Signs may be erected and maintained only when
in compliance with the provisions of this article and any and all
other ordinances and regulations of this Township which may be applicable.
The following signs shall be permitted in all
districts and shall not be subject to the provisions of this article
unless otherwise specifically cited herein:
A. Signs of a duly constituted local, state or federal
governmental body, including traffic or similar safety and regulatory
devices, legal notices, railway warning signals, memorial signs or
tablets; (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
B. Small signs with a surface area not exceeding three
square feet, displayed for the direction or convenience of the public
which identify landmarks, parking areas, convenience facilities and
similar features; (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
C. One temporary nonlighted sign on a construction site,
not exceeding an area of 32 square feet, denoting engineer, architect,
contractor or funding agencies and related information regarding the
development. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
In the A-1 and R-1 Districts, the following
requirements shall apply:
A. The following signs shall be permitted:
(1) One permanent identification sign for each dwelling
unit, which may cite the name of the occupant, address and other distinguishing
features of the structure or property. Such signs shall not exceed
two square feet in area. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(2) One temporary nonlighted real estate sign pertaining
to the sale, lease, hire or rental of property on which the sign is
displayed, not to exceed six square feet in area. (NOTE: No zoning
permit required.)
(3) One announcement sign designating a bed-and-breakfast,
professional uses, group residential facilities, day-care or home
occupations, provided all such signs shall be limited to three square
feet in area.
(4) One permanent announcement sign erected by churches,
schools, hospitals, funeral homes, cemeteries, municipal facilities,
business activities or similar permitted uses, which may include any
appropriate message, provided that the area of such sign shall not
exceed 24 square feet in area.
(5) Temporary signs advertising a garage sale, street
fair or other temporary activity, or a temporary sign directing persons
to the location of such activity. Signs must be removed within 24
hours of termination of the activity and shall not exceed 12 square
feet in area. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(6) Signs relating to the sale of farm products produced
on the premises in A-1 Districts shall be limited to a total of two
such signs that do not exceed a cumulative total of 24 square feet
in area. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(7) Temporary signs relating to the sale of agricultural
products produced on the premises in residential districts shall be
limited to a total of two such signs that do not exceed a cumulative
total of 10 square feet in area. Such signs shall be displayed only
when seasonal sales are taking place and removed when not applicable.
(NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(8) Signs for private and commercial recreation in A-1
Districts shall be established in accordance with the following requirements:
(a)
Signs shall be limited to the immediate site.
(b)
Signs shall relate only to the activities at
the immediate site.
(c)
There shall be no more than two signs at each
business site.
(d)
Individual signs shall not exceed 20 square
feet in area.
(e)
Signs mounted or painted on a wall, canopy or
other portion of a principal site structure shall not protrude more
than 18 inches beyond the wall on which said signs are mounted.
(9) Signs in all A and R Districts shall be located a
minimum distance of four feet from the street or road right-of-way
if no sidewalk exists, and two feet from the inside edge of the walk,
if such a walk exists.
(10)
The bottommost part of a sign shall not be more
than two feet above ground level, except signs attached to a building.
No sign shall project above a roof or be mounted on a building above
the eave line of a roof or extend above a public sidewalk.
In the commercial districts, the following requirements
shall apply:
A. The following signs shall be permitted:
(1) Temporary signs not exceeding six square feet in area
advertising the sale of rental or development of property.
(2) Signs advertising business conducted or services,
material or equipment for sale on the premises.
B. Business signs shall have an aggregate area not greater
than 1 1/2 square feet for each foot of width of the principal
building on the premises.
(1) Individual signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in
area.
(2) No sign shall directly face an adjoining residential
district.
(3) Signs shall be located a minimum distance of 10 feet
from the street right-of-way line.
(4) No sign shall be mounted on a building above the eave
line of a roof, or extend above a public sidewalk or vehicular right-of-way.
Business signs established for shopping centers
and integrated industrial areas shall meet the following criteria:
A. Total combined maximum area of all freestanding pole
signs and/or ground signs:
(1) For facilities with highway frontage of between 150
lineal feet and 250 lineal feet the following requirements shall apply:
(a)
One hundred fifty to 200 lineal feet - maximum
sign area: 300 square feet.
(b)
Two hundred to 250 lineal feet - maximum sign
area: 400 square feet.
(2) Five hundred square feet maximum at facilities with
highway frontage in excess of 250 lineal feet.
B. Signs per unit of use, affixed to the subject premises,
within the site shall be limited to one square foot of sign area per
lineal foot of frontage, up to a maximum of 100 square feet of sign
area.
C. Signs shall be located a minimum distance of 25 feet
from the public street right-of-way line.
D. No sign shall be set closer than 50 feet of a rear
or side property line.
Portable or mobile signs and other similar advertising
displays may be used for special sales, announcements and related
purposes, subject to the following provisions:
A. Display area of such signs shall not exceed 32 square
feet.
B. No portion of the sign or its supporting structure
shall occupy a public right-of-way.
C. All lighting and illumination restrictions which apply
to displays, signs and structures under this chapter shall apply.
D. Permits for the placement of such signs shall be issued
for a maximum of 30 consecutive days and may be renewed no more than
one time during any consecutive one-hundred-eighty-day period.
The following standards shall apply to signs
in all zoning districts of the Township:
A. No sign shall be located or constructed to obstruct
or interfere with any traffic control signal, sign, device or intersection
sight triangle.
B. All signs shall be constructed of durable materials;
shall be kept in good condition and repair; and shall not be permitted
to become unsightly or dilapidated.
C. No sign shall be permitted that is deemed to constitute
a hazard of any kind.
D. Signs shall not be attached to utility poles except
when authorized for public purposes by the pole owner.
E. A sign shall be removed within 30 days when the circumstances
that led to its erection no longer apply or if safety violations occur.
Circumstances that dictate sign removal shall include, but not be
limited to the following:
(1) The creation of a safety hazard.
(3) Vacancy or termination of the subject business for
more than 90 days.
(4) Legal transfer of ownership of a property that involves
a change of name or business activity.
(5) The completion of an event, business transaction or
other activity for which the sign was originally installed.
(6) Any illegality under the provisions of this chapter
or regulation of a duly constituted governmental authority.
F. Signs shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1) All lighting and illumination of signs shall conform
to regulations regarding traffic hazards as specified in local and
state regulations, and shall not cause undue distraction, confusion
or hazard.
(2) Signs or devices with flashing, moving or similar
lighting or animation are prohibited in all zoning districts.
G. Business signs shall be located only on the premises
of the business or industry that they advertise.