESIDENTIAL AREA
Zoning districts established as Low Density Residential (R-1),
Low-Medium Density Residential (R-2), and Medium Density Residential
(R-3).
ROOF EAVES
The projecting lower edges of a roof overhanging the wall
of a building.
ROOF SIGN
A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or that
is wholly dependant upon a building for support and that projects
above the top walk or edge of a building with a flat root the eave
line of a building with a gambrel, gable, or hip roof, or the deck
line of a building with a mansard roof (See Figure 27-9-8).
Figure 27-9-8
Examples of Roof Signs
|
RURAL AREA
Zoning districts established as Open Space and Preservation
(O-1) and Special Use and Recreational (S-1).
SECURITY SIGN
Signs and street graphics listed in Title 18, Pa.C.S.A.,
the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, and Title 75, Pa.C.S.A., the Pennsylvania
Vehicle Code. Includes: no trespassing, no soliciting, beware of dog,
no parking, no dumping, no hunting, no fishing, etc. All security
signs are personal use and information signs but not all personal
use and information signs are security signs.
SHOPPING CART CORRAL SIGN
A sign fastened to a shopping cart corral structure designating
the structure for the return of shopping carts. The message portion
of a shopping cart corral sign may contain copy such as the name of
the retailer and other copy incidental to the use of the corral; however,
in no case shall the copy contain any other advertising message.
SIGN
Any device, fixture, placard, or structure that uses any
color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise,
announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity,
or to communicate information of any kind to the public.
SIGN ALTERATION
Any change to any feature of a sign, including, but not necessarily
limited to, location, area, height, or physical design features excluding,
however:
A.
Changes in copy and/or the advertising message.
B.
Regular maintenance of the sign, including electrical, repainting,
or cleaning of a sign.
SPECIAL EVENT SIGN
Individual signs and street graphics announcing special events,
including, but not limited to, auctions, grand openings, new management,
going out of business, and events sponsored by religious, charitable,
or public service groups.
STREET ACCESS
Access to a publicly owned road by a permitted driveway.
STREET SIGN
A public use and information sign identifying the name of
a street or road.
SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign located at the entrance of a Township approved subdivision
or multifamily complex and identifying the name of the development.
A subdivision identification sign is not a location sign. All subdivision
identification signs are ground signs but not all ground signs are
subdivision identification signs.
TIME AND TEMPERATURE SIGN
An on-premises sign accessory to a wall or ground sign that
serves the purpose of announcing time and/or temperature.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN
A public use and information sign used to direct traffic,
control direction or speed, or warn pedestrians and motorists of hazards
or unusual road conditions.
VEHICULAR DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign containing one or two sides which displays smaller
signs, often of equal size, to provide directions to motorists within
a nonresidential lot, development or site.
VEHICULAR SIGN
Any sign displayed on a parked vehicle or transported by
vehicle, where the primary purpose of such vehicle or transported
sign is to advertise a product or business or to direct people to
a business or activity. Where the primary purpose of such vehicle
or transported sign is not to advertise a product or business or to
direct people to a business or activity, such vehicle shall be parked
in a side or rear yard adjacent to a principal building.
VENDING MACHINE SIGN
An individual sign that was incorporated into the design
of a vending machine and cannot be removed from the machine. These
signs advertise either the distributor that stocks the machine or
the major supplier of the machine's contents.
WALL SIGN
A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or
structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure
for, or forms the background surface of the sign.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign painted or attached to a window pane which can be
read from outside the building and which advertises or provides information
to any person standing outside the building.