The purpose of this chapter is to encourage
the effective use of signs as a means of communication, to maintain
and enhance the aesthetic environment and the Borough's ability to
attract economic development and growth, to improve pedestrian and
vehicular safety, to minimize the possible adverse effects of signs
on nearby public and private property and to enable the fair and consistent
enforcement of the regulations of this chapter.
Words defined by Chapter
400, Zoning, of the Code of the Borough of Gibbsboro are hereby incorporated by reference. Where a word defined in Chapter
400 is also defined herein, the meaning assigned to the word in this chapter shall prevail for the purposes of this chapter. The following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
The Zoning Officer of the Borough of Gibbsboro or other person
so designated by the Borough Council of the Borough of Gibbsboro.
CANOPY
A roof-like cover, open to the elements on four sides, which
is used to protect outdoor equipment, such as motor fuel pumps.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE
Any sign wording, logo, figure, symbol, color, illumination,
fixture, projection or other representation that, directly or indirectly,
names, advertises or calls attention to a business product, service
or other commercial activity.
FACADE AREA
The total area of a facade, including walls, windows, doors,
and fixtures below the top of the parapet of a building with a flat
roof, the cornice line of a building with a gambrel, gable or hip
roof, or the upper slope line of a building with a mansard roof, that
faces a public street, pedestrian walkway or mall.
SEARCHLIGHT
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere
or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light
source; also any light with one or more beams that rotate or move
or that creates an illusion of such rotation or movement.
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of two or more commercial establishments planned,
constructed and managed as a total entity and which includes customer
and employee parking on the same site, provision for the delivery
of goods separated from customer access, protection from the elements
and a unified architectural treatment of the building or buildings.
SIGN
Any object, device, display or structure or part thereof,
situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify,
display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution,
organization, business, product, service, event or location by any
means, including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, logos,
fixtures, colors, illumination or projection of images.
SIGN, ANIMATED OR MOVING
Any sign which changes physical position by any movement
or rotation or which gives the visual impression of such movement
or rotation.
SIGN AREA
The surface display area of a sign determined by a computation as set forth in §
318-4.
SIGN, BANNER
A sign which may or may not contain a message, constructed
of cloth, canvas, plastic or other flexible material typically suspended
or hung by cord, string or rope from a structure.
SIGN, CANOPY
A sign that is mounted or painted on or attached to a canopy that is otherwise permitted by Chapter
400, Zoning, of the Code of the Borough of Gibbsboro.
SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY
A sign that is designed so that the message on the sign can
be easily and periodically altered and whose message does not change
more than once a day.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL
Signs limited to directional messages and that do not contain
a commercial message, principally for directing pedestrian and vehicular
traffic, such as "one-way," "entrance," and "exit."
SIGN, DIRECTORY
A sign that lists the tenants in a multiuse building or indicates
the location of buildings and uses in a business or industrial complex.
SIGN, ELECTION
A temporary sign that relates to a particular election for
public office, referendum or other plebiscite at the federal, state
or local level.
SIGN, FACADE
A sign fastened to or painted on the facade of a building
or structure in such manner that the facade becomes the supporting
structure for or forms the background surface of the sign and which
does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
Any sign supported by permanent structures or supports that
are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent
from any building or other structure.
SIGN, INCIDENTAL
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary
to the use of the lot on which it is located, such as "No Parking,"
"Loading Zone," "Telephone" or "Rest Room" or other similar directives
such as the hours of operation. No sign that contains a commercial
message legible from any property line of said lot shall be considered
"incidental."
SIGN, MONUMENT
A freestanding sign consisting of a base and the sign message
area with the base being as wide, or wider, than the sign message
area and with no gap between the two elements.
[Added 6-22-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-10]
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES
A sign containing a commercial message which directs attention
to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold
or offered at a location other than the property on which the sign
is located.
SIGN, PORTABLE
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; menu and 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 such vehicles are used in the normal day-to-day
operation of the business.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE
A sign pertaining to the sale or lease of a property or portion
thereof on which the sign is located.
SIGN, RESIDENTIAL
A sign located in a district zoned for residential purposes
that does not contain any commercial message except for goods or services
legally offered on the premises on which the sign is located.
SIGN, ROOF
A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or which
is wholly dependent upon a building's roof for support and which projects
above the parapet of a building with a flat roof, the cornice line
of a building with a gambrel, gable or hip roof, or the upper slope
line of a building with a mansard roof.
SIGN, VEHICLE
A sign affixed or painted on a vehicle or trailer and parked
at a specific location for a period in excess of 96 hours.
SIGN, WINDOW
A sign that is applied or attached to the interior or exterior
of a window or located in such a manner within a building that it
is legible from the lot line which contains said sign.