A.
Any sign hereafter erected or maintained shall conform
with the provisions of this chapter any other ordinance or regulations
of the Township relating thereto. Any sign not specifically authorized
by the provisions of this chapter shall not be erected or maintained
in the Township.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or individual to erect and maintain signs, ground signboards, roof signboards, wall bulletins, projecting signs, marquees and marquee signs without first obtaining a permit from the Township, except those listed specifically in § 275-193.
C.
No display sign shall hereafter be erected or attached to, suspended from or supported on a building or structure, and no display sign shall hereafter be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated until a permit for the same has been obtained, except those listed specifically hereafter in § 275-193.
D.
Application for such permits shall be made in writing to the Township in accordance with § 275-194 and shall present full particulars as to size, shape, material, supports, location and height above the sidewalk or ground, together with the written consent of the owner of the property on which the sign is to be located. All applications shall be accompanied by a plan drawn to scale, showing the sign, its size and its location with respect to the building and to the boundaries of the lot upon which it is situated.
E.
Nonconforming signs. Signs and their respective illumination
existing at the time of the passage of this chapter and which do not
conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming
signs, and once destroyed or removed for any reason, shall be replaced
only with conforming signs and lighting. Nonconforming signs may be
painted, repaired (including lighting) and altered in their wording
provided such modifications do not exceed the dimensions of the existing
signs.
F.
Abandoned signs. No person shall maintain or permit
to be maintained on any premises owned or controlled by him a sign
which has been abandoned. An "abandoned sign," for the purpose of
this chapter, is a sign erected on and/or related to the use of a
property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of six months
or more; or any sign which was erected for a prior occupant or business;
or any sign which relates to a time, event or purpose which is past.
Any such abandoned sign shall be removed by the landowner or person
controlling the property within 10 days of the abandonment as described
above.
G.
The Code Enforcement Officer is hereby authorized
and empowered to revoke any permit issued by the Township, upon failure
of the holder thereof to comply with any provision of this article.
H.
The provisions of this article shall not apply where
signage is erected and maintained by Township Council for Township
purposes, provided that all other required governmental permits are
obtained by Township Council prior to such Township use.
A.
The size of any sign shall be determined in accordance
with the provisions of this article and the following:
(1)
When a sign consists of letters, numbers and/or
logos and not a lettered board and such sign is erected on or attached
to a building wall or other similar surface, the size of such sign
shall be measured by the rectangle or square formed by the extreme
outside edge of the largest letters, numbers or logos contained in
the sign.
(2)
When a sign consists of a letterhead board and
such sign is erected on or attached to a building wall or other similar
surface, the size of such sign shall be determined by calculating
the area of the lettered board.
(3)
When a sign is a freestanding sign, the size
of such freestanding sign shall be determined by calculating the area
of the lettered board or the area of the combination of letters, numbers
and/or logos without a lettered board, as the case may be, and the
area of the largest single surface of each support upon which such
sign is erected.
[Amended 7-24-1989 by Ord. No. 447; 7-24-2006 by Ord. No.
676]
A.
Prohibited signs. It is unlawful to erect or maintain
the following signs:
(1)
Spinning, animated, twirling or any other moving
objects used for advertising purposes, whether containing a message
or not.
(2)
Flashing, blinking, twinkling, spinning, animated
or lighted moving signs of any type including automatic color-changing
and rotating lamps of other displays that call attention to a sign.
(3)
Advertising cloth or paper banner or signs of
any similar character suspended or hung on any property, except for
temporary banners which may be permitted through special permission
of the Township.
(4)
Wall bulletins or any other signs painted directly
on the facade of a building or other structure.
(5)
Signs on mobile stands which can be moved from
place to place and thereby not permanently affixed to the ground and
other portable signs, be they freestanding, on the ground or temporarily
attached to a building or other support.
(6)
Curb or sidewalk signs or signs painted, attached
or suspended from any outdoor bench, chair or other structure.
(7)
Swinging and hanging signs.
(8)
Any signs which are not internally illuminated
(example: direct flood lighting onto a wood pole sign).
(9)
Signs, letters and advertisements which are
tacked, pasted, tied or otherwise affixed to poles, posts, trees,
buildings, fences or other structures located on public property in
the Township of Middletown.
(10)
No sign shall be temporarily or permanently
placed, erected, attached or painted on any vehicle if such sign identifies,
advertises or gives information with respect to a premises or a part
thereof, or any sale or special event or other circumstance. A sign
is permitted on a vehicle when:
(a)
Such sign is required by law;
(b)
Such sign is in transit from one location to
another, for permanent installation, for a time not to exceed three
days;
(c)
The sign which is permanently painted or affixed
to a vehicle and is incidental to the use of a currently licensed
vehicle when that use is a means of transportation;
(d)
The vehicle, capable of sheltering a use or
occupancy, is used as a construction shed or is located as prescribed
for buildings in the zoning regulation regulating the premises and
is used and occupied for a purpose permitted by the zoning regulation.
In such a case, the sign shall otherwise comply with this chapter.
(11)
Neon signs placed in windows of premises which
can be seen from the outside are specifically prohibited.
(12)
Unsafe and lawful signs. If the Code Enforcement
Officer shall find that sign or other advertising structure regulated
herein is unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public or has been
constructed or erected or is being maintained in the violation of
the provisions of this chapter, he shall give written notice thereof
to the permittee. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure
so as to comply with the standards set forth herein within 10 days
after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be
removed or altered to comply by the Code Enforcement Officer at the
expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is
located. The Code Enforcement Officer shall refuse to issue a permit
to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The
Code Enforcement Officer may cause any sign or other advertising structure
which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily
and without notice.
(13)
Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the
roofline or any structure which extends above the roofline of any
building.
(14)
Hot- or cold-air balloons or other floating
devices, with or without a message, placed or tethered on any property
or structure, except for balloons used for human conveyance, which
may be permitted upon approval of the Township Council.
B.
General restrictions and standards. The following
restrictions shall apply to all permitted signs:
(1)
No sign shall be located, arranged or placed
in a position that it will cause danger to traffic or will interfere
with traffic through: glare; blocking of required sight lines for
streets, sidewalks or driveways; confusion with a traffic-control
device by reason of color, location, shape or other characteristic;
or through any other means.
(2)
All signs constructed or erected under the provisions of this chapter shall comply with the standards set forth in both Article XXXII of the BOCA National Building Code, as amended, and the National Electric Code, as amended.
(3)
No sign shall be erected within the right-of-way
lines of any public street, nor shall any such sign be closer than
15 feet to the curbline of a public street, unless specifically authorized
by other ordinances and regulations of Middletown Township or other
governmental bodies or agencies having jurisdiction or regulatory
authority in the matter.
(4)
No sign shall be designed or lighted in such
a manner or placed in such a position or location that it will cause
danger to traffic on a street by obstructing or hindering the view.
(5)
No sign shall be designed or lighted in such
a manner or placed in such a position or location that it will present
an unreasonable risk of injury to persons or property.
(6)
All external illuminated signs shall be turned
off 1/2 hour after closing of the business or entity which they identify
or advertise.
(7)
No illuminated sign shall be lighted on days
when the business or permitted use is not open for business.
(8)
Every sign must be constructed of durable materials
and shall be solidly and firmly attached, supported and/or anchored
to the supports or framework.
(9)
Every sign must be kept in good condition and
repair. Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed
by and at the expense of the landowner or lessee of the property on
which is located.
(10)
All permanent signs affixed to any permitted
building shall be integrated into the architectural design of the
building on which they are placed.
C.
Double-faced signs.
(1)
A sign may be double faced providing it has two parallel surfaces that are directly opposite and matching in size and shape and, except as specifically provided in § 275-195B(4)(a)[3], are not over 24 inches apart. Should the two surfaces deviate from being parallel, the sign shall be considered as two signs.
(2)
Should the faces of double-faced sign be parallel,
the sign shall be considered as one sign and only one face shall be
used to calculate the total size of the sign.
(3)
Each face of a double-faced sign shall be equal
in size. Should the faces of a double-faced sign differ in size, then
the area of both faces shall be used to calculate the size of the
sign.
D.
Multifaced signs. A freestanding sign may be multifaced
beyond two faces provided that:
(1)
The combined area of all of the sign faces is
no more than 50% greater than the combined area of both faces of a
permitted double-faced sign in that district.
(2)
No single perimeter dimension of any sign face
shall be more than 50% greater than any other perimeter dimension
of the same sign face.
(3)
No place or planes on any multifaced signs shall
be open.
(4)
All sign faces shall be of the same dimensions.
E.
Ground signs.
(1)
The overall height of any ground sign, including support structure,
shall not exceed six feet above the ground and any message portion
of the sign may be displayed on both sides of the structure to which
it is attached.
[Amended 3-25-2013 by Ord. No. 737]
(2)
All single-post ground signs shall be made of
metal or steel, except for those used in residential districts, which
may be made of pressure-treated timbers. All such posts shall be embedded
in the ground at least three feet six inches unless otherwise so directed
by the Code Enforcement Officer.
(3)
Ground signs will be permitted in residential
areas only when set back a distance of 10 feet from the front property
line.
F.
Projecting signs. Such signs may be erected and maintained,
provided that:
(1)
No such sign shall project more than 12 inches
beyond the building line if internally illuminated and not more than
four inches if it is not internally illuminated, except that no sign
shall project over a public sidewalk area.
(2)
All projecting signs shall be rigidly affixed
to the building and to all supporting and framing structures, attachments
and hardware.
(3)
No part of the projecting sign shall be less
than eight feet or more than 14 feet above the ground on walkway level.
(4)
No projecting sign shall be permitted within
25 feet of any other projecting sign.
G.
Each sign shall be removed within 10 days of the time
when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply, or
as provided for otherwise herein.
H.
All sign provisions of this article shall apply to
smokestacks, water towers, silos and other similar structures.
A.
The following signs, exactly as described below, are exempt from the need to secure a permit, but are subject to the provisions of §§ 275-190 to 275-192.
(1)
Decorations for a recognized officially designated
holiday, provided they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
(2)
Official and governmental signs which shall
include safety signs, trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic or
historical points of interest and traffic signs.
(5)
Temporary signs announcing a political, public,
educational, charitable, civic, religious or similar campaign or event
provided:
(a)
Such sign may be erected for a period not to
exceed 30 days in any calendar year.
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed in size the area
permitted for permanent signs as provided for each zoning district.
(c)
Such sign shall not be placed in such a position
that it will cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the
view.
(d)
Such sign shall be no closer than 10 feet to
the curbline of a public street, unless specifically approved by the
Township Council.
(6)
Window signs. Such signs, excluding neon signs,
shall be used to serve as an accessory sign to the sign associated
with the principal use.
(7)
Official traffic signs.
(8)
Trespassing signs indicating the private nature
of a driveway or premises, provided that the size of any such sign
shall not exceed two square feet.
(9)
Real estate signs which do not exceed six square
feet.
(a)
Signs advertising the sale or rental of the
premises or lot upon which they are erected provided that:
(10)
Signs of contractors, mechanics and artisans,
provided that:
(a)
Such signs shall be erected only on the premises
or lot where such work is being performed.
(b)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 12
square feet.
(c)
No such sign shall be illuminated.
(d)
Such signs shall be removed promptly upon completion
of the work by the contractor, mechanic or artisan.
(e)
Not more than one such sign shall be erected
for any premises or lot held in single and separate ownership.
(11)
Signs advertising sale of farm products grown
on the 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 erected
on the premises, unless such premises fronts on more than one street,
in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.
(c)
No such sign shall be illuminated.
(d)
Such signs shall be displayed only when farm
products are on sale.
(12)
Informational signs such as: "entrance," "exit,"
"no parking," "visitor's parking," "no hunting," "no trespassing,"
"keep off the grass" and the like, on the same lot as the use to which
the sign relates or the prohibition of the use to which the sign relates,
provided that:
(13)
Signs installed at an athletic field or other
exterior athletic facility owned, operated or utilized by a governmental
or not-for-profit entity, advertising a product, business or activity
not provided or conducted on the premises where such signs are installed,
provided:
[Added 9-10-2007 by Ord. No. 687]
(a)
A plan depicting the location, number and size
of all signs proposed to be installed pursuant to this section shall
be submitted to the Township of Middletown for review and approval
by the Zoning Officer prior to the installation of such signs.
(b)
Such signs shall be installed so that the message
face side of each sign is directed toward the playing surface or spectator
seating area, or both;
(c)
Such signs shall be attached to a fence, wall
or other surface within the athletic facility so that the message
face of the sign is not visible from the nearest public street or
residential property;
(d)
The side of a sign opposite the message face
when installed on a fence or other structure which is open to view
from outside the athletic field or facility shall be painted or otherwise
colored the same as the color of the fence or other structure on which
the sign is installed;
(e)
No individual sign shall exceed 15 square feet;
(f)
No such sign shall be illuminated or animated;
(g)
All such signs shall advertise legal products,
businesses or activities.
A.
Except as otherwise provided in § 275-193, no sign shall be erected in the Township until a permit therefor has been obtained in the following manner:
(1)
An application in writing shall be made to the
Township's Code Enforcement Officer by the person desiring the permit.
(2)
The application submitted to the Township's
Code Enforcement Officer shall give full particulars regarding the
size, shape, material and supports of the sign as well as a sketch
or sketches showing the location of the sign on the building or lot,
the distance from the curbline and the height of the sign. The application
shall be sufficiently specific to enable the Township's Code Enforcement
Officer to determine if the sign complies with the Township Zoning
Ordinance as well as any other ordinance or regulation of the Township
relating thereto.
(3)
If the person submitting the application is
not the owner of the property upon which the sign is to be erected,
the written consent of the owner of the property on which the sign
is to be erected shall accompany the application.
B.
Except as otherwise provided in § 275-193, whenever any sign is replaced by another sign, enlarged in any manner or altered, dismantled, damaged or otherwise destroyed to the extent of more than 75% of its value, a permit shall be required as provided in Subsection A(1) above before the sign is replaced, enlarged, altered or repaired.
[Amended 8-27-1990 by Ord. No.472; 7-26-1993 by Ord. No. 524 5-9-1994 by Ord. No. 539; 10-23-1995 by Ord. No.
549]
The following signs, exactly as described under
each specific district are permitted, provided a sign permit has been
obtained for such sign.
A.
Signs in residence and similar districts. The following
types of signs and no other shall be permitted in R-1A, R-1, R-2,
R-3, R-4, R-5, PRC and Planned Residential Development Districts.
(1)
Signs of a permanent nature.
(a)
Professional, accessory use or name signs indicating
the name, profession or activity of the occupant of a dwelling, provided
that:
(b)
Identification signs for apartment complexes,
schools, colleges, churches, hospitals, sanitariums and other permitted
uses other than dwellings, provided that:
[Amended 3-26-2012 by Ord. No. 727]
[1]
The size of any such signs shall not exceed
20 square feet.
[2]
Not more than one such sign shall be erected
on the premises.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by
lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
[4]
Schools are permitted, in addition to the sign permitted under Subsection A(1)(b)[1] above, one manual changeable copy sign not to exceed 25 square feet installed along the principal road frontage of the facility, or, in the alternative, one sign consisting of an identification portion not to exceed 20 square feet and the changeable copy portion not to exceed 25 square feet within a single structure.
(2)
Signs of a temporary nature.
(a)
Real estate signs from six to 20 square feet.
[1]
Signs advertising the sale or rental of the
premises or lot upon which they are erected, provided that:
[2]
Signs advertising the development of the premises
upon which they are erected, provided that:
[a]
The size of any such sign shall
not exceed 20 square feet.
[b]
Not more than one such sign shall
be erected on the premises or lot unless such premises fronts on more
than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each
street frontage.
[c]
No such sign shall be illuminated.
[d]
All such signs shall be removed
upon settlement of all lots on the premises in all approved phases
of the development.
[3]
Signs indicating the location and direction
of premises in the process of development, provided that:
B.
Signs in B General Business Districts, B-1 Neighborhood
Shopping Center Districts, B-2 Major Shopping Center Districts and
Special Use Districts.
(1)
General provisions. The following types of signs
shall be permitted in B, B-1, B-2 and Special Use Districts:
(a)
Any sign permitted in Residence Districts which
relate to a use permitted in such districts.
(b)
Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental
of the premises upon which they are erected, provided that:
[1]
Not more than one such sign shall be erected
for any 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.
[2]
The size of any such signs shall not exceed
24 square feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated.
[4]
All such signs shall be removed on the date
of settlement.
(c)
Real estate development signs advertising the
development of the premises upon which they are erected, provided
that:
[1]
Not more than one such sign shall be erected
on any 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.
[2]
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 50
square feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated.
[4]
All such signs shall be removed when all the
buildings, stores or lots on the premises have been rented or sold
within one year from the date the application for such signs was approved,
whichever occurs first. Such signs shall be permitted for additional
periods of six months upon application to the Township Code Enforcement
Officer provided that at the time said application is filed not more
than 90% of the buildings, stores or lots on the premises have been
rented or sold.
(2)
B General Business Districts. Signs advertising
and identifying businesses or permitted commercial uses in General
Business Districts.
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection B(2)(b) below, not more than one freestanding sign for each building or combination of buildings on the premises held in single and separate ownership shall be erected regardless of the number of uses or businesses in each building or combination of buildings, provided that:
[1]
No such freestanding sign shall be less than
seven feet nor more than 15 feet in height above the grade of the
center line of the nearest public roadway. In the interest of public
safety, a sign of greater height may be permitted by unanimous vote
of Township Council.
[2]
The size of any sign shall not exceed 25 square
feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by
lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(b)
A restaurant with drive-through service may
erect one additional freestanding sign which is a menu sign, provided
that:
[1]
Such sign shall not exceed 25 square feet.
(c)
Each occupant in the building or combination
of buildings on the premises with a direct public entrance from a
parking lot or street shall be permitted one sign, provided that:
(d)
All occupants in the building or combination
of buildings on the premises with no direct public entrance from a
parking lot or street shall be permitted one sign, which sign shall
identify all such occupants, provided that:
[1]
Such sign shall be attached to the wall of the
building or combination of buildings on the premises and shall be
located in the immediate vicinity of the public entrance to the building
or combination of buildings.
[2]
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 25
square feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by
lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(e)
A motel or hotel that regularly provides as
part of its operation banquet facilities and/or conference and meeting
rooms for group social functions shall be permitted, in addition to
other permitted signage, a fifty-square-foot reader board sign to
advertise special functions on such hotel or motel premises.
(3)
B-1 Neighborhood Shopping Center Districts.
Signs advertising and identifying shopping centers in B-1 Districts.
(a)
Not more than one freestanding sign advertising
and identifying each shopping center held in single and separate ownership
shall be erected for each street upon which the shopping center has
frontage, provided that:
[1]
No such freestanding sign shall be less than
seven feet nor more than 15 feet in height above the grade of the
center line of the nearest public roadway. In the interest of public
safety, a sign of greater height may be permitted by unanimous vote
of the Township Council.
[2]
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 50
square feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by
lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(b)
Each occupant in the shopping center with a
direct public entrance to a parking lot or street shall be permitted
one sign, provided that:
(c)
All occupants in the shopping center with no
direct public entrance to a parking lot or street shall be permitted
one sign, which sign shall identify all such occupants, provided that:
[1]
Such sign shall be attached to the wall of the
building or combination of buildings on the premises and shall be
located in the immediate vicinity of the public entrance to the shopping
center.
[2]
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 25
square feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by
lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(4)
B-2 Major Shopping Center Districts. Signs advertising
and identifying major shopping centers and occupants of major shopping
centers in B-2 Districts.
[Amended 5-24-2010 by Ord. No. 713]
(a)
Not more than two freestanding signs identifying
or advertising each shopping center shall be erected for each street
upon which the shopping center has frontage, provided that:
[1]
One of the said freestanding signs on each street
frontage shall not exceed 42 feet in height above the grade of the
center line of the nearest public roadway and the height of the second
freestanding sign on the same street shall not exceed 20 feet in height
above the grade of the center line of the nearest public roadway.
[2]
The size of any one of such signs on any given
street frontage shall not exceed 600 square feet, and the size of
the other such sign on that same street frontage shall not exceed
100 square feet.
[3]
No such sign shall have a distance between the
faces thereon in excess of six feet.
[4]
All such signs shall be set back at least 15
feet from any street or highway right-of-way line.
[5]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by
lighting concealed or indirectly attached to the sign itself.
(b)
In addition to the freestanding signs provided for in Subsection B(4)(a) above, one freestanding sign shall be permitted at each access drive into the shopping center, provided that:
[1]
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 25
square feet.
[2]
No such sign shall exceed six feet in height
above the grade of the center line of the nearest public roadway.
In the interest of public safety, a sign of greater height may be
permitted by unanimous vote of the Township Council.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by
lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(c)
The occupant of an anchor store, the principal occupant of a
multi-occupancy building and the occupant of a single-occupancy building
occupying 20,000 square feet or more of gross floor area shall be
permitted signs on the exterior of said building, provided that:
[1]
Not more than two signs shall be permitted on the wall of any
one side of the building.
[2]
Not more than a total of six such signs shall be permitted on
the four sides of the building.
[3]
Such signs shall be attached to the walls of the building.
[4]
No one sign shall exceed 360 square feet or have a length of
more than 35 feet.
[5]
The total square footage of all signs shall not exceed either
0.08% of the gross floor area of the building or 1,250 square feet,
whichever is less.
[6]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by lighting, concealed
or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(d)
Except for the principal occupant, each occupant of a multi-occupancy
building, having a tenant space with direct public access to a parking
area or street, shall be permitted one sign on the exterior of said
building, provided that:
[1]
Such sign shall be attached to the wall of the building.
[2]
Such sign shall be located in the immediate vicinity of said
occupant's direct public access to the parking area or street.
[3]
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 50 square feet, and
the length thereof shall not exceed 30 feet.
[4]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by lighting, concealed
or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(e)
The occupant of a single occupancy building occupying a tenant
space with less than 20,000 square feet of gross floor area shall
be permitted signs on the exterior of said building, provided that:
[1]
Not more than one sign shall be permitted on each side of the
building.
[2]
Not more than two such signs shall be permitted.
[3]
Signs shall be attached to the wall of the building.
[4]
The total size of all signs shall not exceed an area equal to
0.08% of the gross floor area of the building, except that buildings
having gross floor areas of less than 6,300 square feet may have two
signs with a total area of not more than 50 square feet.
[5]
No such sign shall be illuminated except by lighting, concealed
or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(f)
All occupants in a multi-occupancy building which do not have
a direct public access to a parking area or street shall not be permitted
an exterior sign.
(g)
Interior signs shall be permitted within the immediate vicinity
of the store front of each individual tenant space with direct access
to a common mall area.
(h)
Directional signs for the purpose of directing vehicular and
pedestrian traffic within the shopping center shall be permitted in
proximity to the entrances to the shopping center and at selected
locations within the shopping center. The directional signs shall
be for the convenience and safety of vehicular and pedestrian traffic,
giving direction to specific stores and buildings within the shopping
center.
[1]
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 50 square feet.
[2]
The height of any such sign above grade immediately surrounding
same shall not exceed eight feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated, except by lighting concealed
or indirectly attached to the sign itself.
[4]
No such sign shall advertise any particular item, program or
product but rather shall be limited to the giving of directions to
particular stores or buildings within the shopping center.
[5]
The location and placement of directional signs as permitted
by this subsection shall be pursuant to a master plan depicting all
such signs filed with the Township.
[6]
"Entrance," "exit," "pick-up," "loading area" and similar directional
signs shall be permitted by the Township Code Enforcement Officer
if necessary for the safety and protection of the public, provided
no such sign shall exceed six square feet in area and no such sign
shall contain any advertising.
(5)
Special use districts. Signs advertising and
identifying businesses and permitted uses in Special Use Districts.
(a)
The following types of signs advertising conforming
special uses on conforming lots shall be permitted:
[1]
When the use of business is other than an office
building or office complex, not more than one sign for the building
or combination of buildings on the premises held in single and separate
ownership shall be erected for each street upon which the special
use has frontage, regardless of the number of uses or businesses in
the building or combination of buildings, provided that:
[a]
Where the sign is a freestanding
sign:
[i]
No such freestanding sign shall
exceed 10 feet in height measured from the mean grade at the base
of the sign.
[ii]
The size of any such sign shall
be determined as follows:
[A]
One square foot of sign shall be
permitted for every four linear feet of street frontage on the street
where the sign is erected up to a maximum size of 125 square feet.
[B]
Where a special use has street
frontage on more than one street, the linear feet along all streets
where the special use has frontage may be used to calculate the size
of such sign up to a maximum size of 125 square feet, provided that
the Township Council unanimously agrees to permit the use of this
type of calculation, and further provided that if this method of calculating
the size of a sign is used, only one freestanding sign shall be permitted.
[b]
Where the sign is attached to the
wall of the building on the premises, the size of such sign shall
be determined as follows:
[i]
One square foot of sign shall be
permitted for every four linear feet of building on the side facing
the street where the sign is erected, up to a maximum size of 125
square feet.
[ii]
Where the special use has street
frontage on more than one street, the linear feet of building on all
sides with street frontage may be used to calculate the size of such
sign, up to a maximum size of 125 square feet, provided that Township
Council unanimously agrees to permit the use of this type of calculation,
and further provided that if this method of calculating the size of
a sign is used, only one wall sign shall be permitted.
[c]
No such sign shall be illuminated
except by lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
[2]
When the use of a business is an office building
or office complex, the following types of signs are permitted:
[a]
One freestanding sign designating
the name and address of the building or combination of buildings,
and identifying the occupants of said building or buildings, provided
that:
[b]
One sign for each occupant on the
exterior of the office building identifying the occupant and his business
or occupation, provided that:
[c]
Such directional signs as are necessary
to promote the safe and convenient movement of traffic within the
driveways and parking areas, provided that:
[i]
The size of such sign shall not
exceed the product of the number of occupants listed on such directory
multiplied by 250 square inches.
[ii]
Such sign shall be erected perpendicular
to the driveway nearest their location.
[iii]
No such sign shall be illuminated
except by lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(b)
The following types of signs advertising nonconforming
uses on conforming lots, or conforming uses on nonconforming lots
or nonconforming uses on nonconforming lots shall be permitted:
[1]
Not more than one freestanding sign designating
the name and address of the building or combination of buildings on
the premises held in single and separate ownership and identifying
the occupants of said building or combination of buildings shall be
erected, provided that:
[a]
No such freestanding sign shall
be more than 15 feet in height above the grade of the center line
of the nearest public roadway. In the interest of public safety, a
sign of greater height may be permitted by unanimous vote of Township
Council.
[b]
The size of such sign shall not
exceed 25 square feet.
[c]
No such sign shall be illuminated
except by lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
[2]
Each occupant in the building or combination
of buildings on the premises with a direct public entrance from a
parking lot or street shall be permitted one sign, provided that:
[3]
All occupants in the building or combination
of buildings on the premises with no direct public entrance from a
parking lot or street shall be permitted one sign which sign shall
identify all such occupants and tenants, provided that:
[a]
Such sign shall be attached to
the wall of the building or combination of buildings and shall be
located in the immediate vicinity of the public entrance to the building
or combination of buildings.
[b]
The size of any such sign shall
not exceed 25 square feet.
[c]
No such sign shall be illuminated
except by lighting, concealed or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(6)
Office districts.
(a)
The following types of signs shall be permitted
in Office Districts:
[2]
One freestanding sign designating the name and
address of the building or office complex, if more than one building,
and identifying the occupants of said building or buildings, provided
that:
[4]
Such directional signs as are necessary to promote
the safe and convenient movement of traffic within the driveways and
parking areas, provided that:
C.
Signs which are nonconforming and signs which identify
and advertise nonconforming uses shall be permitted in accordance
with the following regulations, except as otherwise provided in this
chapter:
(1)
A sign which is nonconforming at the effective
date of this chapter may be continued although such sign does not
conform with the provisions of this chapter, but the size of any such
nonconforming sign shall not be enlarged.
(2)
A nonconforming sign may be changed to or replaced
by another nonconforming sign, when authorized as a special exception
by the Zoning Hearing Board. Whenever a nonconforming sign has been
changed to a more restricted nonconforming sign, such sign shall not
thereafter be changed to a less restricted nonconforming sign.
(3)
No nonconforming sign which has been dismantled,
damaged or otherwise destroyed to the extent of more than 75% of its
value shall be repaired or rebuilt, except as a conforming sign, except
when authorized to be repaired or rebuilt as a nonconforming sign
as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
(4)
If a nonconforming use of a building ceases
or is discontinued for a continuous period of one year or more and
such nonconforming use is deemed to be abandoned by virtue of the
applicable provisions of other ordinances and regulations of the Township
of Middletown, any nonconforming sign or any subsequent signs erected
or maintained on the premises shall be in conformity with the provisions
of this chapter.
(5)
Signs which are conforming at the effective
date of this chapter and which identify and advertise nonconforming
uses shall be maintained as conforming signs in accordance with the
provisions of this chapter.
D.
O-R Outdoor Recreation Districts.
(1)
OR-1 Outdoor Recreation District. One identification
sign shall be permitted on a property or properties under single ownership
and management. The sign shall not exceed 50 square feet in area.
(2)
OR-2 Outdoor Recreation District. One identification
sign shall be permitted on a property or properties under single ownership
and management. The sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
(3)
OR-3 Outdoor and Indoor Recreation District.
One identification wall sign, not to exceed 50 square feet, shall
be permitted on the wall of the building facing the front property
line. If the main entrance to the building is located on a wall opposite
the wall facing the front property line, one additional identification
wall sign, not to exceed 50 square feet, shall be permitted on the
opposite wall. If a vehicular entrance is not on the property of the
Community Center Building, one additional sign, not to exceed 50 square
feet, shall be permitted at not more than two entrances.
[Added 2-23-1998 by Ord. No. 582; amended 2-26-2001 by Ord. No.
610]
E.
Manufacturing and industrial districts. In M Manufacturing
and Industrial Districts, the regulations provided for in B General
Business Districts shall apply.
F.
Off-premises signs. Signs may be erected and maintained
that advertise a product, activity or business not conducted on the
premises where the business is located, provided that:
[Added 7-24-2006 by Ord. No. 676]
(1)
No such sign shall be permitted in the R-1,
R-1A, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, PRC or PRD District.
(2)
Each off-premises sign shall be subject to the
number, size, setback, height and lighting of the signage provisions
of the zoning district in which it is located, and shall be included
in the total signage permitted on the premises where the sign is located.
G.
Changeable signs. changeable signs shall be permitted in the I-1
Institutional District, I-2 Institutional District, I-3 Institutional
District, I-4 Institutional District, OR-3 Outdoor and Indoor Recreational
District, SU-1 Special Use District, SU-1-A Mixed Use District, SU-2
Special Use District, B General Business District, B-1 Neighborhood
Shopping Center District, B-2 Major Shopping Center District, PBC
Planned Business Center District, O Office District, OC-2 Office Campus
2 District, OC Office Campus Overlay District or M Manufacturing and
Industrial District, subject to the following restrictions and limitations:
[Added 3-25-2013 by Ord. No. 737]
(1)
The maximum square footage of the portion of a changeable sign
dedicated to electrical changeable copy display or manual changeable
copy display for any property is limited to a maximum of 50% of the
freestanding signage permitted for the property in the zoning district
in which the property is located; provided, however, that the electrical
changeable copy display or manual changeable copy display shall not
exceed 50 square feet.
(2)
Each property permitted to install a changeable sign shall be
limited to one on-premises changeable sign, subject to the limitations
herein, which may only be installed along the principal road frontage
of the property.
(3)
All signs constructed or erected hereunder shall not be subject to restrictions set forth in § 275-195B(2)(a)[3]; (3)(a)[3]; (4)(a)[5] and (b)[3]; and (5)(a)[1][c], (a)[2][a][iii] and (b)[1][c]
(4)
The following restrictions and limitations shall apply to all
permitted changeable signs with an electrical changeable copy display:
(a)
All signs constructed or erected hereunder shall comply with
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations related to outdoor advertising.
See 36 P.S. § 2718.101 et seq.; 67 Pa. Code, Chapter 445.
(b)
All signs constructed or erected hereunder shall be subject to the prohibitions and restrictions set forth in § 275-192A(1) and (2).
(c)
All signs constructed or erected hereunder shall maintain a
minimum static display time of 30 seconds.
(d)
No sign shall display a message which changes in intensity or
color during the fixed display period.
(e)
The display message shall contain only words, numbers, pictures
and/or symbols, none of which may be animated.
(f)
Message change sequence. The time interval used to change from
one complete message display to the next complete message display
shall be a maximum of one second.
(g)
All signs constructed or erected hereunder shall utilize automatic
dimming controls in response to changing ambient light conditions
and be equipped with light intensity limit via manual controls.
(h)
All signs constructed or erected hereunder shall have a maximum
luminance level of 4,000 nits during daylight hours, and, if illuminated
at night, must have a maximum luminance level at 750 nits, regardless
of the method of illumination, at least 1/2 hour before apparent sunset,
as determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) and throughout the night, if the sign is energized, until apparent
sunrise, as determined by the NOAA.
(5)
Changeable signs permitted under § 275-195A(1)(b)[4] shall not be subject to the restrictions and limitations set forth hereunder.
