The following signs shall be exempted from these regulations:
A. Directional, information or public service signs, such as those advertising
the availability of rest rooms, telephones or similar public conveniences
and signs advertising meeting times and places of nonprofit service
or charitable clubs or organizations, provided that such signs do
not advertise any commercial or industrial establishment activity
or organization. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area.
B. Signs of schools, colleges, churches, hospitals or of institutions
of a similar nature relating exclusively to the identity, activities
and services of such institutions, provided that such signs shall
not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be limited to one such
sign for each separate use.
C. Nameplates not exceeding two square feet in area.
In all districts, temporary signs, including signs advertising
land or premises available for purchase, development or occupancy,
or announcements of special events, or signs of mechanics or artisans,
shall be permitted, provided that:
A. Real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. Not more
than two such signs shall be erected for any property held in single
or separate ownership. Such signs must be removed by the person or
persons erecting them upon completion of the sale or rental of the
property.
B. Other such signs shall not exceed 18 square feet in area, shall be
limited to one per property and shall be removed immediately upon
the completion of work. The site or building upon which the sign was
erected shall be restored to its original condition upon removal of
such signs.
Business signs accessory to legal commercial uses shall be permitted,
provided that:
A. All business signs shall advertise goods or services sold or produced
on the premises on which the signs are located.
B. Signs erected on supports or suspended or projected from a building,
including banners or flags, shall not exceed 40 square feet per face
in area.
C. Signs erected by fastening a board or other prepainted material having
prepainted or printed thereon letters, words or insignias, or by erecting
or superimposing separate cutout letters on the walls of a building,
or by placing said letters on a plane surface which projects from
the walls of a building, shall not have a total area in excess of
two square feet per front foot of the building or of the space occupied
within the building on which they are erected. Where there is a corner
building, only one side of the building shall be included in determining
the front feet of a building, but in no case may such a sign on the
side(s) of a corner building be in excess of two square feet times
the lineal length of the longest side.
D. When individual letters are used separately on a plane surface, the
spaces between said letters shall be included in computing the area
of the sign.
E. Mounted signs shall be installed parallel to the supporting wall
and shall project not more than 12 inches from the face of any such
wall.
F. A nonconforming sign on a nonconforming use may be continued, but
the area of such sign or signs shall not be increased.
G. The aggregate total area of all signs on each commercial parcel shall
be a maximum of 60 square feet per face per principal use, or two
square feet per front foot of the building, whichever is less. Where
more than one principal use exists on a parcel, the aggregate or total
sign area for all uses within the structure or building shall not
exceed two square feet per front foot of the longest dimension of
the building.
H. Signs shall not be painted directly on the surface of any building.
The following regulations shall be observed:
A. No sign shall be erected within or project into the lines of a street
right-of-way, except traffic signs and similar regulatory notices
of a duly constituted governmental body.
B. No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as a part
of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for
attention with or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
C. Floodlighting shall be arranged so that the source of light is not
visible from any point off the lot and so that only the sign is directly
illuminated thereby.
D. No sign shall be erected except on the property to which it is related.
E. Billboards are permissible as a conditional use in commercial and
industrial districts only.
[Amended 2-12-1986 by Ord. No. 1302]
F. Flashing, moving or oscillating lights are expressly prohibited.
G. No sign shall be erected containing information on it which states
or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted
under the provisions of this chapter.
H. Every sign permitted must be constructed of durable material and
kept in good condition and repair. Any sign which is allowed to become
dilapidated shall be removed by the Borough at the expense of the
owner or lessee of the property on which it is located.
I. Nonconforming signs, once removed physically, may be replaced only
with conforming signs. Every sign erected shall also comply with the
requirements for the zoning district in which said sign is erected.
J. No projected business sign shall be placed facing an abutting residential
district, except when authorized as a special exception.
K. If any use of a building, structure or land, or a combination of
buildings, structures or land, ceases for a period of six months,
all signs accessory to such use shall be removed. Such signs may be
removed by the Borough at the expense of the owner or lessee of the
property on which such sign is located.
[Amended 2-2-1977 by Ord. No. 119]
L. Commercial sign structures (billboards, outdoor advertising signs)
may be erected where permitted as a conditional use, provided that
said commercial sign structures do not exceed 300 square feet in surface
area and are spaced at intervals of not less than 1,000 feet along
the same side of any street or highway within the Borough of West
View. No commercial sign structure shall be located within 100 feet
of any intersection.
[Added 2-12-1986 by Ord. No. 1302]
M. No sign shall be so illuminated as to permit spotlights or floodlights
to shine into or have a blinding effect upon vehicular traffic. No
sign shall be so illuminated as to constitute a nuisance by spilling
light into any adjacent residential property.
[Added 2-12-1986 by Ord. No. 1302]
N. Maintenance. Every sign shall be kept in a state of good repair from
the standpoint of safety, fire protection and appearance. The Zoning
Officer shall require such maintenance and, in the event of failure
of the sign owner to correct unsafe conditions or dilapidated appearance
within 15 days, the Zoning Officer shall order the removal of the
sign by the Borough at the owner's expense. All signs not owned
by the person, firm or organization advertising thereon shall carry
a clearly legible imprint showing the owner's name.
[Added 2-12-1986 by Ord. No. 1302]