The attractiveness of the Borough of Lincoln Park contributes to the general welfare and economic well-being of its citizens, property owners, and business people. Reasonable control of signs promotes a desirable visual environment and enhances public safety. The purpose of the regulations and standards that follow are to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment of the Borough; to improve traffic safety; to minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on property values; and to enable fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations. This article is adopted under the zoning authority of the Borough in furtherance of the more general purposes set forth in §
28-1.1 of this chapter.
For the purposes of this article, the terms and words set forth
below shall be defined as follows:
ADVERTISE
Giving, attempting to give, or intending to give notice,
information or warning to any person by any means.
ATTRACTION BOARD
A sign used to display or list current or future attractions
or events to be held on the premises where such sign is located.
AWNING
A structure made of cloth, metal or other material affixed
to a building in such a manner that the structure may be raised or
retraced to a position against the building.
BANNER/PENNANT
A sign intended to be hung either with or without a frame,
possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied
to paper, plastic or any flexible fabric of any kind.
BEACON
A stationary or revolving light which flashes or projects
illumination, single color or multicolored, in any manner which is
intended to attract or divert attention; except, however, that this
term is not intended to include any kind of lighting device which
is required or necessary under the safety regulations described by
the Federal Aviation Administration or similar agencies.
BILLBOARD or OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, industry, profession,
commodity, service or entertainment not sold or offered upon the premises
where the sign is located.
BULLETIN BOARD
Any sign erected by a public or nonprofit organization.
CANOPY/MARQUEE
A structure, other than an awning, made of cloth, metal or
other material with frames affixed to a building and/or supported
on the ground.
DISPLAY SURFACE AREA
The entire rectangular geometric area within a single continuous
perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of characters, lettering, illustrations,
ornamentations, or other figures, together with any material or color
forming an integral part of the display or which differentiates the
sign from the background on which it is placed. Structural supports
bearing no sign copy shall not be included in the display surface
area. The display surface area of a two-faced sign shall be considered
to be the area of the largest single face, provided that both faces
are directly parallel to each other.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, fabricate, hang, place, suspend
or affix any object, including but not limited to the painting or
lettering of any sign, insignia, or letters painted or otherwise affixed
to the exterior surface of any structure.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors,
patterns, or symbols used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision,
organization, club, company or other entity.
PREMISES
Property and buildings contained thereon.
SHOPPING CENTER
Any single or multi-tenanted commercial building located
in the B-2 Zone.
SIGN
Includes every object, device, frame, figure, character,
mark, point, fixture, graphic design, picture, stroke, stripe, trademark,
model, emblem, placard, symbol, display, light, logo or reading matter
which is used or intended to be used to advertise, identify, display,
direct, or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization,
business, product, service, event, or location by any means, including
words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, colors, illumination, or
projected images, when the same is placed in the view of the general
public.
SIGN, A-FRAME OR SANDWICH
An A-shaped temporary and easily movable ground sign, usually
two-sided, used for advertising commodities, services or entertainment
usually conducted upon the premises where the sign is located.
SIGN, BUSINESS
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession,
activity, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold, or
offered upon the premises where such sign is located or within the
building in or on which such sign is affixed.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION
A sign identifying the person, firm or corporation involved
in the design, construction, demolition, financing or development
of a project and placed upon the premises where and during the time
the project is under construction.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL
A sign which provides direction or instruction to guide persons
to facilities intended to serve the public, including, by way of example
and not limited to, signs identifying rest rooms, public telephones,
public walkways, parking areas and other similar facilities. No sign
with a commercial message legible from a position off the lot on which
the sign is located shall be considered directional.
SIGN, DIRECTORY
A sign which indicates the name and/or address of the occupant
of the premises, the name and/or address of the premises, and/or identification
of any permitted use, business or occupation which may exist on the
premises.
SIGN, FLASHING
An illuminated sign in or on which the artificial source
of illumination is not maintained stationary and/or constant in intensity
and/or color at all times, when such sign is illuminated. For purposes
of this article, any moving, illuminated sign shall be deemed a flashing
sign.
SIGN, FREESTANDING; SIGN, POLE
Any sign, other than a ground sign, supported by structures
or supports or upon the ground and not attached or dependent for support
from any building.
SIGN, GROUND
A sign supported by structures or supports or upon the ground
and not attached or dependent for support from any building, the highest
point of such sign or any attached structure being no more than seven
feet high measured from the ground.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
A sign in or on which an artificial source of illumination
is utilized.
SIGN, MOVING OR ANIMATED
A sign which revolves, rotates, swings, undulates or otherwise
contains any moving part or device which gives the visual impression
of movement, including electronically controlled copy or lighting
changes, excluding flags, pennants or banners.
SIGN, NEON
Self-illuminating electric signs usually constructed of glass
tubing containing a vapor or gas configured to form a display or lettering.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES
A sign which directs attention to a person, business, profession,
activity, commodity, service or entertainment conducted on premises
other than the premises where such sign is located.
SIGN, POLITICAL
A sign identifying or calling attention to any political
candidate, issue, party or viewpoint.
SIGN, PORTABLE
A sign not permanently affixed to the ground or other structure,
or a sign designed to be transported, including but not limited to
signs designed to be transported on a vehicle or trailer.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE (OPEN HOUSE)
A temporary sign which is used to advertise a public viewing
of premises offered for sale, lease or rent upon the premises where
such sign is placed.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE (SOLD)
A temporary sign which is used to indicate that all or a
portion of the premises offered for sale, lease or rent, upon which
the sign is placed, has been sold, leased or rented.
SIGN, RELOCATION
A temporary sign which is used to indicate that a business
has relocated to another premises.
SIGN, ROOF
A sign erected or maintained, in whole or in part, upon,
against or directly above the roof or parapet line of a building.
SIGN, TEMPORARY
A sign erected, affixed or maintained, intended or designed
to be erected, affixed or maintained on premises for a short, usually
fixed, period of time, including but not limited to signs relating
to a particular season, holiday, campaign, sale or promotion of limited
duration.
SIGN, WALL
A sign affixed to the vertical face of any structure.
SIGN, WARNING
A sign giving notice to the public of the existence of danger
or the need for increased caution or circumspection.
SIGN, WINDOW
A temporary sign attached to, placed upon, located in, or
painted upon a window or door of a building which is intended for
viewing from the exterior of such building.
All signs shall be so designated, located, shielded and directed
as to prevent the casting of glare or direct light from artificial
illumination upon adjacent public roadways or adjacent property.
All signs permitted by this article shall be erected in accordance
with the following provisions:
A. No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct
any fire escape, required exits, windows, doors, wall openings or
other area intended as a means of ingress and egress.
B. No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct
or interfere with any building opening required or intended for ventilation.
C. All signs shall be located in such a way that it maintains adequate
horizontal and vertical clearance from all utility lines.
D. No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained in any public
right-of-way, with the exception of warning, directional or traffic
signs.
E. No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct
or interfere with any existing warning, directional or traffic signs.
F. No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained on property or
rights-of-way owned or controlled by the Borough of Lincoln Park without
the permission of the governing body of the Borough.
G. Unless a more restrictive standard or requirement is set forth herein,
all signs must comply with the standards and requirements of the applicable
building code and the Uniform Construction Code Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119
et seq.).
The following signs are hereby expressly prohibited for erection,
construction, repair, alteration or relocation within the Borough
of Lincoln Park, except as otherwise permitted in this article:
A. A-frame or sandwich board signs, and sidewalk or curb signs, except as a temporary sign, as provided for in §
28-21.7B and
D of this article.
B. Banners, pennants, streamers, pinwheels, balloons and other gas filled devices, except as a temporary sign, as provided for in §
28-21.7B and
D of this article.
C. Billboards and off-premises signs, except as a temporary sign, as provided in §
28-21.7D of this article.
D. Moving or animated signs and/or flashing, flickering, tracer or sequential
lighting, signs or beacons.
E. Portable signs, except as a temporary sign, as provided for in §
28-21.7B and
D of this article.
F. Attached or projecting signs which project more than 12 inches beyond
the exterior surface to which they are affixed.
H. Signs placed on or affixed to motor vehicles and/or trailers parked
on a public right-of-way, public property or private nonresidential
property visible from a public right-of-way or public property, whose
purpose is to advertise a product, business, profession, activity,
commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered upon
the same, adjacent or nearby property. This is not intended to prohibit
the casual sale from private residential property of no more than
one vehicle, boat or trailer and signs incident thereto.
I. Signs which are attached or otherwise affixed to trees or other living
vegetative matter or telephone poles.
J. Signs painted on an exterior wall, fascia parapet or chimney of a
building or on a fence.
K. Signs which imitate, interfere with or obstruct the view of any authorized
traffic control signal, sign or other device.
L. Any advertisement which uses a series of two or more signs placed
in a line parallel to the road or in a similar fashion, all carrying
a single advertisement message, part of which is contained on each
sign.
M. Signs using any material which sparkles or glitters.
The following signs are hereby exempt:
A. Awning, canopy and marquee signs. Signs not exceeding an aggregate
display surface area of four square feet.
B. Directional or instructional signs. Display signs not exceeding four
feet in display surface area and containing no advertising of a commercial
nature.
E. Holiday decorations. Signs or other decorative materials temporarily
displayed on traditionally accepted civic, patriotic or religious
holidays and containing no advertising of a commercial nature.
F. Interior signs. Signs which are fully located within the interior
of any building.
G. Name and address plates. A single nonilluminated sign not exceeding
one square foot.
H. No trespassing, no dumping, no parking, towing and other similar
signs not exceeding two square feet in display surface area.
I. Plaques. Plaques, nameplates or memorial signs, directly attached
or affixed to the exterior wall of a building, not exceeding four
square feet in aggregate gross surface area, and containing no advertising
of a commercial nature.
J. Political signs. Political signs not exceeding the maximum aggregate
gross surface area of any sign permitted in the zone where placed.
K. Public signs and notices.
L. Signs on vehicles. Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or
trailers incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer but
not signs where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or
direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby
property.
M. Vending machine signs. Permanent signs on vending machines indicating
only contents and pricing or instructional information not exceeding
four square feet.
N. Any sign specifically required by ordinance.
O. Relocation signs. Relocation information signs for a period of 30
days restricted to the present location not to exceed four square
feet.
P. Window signs. Temporary window signs not to exceed 35% of total storefront
window area or 50% of the area of the display window. Such signs shall
not be displayed for any period exceeding 30 days.
Q. Garage sales. Garage sale signs located on the premises only, not
exceeding two square feet and containing the date of sale. Such sign
shall be removed within 24 hours of the last day of sale.