The intent of this article is to encourage the use of various
types of signs as a means of identification in Wilkinsburg Borough
while maintaining and enhancing the aesthetic and physical environment,
community character and public safety. The purpose of this article
is:
The regulations contained in this section shall apply to all
signs in all zoning districts. No sign may be erected, placed, established,
painted, created, altered or maintained except in conformance with
the standards, procedures, regulations and requirements contained
herein.
A.
Method of sign authorization and approval. For the purposes of this
chapter, signs shall be authorized for approval pursuant to the following:
(1)
Authorized signs are those for which a zoning approval has been
issued by the Zoning Officer following a review of an application
if the application indicates compliance with this chapter.
(2)
Exempt signs are signs that are authorized but that are exempt
from regulation under this chapter and do not require zoning approval.
(3)
Prohibited signs are those not authorized by this chapter nor
exempt from regulation.
B.
Accessory uses. Signs shall be considered accessory uses (other than outdoor advertising signs) on the lot or site they are located and subordinate to the principal use of the lot. Signs shall be subject to the requirements of Article III, "accessory uses," of this chapter in addition to the requirements of this chapter.
C.
Principal uses. Outdoor advertising signs (billboards) are considered
the principal use of a lot or site on which they are located and shall
comply with all the requirements of this chapter.
D.
Alteration of sign face. The physical alteration of a sign face or
supporting structure shall be considered the same as construction
of a new sign, which shall require zoning approval and conformity
to all the requirements of this article.
E.
Signs on public property. Any sign installed or placed on public
property or within a public right-of-way, except in conformance with
the requirements of this article, shall be forfeited and is subject
to confiscation in addition to other remedies the Zoning Officer shall
have pursuant to this chapter.
For the purposes of this section, all signs shall be classified
by the following definitions:
A name, identification, description, display, illustration
or device which is affixed or represented directly or indirectly upon
a building, structure or land and which functions as an accessory
use by directing attention to a product, place, activity, person,
institution, or business. The following terms and definitions are
associated with the sign regulations contained in this chapter:
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A-FRAME — A portable sign comprised of two separate panels
or faces joined at the top and spread apart at the bottom to form
the base on which the sign stands.
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ADDRESS — The number or other designation assigned to
a housing unit, business establishment, or other structure for all
purposes of location, mail delivery, and emergency services
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ANIMATED OR MOVING — Any sign or part of a sign that changes
physical position or light intensity by any movement or rotation or
that gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation. Changeable
copy signs as defined herein are not considered animated or moving
signs.
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ANIMATION — The movement or the optical illusion of movement
of any part of the sign structure, design or pictorial segment, including
the movement of any illumination or the flashing, scintillating or
varying of light intensity. Also included in this definition are signs
having "chasing action" which is the action of a row of lights commonly
used to create the appearance of motion.
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AWNING, CANOPY — Any sign that is a part of or attached
to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic or structural protective
cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area. A marquee
is not a canopy.
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BANNER — A sign or outside advertising display having
the character, letters, illustrations, ornamentations, symbol, color
or visual representation applied to cloth, paper, vinyl, fabric, plastic,
or like kind of malleable material with or without frame. National,
state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution
or business, shall not be considered banners.
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BUILDING IDENTIFICATION — A small pedestrian-oriented
sign attached to a building which bears only the name, number(s) and/or
logo of the building but not the tenant and which is intended to be
legible only from the pedestrianways immediately adjacent to the sign.
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CHANGEABLE COPY — A sign that is designed so that characters,
letters, or illustrations can be changed or rearranged manually to
change the message on the sign without altering the face or surface
of the sign.
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CHANGEABLE COPY, REMOTE — A sign that is designed so that
characters, letters, or illustrations can be changed or rearranged
remotely by electronic or other means to change the message or sign
without altering the face or surface of the sign.
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COMBINED DEVELOPMENT — Two or more establishments or businesses
occupying a common building or adjoining or adjacent buildings or
buildings on adjoining parcels which are designed and developed in
a coordinated manner and which may share parking, driveways and other
common facilities.
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COMMERCIAL MESSAGE — Any sign wording, logo, or other
representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or
calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial
activity.
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CONSTRUCTION — A temporary sign announcing the name of
contractors, mechanics, or artisans engaged in performing work on
the premises and only during active construction activities.
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DEVELOPMENT — A temporary sign erected during the period
of construction and/or development of a property by the contractor
and developer or their agent.
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DIRECTIONAL, INCIDENTAL — A sign generally informational,
that has a purpose secondary to the use of the lot or site on which
it is located, such as "No Parking," "Entrance," "Exit," "One Way,"
"Loading Only," "Telephone," and other similar directives, and provided
that such sign does not exceed five square feet. Directional, incidental
signs shall be located only in conjunction with site drive entrances
and/or internal traffic drive aisles.
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ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD — A sign which displays messages,
such as time and temperature, in alternating light cycles.
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FLAG — Any fabric containing distinctive colors, patterns,
or symbols, used as a symbol of the United States of America, the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or the local municipality. A flag is
not a sign.
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FLASHING — A sign that contains an intermittent or sequential
flashing light source or has a light source which is not stationary,
varies in illumination intensity, or contains elements which give
the appearance of any of the aforementioned.
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FREESTANDING — Any sign supported by structures or supports
that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent
from any building or other structure.
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GOVERNMENTAL — A sign, which is owned, installed, and
maintained by the Borough of Wilkinsburg, County of Allegheny, the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or other governmental agency.
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GROUND/MONUMENT — A freestanding sign, which is completely
self-supporting, has its sign face or base on the ground and has no
air space, columns, or supports visible between the ground and the
bottom of the sign. It shall not be attached to a pole or pylon, nor
raised by mounting on a man-made berm, wall, or similar structure.
Pole/pylon signs that have pole covers which extend from the base
of the sign face to the ground shall not be considered ground/monument
signs.
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HOME OCCUPATION IDENTIFICATION — A sign containing only
the name and address of the occupant of the premises and his or her
occupation. No logos or other advertising shall be permitted.
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ILLUMINATED SIGN, EXTERNAL — A sign lighted by or exposed
to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed
toward the sign.
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ILLUMINATED SIGN, INTERNAL — A sign containing a source
of light contained within the sign structure or sign cabinet.
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INFLATABLE — A three-dimensional object, filled with air
or gas, and located in such a manner as to attract attention.
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MARQUEE — An integral part of the building consisting
of a roof which is supported by the building and may also be supported
by columns or piers, and which includes porches, porticos and porte
cocheres, but does not include canopies or awnings.
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MARQUEE SIGN — A wall sign attached to a marquee.
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MENU BOARD SIGN — A sign that lists for consumers the
various options of products, goods, or services provided by a business.
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OFF-PREMISES — A sign identifying/advertising and/or directing
the public to a business, merchandise, service, institution, residential
area, or entertainment which is located, sold, rented, leased, produced,
manufactured and/or furnished at a place other than the real property
on which said sign is located. However, outdoor advertising or billboard
signs shall not be considered to be off-premises signs.
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ON-PREMISES — A sign or display that identifies or communicates
a message related to the activity conducted, the service offered,
or the commodity sold on the premises where the sign is located.
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OUTDOOR ADVERTISING (BILLBOARD) — A permanently installed
sign identifying/advertising and/or directing the public to a business,
merchandise, service, institution, residential area, or entertainment
which is located, sold, rented, leased, produced, manufactured and/or
furnished at a place other than the real property on which said sign
is located.
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PANEL — The primary surface of a sign that carries the
identifying/advertising message.
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PENNANT — Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material,
whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a
rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the
wind.
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POLE/PYLON SIGN — A freestanding sign erected on a pole,
poles, pylon, or pylons, or other supporting structure where the bottom
edge of a sign face is installed above the ground. Pole/pylon signs
that have pole covers which extend from the base of the sign face
to the ground shall not be considered ground/monument signs.
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POLITICAL — A sign which indicates the name, cause or
affiliation of a person seeking public or elected office or on which
reference is made to an issue for which a public election or referendum
is scheduled to be held.
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PORTABLE — Any sign not permanently attached to the ground
or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported,
including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by
means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; sandwich board
signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and
signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the
public right-of-way, unless a vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day
operations of the business.
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PROJECTION — A sign which reproduces a remote image, by
optical or any other means, on any surface.
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PUBLIC UTILITY — Signs in connection with the identification,
operation or protection of any public utility, on the same lot therewith,
provided that the total sign area on any one street frontage does
not exceed eight square feet.
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REAL ESTATE SIGN — A temporary sign advertising the real
estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease, or
sale.
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RESIDENTIAL — Any sign located in a district zoned for
residential uses that contains no commercial message except advertising
for goods or services legally offered on the premises where the sign
is located, if offering such service at such location conforms with
all requirements of this chapter.
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RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFICATION — Any sign used
to identify the name of a residential development containing no commercial
message and located at the principal entrances of such development.
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ROOF SIGN — A sign erected on or attached to a roof or
a sign attached to a building that projects above the highest point
on a wall that supports the roofline.
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SAFETY CONTROL — Public safety sign pursuant to federal,
state, or local public safety regulations.
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SIGN BASE — The support on which a sign face stands.
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SIGN FACE — The area or display surface, including the
advertising surface and any framing, trim, or molding, used for the
message on a single plane.
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SIGN or SIGNBOARD — Any writing, printing, painting, display,
emblem, drawing, graphic, electronic display, computerized display
or other device designed to be viewed by the public, designed and
intended for advertising, and the structure supporting the display.
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SITE DEVELOPMENT SIGN — A sign indicating that the premises
is in the process of being subdivided and/or developed for the future
construction of dwellings or other buildings before any actual construction
activity has begun.
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STREAMER — A string or strip of miniature or full-size
pennants or flags which may or may not be suspended between two points.
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SUSPENDED — A sign which is suspended from a structure
above into a vehicular or pedestrian accessway, more than one foot
from the surface on which it is mounted, and is mounted usually, but
not always, at right angles to the building.
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TEMPORARY SIGN, GENERAL — Any sign, banner, pennant, valance
or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric,
cardboard, wallboard or other light material, with or without frame,
displayed for a period not exceeding 31 days. Temporary signs shall
be permitted to advertise grand openings, distress sales, change in
ownership, or temporary businesses which have been approved by the
Planning Commission, Borough Council or Zoning Hearing Board.
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TIME-AND-TEMPERATURE SIGN — A sign which indicates changing
time and/or temperature.
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TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN — A sign regulating traffic.
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WALL SIGN — Any sign painted on, attached to, or affixed
to a building or structure, attached flat against the wall surface,
in such a way that only one face of a sign is visible.
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WINDOW SIGN — Any sign, picture, symbol, or combination
thereof designed to communicate information about an activity, business,
commodity, event, sale, or service that is temporarily affixed inside
a window or upon the windowpanes or glass and is visible from the
exterior of the window.
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A.
The following signs shall be exempt from these regulations:
(1)
Holiday decorations displayed for recognized state and federal
holidays.
(2)
Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public
safety official.
(3)
Memorial/historical plaques.
(4)
Memorial signs and tablets when cut into any masonry surface
or when constructed of bronze or other sculptured materials.
(5)
Flags of a government organization or corporate entity.
(6)
Signs authorized by the Borough such as street signs, safety
control signs and traffic control signs.
(7)
Public notice/public warning signs.
(8)
Auction or garage sale signs that are temporary.
(9)
Address numbering.
(10)
Construction sign (temporary).
(11)
Signs of any type placed on public or parks property by authorization
of Wilkinsburg Borough.
(12)
Real estate signs which advertise the sale, rental or lease
of the premises upon which the said sign is located when less than
six square feet.
(13)
A-frame (sandwich board) signs shall be permitted on sidewalks,
provided that only one such sign per premises shall be permitted.
Such sign shall not obstruct pedestrian travel and shall be removed
each evening upon closing. The A-frame sign shall not exceed six square
feet per side.
(14)
Signs announcing candidacy for public office. Such signs shall
not be installed on utility poles, shall not be installed more than
60 days before the election to which they are relevant and shall be
removed within seven calendar days immediately following the relevant
election day.
B.
Prohibited signs. The following signs shall not be permitted in any
zoning district:
(1)
Flashing, blinking, animated or moving signs.
(2)
Pennants, flags or streamers.
(3)
Signs advertising a property for sale or rent that lists an
improper use of the property.
(4)
Signs that resemble traffic signals or any sort of traffic device.
(5)
Signs that contain obscene or pornographic material.
(6)
Off-premises sign (other than outdoor advertising).
(7)
Projection sign.
(8)
Roof sign.
(9)
Signs on trees, utility poles, and traffic devices.
(10)
Signs that are hazardous to public safety.
The following shall control the computation of sign area and
height:
A.
Computation of area of single-faced signs. The area of a sign face
shall be computed by means of the smallest square or rectangle that
will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation,
emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming
an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate
the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed,
but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative
fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets Zoning Ordinance
regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
B.
Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign
with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area
of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign
faces are placed back to back so that both faces cannot be viewed
from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part
of the same sign structure and not more than 42 inches apart, the
sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
C.
Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as
the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top
of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall
be construed to be the lower of 1) existing grade prior to construction
or 2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of
any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose
of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably
be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that
the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal
to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street
or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal
structure on the zone lot, whichever is lower.
In the R-1, R-1S, R-2 and R-3 Residential Districts, only the
following exterior signs shall be permitted. No ground or pole signs
shall be permitted, except as provided for in Subsections B and H
below.
A.
A nameplate not exceeding two square feet in area containing only
the name of the resident, the title of the person practicing a profession,
the name of the building and the name of agents, or any combination
of the foregoing and placed directly against a building wall.
B.
A bulletin board sign (instructional or directional) not exceeding
12 square feet in area erected upon the premises of an educational,
philanthropic or religious institution, including a church, hospital
or similar institution, for the purpose of displaying the name of
the institution and its activities or services, which shall be limited
to one such sign. Such sign shall be freestanding and located at least
15 feet back from the sidewalk which the sign faces or back from the
street right-of-way if no sidewalk is present.
C.
A temporary sign not exceeding six square feet in area, relating
only to the rental or lease of the property on which it is displayed.
No more than two such signs may be placed upon any property in single
and separate ownership and not more than one such sign facing any
one street. Such sign shall be removed from the lot or premises within
15 days after the last sale or completion of business. Temporary signs
shall not be illuminated.
D.
No sign shall be erected upon or applied to any roof. The term "sign"
here shall not apply to a religious symbol, unaccompanied by lettering,
when applied to the cornice, tower or spire of a place of worship.
E.
Permitted illumination of a sign, nameplate or bulletin board shall
be of a nonflashing, nonmoving, indirect type.
F.
Pole signs shall be located at least 15 feet back from the street
line of the premises on which same are erected or maintained, unless
attached on the building.
G.
Signs shall be kept in good condition and maintained so as not to
create hazardous or threatening conditions to the health or safety
of persons in the vicinity of said sign or cause a public nuisance.
The Borough may take all lawful and proper actions necessary to revoke
all permits and licenses issued for such sign and may order said sign
removed or brought into compliance with the Borough ordinances and
regulations within 30 days of the date of issuance of such notice
and order, in writing, by the Zoning Officer.
H.
In the R-3 Residential District only, the following exterior signs
shall be permitted: a sign for each street frontage not exceeding
12 square feet in area in connection with a multiple-family dwelling,
an institutional home or a funeral home used to identify only the
name of the structure. Such sign shall be freestanding and located
at least 15 feet back from the street right-of-way.
I.
Directional signs as specified elsewhere in this chapter.
In the CBD, MU, INST, IND, TOD and C-1 Districts, only the following
signs shall be permitted:
A.
Any sign permitted in any residential district and subject to any
stated condition for said residential district sign.
B.
Wall sign. A wall sign attached to or on a front or a side wall of
a building and with face projecting not more than 12 inches therefrom,
so erected that no portion of the sign is less than nine feet above
the entrance grade. The sign shall not extend beyond the side edges
of any wall in either direction, nor shall the sign extend above the
roofline of buildings having flat roofs, the deckline of buildings
having mansard roofs or the gutter line of buildings having gable,
hipped or gambrel roofs. If the sign does not project from and is
flush with the wall of the building, it shall not be required to conform
to said nine-foot height above entrance grade. The sign shall identify
the owner of or enterprise conducting the business, the business engaged
in or upon the premises or products or services sold or any combination
thereof. It may be an illuminated sign, provided that it is nonflashing
and nonmoving. No wall sign shall cover wholly or partially any wall
opening. The size of business or identification wall signs permitted
immediately above shall be limited as follows:
(1)
A permitted wall sign (or signs) shall not exceed the greater
of one square foot multiplied by the width in feet of the principal
building frontage or a maximum of 50 square feet per principal use.
Where a building has frontage on more than one public road, the owner,
occupant or agent may erect a sign on each wall with frontage with
each sign meeting the square footage requirements of this section,
provided that all other provisions of this section are observed.
C.
Ground/pole sign.
(1)
Ground/pole signs are not permitted in the public right-of-way.
(2)
The building setback line shall be the location standard for
ground/pole signs. In no case shall a setback of fewer than 15 feet
from the street right-of-way line be permitted. Ground/pole signs
shall also be located a minimum of five feet from any building and
10 feet from any side property line.
(3)
For signs over 10 square feet in area, an additional one foot
of separation from adjacent side property lines shall be required
for every 10 square feet of sign area.
(4)
The square foot area of ground/pole signs shall be limited to
one square foot of sign area for every one linear foot of property
frontage on a public right-of-way, but no ground sign shall be permitted
to exceed an area of 60 square feet for each side.
(5)
The maximum height of a ground/pole sign shall be 30 feet. The
minimum height of the bottom edge of any ground/pole sign shall be
10 feet except when it is erected as a monument sign.
D.
When property is occupied by a business without a building, one permanent
identification sign not exceeding 40 square feet. Such sign shall
be located at least 15 feet back from the street right-of-way.
E.
Wall plaques. Wall plaques shall be all signs extending no more than
1 1/2 inches from the walls to which they are attached. The edges
of wall plaques shall be rounded, tapered or treated in any other
manner, satisfactory to the Zoning Officer, that will render them
harmless to pedestrians.
F.
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surface (including those
over the public right-of-way).
(1)
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surface to which they
are affixed shall have their bottom edge at sufficient height above
the ground or other supporting surface as to assure no interference
with pedestrian or vehicular traffic under or around the sign and
in any event at a height not fewer than 10 feet.
(2)
When extending over a vehicular cartway, the minimum height
above the ground or cartway shall be 15 feet.
(3)
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surfaces shall not protrude
more than eight feet beyond the wall surface to which they are attached.
(4)
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surface shall be limited
to a maximum area of 32 square feet.
G.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs shall be located a minimum of 15 feet from any
property or right-of-way lines and shall comply with all other height
and location requirements of the category of permanent signs which
they emulate. Temporary signs must be located on the same lot as the
use which they advertise.
(2)
All temporary signs shall be attached to a building or the ground
in a manner satisfactory to the Zoning Officer, in protecting the
public health, safety and welfare.
(3)
Temporary signs shall be a maximum of 32 square feet in area.
(4)
The sign permit shall be attached to temporary signs for the
duration of the permitted use and easily visible from the street.
H.
Window signs.
(1)
Window signs shall be permitted to be installed on the inside
of the window of nonresidential structures only.
(2)
Window signs shall not cover more than 25% of the glazing of
any window.
(3)
The copy of a window sign shall be designed to communicate information
about an activity, business, community event or a sale or service
offered.
(4)
Window signs shall not be permanently affixed to a window or
windowpanes.
I.
Advertising on awnings and canopies.
(1)
Shall be limited in size to a maximum of 50% of the allowable
size of the wall sign permitted on the same structure. Such signage
shall only include the name and/or logo of the business, industry
or pursuit conducted therein.
(2)
Canopies shall comply with the height requirements of projecting
signs as identified in this article.
J.
Marquee signs. Marquee signs may be attached only to the front and
sides of marquees and shall not project beyond the edges or the bottom
of the marquee nor extend more than 10 inches horizontally from the
surface of the marquee.
K.
Directional signs as specified elsewhere in this chapter.
A.
All applications for permits for construction, installation, maintenance,
repair and/or modification of signs of any type or nature shall be
submitted for review and approval or denial by the Borough Zoning
Officer, prior to commencement of any activity or work by the applicant
or the applicant's representative or delegate concerning installation,
construction or modification of such sign. The provisions of this
section and all of its subsections shall apply to but are not limited
to all replacement signs, new signs, changes or alterations to existing
signs or signs which must be relocated for any reason.
B.
A site plan or sketch, drawn to scale, shall be submitted to the
Zoning Officer and shall depict the lot and building upon which the
proposed sign will be located and shall show all other buildings and
structures located on said lot and their relationship to said sign.
Information submitted to the Zoning Officer shall also include an
application for a sign permit, a written description of the materials
and manner of construction and mounting of the sign, a description
of the information and visual material to be included on all surfaces
of the sign, a description of the illumination, if any, of the sign
and one or more photographs of the proposed sign location from each
approach from which the sign will be visible.
C.
Permit required. A permit shall be obtained from the Borough Zoning
Officer, subject to filing the permit application and supporting information
described above in this section and subject to payment of the required
established fee, prior to the construction, alteration, modification
or moving of any exterior sign. No exterior sign established before
the effective date of this chapter shall be (except when ordered by
an authorized public officer as a safety measure) altered in any respect,
or moved, unless it be made to conform with the provisions of this
chapter.
D.
Signs not to constitute traffic hazard. No sign or other advertising
structure as regulated by this chapter shall be erected in such a
manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where,
by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with,
obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign,
signal or device; or which makes use of the words "Stop," "Look,"
"Drive-In," "Danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol or character
in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
E.
Material and construction. All signs shall be securely built, constructed
and erected in compliance with all regulations and requirements of
the relevant building codes, and in addition:
(1)
The Zoning Officer may require calculations by an architect
or engineer certifying the stability of a sign, with reference to
dead load and wind stress capabilities when a sign is over 25 square
feet in area or in the case of a ground sign whose height is greater
than 10 feet or a sign which weighs in excess of 100 pounds.
(2)
Any sign damaged by inclement weather shall have proven itself
unsafe and may not be restored in kind without engineering data as
required above.
F.
Illumination and animation.
(1)
All illuminated signs shall be inspected by the authorized electrical
inspection agency of the Borough of Wilkinsburg during construction
to verify compliance with the adopted electrical code of the Borough
of Wilkinsburg.
(2)
Illuminated signs shall be nonflashing and nonglaring and shall
be illuminated in a manner to prevent glare and reflection to a public
street or adjacent properties.
(3)
All signs shall be nonanimated with no exterior moving parts.
G.
Maintenance.
(1)
Any sign regulated by this chapter shall be maintained in the
proper structural and aesthetic condition by the owner or tenant.
(2)
If a sign no longer advertises a bona fide business or other
activity conducted on the premises, it shall be taken down and removed
by the owner, by the tenant or by the entity having the beneficial
use of the sign and the building within 30 days of the termination
of such business or other activity.
I.
Liability insurance (applicant). Any sign which projects or hangs
over the public right-of-way (ROW) shall be required to carry liability
insurance in accordance with the following:
(1)
All applicants for permits to install and maintain signs in
the Borough and the owners of all such signs now installed and maintained
in the Borough where such sign projects over the public ROW are hereby
required and directed to procure a public liability insurance policy,
providing complete third-party coverage for the benefit of the Borough
of Wilkinsburg with a reputable insurance company approved by the
Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner. Said policy shall provide coverage
for not less than $500,000 for injury to one person and not less than
$1,000,000 for injury to more than one person and not less than $100,000
for damage to property against any loss, injury or damage that may
hereafter be caused, directly or indirectly, by and in the installation
or maintenance of any overhanging sign. Such public liability insurance
policy shall be continued in force for the life of the sign.
(2)
A copy of each such policy or a certificate of such insurance
shall be kept in the office of the Borough Secretary. Certificates
of renewal of such certificates shall be delivered to the Borough
Secretary not fewer than 10 days prior to the renewal date. Where
such renewal certificates have not been so delivered, the Building
Inspector is directed to order the sign removed immediately. No permit
shall be issued for such sign until compliant with this section.
Outdoor advertising signs may be authorized by the Council as
a conditional use only in the IND and C-1 Zoning Districts upon a
finding that compliance with the requirements of this chapter, as
well as the following specific criteria, have been met by the applicant:
A.
The submission by the applicant of a land development application,
which shall contain the information, maps, plans and narrative and
graphic materials set forth in the Wilkinsburg Borough Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance.[1]
B.
The portion of any lot upon which the outdoor advertising is to be
located shall contain a minimum of 5,000 square feet in area.
C.
All outdoor advertising signs shall contain only one face for the
display of lettered, written, printed, pictorial, or sculpted matter
on only one side of its structure, and such face shall be oriented
to be viewed from only one direction of travel from the nearest adjacent
roadway (cross roadway viewing shall not be permitted).
D.
The display area upon the face of an outdoor advertising sign shall
be a maximum of 300 square feet (12 feet by 25 feet), and all portions
of any display shall fit within such area with no extensions beyond
the edge of the outdoor advertising sign's framework.
E.
All utility lines serving the outdoor advertising sign, or those
extended to provide such service, must be installed completely underground.
Such requirement may be waived if the outdoor advertising sign is
powered by nontraditional alternative energy sources (for example,
solar power).
F.
All outdoor advertising signs shall be set back from the below-described
items as follows:
(1)
From a roadway intersection: 300 feet.
(2)
From any other outdoor advertising sign (whether such is located
in the Borough of Wilkinsburg or otherwise) on the same side of the
roadway: 1,200 feet.
(3)
From any other outdoor advertising sign (whether such is located
in the Borough of Wilkinsburg or otherwise) on the opposite side of
the roadway: 600 feet.
G.
The maximum height of outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed
30 feet, as measured from the grade of the roadway from which the
advertising message is principally visible, and the bottom edge of
the outdoor advertising sign shall be no more than eight feet above
the elevation of the adjacent roadway, which height shall be sufficient
to prevent unauthorized access upon the outdoor advertising sign.
H.
A buffer yard shall be required between outdoor advertising signs
and any adjacent lot(s). For the purposed of establishing the required
buffer yard, outdoor advertising signs shall be considered a commercial
use.
I.
Outdoor advertising signs are considered as the principal use of
a lot or site, and as such the land area utilized for an outdoor advertising
sign shall not be otherwise required to support another use upon such
lot, including, but not limited to, buffer yard, parking area or setback
necessary to any preexisting use upon such lot.
J.
All displays on the face of outdoor advertising signs shall be stationary,
and no animated, sequential, flashing, moving, or oscillating signs
or displays shall be permitted.
K.
Illumination of the display shall be designed so that it shall be
focused on the face of the display itself so as to prevent glare upon
the surrounding area. All sources of illumination shall be external
and equipped with shields to prevent spillage of light off the display.
L.
Except as otherwise may be specified herein, all development of outdoor
advertising signs shall comply with the provisions of the Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance and this chapter.
M.
All outdoor advertising signs (including any and all supporting structures
thereof) shall be dismantled and removed from the premises upon which
they are located within 180 days of their cessation of use.
N.
All outdoor advertising signs shall be constructed to all applicable
structural standards for such devices, and all applications for the
conditional use approval shall verify compliance with such standards
as documented and sealed by a registered engineer.
O.
All outdoor advertising signs shall be maintained by their owners
in a state of repair so that they are as safe and as functional as
when originally installed.
P.
No outdoor advertising sign shall be constructed or erected until
an applicant thereof has made an application for same (which shall
include a copy of a written lease for use of the land if the applicant
is not the owner thereof) and paid the applicable fee thereof (as
set by separate ordinance or resolution of the Council) and received
a permit thereof from the Borough of Wilkinsburg.
Q.
Outdoor advertising shall be required to obtain any necessary permit
from and to conform, in all respects, to any regulation thereof promulgated
by an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including, but not
limited to, its Department of Transportation.
R.
When changeable light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is utilized to
create the sign face, such lighting shall automatically adjust the
LED light levels of the sign face to account for the ambient lighting
so as not to create significant glare or a measurable footcandle level
of 0.5 or greater, as such level is measured at the road right-of-way
line or adjacent property line.
