A.
Any sign
hereafter erected or maintained shall conform to the provisions of
this article and any other municipal ordinance or regulations.
B.
SIGN
Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any signboard, ground sign, wall sign, illuminated sign,
projecting sign, temporary sign, pylon or pole sign, marquee, awning,
canopy or street clock, and includes any announcement, declaration,
demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise
or promote the interests of any person when the same is oriented toward
the public right-of-way and the view of the general public.
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering,
wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background,
whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including
any supporting framework and bracing which are incidental to the display
itself.
A.
The area of a sign painted upon or applied to a building shall be
considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs
or symbols, together with any backing associated with the sign.
B.
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached
to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window, the area shall
be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other regular
geometric shape that can enclose such letters or symbols.
C.
In computing square foot area of a double-face sign, only one side
shall be considered, provided both faces are identical. If the interior
angle formed by the two faces of the double-faced sign is greater
than 45°, then both sides of such sign shall be considered in
calculating the sign area.
A.
Directly illuminated sign: a sign designed to give forth artificial
light directly (or through transparent or translucent material) from
a source of light within such sign, including but not limited to neon
and exposed lamp signs. Directly illuminated signs are not permitted.
B.
Indirectly illuminated sign: a sign illuminated with a light so shielded
that no direct rays therefore are visible elsewhere on the lot where
said illumination occurs. If such shielding device is defective, such
sign shall be deemed to be a directly illuminated sign.
C.
Flashing sign: an illuminated sign on which the artificial light
is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color at
all times when in use. Flashing signs are not permitted.
D.
Nonilluminated sign: a sign which is not illuminated either directly
or indirectly.
A.
Freestanding sign: a self-supporting sign resting on or supported
by means of poles or standards on the ground. The height of freestanding
signs shall be measured from the average grade at the sign base to
the top of the sign. Freestanding signs shall not overhang the sidewalk.
Exposed wires, chains or other connections shall not be made part
of the permanent support of the freestanding sign.
B.
Building-mounted sign (flush): a sign mounted, affixed to, applied
to and/or parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface. Parallel
signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface
to which they are mounted or shall not project more than eight inches
from its surface.
C.
Projecting sign: any sign mounted to a wall or other vertical building
surface other than a parallel sign. Projecting signs shall not project
more than two feet from the wall or surface to which they are mounted,
shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or any surface on which
they are mounted, shall be at least eight feet to the bottom of the
sign above ground level immediately below and shall not in any way
interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic. No signs shall
overhang or project above the public sidewalks, streets or alleys.
D.
On-premises sign: a sign which directs attention to an activity conducted
on the same lot.
E.
Off-premises sign: a sign which directs attention to an activity not conducted on the same lot. Off-premises signs are not permitted except as noted in § 400-91A(2).
F.
Business sign: an on-premises sign which directs attention to a business,
commodity, service, industry or other activity which is sold, offered
or conducted other than incidentally on the premises upon which such
sign is located or to which it is affixed.
G.
Window sign: a window sign is any business sign which is oriented
to the public right-of-way and is attached to the outside or inside
of a window. Only temporary window signs made from nonpermanent material
such as paper are permitted. All window signs shall be limited in
size to 20% of the total glass area of the window.
A.
The following
types of signs and flags and no other shall be permitted in residential
districts and PRDs:
(1)
On-premises signs and flags:
(a)
Nonilluminated signs displayed strictly for the direction, safety
or convenience of the public, including signs which identify real
estate for sale or rental, restrooms, telephone booths, parking area
entrances or exits, freight entrances or the like, provided the area
of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
(b)
Flags representing governmental, education or religious organizations.
(c)
One nonilluminated sign posted in conjunction with doorbells
or mailboxes, provided that the area on any one side of any such sign
shall not exceed 36 square inches.
(d)
One sign for home occupation or accessory nonmedical office indicating only names of persons and their occupations, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 200 square inches. Provisions of § 400-94 are not applicable to signs permitted by this subsection.
(e)
One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated bulletin or announcement
board or identification sign for a permitted institutional use, provided
that the area on any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 20
square feet.
(f)
One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated sign in connection
with a lawfully maintained nonconforming commercial or institutional
use, provided that the area on any one side of any such sign shall
not exceed 12 square feet.
(g)
Except for PRDs, one temporary nonilluminated sign advertising
the sale or rental of the premises upon which said sign has been erected,
provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed four square
feet and such sign shall be removed upon settlement or rental of the
property. All signs shall be located at least 15 feet away from property
lines, unless the structure is located closer to the front line.
(h)
Advertising the sale or rental of a unit in a PRD shall only
be permitted as one sign in the window of the dwelling for sale or
rental.
(i)
One temporary nonilluminated sign erected in connection with
the development or proposed development of the premises by a builder,
contractor, developer or other persons interested in such sale or
development, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed
20 square feet and such sign shall be removed within 20 days after
construction was begun on the last structure.
(j)
Temporary nonilluminated signs of mechanics or artisans may
be erected and maintained during the period such persons are performing
work on the premises on which such signs are erected, provided that
such signs shall be removed upon completion of work by the mechanic
or artisan, and the total areas of all such signs shall not exceed
six square feet.
(k)
Signs announcing "no trespassing"; signs indicating the private
nature of the road, driveway or premises; and signs controlling the
fishing or hunting on the premises, provided that the area of any
one side of any such sign shall not exceed 200 square inches.
(l)
Nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated memorial signs or historical
signs or tablets.
(m)
Identification signs at the main entrance to a residential development.
Such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet, exclusive of the structure
to which the sign is mounted.
(2)
Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are not permitted except as
follows: (Signs permitted within this section may also be on premises.)
(a)
Signs necessary for the direction, regulation, and control of
traffic, street name signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings,
and other official signs which are similarly authorized or erected
by a duly constituted governmental body.
(b)
Temporary nonilluminated signs directing persons to temporary
exhibits, shows or events and sponsored by a nonprofit organization
may be erected, subject to the following requirements:
[1]
Signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
[2]
Signs shall not be posted earlier than four weeks before the
occurrence of the exhibit, show or event and shall be removed within
one week after termination of the exhibit, show or event.
[3]
Said signs shall be subject to applicable fees as set by the
Township.
B.
General regulations in residential districts.
A.
On-premises signs. No on-premises sign shall be permitted except
as follows:
(1)
All signs permitted at the standards prescribed therein except as
otherwise provided in this section.
(2)
Freestanding business signs, provided:
(a)
Only one such sign shall be permitted on each property.
(b)
The area of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet per
half acre, up to a maximum of 80 square feet. Such sign may be double-faced.
(c)
Freestanding signs mounted or otherwise affixed to the roof
of a building are not permitted.
(d)
The maximum height of freestanding business signs shall be 11
feet from curb level to top of sign, with a minimum of six feet from
the bottom of the sign to grade where such sign is placed within 50
feet of an intersection.
B.
Building-mounted signs (flush): a sign mounted parallel to a wall
or other vertical building surface. Parallel signs shall not extend
beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which they are mounted
or shall not project more than eight inches from its surface.
C.
Off-premises signs. All signs permitted in § 400-91A(2) at the standards prescribed therein shall be permitted in the WCV District.
D.
Sign controls for freestanding directory signs in industrial parks.
A sign listing the names of various business or professional establishments
within a defined contiguous area to be erected primarily as a service
to the motoring or the pedestrian public shall be permitted, subject
to the following requirements:
(1)
Such signs shall be located on a property serviced by the sign.
(2)
Such signs shall be limited to one at the main entrance.
(3)
Multiple-directory signs may list only a name, address and primary
product or service of each firm or business and may contain a graphic
directory (street map) to assist in locating destinations.
(4)
The respective permitted areas of information on multiple-directory
signs shall be limited to no more than three square feet per firm
listed, no more than 10 square feet per graphic directory and no more
than three square feet for a general sign title, provided that the
total sign area does not exceed 36 square feet.
(5)
Multiple-directory signs shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from
the street curb.
(6)
Multiple-directory signs shall be located a minimum of 25 feet from
the nearest paved edge of any street access driveway intersection.
(7)
Multiple-directory signs shall not extend above a height of eight
feet.
A.
Flashing signs shall not be permitted in any district.
C.
No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with traffic
by causing glare, by causing blocking of reasonable sight lines for
streets, sidewalks or driveways, by causing confusion with a traffic
control device (by reason of color, location, shape or other characteristic)
or by any other means.
D.
All signs, except temporary signs, shall be constructed of durable
materials and kept in good condition and repair or must be removed
by the landowner.
E.
Signs existing at the time of passage of this chapter and which do
not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered
nonconforming signs and, once removed, shall be replaced only with
conforming signs; however, nonconforming signs may be repainted or
repaired, provided such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed
the dimension of the existing sign.
F.
If an establishment has walls fronting on two or more streets, the
sign area for each street may not be computed separately.
G.
No signs except those of a duly constituted governmental body, including
traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, shall be allowed within
a right-of-way.
H.
No portion of any freestanding or projecting sign shall be located
over the public right-of-way. If this requirement cannot be met, then
freestanding or projecting signs shall be prohibited on such properties.
I.
Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the
carrying of such sign or signs no longer is incidental to the vehicle's
primary purpose, but becomes a primary purpose in itself, shall be
considered a freestanding sign and as such be subject to the provisions
regarding freestanding signs in the district in which such vehicle
is located.
All signs, as defined in § 400-87, over six square feet in total overall area shall require the issuance of a sign permit before erection or replacement.
