[Amended 2-27-1986 by Ord. No. 0-2-86; 2-23-1995 by Ord. No.
0-2-95; 2-27-1997 by Ord. No. 0-1-97(R); 8-26-2004 by Ord. No.
0-9-04;3-28-2005 by Ord. No. 105-2005]
The purpose of these sign regulations is to
preserve the public health, welfare and/or safety within the Township
of River Vale by the following:
A.
Promotion of safety on the Township's highways and
roadways:
(1)
Establishment of a clear and orderly pattern
of signs that are appropriately designed to be compatible and not
competitive with other signs.
(2)
Reduction of obstructions, distractions and
other conditions which cause confusion or otherwise threaten to compromise
pedestrian and vehicular safety.
(3)
Promotion or ready identification of governmental
and institutional sites and events.
(4)
Coordination of signs with prevailing speed
limits and roadway conditions.
B.
Promotion and protection of the Township's visual
resources by:
(1)
Creation of a pleasing streetscape.
(2)
Encouragement of artistic, creative, expressive
and distinctive signage of appeal and quality appropriate to the respective
environs.
(3)
Encouragement of signage compatible and reflective
of desirable architectural buildings and features.
(4)
Eradication and prevention of visual clutter
caused by the competitive proliferation of signs, disorderly placement,
excessive height, size and illumination and redundancy.
C.
Promotion of commerce in River Vale by:
(1)
Affording each Township profession, business,
industry and service a fair and protected opportunity to communicate,
identify and safely and effectively direct traffic to its site by
means which are expressive of identity and appropriate to the nature
of the enterprise and the surroundings.
(2)
Creating a distinctive commercial environment
which attracts business because of a heightened visual quality and
image.
For the purposes of this Part 9, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section.
A roof-like cover made of nylon, canvas or other such material
or fabric that is attached to and projects from the wall of a building,
which may also be for the purpose of shielding a doorway or window
from the elements.
A temporary paper, plastic or cloth device hung to attract
attention to a business or special event.
A billboard advertising copy design element that protrudes
beyond the confines of a billboard sign face area.
The Building Inspector of the Township or his/her designee.
The Construction Official of the Township or his/her designee
or other authorized agency.
A sign whose alphabetic, graphic or symbolic informational
content can be changed or altered on a fixed display surface, composed
of electrically illuminated or mechanically driven changeable segments
either by means of preprogramming or by computer-driven electronic
impulses.
To build, construct, reconstruct, attach, hang, rehang, alter,
place, affix, enlarge, move or relocate.
Any fabric or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns
or symbols.
Any flag of the United States, the State of New Jersey, the
County of Bergen, the Township of River Vale or any other governmental
unit or recognized nonprofit organization.
Any flag that displays only a registered trademark, logo,
corporate name or any combination of the former three. No other wording
or display of any kind shall be considered a trademark flag.
The side of a lot abutting a street; the front lot line.
On lots with multiple street fronts, the frontage shall include the
length of the lot abutting all such streets.
The offering for sale of multiple items of personal property
on property designed, used or intended as a residence.
Any business that dispenses, or is designed, used or intended
to dispense, gasoline and oil for use in motor vehicles and boats.
A freestanding structure located on the same premises as
a gasoline service station affording protection from the elements
to persons or property there under.
A monument sign base that rests directly on the ground designed
as a support unit, architectural unit or decorative design element.
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, designs, symbols, fixtures,
colors, illumination or projected images, but excluding the American
flag or other governmental flags, athletic scoreboards on school premises
or official announcements and signs of government.
A sign that, after a period of 30 days, no longer correctly
directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bona fide business, lessor,
owner project or activity conducted or product available on the premises
where such sign is displayed.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than
upon the same lot on which the sign is located.
Any sign that includes action or motion, or any changes in
physical position of its whole or parts or a change in light intensity
by rotation or movement.
The total sign area shall be measured as below.
A sign that is painted, mounted or otherwise permanently
affixed to an awning.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered upon the premises
where the sign is located.
Any sign designed to allow the sign copy to be changed or
altered without undertaking a physical alteration to the sign (such
as changing sign panels or repainting the sign), i.e., through the
use of movable letters, electronic displays, interchangeable parts
or other means. Changeable copy does not include copy pertaining to
the business, occupation or tenant advertised or identified.
A temporary sign used during the construction of new buildings
or reconstruction of or additions to existing buildings, which identifies
the project or future use of a site and provides information denoting
the owner, architect, engineer, contractor, financing institutions
or similar individuals or firms having a role or interest in the project.
The wording or graphics on a sign surface.
A freestanding sign (e.g., A-frame, sandwich boards) that
is displayed during hours in which a business is open and removed
during hours in which a business is closed.
A sign that is limited to directional messages principally
for vehicular or pedestrian traffic or other movement.
A sign listing the tenants or occupants of a building or
group of buildings that may indicate their respective professions
or business activities and containing two or more names within a single
sign.
A sign displaying food, beverages or other services, offered
for sale at a business with drive-through service, and located adjacent
to the drive-through lane on the premises upon which such service
is offered.
Any sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting by
lights outside such sign.
See "sign area."
Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light
source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing
light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent
light source. Automatic changing signs such as public service time,
temperature and date signs or electronically controlled message centers
are not defined as "flashing signs."
A sign which flutters or is made of flexible materials which
moves with the wind or by some other artificial means, including,
but not limited to, pennants, banners, balloons, spinning devices,
streamers and flags other than official and trademark flags.
Any sign supported by structures or supports that is placed
on, or anchored in, the ground and that is independent from any building
or other structure, but excluding monument signs.
A sign posted on a residential lot on which the garage sale
is to be held.
A sign containing thereon the price per gallon of gasoline
or diesel fuel sold at said station.
A sign advertising the employment opportunities of a business.
Any sign that is illuminated by light source mounted on or
in the sign or at some other location.
A sign that gives parking, building address, fire protection,
traffic flow (other than directional signs), height clearance, pedestrian
or other similar information and that does not advertise a business
or use located on the lot or parcel.
A sign that identifies or describes the services or functions
of premises or facilities used, maintained or owned by any not-for-profit
educational institution, church, religious society, fraternal organization,
public utility, hospital or any other similar organization.
Any sign lighted by or exposed to artificial fighting by
lights within such sign.
The permanent part of a building that denotes the name of
the building, date of erection, historical significance, dedication
or other similar information.
Any detached sign on the same lot or parcel as the use it
advertises which has its bottom portion attached to a proportionate
base or plinth, integrated ground planter box or structural frame.
An illuminated sign, typically constructed of a glass discharge
tube that has been shaped to form letters or symbols, and which contains
a gas or vapor (typically neon or mercury) that emits light when voltage
is applied across electrodes at either end of the tube.
A wall sign identifying the name of a person occupying a
building and mounted adjacent to the main entrance of the building.
A temporary sign advocating or opposing any political proposition
or candidate for public office.
A sign that is not permanently affixed to a building or structure,
or the ground, and that may be readily moved or relocated.
A sign directing attention to the office of a recognized
profession located on the same lot.
Any sign which is created or displayed by the projection
of lights or illuminating sources through a screen, transparency,
filter or otherwise that projects onto a surface.
Any sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building
for support and projects more than 14 inches from such building.
Any sign erected on or above a roof, excluding wall signs.
The generally vertical plane of a mansard-type roof shall be interpreted
as the same as a wall of a building.
Any sign intended for a limited or intermittent period of
display.
Any painted sign, letter, word, model, device or representation
that may be affixed to the front, side or rear wall of any building
and in the same plane as the face of the wall, and which does not
project more than 12 inches from that wall.
A sign internally or externally affixed on a window or glass
door or located inside the window which is designed or intended to
be visible from the exterior of the building.
Signs or an assemblage of materials used for holidays or
promotion of civil welfare or charitable purposes.
See "frontage."
The Township of River Vale.
A.
Any sign which lawfully existed on the effective date
of this article or an amendment thereto which renders such sign nonconforming
because it does not conform to all of the standards and regulations
of the adopted or amended article shall be considered a legally nonconforming
sign.
B.
Any sign which was erected unlawfully prior to the
adoption of this article or amendment thereto, or which is erected
hereafter in contravention of the standards or regulations of this
article without obtaining the required permits or variances, shall
be considered an illegal nonconforming sign.
C.
Loss of legally nonconforming status. A legally nonconforming
sign shall immediately lose its legal nonconforming status if:
(1)
The sign is altered in any way in structure
which tends to or makes the sign less in compliance with the requirement
of this Part 9 than it was before the alteration.
(2)
The sign structure is relocated to a position making it less in compliance with the requirements of this Part 9, except that any such sign which is hereafter required to be moved by a governmental body for the purpose of construction, relocation, widening or improvement of a street, highway or other public purpose may be relocated once on the same lot and allowed to be maintained and used as before. Such a sign, once relocated, is still considered a legally nonconforming sign and bound by this section.
(3)
The sign (except for copy on a changeable copy
sign) is replaced.
(4)
Should any nonconforming sign be damaged by any means, other than vandalism, to the extent of over 60% of its surface area or structure, it shall not be reconstructed except in conformance with the requirements of this article. Nonconforming signs which are damaged by vandalism to the extent of over 60% of their physical value shall be restored within 60 days or removed or brought into compliance with the provisions of this Part 9.
D.
If any existing sign is repainted or the sign panels
are replaced for the purpose of changing the business, occupation
or tenant advertised or identified, it shall be considered a new sign
and shall be brought into compliance with this Part 9. Ordinary maintenance
or repair of an existing sign to a safe condition shall not be cause
to classify the sign as a new sign.
A.
Unless specifically exempted by the provisions of
this Part 9, all signs shall obtain a permit from the Construction
Official.
B.
Inspections. Following the erection of a sign or signs
for which a permit was required and obtained, the Construction Official
shall inspect a sign or signs after erection is completed for compliance
with this Part 9. All other necessary permits, such as electrical
permits, shall be obtained and inspections shall be performed as applicable.
C.
Sign removal.
(1)
Except for signs which are legally nonconforming
or which are exempt from obtaining a permit, the Construction Official
may take the necessary steps to remove those signs which:
(2)
If any sign is deemed to require removal under
the provisions of this Part 9, the Construction Official shall order
it removed, and the owner or operator of the signage or of the establishment
the signage is serving shall be notified of the violation and be given
30 days in which to correct the violation. If the order is not complied
with, the Construction Official shall have it removed at the expense
of the person responsible for the erection or maintenance of the sign,
and in the event that all cost associated with the Township having
such sign removed is not recovered from the responsible party. Said
cost shall become an assessment and a lien on the property; such lien
to be certified by the Tax Assessor of the Township of River Vale.
(3)
The Construction Official is authorized to go
upon any premises in the Township for purposes of removing signs under
the provisions of this section. Signs removed by the Construction
Official shall be retained for the owner's account for a period of
60 days and shall be returned to the owner upon payment of the expenses
of removal. If not claimed within that time, they shall become the
property of the Township and may be destroyed or sold for the payment
of the expense of removal. If sold, any excess from the proceeds of
the sale shall be returned to the owner. In addition, the Township
shall in no way be held financially responsible for any damages that
may be incurred as a result of said removal.
D.
Violations; penalty. Any person violating this article
or any of its provisions shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine
of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than five days,
or both. Each day and instance of violation shall constitute a separate
offense, and at the discretion of the Construction Official a summons
may be issued for each separate offense.
A.
Permit required. Unless otherwise provided for, it
shall be unlawful for any person to erect any sign without first obtaining
a permit from the Construction Official and making payment of the
fee as herein required.
(1)
Application for a permit for a permitted sign
conforming to the regulations set forth herein shall be made in writing
to the Construction Official. Such application shall be sufficient
to describe the site and location in which the sign is to be affixed
and shall include at a minimum the following:
(2)
Applications for permits shall be submitted
and accompanied by two sets of plans showing proposed copy of sign
with location, sign area, construction details, materials and illumination
details, and existing sign locations and sizes, if any. In addition,
plans for monument signs shall include the length of street frontage
(and street facings, if applicable), in linear feet, and plans for
wall signs shall include building elevation with height and width
dimensions shown for the face of the building that the sign is proposed
to be installed upon.
(3)
All illuminated signs shall be subject to the
provisions of the Electric Code and permit fees required thereunder.
(4)
Any permit issued will expire in six months
if construction is not completed or an extension has not been granted.
(5)
Application for a permit for a sign which does
not comply with the provisions of this article shall be submitted
to the Joint Planning Board, unless the sign is part of a development
for which a site plan is required, in which case the application shall
be submitted to the Joint Planning Board. Such application shall be
in writing, and where a noticed public hearing is required by law,
shall be submitted at least 10 days before the succeeding public meeting
date of the Board, together with a filing fee required by the Township.
Such application shall be in triplicate and accompanied by no less
than 15 copies of the sign design which shall be drawn to scale. In
addition, on such drawing or separate sheet, the information set forth
herein shall be provided, as normally required by the Board.
(6)
Issuance of permit.
(a)
A permit shall be issued by the Construction
Official upon the favorable action of the approving authority, subject
to any other applicable governmental regulations, or as otherwise
provided herein.
(b)
A permit for the replacement of an existing
sign may be issued by the Construction Official without the necessity
of Board approval only upon satisfaction of all of the following conditions:
[1]
There is no physical alteration or expansion
to the existing sign beyond the limit permitted herein and previously
approved.
[2]
The sign conforms in all respects to the article
provisions specified herein or was previously the recipient of a variance
approval.
[3]
No other signage is proposed to be added to
the premises beyond that which is permitted herein.
[4]
The applicant shall notify the Construction
Official for a final inspection within five days of completion of
the installation of the sign.
B.
Right of appeal. Anyone denied a permit for a sign
under the provisions of this Part 9, or who has been ordered by the
Township to remove any existing sign, may appeal to the Joint Planning
Board. Owners or operators of signage under appeal are not exempt
from being issued violation citations.
C.
Fees. A flat fee of $50 per sign permit will be charged
and collected by the Construction Official upon filing of the application.
D.
Exemptions.
(1)
The following signs shall be exempt from permits
and fees:
(a)
Signs relative to the sale, lease or rental
of property erected on the offered property as follows:
[1]
Residential zones: A maximum of one not exceeding
six square feet in outline area per facing for single-family residences
or 12 square feet in outline area per facing for other uses and providing
sign does not exceed six feet in height from grade to the highest
point on the sign.
[2]
Commercial zones: A maximum of one per street
frontage, provided each sign has a maximum of 10 square feet in outline
area per facing and providing such signs do not exceed six feet in
height from the surrounding grade to the highest point on the sign.
(b)
Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings
and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed
of bronze or other incombustible materials.
(c)
Signs erected inside a building not visible
through windows.
(d)
Trespassing or privacy signs. Signs which prohibit
trespassing, or indicate privacy of premises, driveways or streets,
not exceeding two feet in size per side nor a height of six feet from
grade.
(e)
Help wanted signs. One sign advertising employment
opportunities, located on the lot or parcel of the business advertising
employment opportunities and not larger than one square foot.
(f)
Open/closed signs and signs indicating business
hours. Such signs shall not exceed one square foot and shall contain
no other information than that necessary to highlight business hours
and the open/closed status of a business.
(g)
Customary holiday decorations displayed for
a normal duration.
(h)
Residential nameplates.
(i)
Traffic control signs, the face of which meets
the standards of the Department of Transportation and which contains
no commercial message.
(j)
Directional and informational signs for nonresidential
uses, provided the area of such sign is not more than three square
feet, and provided the number of such signs on site is limited to
that which is reasonably necessary and appropriate for safety, circulation,
information or other noncommercial purposes. Such directional or informational
signs shall not contain advertising, logo, symbols, business identification
or other nondirectional copy.
(k)
Signs for official governmental or quasi-governmental
business, including signs or banners advertising public or quasi-public
events that are posted or displayed with the permission of the governing
body or its designee(s).
(l)
Flags of the United States, State of New Jersey,
the Township of River Vale and foreign, provided that no such flag
shall exceed 60 square feet in area, nor shall any such flag be flown
from a pole in excess of 35 feet in height. The flag's area shall
be in reasonable proportion to the height of the pole from which it
is displayed. Not more than three flags may be flown from any one
pole. Statutory requirements associated with flags and the generally
accepted standards of flag display protocol shall be observed.
(m)
Flags honoring and remembering military and
service men and women of the United States.
(n)
Public safety signs.
(o)
Identification signs displayed by houses of
worship.
(p)
Any public notice or warning or safety sign
required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation
or ordinance.
(q)
Pump-mounted fuel price informational signs
subject to the following:
[1]
Only one fuel price informational sign shall
be permitted per fuel pump; each such sign shall be limited in size
to an area of 260 square inches; each such sign shall be affixed directly
and firmly to a fuel pump and shall be stationary.
(r)
Regulation mailboxes of the United States Postal
Service.
(2)
The following signs shall be exempt from fees.
Sign permits shall be required.
(a)
Banners or signs of the United States, the State
of New Jersey, the County of Bergen, the River Vale School District,
the River Vale Volunteer Fire Department or any other governmental
unit affixed to utility poles, provided approvals are received from
the utilities and governmental units having jurisdiction over the
poles and adjacent rights-of-way respectively.
(b)
Building construction information signs, identifying
the architect, engineer, contractor or institution providing financing,
when placed upon a worksite under construction, only after a building
permit for the construction has been issued. Each individual building
will be allowed one building construction information sign, not to
exceed 24 square feet in outline area per facing. The sign shall be
set back 10 feet from any property line. The maximum height of such
signage shall not exceed 15 feet in height above the average existing
finished grade elevation of the sign or the elevation of the adjacent
street, whichever is higher. Such signage shall be removed within
10 days after the issuance of an occupancy permit.
(3)
Occupational/identification/professional signs.
One wall sign or one window sign not exceeding two square feet in
size displaying the name, occupation and/or service located upon the
premises and the address. Such sign shall not be internally illuminated.
External illumination may be utilized, provided such illumination
is turned off when the office is closed for business. No other signage
shall be permitted for any home professional office or home occupation.
E.
Revocation. The Construction Official may revoke any
sign permit which violates any provision of this Part 9 or which has
been secured by subterfuge, or is void, or which has been issued by
mistake, misunderstanding or error of the Township.
A.
Computation of sign area and sign height. The following
principles shall control the computation of sign area and height:
(1)
Computation of area of individual signs. The
area of a sign face shall be computed by means of the smallest square,
rectangle, circle, triangle or combination thereof that will encompass
the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, picture,
symbol, graphic illustration or other display, together with the sign
frame and any material or color forming an integral part of the background
of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop
or structure against which it is placed; or by delineating the area
established by reason of distinctive variation in background color
or by borders, whichever is greater.
(2)
Computation of area of multifaced signs. The
sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by
adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point.
When two identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both
faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such
sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than
42 inches apart at any point, the sign area shall be computed by the
measurement of one of the faces.
(3)
Computation of height. The height of a sign
shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at grade
to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Grade shall
be construed to be the newly established grade after construction.
B.
Prohibited signs generally. No person shall construct,
erect, locate, use or maintain any of the following signs within any
zone district of the Township, except as otherwise permitted elsewhere
in this Part 9, or unless the sign has been certified to be a legal
nonconforming sign by the Construction Official or has obtained a
variance for such sign:
(1)
Any new sign erected in violation of any section of this Part 9. Any sign not specifically permitted is hereby prohibited.
(2)
Signs emitting a sound, odor or visible matter
such as smoke or vapor. No sign erected shall contain audio equipment.
(3)
Exterior use of advertising devices such as
banners, streamers, pennants, flags, and balloons, lights (whether
flashing, flickering, blinking or rotating), wind-operated devices
and any other type of fluttering or flashing devices, or emitting
an unsteady or glaring light.
(4)
Signs placed or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers
which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private
property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the
apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business
or activity located on the same or nearby property. However, this
is not in any way intended to prohibit signs placed on or affixed
to vehicles and trailers, such as permanent lettering on motor vehicles,
where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or
trailer.
(5)
Animated signs and mechanical contrivances.
No sign erected shall contain flashers, animators or mechanical movement
or contrivances of any kind, excepting clocks and time and weather
information.
(6)
Paper posters and painted signs applied directly
to a tree, rock or natural feature of any kind or to a wall of a building,
fence or pole or other support.
(7)
Signs painted or otherwise affixed on the inside
or outside of automobile windows except for pricing information associated
with the sale of new and used cars, and only when such vehicles are
located on the premises of an establishment which has been approved
for such use.
(8)
Portable or movable signs, such as sandwich
signs, except as provided for in this Part 9.
(9)
Signs advertising an article or product not
manufactured, assembled, processed, repaired, serviced or sold upon
the premises upon which the sign is located.
(10)
Revolving signs of any type, including searchlights.
(11)
Neon signs of any kind, whether located on the
exterior or interior of a wall or window if visible from the street
upon which the premises fronts.
(12)
Signs on parking lot light standards not relating
to traffic control.
(13)
Signs within the public street right-of-way
(other than public notices and unless otherwise allowed in this Part
9).
(14)
Signs that are in such a state of disrepair
as to constitute an immediate threat to the public health, welfare
and safety.
(15)
Business signs for businesses which are discontinued
for a period in excess of 30 days.
(16)
Signs or other advertising structures, as regulated by this Part 9, erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, cause optical illusion or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of words, phrases, symbols or characters in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(17)
Roof signs.
(18)
Any sign not in compliance with the Township
Building or Electrical Codes, as amended, as to design, structural
members and connections.
(19)
Pole signs, except as otherwise provided for
in this Part 9.
(20)
Electronic message centers, except as used to
display time and weather information.
(21)
Billboard or billboard signs.
(22)
Any sign located or displayed upon any sidewalk
or street or area between the sidewalk and curb, or projecting on
or over a sidewalk or street, except as provided in this Part 9.
(23)
Signs erected or painted or composed of day-glo
or phosphorescent or similar material.
(24)
Hand-lettered interior window signs.
(25)
Exhibiting statements, words, pictures or images
of an obscene or pornographic nature.
(26)
Signs attached to, projecting from or hanging
underneath a building eave.
(27)
Signs which are internally illuminated.
(28)
Signs which are created, maintained or exist
as signs which are projected by or through illumination.
C.
Standards generally.
(1)
No sign may be erected or maintained so as to
obstruct free ingress or egress to building openings, driveways, sidewalks
or other passageways.
(2)
Illumination.
(a)
No sign shall be illuminated other than by external
illumination and except as provided herein.
(b)
All light shall be designated to minimize glare,
and light levels off site from sign lights shall be less than 0.1
footcandles.
(c)
Flashing signs, highly reflective glass or fluorescent
paint (red or green) and illuminated tubing outlining roofs, doors,
windows or wall edges of a building are prohibited.
(d)
Any permitted sign may be illuminated 1/2 hour
before and after closing. No sign within 150 feet of any residential
zone shall be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00
a.m. unless the business is open during these hours.
(e)
The Township of River Vale encourages illumination
of signs from external sources, provided glare is minimized. Wherever
it is impractical to provide such a source of illumination, only as
specifically permitted by this article, and if a variance is granted
by the Joint Planning Board, internally illuminated signs may be permitted.
Light sources from internally illuminated signs shall not be visible
from outside the sign, and the light from the light source shall be
diffused to eliminate hot spots. Light sources shall be protected
from damage. Light levels at property lines shall be less than 0.1
footcandles.
(f)
The Township of River Vale encourages signs
which are carved wood or resembling carved wood of man-made materials,
of appropriate colors and excluding red and yellow, and are externally
illuminated.
(3)
Every sign in the Township, including signs
exempted from obtaining a sign permit, shall be maintained in good
repair and good structural condition at all times, including painted
or otherwise finished surfaces, as well as all parts and supports
which must be maintained in their design condition and position. Broken
parts of signs must be replaced or repaired within 15 days of notification
by the Construction Official and in such a manner as to maintain the
appearance and structure of the sign as it was approved for installation.
(4)
The Construction Official shall have the authority
to order the painting, repair, alteration or removal of signs which
have not been properly maintained or repaired or which have become
dilapidated or are abandoned or which constitute a hazard to public
safety.
(5)
Signs of an obscene or pornographic nature shall
be unlawful. The Construction Official shall order the immediate removal
of such signs.
(6)
No permanent signage, other than allowable temporary
window signs, shall be constructed of paper, nylon, fabric or any
other type of nondurable material.
D.
Signs in residential zone districts. The following
signs are allowable in residential zoning districts:
(1)
Signs relative to the sale, lease or rental
of property erected on the offered property. A maximum of one sign,
not exceeding six square feet in outline area per facing for single-
or two-family residences, or 10 square feet in outline area per facing
for other uses. No sign shall exceed six feet in height from grade
to the highest point on the sign. Such signs shall be removed within
14 days of completion of the sale, lease or rental of property. This
includes the posting of such property as sold, leased, or rented.
(2)
Institutional signs and other signs for churches,
schools, fraternal organizations and other nonprofit organizations.
Such institutions shall be permitted one institutional monument sign
and one institutional wall sign pursuant to the following requirements:
(a)
Institutional monument signs. One monument sign
per lot, not exceeding six feet in height from grade to the highest
point on the sign. The bottom of the sign face shall not exceed a
height of three feet above the surrounding grade at the base of the
sign. No monument sign shall be located any closer than 10 feet to
any property line, except that no monument sign shall be located closer
than 25 feet to any residentially utilized lot. No institutional monument
sign shall exceed 18 square feet in outline area per face.
(b)
Institutional wall signs. One wall sign not
exceeding one square foot per 10 linear feet of street frontage of
the total square footage of the building face upon which it is placed
having street frontage. In no case shall the sign area exceed 24 square
feet. In those cases where a parcel or lot has more than one street
frontage, one wall sign may be placed on each street frontage. Wall
signs shall be face-mounted on the building/structure, projecting
not more than 14 inches from the face of the building. Such signs
shall not project above the parapet wall, mansard or other roofline,
shall be recessed where involving a pitched roof location and shall
be located so as to not create a safety or traffic hazard.
(3)
Construction information signs. One construction
information sign not to exceed 24 square feet in outline area per
facing. The maximum height of such signage shall not exceed 15 feet
in height above the average existing finished grade elevation of the
sign or the elevation of the adjacent street, whichever is higher.
Such signage shall be removed within 30 days after the last lot or
building is sold within the development.
(4)
Political signs.
(5)
Residential subdivision identification signs.
One permanent subdivision identification sign not exceeding 24 square
feet in size per face inclusive of any logo shall be allowed per development.
Where the development has access on two or more streets, or has more
than one entrance on one street, identification shall be allowed at
each entrance. Subdivision identification signs shall not exceed eight
feet above the adjacent ground surface.
(6)
Multifamily identification signs. One sign not
more than one square foot for each 10 linear feet of street frontage,
but in no case to exceed 32 square feet in size per face shall be
allowed per multifamily development project except where the project
fronts on two or more streets. One sign shall be permitted on each
frontage, provided that the project has a major traffic entrance on
the street where the sign is to be erected. Multifamily identification
signs shall not exceed eight feet above grade.
(7)
Temporary residential garage sale signs not
to exceed six square feet in area nor a height in excess of eight
feet from the ground and located upon the premises where the sale
is taking place, only after issuance of a permit allowing such garage
sale. Such sign shall only be displayed for one week prior to such
sale and shall be removed within 24 hours after the sale is closed.
(8)
Special displays. Such displays shall not exceed
32 square feet and shall be used for holidays or promotion of civil
welfare or charitable purposes.
(9)
Signs for home occupations or home professional
offices.
E.
Signs in nonresidential zone districts.
(1)
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted for all
business, office, industrial or commercial establishments.
(a)
Wall-mounted signs for establishments with a
single tenant shall comply with the following:
[1]
One wall sign may be placed along the street
frontage, provided it does not exceed 10% of the total surface area
of the building face upon which it is placed or 32 square feet, whichever
is lesser.
[2]
In those cases where a parcel or lot has more
than one street frontage, one wall sign may be placed on each street
frontage, provided such wall sign shall not exceed 10% of the total
surface area of the building face upon which it is placed or 24 square
feet, whichever is lesser.
[3]
Wall signs shall be face-mounted on the building/structure,
projecting not more than 14 inches from the face of the building nor
above the first floor of the building. Such signs shall not project
above the parapet wall, mansard or other roofline and shall be located
so as to not create a safety or traffic hazard.
(b)
Wall-mounted signs for buildings or establishments
with multiple tenants shall comply with the following:
[1]
For buildings and property containing more than
one business or tenant, and where each business tenant occupies a
physically distinct ground floor space or has a separate ground floor
entrance, each business or tenant may have one wall sign conforming
to the requirements of this section. For the purposes of determining
the sign area permitted, only the face of each respective lease unit
to which the respective sign will be attached shall be counted. Each
sign must be attached to the leased unit containing the business tenant
identified.
(2)
Monument signs. Monument signs are permitted
in commercial districts only. Monument signs shall comply with the
following:
(a)
One monument sign, not exceeding four feet in
height from grade to the highest point on the sign, shall be permitted.
(b)
The bottom of the sign face shall not exceed
a height of 1 1/2 feet above grade at the base of the sign.
(c)
No monument sign shall be located any closer
than five feet to a front property line nor 10 feet to any other property
line, except that no monument sign shall be located closer than 25
feet to any residentially utilized lot.
(d)
A maximum sign area, in square feet, equal to
one square foot in size for every 10 feet of linear street frontage,
shall be permitted subject to a maximum area of 24 square feet.
(3)
Window signs. Window advertising signs shall
be prohibited in all districts, with the exception of permitted ground
level retail and personal service business uses and eating and drinking
establishments, subject to the following conditions:
[Amended 4-24-2006 by Ord. No. 149-2006]
(a)
Information on such signs shall be limited to
advertisements for special promotions, temporary sales and other such
similar nonpermanent sales promotions related to the relevant business.
An exception shall be granted for restaurants, which may post one
menu not larger than two square feet in size.
(b)
Such signs may be constructed of paper, cardboard
or other such written, numerical, graphic or photographic material
or information displayed in the window of such establishment.
(c)
Such signs shall be contained entirely within
the ground level interior of the building in which the business is
located.
(d)
The maximum total area of such signs shall not
exceed 25% of the total area of the ground level windows, including
window portions of doors, fronting on public streets. (Seventy-five
percent of the window area shall be open without merchandise displayed
so as to obstruct visibility through the glass at an elevation of
six feet above grade from inside or outside the space.)
(e)
Such signs shall be maintained in an orderly
manner at all times; no such sign shall be added, torn or improperly
kept.
(4)
Directory signs.
(a)
Directory signs in these districts shall be
permitted as follows: For office and mixed use commercial buildings
with two or more businesses or tenants, a directory sign may be used
subject to the following provisions:
[1]
Buildings containing less than 50,000 square
feet and more than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area may have
one directory sign containing a maximum of 20 square feet of sign
area. Buildings containing more than 50,000 square feet but less than
150,000 square feet of gross floor area may have one directory sign
containing a maximum of 40 square feet of sign area.
[2]
Directory signs shall be either a monument sign
or wall sign. The maximum height for a directory sign shall be eight
feet from the surrounding grade to the highest point on the sign.
[3]
No directory sign shall be located any closer
than 10 feet to any property line, except that no directory sign shall
be located any closer than 25 feet to any residentially utilized lot.
(b)
Directory signs for office, mixed use or commercial
buildings shall be limited to one wall-mounted directory sign not
exceeding six square feet in size and no higher than 12 feet above
surrounding grade, in addition to permitted wall.
(5)
Gasoline service station signs.
(6)
Signs on secondary entrances. Each building
or property may have one additional wall sign or directory sign conforming
to the requirements of this section on walls containing a main entrance
that faces customer parking areas and are not visible from either
a public or private street. The content of such sign shall be limited
to the name(s) of the business(es). Such signs shall be attached to
the same wall as their respective entrances, and both the signs and
the entrances must be upon the same plane of the building.
F.
Standards for specific uses.
(1)
Gasoline service station signs. In addition
to the signage allowed, the following signs shall be allowed for gasoline
service stations:
(a)
Freestanding sign.
[1]
A maximum of one freestanding sign, consisting
of a monument sign, is permitted.
[2]
The maximum sign area of a monument sign, including
the sign frame, shall not exceed 80 square feet, inclusive of gasoline
service station price sign. Such sign shall not be separated from
the gasoline price sign but shall appear as a single integrated sign.
[3]
The maximum sign area of a monument sign, including
the frame, shall not exceed 50 square feet, inclusive of gasoline
service station price sign.
[4]
A monument sign shall not exceed six feet in
height and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any property
line.
(b)
Gasoline service station canopy signs.
[1]
A gasoline service station with a canopy shall
be permitted two canopy signs in total.
[2]
The canopy sign or signs shall collectively
not exceed 20 square feet in area.
[3]
The canopy sign shall be a flat sign permanently
affixed to the vertical face of the canopy and shall not project above
or below or from any side of the vertical face of the canopy.
[4]
The canopy sign may be illuminated by internal
and nonintermittent light sources.
[5]
A business logo, inclusive of striping or other
symbols, may appear on this canopy sign as part of the allowable sign
area. Any striped area of the canopy shall be counted towards the
permissible area of the sign.
(c)
Pump signs.
[1]
Signs shall be allowed on gasoline pumps so
as to provide the required information to the public regarding octane
rating, price, type of fuel, federal and state stamps, pump use directions
and "no smoking."
[2]
The trade name and any associated symbols shall
be permitted on the sides of the pumps as flat signs located no more
than three feet above the ground and not to exceed one square foot
in sign area per pump.
[3]
"Self-service," "full-service" or other information
signs may identify each pump island on the gasoline service station
property. The location of such signs shall be limited to the gasoline
pump or the canopy support located at each end of the pump island
or between the canopy supports as a spandrel panel.
[4]
A maximum of two such signs shall be allowed
per pump island, and each sign shall not exceed two square feet in
sign area when placed on the gasoline pump or when located at each
end of the pump island or between the canopy supports as a spandrel
panel.
(d)
Gasoline service station price signs. Gasoline
service station price information may be incorporated into a monument
sign or mounted on a pole sign, provided that the total area of the
price sign not exceed 20 square feet in area.
G.
Standards for other signs.
(1)
Political campaign signs.
(a)
At no time whatsoever may political campaign
signs or stickers of any type or size be affixed in any way to utility
poles, traffic signs, traffic signal boxes or poles, mailboxes, fire
hydrants or any public fixtures, or be placed in any way on highway
dividers, islands or overpasses or above (across) streets or highways
or on any public property.
(b)
No political campaign sign shall be erected
or posted on private property without the express written consent
of the owner of the property, who shall then be responsible for compliance
with this section.
(c)
Individual, freestanding billboard-type political
campaign signs shall be permitted. Such signs may not obstruct traffic
or sign lines. At no time whatsoever may political campaign signs
of any type or size be lighted or be made of any reflecting materials.
(d)
No political signs of any type or size shall
be erected or posted earlier than 90 days before any election, nor
shall any such signs remain longer than 10 days after such election.
(e)
Removal of political signs.
[1]
Every political campaign sign, billboard, poster
or structure erected for advertisement pertaining to any candidate,
slate of candidates or organization for a local, county, state or
national elective office or issue or issues for public consideration
in any primary, general, school board or special election shall be
removed by the person or persons responsible for the erection of such
sign, billboard, poster or structure within five days after the date
of the election to which such sign, billboard, poster or structure
pertains.
[2]
Presumption. It shall be presumed that all persons
named on any such political campaign sign, as well as the finance
chairperson and campaign manager for the individual or political party
named in said political sign, shall be responsible for the removal
of political campaign signs.
[3]
Penalties. Any person, regardless of political affiliation, found to be a perpetrator, including any business, political party or entity violating the provisions of this section, may be punished as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I, § 1-14. Violation of any of the provisions herein shall be deemed continuing and, for each and every day or part thereof that a violation of this subsection is found to exist, the court may impose a separate penalty as stated herein.
[4]
Enforcement. The provisions of this subsection
shall be enforced by the Construction Official.
