In order that the legitimate demands for signage can be met
without the unsightly intrusion of an unlimited number of signs or
inappropriate size, dimension and location, any sign erected or altered
in Muncy Borough after the effective date of this chapter shall conform
to the following regulations.
For the purposes of this chapter, a sign shall be defined as
any surface, fabric, device or structure bearing lettered, pictorial,
or sculptured matter which is designed for visual communication and
used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention
of others. Signage may include a variety of different types of signs,
each with unique functions. The following list describes the types
of signs considered under the provisions of this article.
A.
Bulletin board. A permanent sign or board which identifies a school,
church or place of worship, municipal or government building, library
or museum, historical society or other similar nonprofit public service
or charitable organization located on the same premises. Such signs
may also contain information regarding events or activities occurring
at the facility or similar messages.
B.
Business sign. A sign or board intending to attract motorists or
pedestrians to a business, product, service, or activity that is sold,
produced or conducted on the same premises upon which the sign is
located; i.e., an on-premises sign. For the purposes of this chapter,
business signs may be either freestanding or wall signs.
C.
Freestanding sign. A self-supporting sign resting on the ground or
supported by means of a pole or standard placed in or on the ground.
Such signs may advertise a business, institution, product, or item
offered for sale or that is directly related to the premises on which
such sign is located; i.e., a business sign.
D.
Ground sign. A type of freestanding sign that is attached or affixed
to the ground.
E.
Parallel wall sign. A type of wall sign that is mounted flush or
parallel to the face of its supporting wall, and which does not exceed
six inches in depth or thickness.
F.
Permanent sign. A sign intended to be used indefinitely.
G.
Pole sign. A type of freestanding sign that is supported vertically
by means of one or more poles or uprights placed in the ground.
H.
Product or service advertising sign. A device, structure or object
used to advertise a product, service, commodity, or activity available
or occurring on the same premises as the sign. Such signs shall include,
but not be limited to, placards, boards, or other devices which are
mounted, hung or painted on the inside of windows and faced outward,
or are placed outside of a business, either on the building itself
or on the same lot as the business, which advertise or are intended
to advertise the variety, type or pricing of available products or
services. Flags, pennants, and banners which advertise specific products
or services shall also be considered product or service advertising
signs for the purposes of this chapter.
I.
Projecting wall sign. A type of wall sign with its horizontal plane
attached at right angles or perpendicular to its supporting wall and
which projects more than six inches from such wall.
J.
Temporary sign. A sign intended to be used for a limited time only,
not permanent.
K.
Wall sign. A sign which is attached either parallel or perpendicular
to the face of its supporting wall. (See provisions regarding parallel
and projecting wall signs.)
A.
Zoning permit requirements.
(1)
A zoning permit shall be required for the placement, erection, or alteration of any permanent sign, except name plates or personal identification signs, property posting signs, property sale or rental signs, and municipally placed directional or public service signs. (See also Subsection F below.)
(2)
No sign shall be enlarged or relocated except in conformity with
the provisions of this article governing new signs. Further, such
enlargement or relocation shall require the issuance of a zoning permit.
The changing of moveable parts of an approved sign that is designed
for such changes, or the repainting or reposting of display matter
shall not be deemed an alteration, provided that the terms and conditions
of the original approval and requirements of this article are not
violated.
B.
Construction and maintenance.
(1)
Signs permitted under this article shall be adequately maintained
to avoid their deterioration, decay or other conditions that might
endanger public health, welfare or safety.
(2)
All signs that advertise a business or commodity that is no longer
available must be removed within 15 days of that termination.
C.
Sign area. For the purposes of this chapter, "sign area" shall include
the entire face of a single side of a sign, including all trim and
border area, but excluding any supporting framework or bracing. A
double-faced sign shall be considered a single sign. Where a sign
consists of individual letters or symbols attached to a building,
the area of the sign shall be the smallest rectangle or other regular
geometric shape which encompasses all of the letters and/or symbols.
D.
Location.
(1)
No sign shall be erected at the intersection of streets so as to
obstruct a motorist's clear vision.
(2)
No sign shall reduce the sidewalk for pedestrians to less than four
feet in width.
(3)
No sign shall be placed on any municipal post, pole, or sign.
(4)
No portion of any sign shall be placed or erected closer than three
feet to an adjoining property line.
(5)
No sign shall be erected or placed which would prevent free ingress
or egress to any door, window or fire escape, nor shall any sign be
situated so as to prevent access from one part of a roof to any other
part of that roof. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe, downspout,
or fire escape.
(6)
No rooftop sign or sign extending over the roadway will be permitted
in any zoning district.
(7)
Real estate, public auction, public office election, and yard sale
signs may be placed in front of the property between the sidewalk
and the street if there is no room between the building and the sidewalk.
E.
Lighting.
(1)
All sign illumination shall be nonflashing, nonglaring, and nonanimated
in nature and shall be shielded to prevent any direct rays being seen
from the street or adjoining property.
(2)
No sign located within the direct line of vision of any traffic control
signal shall contain red, green or amber illumination.
(3)
Illuminated signs shall not cause any excessive glare, electrical
or other disturbance which is incompatible with the nature of the
adjoining neighborhood where it is located.
(4)
No internally illuminated or backlighted signs shall be permitted
within any of the Residential Districts.
F.
Exceptions.
(1)
Official traffic signs, governmental signs, or municipal service
signs may be placed as needed and wherever needed as determined by
Borough Council with no restriction on their size, lighting or length
of placement.
(2)
Emergency signs, whether placed by the police, fire department, Borough
Maintenance personnel, or PennDOT, may be placed wherever needed with
no restriction on their size, lighting or length of placement.
G.
Nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign may be continued and may
be replaced with substantially the same type of sign if such sign
is initially nonconforming.
Signs may be placed in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Residential
Zoning Districts in the Borough, subject to the following requirements:
A.
Permanent signs.
(1)
A parallel wall sign, not exceeding four square feet in area, used
to display and identify the name of the individual, professional organization
or institution occupying the premises, may be permitted. All such
signs must be flush-mounted to the main wall of the main building
and shall not exceed six inches in depth or thickness.
(2)
A bulletin board, in the form of a wall sign or a freestanding sign,
not exceeding 24 square feet in area, indicating the services of a
church or similar institution, including the church or institution
name, if desired, may be permitted for each street frontage.
(3)
No permanent sign permitted in a Residential District shall exceed
four feet in length.
B.
Temporary signs.
(1)
A temporary sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, for rental,
lease or sale of the property on which the sign is displayed, may
be permitted. Any such sign shall be removed on the day of closing
or commencement of the lease.
(2)
A temporary sign, not exceeding four square feet in area, notifying
the public of a candidate for public office, may be permitted. Such
signs may be erected no more than 30 days prior to a primary or general
election and must be removed within 24 hours after the election.
(3)
A temporary sign, not exceeding four square feet in area, notifying
the public of a yard sale to be held or being held on the premises,
may be permitted. Such signs may be erected no more than five days
prior to the sale and must be removed within 24 hours after the sale.
Further, all signs related to the sale may only be placed on the premises
where the sale is conducted.
(4)
A temporary sign, not exceeding four square feet in area, notifying
the public of the name and address of a contractor performing work
on the premises, may be permitted. Such signs may be erected no more
the five days prior to commencement of the work and must be removed
within 48 hours following completion of the work.
(5)
A temporary sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, notifying
the public of an event to be held or being held on the premises of
a church, nonprofit agency, library, historical society, school or
hospital, or volunteer fire department, may be permitted. Such signs
may be erected no more than 30 days prior to the event and must be
removed within 24 hours after the event. Further, other temporary
signs related to the event may be placed in the General Commercial,
the Central Business, and Industrial Districts, but only with the
permission of the property owner.
(6)
All temporary signs shall meet the general sign provisions set forth in § 286-77 of this chapter.
(7)
A temporary sign, not exceeding 16 square feet, notifying the public
of the sale, rental or lease of a property may be placed on the property
for up to six months.
Signs may be placed in the Central Business District or General
Commercial District in the Borough subject to the following requirements:
A.
Permanent signs.
(1)
Those signs permitted in § 286-78A, permanent signs in residential districts, may also be permitted in any Commercial District at the same size, in the same number, and in the same style.
(2)
In addition to those signs permitted above, in the Central Business
District a business sign, which directs attention to a commercial
enterprise, or a commodity, service or entertainment which is conducted,
sold, or offered upon the premises where the sign is located may also
be permitted subject to the following standards:
(a)
Business signs in the CBD may be either parallel or projecting
wall signs and may not exceed 60 square feet in area.
(b)
Parallel wall signs must be flush-mounted to the main wall of
the main building and shall not exceed six inches in depth or thickness.
(c)
Projecting wall signs may not project more than 24 inches from
the surface of the wall to which they are attached. Further, no portion
of a projecting wall sign proposed to project more than six inches
from the wall may be less than 10 feet above the basic grade of the
site.
(3)
In addition to the signs permitted in Subsection A(1) above, business signs in the General Commercial District may be permitted as follows:
(a)
Business signs in the General Commercial District may be either
parallel or projecting wall signs or freestanding ground or pole signs.
Wall signs and freestanding pole signs shall not exceed 60 square
feet in area and freestanding ground signs shall not exceed an area
of 30 square feet.
(b)
Parallel wall signs must be flush-mounted to the main wall of
the main building and shall not exceed six inches in depth or thickness.
(c)
Projecting wall signs may not project more than 24 inches from
the surface of the wall to which they are attached. Further, no portion
of a projecting wall sign proposed to project more than six inches
from the wall may be less than 10 feet above the basic grade of the
site.
(d)
Freestanding pole signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height above
the average grade of the site nor be less than 10 feet in height when
located in a parking or pedestrian circulation area. Freestanding
ground signs shall not exceed five feet in height above the average
grade of the site. All freestanding business signs must be placed
within the "buildable area" of the commercial lot.
(4)
There shall be no more than one permanent sign permitted per numeric
address.
B.
Temporary signs.
(1)
A temporary sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, notifying the public of an event to be held or being held on the premises, may be permitted. Further, temporary signs related to an event occurring in a Residential District may also be placed on lots in any of the Commercial Districts as provided in § 286-78B(4) of this chapter.
(2)
A temporary sign, not exceeding six square feet in area, which advertises
a business, commodity, service, or entertainment activity taking place
on the premises where the sign is located, may be permitted.
(3)
A freestanding temporary sign placed in front of a business in the
Central Business District or General Commercial District may be placed
within three feet of the curb, but must be removed daily by closing
or dusk, whichever comes first.
(4)
There shall be no more than one temporary sign permitted per numeric
address.
(5)
All temporary signs shall meet the general sign provisions set forth in § 286-77 of this chapter.
(6)
Where proposed in conjunction with a permissible commercial use or
activity in the Central Business District or General Commercial District,
product or service advertising signs may be erected subject to the
following requirements:
(a)
The total amount of permissible product or service advertising
signage per commercial establishment shall not exceed 32 square feet
for establishments containing less than 10,000 square feet of gross
floor area and 64 square feet for establishments containing more than
10,000 square feet of gross floor area.
(b)
All such signs shall be nonflashing, nonanimated, and nonilluminated,
and shall be located on the same lot as the business or product they
are advertising.
Signs may be placed in the Industrial District in the Borough
subject to the following requirements:
A.
Permanent signs.
(1)
All permanent signs permitted in other zoning districts within the
Borough may be permitted in the Industrial District at the same size,
in the same number, and in the same style.
(2)
In addition to those signs permitted above, a business sign which
directs attention to an occupant, product, commodity, service or entertainment
which is conducted, sold, or offered upon the premises where the sign
is located, may also be permitted as follows:
(a)
Business signs in the Industrial District may be either parallel
or projecting wall signs or freestanding ground or pole signs. Wall
signs and freestanding pole signs shall not exceed 200 square feet
in area, and freestanding ground signs shall not exceed an area of
50 square feet.
(b)
Parallel wall signs must be flush-mounted to the main wall of
the main building and shall not exceed six inches in depth or thickness.
(c)
Projecting wall signs may not project more than 36 inches from
the surface of the wall to which they are attached. Further, no portion
of a projecting wall sign proposed to project more than six inches
from the wall may be less than 10 feet above the basic grade of the
site.
(d)
Freestanding pole signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height above
the average grade of the site nor be less than 10 feet in height when
located in a parking or pedestrian circulation area. Freestanding
ground signs shall not exceed five feet in height above the average
grade of the site. All freestanding business signs must be placed
within the "buildable area" of the industrial lot.
(3)
There shall be no more than one permanent sign permitted per street
frontage.
B.
Temporary signs.
Signs placed in any identified floodplain area shall be subject
to the regulations of the underlying district, except that no sign
in any identified floodplain area may impede natural drainage or the
flow of water.
