The following provisions shall apply to all signs in the Borough:
A.
Permits. No sign shall be constructed or displayed unless a zoning
permit has been approved by the Zoning Officer and a construction/sign
permit has been approved by the Construction Code Official, except
that permits shall not be required for signs for single- and two-family
dwellings, provided that all other regulations of this article are
complied with.
B.
Site plan applications. On properties involved in an application
for site plan review, all signs shall be approved by the Board as
part of the site plan application prior to the issuance of permits
for signs.
C.
Computation of sign area. For the purposes of this section, the size
of any sign shall be computed by determining the total area of any
sign board, sign face or sign background at its largest horizontal
and vertical dimensions, including framing, trim or molding. Where
a sign is mounted, affixed, applied or painted directly on a wall,
window, awning/canopy or other surface without a defined sign area,
the size of the sign shall be computed by determining the total area
as measured by the largest horizontal dimension and largest vertical
dimension of the sign letter, character, illustration or graphic (see
illustration below).
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D.
Replacements or alterations. If and when any sign is altered, except
for purposes of minor and nonstructural maintenance and/or repairs,
the sign shall thereafter conform to all requirements of this article.
E.
Change of use, occupancy or vacancy. Whenever any change of use,
occupancy or vacancy occurs, all existing signs no longer relating
to the current use and occupancy of the premises shall be immediately
removed. In addition, any signs not conforming to any requirement
of this article shall be removed.
F.
Official signs. Traffic, parking, directional, informational and
street identification signs as approved by any Borough agency or any
county, state or federal agency shall be permitted in any district
or public right-of-way. Any other signs required by any provision
of law shall be permitted in any district or public right-of-way.
G.
Illuminated signs.
[Amended 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-20; 6-21-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-9]
(1)
Floodlights and spotlights. Signs externally illuminated by
floodlights or spotlights shall be permitted, provided the light source
is shielded and not visible from the street. Such lighting may include
but is not limited to ground-mounted floodlights and spotlights and
gooseneck-type light fixtures lighting building-mounted signs.
(2)
Internal illumination: Box-type signs are not permitted except
directional signs up to three square feet in area. Back lighted signs
shall be permitted. Internally illuminated "channel-letters," where
each letter is separately fabricated and mounted, are permitted. All
other forms of internally illuminated signs are not permitted.
(3)
Definitions:
(a)
Box-type signs are signs having translucent background, lettering
and graphics that are mounted on and form one or both sides of a box
and whose light source is inside the box. Said lettering and graphics
may include but are not limited to lettering and graphics painted
on the background.
(b)
Back-lighted signs are signs that have individual letters or
symbols mounted on a lighted nontranslucent background, such as but
not necessarily limited to die-cut letters and symbols adhered to
the background. Such letters themselves shall not be translucent.
Internal illumination shall be directed to the background, not directly
visible and limited as to intensity.
(c)
Channel letters signs are signs where each letter and symbol
is individually fabricated to accept an interior neon or similar light
source, and each letter may have a translucent panel, provided the
light source itself is not visible.
H.
Signs on motor vehicles. Signs located on motor vehicles shall be
permitted pursuant to motor vehicle and traffic laws of New Jersey,
except that no such motor vehicle bearing a sign shall be parked continuously
in one location in excess of 24 hours, where there is direct visibility
from a public right-of-way.
I.
Sign content. The content or advertising which may be displayed on
signs shall be limited to the identification and location of the premises,
identification of its owners or occupants and information concerning
the activities conducted on the premises or the goods and services
offered in connection therewith, unless specified otherwise herein.
J.
Real estate signs. One nonilluminated temporary sign pertaining to
the lease or intended sale of the premises upon which it is placed,
not exceeding four square feet in total area, shall be permitted.
Such sign shall be removed immediately upon execution of a contract
and/or closing for the lease or sale of the property.
K.
Maintenance. Signs shall be constructed of durable materials, maintained
in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated. All signs,
together with all supports, braces, anchors and other parts, shall
be kept in continual repair, including cleaning, painting, replacing
of defective parts and otherwise maintaining a presentable condition.
Lack of proper maintenance shall be considered abandonment, and the
sign shall be repaired, painted, cleaned or otherwise returned to
a presentable condition or removed within 10 days upon notification
by the Zoning Officer or Construction Code Official.
L.
Temporary signs. Signs for charitable sales and services, special
community events and garage sales may be erected on a temporary basis
for a maximum of 14 days and shall be permitted either by resolution
of the Borough Council or as set forth by separate Borough ordinance.
M.
Campaign signs. Any political sign that is protected under the free
speech provisions of the United States and New Jersey Constitutions
shall be permitted in any district, provided that such is not located
in a public right-of-way.
N.
Nonconforming signs. Any lawfully nonconforming sign may be repaired
or relettered containing the same specific message or letters. However,
any change in the message or letters on the sign occasioned by a change
of business, change of use, change of tenant, change of product or
service offered, or for any other reason, must comply with the applicable
provisions of this article.
[Amended 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-20; 7-16-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-15]
The following signs shall be permitted, pursuant to the following
provisions based on type of use, location of use and district such
use is located in:
A.
Signs for residential uses located in any district:
(1)
Single- and two-family dwellings and three- and four-family
apartments shall be permitted one identification sign indicating the
name and/or address of the occupants; the maximum size of which shall
not exceed 60 square inches in area. In addition, one informational
sign indicating the private nature of a driveway, no trespassing or
other such similar private property usage shall be permitted; the
maximum size of which shall not exceed one square foot in area.
(2)
Apartments, townhouses and other multifamily residential uses
shall be permitted one identification sign; the maximum size of which
shall not exceed two square feet in area. In addition, the following
shall be permitted:
(a)
Two wall-mounted signs per building identifying the name or
number of the same; the maximum size of which shall not exceed one
square foot in area per sign.
(b)
One wall-mounted directional sign indicating the location of
the management office; the maximum size of which shall not exceed
one square foot in area.
B.
Signs for business uses located in residential districts: one identification
sign; the maximum size of which shall not exceed three square feet
in area. Such sign shall not exceed five feet in standing height from
ground level, including any posts, brackets and other such supporting
elements. No such sign shall be illuminated after 10:00 p.m.
C.
Additional signs for ground-floor business uses located in business
districts:
(1)
Ground-floor business uses having either a wall-mounted or blade
sign as a primary sign may display additional signs on awnings, provided
that the following standards are met:
(a)
Maximum size of such additional sign shall not exceed four square
feet in area per use.
(b)
Such awning shall be constructed of canvas, cloth or vinyl.
(c)
Maximum height of lettering shall not exceed six inches.
(d)
The color(s) of the awning shall be compatible with the architectural
color scheme of the entire building and consistent with the approved
Metuchen Downtown Colors.
(2)
Ground-floor retail or personal service business uses having
either a wall-mounted, blade or awning/canopy sign may display an
additional sign painted on the inside of a window, provided that the
following standards are complied with:
(a)
Maximum size of such additional sign shall not exceed 10% of
the total window area, not to exceed four square feet in area per
business use.
(b)
The color(s) of the window painted sign shall be consistent
with the approved Metuchen Downtown Colors.
(c)
Maximum height of lettering shall not exceed six inches.
(3)
Ground-floor business uses having a side or rear facade fronting
on a parking lot shall be permitted to have one additional wall-mounted
sign on the facade of the building facing the parking lot, provided
that such sign does not exceed 12 square feet in area and/or one additional
blade sign projecting from the facade of the building facing the parking
lot, provided that such sign meets all of the standards of this article.
This provision shall not apply in situations where a parking lot is
located between a building and a public street.
(4)
Ground-floor business uses located on corner lots, therefore
having a second facade fronting on a public street, shall be permitted
to have one additional wall-mounted sign on the facade of the building
facing the side street and/or one additional blade sign projecting
from the facade of the building facing the side street, provided that
such sign meets all of the standards of this section.
D.
Signs for upper-story businesses in business districts: one directory
sign for each ground-floor entrance to a building shall be permitted,
whether such entrance fronts on a street or parking lot; the maximum
size of which shall not exceed six square feet in area; however, any
individual business shall not occupy greater than one square foot
in area of such sign.
E.
Signs for institutional uses in any district: two signs for each
such use shall be permitted; the maximum size of which shall not exceed
16 square feet in total area for both signs.
F.
Any use in a LI Light Industrial District: one sign, the maximum
size of which shall not exceed 24 square feet in area, shall be permitted.
[Amended 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-20; 7-16-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-15]
Where any standard contained in this section is more restrictive
than another applicable standard found elsewhere in this article,
the standard contained herein shall be the final determining standard
for such sign.
A.
Wall-mounted signs.
(1)
Maximum size of signboard shall not exceed 24 square feet in
area.
(2)
Maximum height of signboard shall not exceed three feet.
(3)
Maximum width of signboard shall not exceed 12 feet.
(4)
Maximum height of letters, numbers or other characters or images
on the signboard shall not exceed two feet.
(5)
No portion of such sign shall extend above or beyond the limits
of the wall to which it is affixed.
B.
Freestanding signs.
(1)
Maximum size of signboard shall not exceed 16 square feet in
area.
(2)
Maximum height from ground level to uppermost portion of sign,
including any posts, brackets and other supporting elements, shall
not exceed five feet.
(3)
Maximum height of signboard shall not exceed four feet.
(4)
Maximum width of signboard shall not exceed six feet.
(5)
Maximum height of letters, numbers or other characters or images
on the signboard shall not exceed 1 1/2 feet.
(6)
No portion of such sign shall be located within five feet of
any lot line or within any clear sight triangle area.
(7)
Such sign shall not project or extend over sidewalks, walkways,
driveways or parking lots.
(8)
Freestanding signs shall be considered structures requiring
minor site plan approval under the provisions of this chapter.
C.
Blade signs.
(1)
Maximum size of signboard shall not exceed 10 square feet in
area, exclusive of supports, brackets, hardware, finials or other
decorative features. Only one side of such sign shall be used for
the purposes of calculating the permitted sign area.
(2)
Minimum distance from another blade sign shall be eight feet.
(3)
Minimum height from ground level to lowermost portion of sign
shall be eight feet.
(4)
Maximum height from ground level to uppermost portion of sign
shall not exceed the height of the sill or bottom of any second story
windows in the case of multiple-story buildings or the top of wall
from which it projects in the case of single-story buildings.
(5)
Maximum horizontal projection, inclusive of supports, brackets,
hardware, finials or other decorative features, from building wall
shall not exceed five feet. Signs located in the B-1, B-2, B-3 and
D-1 Districts shall be permitted to project or extend over a public
sidewalk within a public right-of-way, provided that such shall be
no closer than two feet from the face of curb.
(6)
Maximum width of signboard shall not exceed four feet.
(7)
Maximum height of signboard shall not exceed four feet.
(8)
Maximum thickness of signboard shall not exceed eight inches.
(9)
Minimum height of letters, numbers or other characters or images
on the signboard shall be three inches.
(10)
External illumination shall be from above or beside the signboard
and be directly attached to the support, bracket or hardware and no
greater than one foot from the signboard. Illumination shall be directed
to the signboard, not directly visible and limited as to intensity.
Internally illuminated blade signs are not permitted.
Temporary 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 located in the
B-1 and B-2 Business Districts and those portions of the B-3 Business
District fronting on Main Street, subject to the following conditions:
A.
Such signs may be constructed of paper, cardboard or plastic, and
any written, numerical, graphic or photographic material or information
shall constitute such a sign.
B.
Such signs shall be contained entirely within the ground level interior
of the building in which the business is located.
C.
Maximum total area of such signs shall not exceed 25% of the total area of ground level windows, including window portions of doors, fronting on a public street. For the purposes of this subsection, any window area covered with a permitted window painted sign, pursuant to § 110-185C(2), shall be excluded from the calculation of the total area of all ground floor windows.
D.
Information on such signs shall be limited to advertisements for
special promotions, temporary sales and other such similar nonpermanent
sales promotions.
E.
Such signs shall be permitted to be displayed for a period not to
exceed 30 days and shall have the date of installation printed clearly
in the lower right-hand corner of such, as viewed from the exterior.
F.
Such signs shall be maintained in an orderly manner at all times.
G.
This section shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to limit
or prohibit any business from displaying merchandise in an interior
window display area.
Sandwich board signs and other types of portable signs shall
be prohibited in all districts, with the exception of permitted retail
and personal service business uses and eating and drinking establishments
located in the B-1 and B-2 Business Districts and those portions of
the B-3 Business District fronting on Main Street, subject to the
following conditions:
A.
Maximum size of such signboard shall not exceed five square feet
in area. If such sign is two-sided, only one side of such shall be
used for the purpose of calculating the permitted sign area.
B.
Maximum height of letters, numbers or other characters or images
on the signboard shall not exceed six inches.
C.
Such signs shall be located within four feet of an entrance to the
business they advertise and shall not be placed so as to interfere
with pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a street, sidewalk, walkway
or public right-of-way.
D.
Such signs shall be constructed of wood, slate board and/or finished
metal. All colors on such signs shall be consistent with the approved
Metuchen Downtown Colors.
E.
Information contained on such signs shall be limited to advertisements
for special promotions, sales and other such similar nonpermanent
sales promotions.
F.
Such signs shall be maintained in an orderly manner at all times.
G.
In a building with multiple business occupants who share a common
entrance, no more than two such signs shall be permitted, which may
be shared among the applicable businesses entitled to a portable special
promotion sign under the provisions of this section.
H.
Any business use that places or installs such sign, pursuant to this
section, shall be required to conform to all other applicable provisions
of this article; otherwise, such business shall be prohibited from
displaying such sign.
Notwithstanding any provision of this article, special signs
advertising the opening of a new business enterprise or change in
ownership only shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days,
subject to the following conditions:
A.
A temporary zoning permit approving such signs and specifying the
date of removal shall be obtained from the Zoning Officer.
B.
Such signs shall be located on the same property as the business
use they advertise.
C.
The size of such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area, exclusive
of banners, flags, pennants, balloons and similar types of signage
which shall also be permitted under this section only.
D.
Such signs shall be maintained in an orderly manner at all times.
E.
Such signs shall be removed immediately upon expiration of the temporary
zoning permit.
F.
All other applicable provisions of this article shall apply.
The following additional signs for the special purposes specified
below shall be permitted in any district:
A.
Directional signs for parking lots. A maximum of three directional
signs designating an entrance, exit, one-way circulation or reserved
parking spaces shall be permitted in all parking lots. The maximum
size of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area per
sign.
B.
Gasoline pumps at gasoline service stations. Customary lettering
and insignia located on a gasoline pump, consisting of the brand name
of the gasoline sold, a lead warning sign, a price indicator and other
signs required by law shall be permitted at all gasoline pumps located
in gasoline service stations. The maximum size of such signs shall
not exceed a total of three square feet in area per pump. If illuminated,
such signs shall be nonflashing.
C.
Development and construction site signs. A maximum of one temporary
sign shall be permitted on any development site for which final subdivision
or site plan approval has been granted by the Board or on any site
with active construction. The maximum size of such sign shall be 20
square feet in area. The maximum height of such sign shall not exceed
five feet from ground level. The minimum distance such sign shall
be located to any lot line shall be 20 feet, when erected in a yard
area. Such sign may be erected for a period not to exceed six months,
which may, however, be extended for one additional six-month period
by renewal of the sign permits.
D.
Temporary civic and public service signs. A maximum of five square
feet of temporary signs providing information regarding civic events
or public services shall be permitted to be displayed inside the window
of any business use in a business district.
E.
Historic plaques or markers. Signs consisting of plaques or markers
which identify and/or provide information regarding historic sites
or structures shall be permitted in any district in the Borough, provided
that the size of any such sign shall not exceed three square feet
and the location of such is approved by the Borough Council.
The following types of signs are specifically prohibited in
any district in the Borough:
A.
Signs which obstruct any window, door or other opening used as a
regular means of ingress and egress, to provide required light and
ventilation or for emergency access and escape.
B.
Signs that are placed on any sidewalk, street, curb or public right-of-way,
hydrant, lamppost, telephone pole, electric light pole, other type
of utility pole, fence, railroad right-of-way, fixtures of the fire
alarm or police communication system of the Borough or any public
building or structure.
C.
Signs affixed to any tree on public or private property.
D.
Signs maintained at any location where, by reason of color, illumination,
position, size, shape or design, they may obstruct, impair, obscure
or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device or
other official parking, directional, warning or information sign or
where they may interfere with traffic visibility or safety or mislead
or confuse vehicular traffic, as determined by findings of the Chief
of Police.
E.
Flashing, blinking, moving, rotating, animated, revolving or oscillating
signs or signs lighted by such methods.
G.
Signs, billboards and any other advertising devices which direct
attention to a business, commodity, service or other facility that
is conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than on the premises where
the sign is located.
H.
Signs placed where the vision of motorists entering or exiting a
driveway on the premises or an adjoining property is obstructed.
I.
Signs or artifacts incorporating or utilizing neon lighting, except
that such shall be permitted in business districts, provided that
such sign or artifact is located inside a building interior and behind
an exterior window surface. The maximum size of any such sign or artifact
shall be five square feet. A maximum of one such sign shall be permitted
per business use. No such sign or artifact shall blink, flash or rotate.
J.
Signs incorporating or utilizing electronic message boards, except
that such signs shall be permitted in business districts, provided
that such sign or artifact shall be located inside a building interior
and behind an exterior window surface. The maximum size of any such
sign shall be three feet in length, with the maximum height of any
character or graphic not exceeding four inches. A maximum of one such
sign shall be permitted per business use. No such sign shall flash,
blink or rotate.
K.
Signs incorporating or utilizing video display monitors or computer
terminal monitors, except that such signs shall be permitted in business
districts, provided that such sign shall be located inside a building
interior and behind an exterior window surface. The maximum size of
such sign shall be four square feet. A maximum of one such sign shall
be permitted per business use. No such sign shall be permitted to
flash, blink or rotate.
L.
Streamers, pennants, banners, bunting and similar type displays, except as permitted pursuant to § 110-190.
M.
Signs attached to or erected on the roof of any building.
N.
All signs not specifically permitted under any provision in this
article are hereby prohibited.
