A.
Purpose. The purposes of the regulations contained
in this chapter are to:
B.
Conformance. Any sign hereafter erected or maintained
shall conform with the provisions of this chapter and any other ordinance
or regulations of the Borough of Aldan relating thereto. Replacement
signs and major repair of signs shall require conformance to this
chapter.
C.
Permit required.
(1)
A sign permit is required for any sign not excepted by Subsection C(2).
(a)
A permit shall be required prior to the erection,
alteration or placement of any sign, building, structure or portion
thereof, prior to the use or change in use of a building or land and
prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use.
(b)
Applications for permits shall be made to the
Borough on such forms as may be furnished by the Borough. Each application
shall contain all information necessary to ascertain whether the proposed
erection, alteration, use or change in use complies with the provisions
of this chapter; the information displayed by the sign shall be accompanied
by a scaled drawing to show compliance with this chapter.
(c)
Written consent of the owner of the property
on which the sign is to be located shall accompany the application
when the applicant is other than the owner or the tenant responsible
for maintenance of the building.
(d)
No building or zoning permit shall be issued
until the Zoning Officer has certified that the proposed sign, building
or alteration and the proposed use of the property complies with all
the provisions of this chapter.
(3)
Each sign shall comply with the standards of this
chapter, whether or not a sign permit is required.
D.
Nonconforming signs.
(1)
Signs existing at the date of enactment of this chapter
and which do not conform to the requirements of the chapter shall
be considered nonconforming signs.
(2)
Once a nonconforming sign is removed, it may be replaced
only with a conforming sign.
(3)
Except as provided in Subsection D(4), nonconforming signs (including existing lighting) may be repainted or repaired, provided that such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign; wording must not be changed.
(4)
Nonconforming signs over three years of age shall
be replaced and conform to the provisions of this chapter.
The following types of signs shall be permitted
in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Zoning Districts:
A.
Official traffic signs.
C.
Identification signs for schools, churches, hospitals
and similar permitted uses other than dwellings, provided that:
D.
Identification signs for multifamily dwellings or
apartment houses, provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square
feet.
(2)
Not more than one such sign shall be placed on premises
held in single and separate ownership unless such premises fronts
on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected
on each street frontage.
(3)
Only multifamily dwellings of 10 or more units shall
be permitted to have signs.
E.
Real estate signs, including:
(1)
Signs advertising the sale or rental of premises,
provided that:
(a)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed six
square feet.
(b)
Not more than one such sign shall be placed
on premises held in single and separate ownership unless such premises
front on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be
placed on each street frontage.
(c)
Sold signs must be removed within two weeks.
(d)
Rental signs must be removed immediately after
execution of lease.
(3)
No real estate or other sign shall be erected containing
information which states or implies that a property may be sold or
used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter.
Any such misrepresentation shall be considered a violation of this
chapter and such sign shall be subject to immediate removal from the
property.
F.
No trespassing sign or sign indicating the private
nature of a driveway or premises, provided that the size of any such
sign shall not exceed two square feet.
G.
Artisans' signs, provided that:
(1)
Such signs shall be erected only on the premises where
such work is being performed.
(2)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed six square
feet.
(3)
Such signs shall be removed promptly upon completion
of active work.
(4)
Artisans working on developments must include their sign on the same signs permitted in § 256-42E(2).
H.
Bulletin board signs for churches and schools, provided
that the sign area does not exceed 20 square feet.
I.
Signs on nonconforming use premises, provided that:
(1)
The total area of all such signs relating to a single
use at the effective date of this chapter or at the effective date
of any amendment of this section by which any sign shall be made nonconforming
shall not be increased.
(2)
No such sign shall be changed or replaced except when
authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
The following types of signs shall be permitted
in the B Business District:
A.
Any sign permitted in a residential district which
relates to a use permitted in the district.
B.
Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of
premises, provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 24 square
feet.
(2)
Not more than one such sign shall be placed on premises
held in single and separate ownership unless such premises fronts
on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be placed
on each street frontage.
(3)
Sold signs must be removed in two weeks.
The following types of signs shall be permitted
in the B Business and I Industrial Districts:
A.
Industrial and business or related signs in conjunction
with a permitted use, provided that:
(1)
The total sign area on one side of all signs placed
on a lot or facing any one street frontage of any one premises shall
not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of building frontage.
(2)
The total sign area on any one freestanding sign structure
shall in no case exceed 40 square feet.
(3)
No more than one freestanding sign structure may be
permitted on each street frontage, relating to and directing persons
to the B Business or I Industrial District as a whole.
A.
Real estate. A temporary sign may be permitted within
the property lines, advertising the prospective or completed sale
or rental of the premises upon which it is located, provided that
such sign shall be maintained and removed within seven days after
consummation of the lease or sale transaction.
B.
Construction sites. A nonilluminated temporary sign
(developer/contractor sign or mechanic/subcontractor/other artisan
sign) may be permitted on a construction site, provided that such
sign shall be removed within seven days after completion of the construction
work.
The following restrictions shall apply to all
permitted sign uses:
A.
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it
will cause danger to traffic by obscuring the view.
B.
No sign other than signs authorized by § 256-41C(2)(b) shall be erected within the lines of any public street or public sidewalk or shall be closer to a curb than 10 feet.
C.
No stringing of light bulbs or placing of luminaries
which create the same effect, no animated signs, no signs that revolve,
swing or have movable parts or have flashing lights or reflectors
shall be permitted and no advertising sign, banner, pennant balance,
spinners or display constructed of cloth, canvas, wallboard or other
like materials shall be erected, suspended or hung on any property
or placed across a public street or highway.
D.
No sign shall project over a public sidewalk.
E.
Each sign must be maintained in good condition and
repair.
F.
If a sign has become dilapidated, the Zoning Officer
shall notify the owner or the leasee of the property to correct the
conditions within 30 days. The owner or leasee may appeal the decision
of the Zoning Officer to the Zoning Hearing Board within the same
time period.
G.
If, after 30 days, the condition has not been corrected
and the notice has not been appealed, the Zoning Officer may cause
the dilapidated sign to be removed at the expense of the owner or
leasee.
H.
If the Zoning Officer determines that the conditions
of the sign pose an imminent danger to the public safety, he may order
the sign removed immediately. The owner or leasee shall have a right
of appeal after the fact to the Zoning Hearing Board.
I.
All signs shall be made a harmonious part of the architectural
design of a new commercial construction or major alteration of existing
buildings. Drawings submitted for sign permits shall show size, location
and illumination in detail.
J.
Any sign shall be erected only on the premises where
the related business or use is located.
K.
No such sign shall be illuminated except by self-contained
lighting within the sign itself or ground lights.
L.
No sign shall project above the parapet or roof of
a building.
M.
No sign shall be painted on any wall surface.
N.
The area on one side of a directional sign shall not
exceed six square feet.
O.
Projecting signs are prohibited.
P.
All signs shall be securely mounted or fastened to
the building upon which they are erected or, if freestanding, must
be securely and safely installed in the ground. The installation of
all signs must be approved by the Building Inspector.
Q.
No freestanding sign structure shall exceed 25 feet
in height in nonresidential districts and eight feet in height in
residential districts.
R.
The Council may authorize civic, charitable or community
signs where appropriate.
S.
Signs should be designed in such a way as to be consistent
with the architecture and landscaping of the building.
T.
No sign shall be painted, pasted, placed on any tree,
telegraph, electric light or public utility pole or upon a natural
feature.
U.
Freestanding signs, when permitted by this chapter,
shall not exceed one such sign per lot, per tract or parcel regardless
of the number of establishments occupying said tract or parcel.
