The purposes of this article are to regulate the type and dimensions
of signs in the various zoning districts of Bethel Township, to recognize
the commercial communication requirements of all sectors of the business
community, to protect the public from damage or injury caused or attributable
to distractions and obstructions caused by improperly designed or
located signs, to safeguard property values and to assure that signs
are consistent and harmonious in relation to the buildings and areas
where they are placed.
The size of any sign shall be determined in accordance with
the provisions of this article and the following:
A. 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 geometric shape formed by the extreme outside edge of the largest
letters, numbers or logos contained in the sign.
B. When a sign consists of 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 determined by calculating the area of the lettered
board.
C. When a sign is a freestanding sign or ground 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.
The following signs, exactly as described below, are exempt from the need to secure a permit and are allowed within all zoning districts of the Township but are subject to the provisions of §§
480-112 and
480-113.
A. Real estate signs. Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises
or lot upon which they are erected, provided that:
(1)
No more than one such sign shall be erected for any premises
or lot 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)
No such sign shall be illuminated.
(3)
All such signs must be removed on or before the date of settlement.
(4)
All real estate signs which do not exceed six square feet do
not require a permit.
(5)
All real estate signs from six square feet to 20 square feet
do require a permit pursuant to this article.
(6)
No signs which direct traffic to real estate that is for sale
or rent can be placed on another property.
(7)
Directional real estate signs pertaining to open houses may
be placed 1/2 hour prior to the open house and must be removed 1/2
hour after the open house.
B. Decorations for a recognized officially designated holiday, provided
they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
C. Official and governmental signs which shall include safety signs,
trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of
interest and traffic signs.
D. Signs designated the name of the owner or occupant of a property,
the address of such property, the private ownership or roadways or
other property, provided:
(1)
Such sign is not in excess of two square feet in area.
(2)
Not more than one such sign is erected for each use.
E. Temporary yard sale or garage sale signs, provided signs:
(1)
Do not exceed two square feet in area.
(2)
Shall be removed within 24 hours after said sale.
F. Temporary signs announcing a public, educational, charitable, civic,
or religious event, provided:
(1)
Such sign may be erected for a period not to exceed 30 days
nor more than three times in any calendar year.
(2)
Such sign shall not exceed eight square feet.
(3)
Such sign shall not be placed in such a position that it will
cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
(4)
Such sign shall be no closer than five feet to the right-of-way
line of a public street, unless specifically approved by the Township
Zoning Officer.
(5)
All temporary signs shall be removed within 24 hours after the
event.
G. Window signs. Such signs shall be used to serve as an accessory sign
to the sign associated with the principal use.
(1)
Window signs shall be permitted in the commercial district and
where nonconforming commercial uses occur in other districts.
(2)
The total area of window signs shall not exceed 25% of the total
glass area of the window in which it is placed.
I. Trespassing signs or signs indicating the private nature of a driveway
or premises, provided that the size of any such sign shall not exceed
two square feet.
J. Signs of contractors, mechanics and artisans, provided that:
(1)
Such signs shall be erected only on the premises or lot where
such work is being performed.
(2)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(3)
No such sign shall be illuminated, except that all signs for
detours may be illuminated and flashing amber.
(4)
Such signs shall be removed promptly upon completion of the
work by the contractor, mechanic or artisan.
K. Signs advertising sale of farm products grown on the premises, provided
that:
(1)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
(2)
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.
(3)
No such sign shall be illuminated.
(4)
Such sign shall be displayed only when farm products are on
sale.
L. Informational signs such as entrance, exit, no parking, visitor 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:
(1)
The area of said sign shall not exceed two square feet in area.
(2)
Such sign shall not contain any advertising.
The following signs are permitted, provided a sign permit has
been obtained for such sign.
A. Temporary signs advertising political parties or candidates for election.
(1)
The size of any such sign is not in excess of four square feet.
(2)
The erector of such signs or an authorized agent of the political
party or candidate applies for and obtains a permit for the Township
Zoning Officer and deposits with the Township at the time of his application,
the sum of $25 per each 100 such signs, or fraction thereof, as a
guarantee that all such signs will be removed promptly within 20 days
after the date of the election to which such signs relate. If such
signs are not removed at the end of 30 days, the Township shall have
them removed and keep the full sum deposited to reimburse the expenses
incurred by it and for the general Township purposes.
(3)
In no event shall temporary signs advertising political parties
or candidates for election be placed on public property owned by the
Township or the Garnet Valley School District. Temporary signs advertising
political parties or candidates may be placed on public property owned
by the Township or Garnet Valley School District on election day if
such public property serves as a polling place.
[Added 4-15-2013 by Ord. No. 205]
B. Signs in residential and similar districts. The following types of
signs and no others shall be permitted in R-1, R-3, Apartment, Townhouse,
Mobile Home and Planned Residential Development Districts:
(1)
Professional, accessory use or name signs indicating the name,
profession or activity of the occupant of a dwelling, provided that:
(a)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
(b)
Not more than one such sign shall be erected for each permitted
use or dwelling.
(c)
No such sign shall be illuminated except by lighting, concealed
or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(2)
Identification signs for apartment complexes, schools, colleges,
churches, hospitals, and other permitted uses other than dwellings,
provided that:
(a)
The size of any such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet.
(b)
Not more than one such sign shall be erected on the premises.
(c)
No such sign shall be illuminated except by lighting, concealed
or indirect, attached to the sign itself.
(3)
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 temporary signs shall be removed upon settlement of
all lots on the premises in all approved phases of the development.
(e)
Permanent signs designating the name of a development shall
be limited to 32 square feet, may be double-faced and are limited
to one such sign at each entrance to the development.
C. Signs in nonresidential districts.
(1)
General provisions. The following types of signs shall be permitted
in the Commercial and Industrial Districts.
(a)
Any sign permitted in a residential district.
(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 32 square feet.
[3]
No such sign shall be illuminated.
[4]
All such signs shall be removed not later than on the date of
settlement.
(c) Freestanding and ground signs in the Commercial or Industrial District
may contain an electronic message board. Any electronic message component
of a freestanding or ground sign must display messages solely and
directly related to the permitted commercial or industrial use of
the premises and/or nonprofit and/or community events. Such electronic
message boards may not display electronic messages in such a manner
as to create glare, confuse or distract the attention of motor vehicle
operators, or cause a public nuisance.
[Added 4-15-2013 by Ord. No. 205]
(2)
Freestanding signs. Except where specifically noted otherwise,
not more than one freestanding sign shall be erected for each building
or group of buildings. However, one additional freestanding sign may
be erected in the case of a property with more than one street frontage.
(a)
The height of freestanding signs shall not exceed the following:
[1]
Commercial Districts: 25 feet.
[2]
Limited Industrial Districts: 35 feet.
(b)
Size of freestanding signs.
[1]
Commercial districts.
[a] One sign with a maximum of 50 square feet is permitted
for a detached building or buildings with nine or fewer attached establishments.
[b] One sign with a maximum of 60 square feet is permitted
for two or more detached buildings in single ownership or buildings
with 10 or more attached establishments.
[2]
Limited industrial district.
[a] One freestanding sign listing all establishments
in a development shall be created at the main roadway and one such
sign in the interior of the development.
[b] The size of the roadway sign shall not exceed 70
square feet while those in the interior shall not exceed 25 square
feet per building.
(3)
Freestanding signs at drive-through restaurants. A restaurant
with drive-through service may erect one additional freestanding sign,
which shall be a menu sign, provided that such sign shall not exceed
25 square feet.
(4)
Temporary mobile signs. 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. Said signs
shall require a permit and a permit fee of $25. Such temporary signs may be erected for a period not to
exceed 30 days nor more than three times in any calendar year. Only
one sign per business shall be permitted.
(5)
Wall signs.
(a)
Not more than one wall sign shall be permitted for every establishment
with direct access to a parking area, except that establishments on
corner properties may erect one additional wall sign.
(b)
Size of wall signs.
[1]
Detached buildings in Commercial District: 25 square feet.
[2]
Limited Industrial District: 40 square feet.
(c)
Establishments with no direct access to parking area (establishments
in interior of building) shall be permitted one wall sign, which shall
be no larger than six square feet.
(d)
Establishments on second or upper floors shall be permitted
one wall sign, the size of which shall not exceed 10 square feet.
(6)
Awning signs. Awning signs shall conform to the dimensional regulations relating to wall signs in Subsection
C(5) above.
(7)
Temporary promotional banner signs. In the event of a grand
opening or similar promotional event, temporary promotional banner,
signs, posters or similar devices shall be permitted in the C-1 and
C-2 Zoning Districts, provided that the property owner applies for
and obtains a special sign permit for the same from the Township Board
of Supervisors. All temporary promotional banner signs shall comply
with the following restrictions:
[Added 4-15-2013 by Ord. No. 205]
(a) Any temporary promotion banner signs shall be permitted to be displayed
for no more than seven consecutive days;
(b) Temporary promotional banner signs shall be affixed at four corners
or shall be otherwise securely attached to a stable flat surface;
(c) No special promotional device may be used which would create glare,
confuse or distract the attention of motor vehicle operators or, by
its size or composition, cause a public nuisance;
(d) No such device shall be placed within 10 feet of the edgy of a public
right-of-way.
(8) Feather
flag signs. Feather flag signs shall be permitted in the C-1 and C-2
Zoning Districts, provided that the property owner applies for and
obtains an annual permit from the Board of Supervisors for the placement
of feather flag signs. All feather flag signs shall comply with the
following restrictions:
[Added 4-15-2013 by Ord. No. 205]
(a) Feather flag signs must be set a minimum of 20 linear feet apart
along a front yard. In no event may more than four feather flag signs
be displayed on any one C-1 or C-2 District lot;
(b) Feather flag signs must be set back from the front property line
by at least 10 feet;
(c) Feather flag signs shall be considered temporary promotional signs
and as such shall be displayed no more than 100 days in a calendar
year and in all events must be removed at the close of business on
a daily basis;
(d) Feather flag signs shall not exceed 12 feet in height and two feet
in width.
If any sign is in violation of this article, the Township or
any aggrieved owner or tenant of real property who shows that his
property or person will be substantially affected by the alleged violation,
in addition to other remedies, may institute an appropriate action
or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct or abate such violation.
When any such action is instituted by a landowner or tenant, notice
of that action shall be served upon the Township at least 30 days
prior to the time the action is begun by serving a copy of the complaint
on the Township. No such action may be maintained until such notice
has been given.
Magisterial District Judges shall have initial jurisdiction
over proceedings brought under Article X-A of the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code, as amended.,