Borough of North Arlington, NJ Signs

§ 205-64 General standards.

It is the intent of this section, in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan, to minimize the number and size of signs in the Borough of North Arlington, consistent with safety and convenience requirements.

Signs in all zones shall comply with all applicable county, state and federal sign regulations as well as the following:

(1)

All signs shall be kept in good repair, which shall include replacement or repair of broken or malfunctioning structural elements, casings, faces or lighting elements and the maintenance of legibility. Upon determining that a sign has become structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of the building or the public, the Construction Code Official shall order such sign be made safe or removed. Such order shall be complied with within 10 days of the receipt thereof by the owner of the building or premises on which such unsafe sign is affixed or erected.

(2)

Public service devices such as clocks and temperature indicators shall be devoid of advertising.

(3)

Signs should be compatible with the building's style in terms of location, scale, color and lettering.

(4)

There should be consistent sign design theme throughout a particular project. The design theme would include style of lettering, construction material, a type of pole or standard, size and lighting.

(5)

Color shall be subdued in tone. Contrasting primary colors are not encouraged.

Required signs. All principal buildings in all districts shall be clearly identified as to house or street number or name by means of an unobstructed sign no larger than one square foot, clearly visible and legible from the main and abutting street. Such signs shall not require a construction permit.

Sign permits required.

(1)

No sign shall be placed, constructed, erected or modified unless a sign permit shall have been obtained from the Zoning Officer and, where required by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, a building permit shall have been obtained from the Construction Code Official, except for signs exempted from regulation under this section of this chapter.

(2)

Any application for sign permit shall contain the following information for each existing and proposed sign:

(a)

Sign (i.e., length, height, width, area, thickness).

(b)

Letter style and size.

(c)

Illumination.

(d)

Color (i.e., letter, background, trim).

(e)

Construction, materials, structural integrity and installation details.

(f)

Window size (if applicable).

(g)

Location (i.e., height above grade, distance from roofline, building width, location from sides).

(h)

Comparison of requirements and proposed conditions.

(3)

The sign permit application shall include a sketch or photograph showing the dimensions of each facade, window and canopy of the building to which a sign is to be attached, in sufficient detail to show the location, dimension and area of all existing and proposed permanent signs affixed to the walls, windows and canopies of the building. These dimensions shall either be shown on the sketch or photograph or on an attached table. In the case of a freestanding sign, the Zoning Officer shall require a plot plan of the lot as part of the Master Signage Plan, showing the location of buildings, parking lots, driveways, landscaped areas and all other existing and proposed signs. The applicant shall provide any additional information which may be deemed necessary to determine whether the signage plan complies with the purpose of the sign regulations.

(4)

When installation or modification of a sign has been approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment as part of a development application, the Construction Code Official shall issue a sign permit only if the proposed sign is consistent with the reviewing board's approval.

Signs permitted without permit.

(1)

Directional signs having an area of less than two square feet and located a minimum of five feet from any property line. Directional signs shall not block the line of sight from driveways and roads.

(2)

Information or public service signs, such as those advertising meeting places, dates, temperature, the availability of rest rooms, telephone, or similar public conveniences, provided that such signs do not exceed two square feet in size and do not advertise any commercial establishment, activity, organization, product, goods or services, except those of public utilities. Information signs provided for the guidance and convenience of the public within commercial properties may also be erected.

(3)

Historic tablets, cornerstones, memorial plaques and emblems which do not exceed six square feet in area and which are installed by government agencies or civil or religious organizations.

(4)

Signs which issue warnings or safety messages, such as but not limited to "no hunting," "no trespassing," "beware of dog," "private road," "private driveway," etc., provided that they do not exceed two square feet in area.

(5)

Signs which are an integral part of vending machines, provided that they do not exceed two feet in area.

Measurement of sign area.

(1)

Signs may be double-faced, but the maximum permitted area shall apply to one side only. The area of the sign shall include each and every part of the sign, including moldings and frames. Where the sign is supported by a post or pylon whose surface is being used for advertising purposes, the area of this post or pylon shall be considered as part of the total allowable sign area. Wherever the name or advertising message on a sign is divided between a number of panels or parts, the total area of all the panels and parts shall be considered as one sign. Where a sign consists of individual letters or numbers, the area of the sign shall be considered as the total area of the smallest rectangle or rectangles which can collectively enclose all of the letters or numbers.

(2)

Where a wall sign is permitted, and based on a maximum percentage of the wall area, the wall area shall be measured from ground level to the bottom of the roof eaves from one side of the building to the other.

Nonconforming signs. Any nonconforming permanent sign which can be shown to have lawfully existed on the date of enactment of this chapter may be continued and may be restored, unless the sign has been abandoned.

Abandoned signs. Signs shall be removed by the owner at the owner's expense within ninety days following written notification by the zoning officer for any location where the sign no longer relates to an activity conducted on the site. In the event the sign is not removed within this time period, the Borough may remove the sign at the expense of the property owner and for this purpose the Borough shall have a lien in the amount of the removal cost.

Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited in all zones:

(1)

Any sign which does not advertise a permitted business, use or product sold on the premises, except as may be permitted in Subsection D above or Subsection J below.

(2)

Signs using red, green, blue or amber illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light.

(3)

Signs that rotate, gyrate, blink, move, or appear to move in any fashion.

(4)

Signs attached to the exterior glass of a building.

(5)

Roof signs and signs extending above the wall to which they are attached.

(6)

Permanent marquees extending over the sidewalk beyond the street line.

(7)

Signs posted on fences, posts, utility poles or trees.

(8)

Signs posted on Borough property except where specifically authorized by the Borough.

(9)

Signs installed or painted on sidewalks or curbs.

(10)

Signs on abutments, retaining walls and embankments.

(11)

Signs painted directly on buildings or which obstruct any windows.

(12)

Signs on accessory buildings.

(13)

Signs which constitute a hazard to the traveling public by obstructing driving vision, regulatory or directional signs or signals.

(14)

Pylon signs, except as permitted herein.

(15)

Billboards.

(16)

Automobile, trailer (attached or unattached) or vehicle of any nature bearing signs or advertisements, parked or left stationary for more than 24 hours upon any vacant land or public street.

(17)

All outside lighted signs operating after 1:00 a.m. with the exception of signs in the commercial zones.

(18)

Illuminated signs where the source of light is directly visible from adjoining properties or streets.

(19)

All temporary signs, except as set forth herein.

Temporary signs or banners.

(1)

One temporary sign identifying the architects, engineers, builders, brokers, contractors and others connected with the construction or repair of any building on such lot may be erected or installed without any permit. No such sign shall be displayed beyond the effective date of any certificate of occupancy affecting the premises. Unless affixed to the principal building, such signs shall be set back at least 10 feet from all property lines. Such temporary sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area or five feet in height above ground level.

(2)

One temporary "for sale" or "for rent" sign may be erected or installed without any permit. Such sign shall not exceed an area of six square feet on a tract of less than three acres or 12 square feet on a tract larger than three acres. Such sign shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street line. The "for sale" or "for lease" sign shall be removed within seven days following the completion of the sale or lease transaction.

(3)

Temporary political signs shall be permitted in all zones for a period of two months prior to a primary, general or special election and for one week thereafter. Said signs shall not exceed 12 square feet, and no side or diameter of any sign shall exceed six feet.

§ 205-65 Residential zones.

Only the following types of signs shall be permitted in residential districts:

One sign, with a maximum area of two square feet and a maximum height of eight inches, indicating the name and address of the occupant of any dwelling and/or any professional activity carried out therein. Signs shall be constructed of natural materials (i.e., wood and stone) and the base shall be appropriately landscaped.

Signs identifying the names of schools, colleges, houses of worship and other similar public or semipublic institutions:

(1)

The area of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 24 square feet, and not more than one such sign shall be placed along any street on which such property fronts at least five feet from the curb.

(2)

Not more than one additional sign may be located on the wall of any structure on the site. The area of each such sign shall not exceed 25 square feet or 2% of the area of the wall to which it is affixed, whichever is less.

(3)

Signs designating entrances or exits to or from parking areas shall be limited to one sign with a maximum area of two square feet for each such exit or entrance and located at least five feet from a property line. One additional sign per parking area designating the conditions of use or identity, with a maximum area of six square feet, shall be permitted.

For multifamily dwellings and for buildings other than dwellings, a single identification sign not exceeding 12 square feet in area and indicating only the name and address of the building and the name of the management may be displayed, provided that on a corner lot two such signs (one facing each street) shall be permitted.

Any sign erected by the Borough, county, state or federal government.

Signs used for the protection of the public during construction or repairs.

§ 205-66 Commercial zones.

The following sign standards shall apply to all properties in the C-1, C-2 and C-3 Zones:

General standards.

(1)

No more than two signs, each of a different type, shall be permitted per property, with a maximum letter size of six inches.

(2)

Colors used for the sign shall match either the background or the trim color of the structure it serves, with no more than three colors used on one sign. When more than one sign is used, the colors on the signs shall be coordinated with each other to present a unified image. No fluorescent colors shall be permitted.

Freestanding signs.

(1)

Freestanding signs must be located in the front yard area and may be located on the property line but not in the street right-of-way.

(2)

The maximum size of the sign face shall be 15 square feet if the building is set back at least 15 feet from the right-of-way and 30 square feet if the building is set back at least 75 feet from the right-of-way.

(3)

The maximum height of the sign shall not exceed seven feet if the building is set back at least 15 feet from the right-of-way and 15 feet if the building is set back at least 75 feet from the right-of-way.

Wall signs.

(1)

Wall signs shall be located on the lintel of commercial buildings, which extends horizontally across the top of the store front. No wall sign shall obscure important architectural details of the building.

(2)

Wall signs on residential buildings which have been converted to commercial uses shall be located at the entrance to the building between the windows and door and shall not exceed four square feet and be in proportion to the space between the window and door.

(3)

For buildings originally built for commercial use, the sign size shall be restricted to an area not more than five percent of the wall area, or 30 square feet, whichever is less

(4)

Where a building has a permanent canopy or marquee or has a moving awning, a canopy sign may be placed on the facade of the canopy, marquee or awing, provided that the maximum height of the sign is six inches and that no part of said sign extends three inches beyond the front edge of the canopy, marquee or awning. The bottom of the awning, canopy and marquee shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk.

Window signs.

(1)

Window signs shall be limited to the name and function of the business.

(2)

Permanent window signs shall be limited to 25% of the total glass area of the building front, but shall not exceed a maximum of four square feet.

(3)

Temporary window advertising signs shall be permitted to advertise temporary sales, products and prices. These signs shall be limited to 25% of the total glass area of the window in which the sign is located and are limited to a two-week time period.

§ 205-67 Industrial zones.

The following standards shall apply to all properties in the I-1 Zone district:

Freestanding signs.

(1)

Single-tenant buildings.

(a)

One freestanding sign per road frontage shall be permitted.

(b)

The area of such sign(s) shall not exceed 1.5 square feet for each lineal foot of the front of the building or 30 square feet, whichever is less.

(c)

The height of such sign(s) shall not exceed six feet.

(d)