[Amended 4-4-2022 by Ord. No. 2-2022]
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A.
Provide uniform standards for signs within the Township and specific
standards for signs in zoning districts.
B.
Establish procedures for the review and approval of sign permit applications.
C.
Regulate the location, size, construction, erection, alteration,
use, and maintenance of signs.
D.
Promote the use of signs in harmony with the character of the Township.
E.
Minimize the clutter of signs through maintenance, inspection, and
reasonable guidelines.
A.
In all zoning districts within the jurisdiction of this chapter,
signs may be used, erected, maintained, altered, relocated, removed
or demolished only in compliance with the provisions of this chapter
and any and all ordinances and regulations of the Township relating
to the use, erection, maintenance, alteration, moving or removal of
signs or similar devices.
B.
All plans and applications for subdivision and land developments
shall include on the plan's information describing all signs
proposed for the subdivision and/or land development. The plan shall
indicate the size, location, style, materials, proposed text, lighting,
and colors for all signs to demonstrate that the requirements of the
Township's regulations as set forth in this chapter have been
satisfied.
A sign permit shall not be required prior to the erection, structural repair, alteration, moving, removal or demolition of any exempt signs in any zoning district in the Township. Exempt signs shall conform to the regulations of § 240-72. No exempt sign shall be illuminated, except as provided for herein. Exempt signs are as follows:
A.
Official highway route number signs, street name signs, emergency
signs, and other official traffic signs which are in the interest
of public safety or the regulation of traffic. Official traffic signs
may be illuminated according to law.
B.
Trespassing signs; signs indicating the private nature of a road,
driveway or premises; and signs prohibiting or otherwise controlling
fishing or hunting upon a particular premises, provided that the area
of one side of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet and
shall be spaced at intervals of not less than 100 feet of street or
property line frontage.
C.
Incidental signs, such as those advertising the availability of restrooms,
or public conveniences or those applied to a windowpane giving store
hours or the name(s) of credit or charge institutions, provided that
such signs do not advertise any commercial establishment, activity,
organization, product, goods or services. Any sign covered by this
subsection shall not exceed two square feet.
D.
Governmental flags or insignia such as the flag of the United States,
the Pennsylvania state flag, and/or other local governmental flags,
which may be illuminated consistent with state and federal flag laws.
E.
Other flags, provided they comply with the following:
(1)
Location: Flags and flagpoles shall not be located within any right-of-way.
(2)
Height: Flags shall have a maximum height of 30 feet.
(3)
Number: No more than two flags per lot in residential districts,
no more than three flags per lot in all other districts.
(4)
Size: Maximum flag size is 24 square feet in residential districts,
35 square feet in all other districts.
(5)
Flags containing commercial messages may be used as permitted freestanding
signs or projecting signs, and, if so used, the area of the flag shall
be included in, and limited by the computation of allowable area for
signs on the property.
F.
Legal notice.
G.
Cornerstone; historical plaque or sign affixed to the surface of
a building wall and not exceeding two square feet.
H.
Governmental signs, including safety signs, signs indicating points
of interest, and signs identifying official governmental buildings
or facilities and/or events or notices. Governmental signs may be
illuminated by external illumination or internal illumination.
I.
Directional signs, provided they do not contain any commercial messaging.
Such sign shall not exceed four square feet in area and shall have
a maximum height of four feet.
J.
Personal expression signs provided that they do not exceed three
square feet in area per side.
K.
Signs advertising the variety of crop growing in a field. Such signs
shall be removed after the growing season.
A sign permit shall be secured from the Zoning Officer prior to the use, erection, structural repair, alteration, relocation, removal or demolition of any sign unless listed as exempt as per § 240-71. The following regulations shall be observed for all signs in all zoning districts in the Township:
A.
Signs which advertise, promote or draw attention to any product,
business, service or activity sold, occurring or located at or in
the place or premises where such sign is located shall be allowed
by permit in the Township, except where specifically exempt from such
requirements.
B.
Any sign located along the right-of-way of a state or federal highway
shall comply with any more restrictive requirements of the state and
federal government relating thereto.
C.
Sign location.
(1)
No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger traffic
by obscuring the view or by confusion with official street signs or
signals because of position, color or reflective surface.
(2)
Only traffic signs and similar regulatory notices of a duly constituted
governmental body are permitted within a street right-of-way.
(3)
No sign shall be erected or maintained nearer to a street line or
lot line than a distance equaling the height of the top of the sign,
or five feet, whichever is greater, unless the sign is that of a governmental
authority.
(4)
A sign shall not project over a public walkway, except for signs
of a governmental entity. For those exceptions where a sign is permitted,
the lowest edge of such sign shall be at least eight feet above the
sidewalk elevation.
(5)
If a sign is located on a public or private sidewalk, a minimum of
four feet of unobstructed sidewalk clearance must be maintained between
the sign and any building or other obstruction.
(6)
Signs and their supporting structures shall maintain clearance and
noninterference with all surface and underground utility and communications
lines or equipment.
D.
Sign area.
(1)
"Sign area" shall mean the area of all lettering, wording, and accompanying
designs, logos, and symbols. The area of a sign shall not include
any supporting framework, bracing, or trim which is incidental to
the display, provided that it does not contain any lettering, wording
or symbols.
(2)
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached
to or painted on a surface, wall or window, the area shall be considered
to be the smallest rectangle or other geometric shape which encompasses
all the letters and symbols.
(3)
In computing the size of a double-sided sign, only one sign face
shall be considered, provided that both faces are identical, except
where the interior angle formed by the two sides is greater than 45°,
in which case both sides shall be counted as part of the sign area.
E.
Sign height.
(1)
Sign height shall be measured as the vertical distance from the highest
portion of the sign to the ground on which the sign is located.
(2)
Clearance for freestanding and projecting signs shall be measured
as the smallest vertical distance between the ground and the lowest
point of the sign, including any framework or other structural elements.
(3)
The permitted maximum height for all signs is determined by the sign
type and the zoning district in which the sign is located.
F.
Sign spacing. The spacing between sign structures shall be measured
as a straight- line distance between the closest edges of each sign.
G.
Sign illumination.
(1)
Signs may be illuminated, unless otherwise specified herein, consistent
with the following standards:
(a)
Light sources to illuminate signs shall neither be visible from
any street right-of-way nor cause glare hazardous or distracting to
pedestrian, vehicle drivers, or adjacent properties.
(b)
No more than 0.2 footcandle of light shall be detectable at
the boundary of any abutting property.
(c)
Illumination types:
[1]
External illumination, where permitted, is allowed only as a
steady, stationary light source, shielded and directed solely at the
sign. The light source must be static in color and concealed by a
translucent cover.
[2]
Internal illumination, including back-lighting, must be static
in intensity, and color. No portion of the light source shall be visible.
(d)
Message duration. The length of time each message may be displayed
on a message center sign, digital display, or tri-vision board sign
is based upon the visibility and speed limit unique to individual
signs and adjacent road conditions. The following method should be
used to calculate message duration for message center signs, digital
displays, or tri-vision board signs.
[1]
Determine the greatest distance from which the sign becomes
visible on the road the sign is primarily intended to serve. If a
sign is intended to be seen by more than one roadway, the road with
the lower posted speed limit shall be used for determining message
duration.
[2]
Multiply the road's posted speed limit (MPH) by 5,280,
and then divide by 3,600 to obtain the speed limit in feet/second.
[3]
Divide the visibility distance by the speed limit (feet/second).
[4]
Add an additional 10% of this number to the total.
[5]
The resulting amount of time is the minimum permitted message
duration, except where this value is less than eight seconds in which
the minimum message duration shall be no less than eight seconds.
(e)
Brightness: Message center signs are subject to the following
brightness limits:
[1]
During daylight hours between sunrise and sunset, luminance
shall be no greater than 5,000 nits.
[2]
At all other times, luminance shall be no greater than 250 nits.
[3]
Each sign must have a light sensing device that will automatically
adjust the brightness of the display as the natural ambient light
conditions change to comply with the limits set here within.
(f)
Message center signs are subject to the following regulations,
in addition to all other illumination requirements established in
this section.
[2]
Height: A message center sign shall have the same height limits
as other permitted signs of the same type and location.
[3]
Area.
[a]
When used as an on-premises sign, message center
signs shall not exceed 50% of the sign area for any one sign, and
shall not exceed more than 30% of the total area for all signs permitted
on a property.
[b]
When used as an off-premises sign, message center
signs may be used for the full permitted sign area.
[4]
Maximum number. Where permitted, one message center sign is
permitted per frontage, up to a maximum of two message center signs
per property.
[5]
Message display.
[a]
No message center sign may contain text which flashes,
pulsates, moves or scrolls. Each complete message must fit on one
screen.
[b]
The content of a message center sign must transition
by changing instantly.
[c]
Default design. The sign shall contain a default
design which shall freeze the sign message in one position if a malfunction
shall occur.
[6]
Conversion of a permitted non-message center sign to a message center sign requires the issuance of a permit pursuant to § 240-76.
[7]
The addition of any message center sign to a nonconforming sign
is prohibited.
[8]
Public service announcements. The owner of every message center
sign shall coordinate with the local authorities to display, when
appropriate, emergency information important to the traveling public,
including but not limited to Amber Alerts or alerts concerning terrorist
attacks or natural disasters. Emergency information messages shall
remain in the advertising rotation according to the protocol of the
agency that issues the information.
(g)
Digital display signs are subject to the following regulations
in addition to all other requirements established in this section.
[2]
Height. A digital display shall have the same height limits
as for other permitted signs of the same type and location.
[4]
Maximum number per property. Where permitted, one digital display
sign is permitted per property.
[5]
Message display.
[a]
Any digital display containing animation, streaming
video, or text or images which flash, pulsate, move, or scroll is
prohibited. Each complete message must fit on one screen.
[b]
One message/display may be brighter than another,
but each individual message/display must be static in intensity.
[c]
The content of a digital display must transition
by changing instantly, with no transition graphics.
[d]
Default design. The sign shall contain a default
design which shall freeze the sign message in one position if a malfunction
shall occur.
[6]
Conversion of a permitted nondigital sign to a digital sign requires the issuance of a permit pursuant to § 240-76.
[7]
The addition of any digital display to a nonconforming sign
is prohibited.
[8]
The owner of every digital sign shall coordinate with the local
authorities to display, when appropriate, emergency information important
to the traveling public, including but not limited to Amber Alerts
or alerts concerning terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Emergency
information messages shall remain in the advertising rotation according
to the protocol of the agency that issues the information.
(h)
Electrical standards.
[1]
Permits for illuminated signs will not be issued without an
approved electrical permit if required. Applications for electrical
permits shall be filed at the same time as the sign permit application.
[2]
The electrical supply to all exterior signs, whether to the
sign itself or to lighting fixtures positioned to illuminate the sign,
shall be provided by means of concealed electrical cables. Electrical
supply to freestanding signs shall be provided by means of underground
cables.
[3]
The owner of any illuminated sign shall arrange for a certification
showing compliance with the brightness standards set forth herein
by an independent contractor and provide the certification documentation
to the Township as a condition precedent to the issuance of a sign
permit.
(i)
Glare control. Glare control shall be achieved primarily through
the use of such means as cutoff fixtures, shields, and baffles, and
appropriate application of fixture mounting height, wattage, aiming
angle, and fixture placement. Vegetation screens shall not be employed
to serve as the primary means for controlling glare.
H.
Sign materials and construction. All signs must be constructed with durable materials, must conform with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, and must be kept in good condition and repair. Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated may be removed by the Township in accordance with the regulations contained in § 240-79.3.
A.
Abandoned signs.
B.
Signs, which by color, location, or design resemble or conflict with
traffic control signs or signals, or obstruct the view of an intersection
of a street or highway with a railroad crossing, or which are located
upon, over, or in any street or highway right-of-way.
C.
Snipe signs. Signs shall only be attached to utility poles in conformance
with state and utility regulation and the requirements of this chapter.
D.
Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window,
fire escape, or that prevent free access from one part of a roof to
any other part. No sign other than a safety sign shall be attached
to a standpipe or fire escape.
E.
Mobile billboards. This regulation does not include the use of business
logos, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily and actively
used for business purposes and/or personal transportation.
F.
Inflatable devices or balloon signs, with the exception of balloons
used in temporary, noncommercial situations.
G.
Signs painted directly on the surface of any building.
H.
Billboards in residential districts or within 300 feet of a residential
district or use.
I.
Business or industrial signs placed to face an abutting residential
zoning district, except when authorized as special exception.
J.
Banners as permanent signs.
K.
Signs containing information stating or implying that a property
may be used for any purposes not permitted under the provisions of
this chapter.
L.
Roof-mounted signs and building-mounted signs that extend above the
roof line.
M.
Any sign that promotes illegal activity.
N.
Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of sexual conduct as defined by § 240-8 of this chapter.
O.
Signs erected without the permission of the property owner, with
the exception of those authorized or required by local, state, or
federal government.
P.
Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors, particulate matter, sound,
odor or contain open flames.
Q.
Signs containing flashing, moving, neon, or oscillating lights or
elements, except for time and temperature devices.
A.
Wall signs.
(1)
No portion of a wall sign shall be mounted less than eight feet above
the ground or extend out more than 18 inches from the building wall
on which it is affixed. If the wall sign projects less than three
inches from the building wall on which it is affixed, the eight-foot
height requirement need not be met.
(2)
Wall signs may be mounted onto building parapet but cannot project
above the top of the parapet.
B.
Canopy or awning signs.
(1)
A canopy or awning sign without lettering or other advertising shall
not be regulated as a sign.
(2)
A canopy or awning sign must be centered within or over architectural
elements such as windows or doors.
(3)
No awning sign or canopy sign shall be wider than the building wall
or tenant space it identifies.
(4)
Sign placement.
(a)
Letters or numerals shall be located only on the front and side
vertical faces of the awning sign or canopy.
(b)
Logos or emblems are permitted on the top or angled portion
of the awning sign or canopy up to a maximum of three square feet.
No more than one emblem or logo is permitted on any one awning sign
or canopy.
(6)
Any ground-floor awning sign projecting into a street right-of-way
must be retractable.
(7)
Awning signs above the ground floor may be fixed, provided they do
not project more than four feet from the face of the building.
C.
D.
Window signs.
(1)
Incidental signs in windows that display pertinent business information
such as the business' hours of operation and credit cards accepted,
shall be excluded from area calculations for window signs.
E.
Marquee signs.
F.
Freestanding signs.
(1)
The lowest edge of any freestanding pole sign shall be either less
than four feet or greater than seven feet above the ground.
(2)
Freestanding signs shall be supported and permanently placed by embedding,
anchoring, or connecting the sign in such a manner as to incorporate
it into the landscape or architectural design scheme.
(3)
Sign placement.
(a)
All freestanding signs shall be set back five feet from the
right-of-way, except for official traffic signs and government/regulatory
signs.
(b)
No freestanding sign may occupy an area designated for parking,
loading, walkways, driveways, fire lane, easement, cart way of the
right-of-way or other areas required to remain unobstructed.
G.
Manual changeable copy signs. Manual changeable copy signs are permitted
only when integrated into a preestanding, marquee, wall, or portable
sign.
A.
Locations permitted.
(1)
Off-premises signs are permitted in nonresidential districts, so
long as the off-premises sign will not be within 300 feet of a residential
district or use.
B.
Sign size. An off-premises sign is subject to the following size
restrictions according to the posted speed limit of the road which
the off-premises sign faces.
|
Posted Speed Limit (MPH)
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
<35
|
36-45
|
46-55
|
56-65
|
Limited access
| |
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
60
|
100
|
150
|
200
|
300
|
D.
Spacing. Off-premises signs shall be:
(1)
Set back from the ultimate right-of-way a distance equal to the height
of the off-premises signs or 15 feet, whichever is greater.
(2)
Located no closer than 25 feet from any property line.
(3)
Located no closer than 50 feet from any building, structure, on on-premises
sign located on the same property.
(4)
Located no closer than 1,500 feet from another off-premises signs
on either side of the road measured linearly.
(5)
Located no closer than 500 feet from any intersection, or interchange
(on-/off-ramp).
(6)
Located no closer than 1,000 feet from any property line abutting
a public park, playground, religious institution, cemetery, or school.
(7)
Not attached to the external wall or otherwise affixed to any part
of any building and shall not extend over any public property or right-of-way.
(8)
Not located on sewer rights-of-way, or water, electric, or petroleum
pipelines.
(9)
Not located on a bridge.
E.
Number of signs per lot. There shall be no more than one off-premises
sign per lot. Vertically or horizontally stacked signs shall not be
permitted.
F.
Content. Off-premises signs shall not display any message or graphic
of an obscene or pornographic nature as determined by the Township.
G.
Double-sided off-premises signs. Signs may be single- or double-sided.
H.
Message sequencing. Message sequencing is prohibited.
I.
Construction and maintenance.
(1)
All plans for off-premises signs shall be certified by a licensed
engineer registered in Pennsylvania.
(2)
All off-premises signs shall be structurally sound and maintained
in good condition and in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform
Construction Code.
(3)
The rear face of a single-face, off-premises sign shall be painted
and maintained with a single neutral color as approved by the Township.
(4)
Every three years, the owner of the billboard shall have a structural
inspection made of the billboard by a licensed engineer registered
in Pennsylvania and shall provide to the Township a certificate certifying
that the billboard is structurally sound.
J.
Identification of sign owner. All off-premises signs shall be identified
on the structure with the name, address, and phone number of the owner
of such sign.
K.
Landscaping.
L.
Additional regulations. All off-premises signs shall comply with
any and all applicable zoning regulations of Township, and any and
all municipal, state and/or federal regulations. In the event any
other applicable regulation is in conflict with the provisions of
this section, the stricter regulation shall apply.
M.
Illumination and changeable copy of off-premises signs.
(1)
Off-premises signs may incorporate manual and electric changeable
copy signs.
(2)
Off-premises signs may be illuminated, provided that:
(4)
Off-premises signs may incorporate tri-vision boards.
(a)
The length of time each message of the tri-vision board may be displayed before changing is based upon the visibility and posted speed limit unique to individual signs and adjacent road conditions. The message duration for tri-vision boards shall be calculated using the method described in § 240-72G(1)(d).
N.
Safety. In applying for special exception relief, the applicant bears
the burden of proof to establish that the proposed off-premises sign
will not create a public health or safety hazard in the matter and
location that it is proposed and in the manner by which it is to be
operated.
A.
Temporary signs, as defined in this section, located on private property,
are exempt from standard permit requirements. Temporary signs that
comply with the requirements in this subsection shall not be included
in the determination of the type, number, or area of signs allowed
on a property. Unless otherwise stated below, the requirements listed
below shall apply to both commercial and noncommercial signs.
B.
Size and number.
(1)
Nonresidential districts:
(a)
Large temporary signs: One large temporary sign is permitted
per property in all nonresidential districts. If a property is greater
than five acres in size and has at least 400 feet of street frontage
or has more than 10,000 square feet of floor area, one additional
large temporary sign may be permitted so long as there is a minimum
spacing of 200 feet between the two large temporary signs.
(b)
Small temporary signs: In addition to the large temporary signs
outlined above, one small temporary sign is permitted per property
in all nonresidential districts. If a property is greater than five
acres in size and has at least 400 feet of street frontage or has
more than 10,000 square feet of floor area, one additional small sign
may be permitted so long as there is a minimum spacing of 200 feet
between both sets of small temporary signs.
(2)
Residential districts:
(a)
Large temporary signs: One large temporary sign is permitted
per residential property so long as the property is greater than five
acres in size and has at least 400 feet of street frontage or has
more than 10,000 square feet of floor area.
(b)
Small temporary signs: One small temporary sign is permitted
per residential property.
C.
Duration and removal.
(1)
Temporary signs may be displayed up to a maximum of 30 consecutive
days, two times per year.
(2)
The Township or the property owner may confiscate signs installed
in violation of this chapter. Neither the Township nor the property
owner is responsible for notifying sign owners of confiscation of
an illegal sign.
D.
Permission: The party posting the temporary sign is solely responsible
for obtaining the permission of the property owner before posting
their temporary sign.
E.
Municipal notification: temporary signs are exempt from the standard
permit requirements but the date of erection of a temporary sign must
be in indelible ink on the lower right-hand corner of the sign.
F.
Installation and maintenance.
(1)
All temporary signs must be installed such that, in the opinion of
the Township's municipal building official, they do not create
a safety hazard.
(2)
All temporary signs must be made of durable materials and shall be
well-maintained.
(3)
Temporary signs that are frayed, torn, broken, or that are no longer
legible will be deemed unmaintained and required to be removed.
G.
Illumination: Illumination of any temporary sign is prohibited.
A.
Limited duration signs. Limited duration signs, as defined in this
section, located on private property are subject to the regulations
set forth below. Limited duration signs that comply with the requirements
in this subsection shall not be included in the determination of the
type, number, or area of signs allowed on a property. Unless otherwise
stated below, the requirements listed below shall apply to both commercial
and noncommercial signs.
B.
Size and number.
(1)
Nonresidential districts:
(a)
Large limited duration signs: One large limited duration sign
is permitted per property in all nonresidential zones. If a property
is greater than five acres in size and has at least 400 feet of street
frontage or has more than 10,000 square feet of floor area, one additional
large limited duration sign may be permitted so long as there is a
minimum spacing of 200 feet between the two large limited duration
signs.
(b)
Small limited duration signs: In addition to the large limited
duration sign(s) outlined above, one small limited duration sign is
permitted per property in all nonresidential zones. If a property
is greater than five acres in size and has at least 400 feet of street
frontage or has more than 10,000 square feet of floor area, one additional
small sign may be permitted.
(2)
Residential districts:
(a)
Large limited duration sign: One large limited duration sign
is permitted per property so long as the property is greater than
five acres in size and has at least 400 feet of street frontage or
has more than 10,000 square feet of floor area.
(b)
Small limited duration sign: One small limited duration sign
is permitted per property.
C.
Permit requirements.
(1)
A permit for a limited duration sign is issued for one year and may
be renewed annually.
(2)
One sign is allowed per permit. An applicant may request up to two
permits per address but is subject to the size and number requirements
set forth in this section.
(3)
An application for a limited duration sign permit must include:
(a)
A description of the sign indicating the number, size, shape,
dimensions, and colors of the sign, and the expected length of time
the sign will be displayed;
(b)
A schematic drawing of the site showing the proposed location
of the sign in relation to nearby building and streets; and
(c)
The number of signs on the site.
D.
Installation and maintenance.
(1)
All limited duration signs must be installed such that in the opinion
of the Township building official, they do not create a safety hazard.
(2)
All limited duration signs must be made of durable materials and
shall be well-maintained.
(3)
Limited duration signs that are frayed, torn, broken, or that are
no longer legible will be deemed unmaintained and required to be removed.
E.
Illumination: Illumination of any limited duration sign is prohibited.
In addition to the exempt signs described in § 240-71, the following numbers and types of signs may be erected in the Residential Districts, subject to the conditions specified here and in §§ 240-74 through 240-77.
C.
Freestanding signs for residential developments or apartment buildings
containing more than 10 units shall be permitted subject to the following
regulations.
The following numbers and types of signs may be erected in any nonresidential district subject to the conditions specified here and in §§ 240-74 through 240-77.
A.
Any sign permitted in residential districts, for the appropriate uses, as defined and regulated in § 240-78, Signs in residential districts.
B.
The total area of all wall, awning/canopy, and projecting signs for
nonresidential uses shall be limited to 5% of the front facade of
the building as further defined below:
(1)
Area of front facade shall be determined by multiplying the overall
building's front length times the overall building height. The
building front shall be considered as the longest wall of the building
facing the roadway on which it has access. Buildings with multiple
front setback facades and building projections may include all the
front faces of together in determining area of front facade. However,
any front facing wall which is set back more than 20 feet from the
furthest front facing wall ahead of it shall not be included in the
calculations to determine area of front face.
(2)
Buildings located on corner lots may add an additional sign on the
side of the building facing the secondary street using the above calculations
with the exception of percentage. The maximum gross area of the sign
shall be 2 1/2%.
C.
Wall signs for nonresidential uses shall be permitted subject to
the following regulations.
D.
Awning or canopy signs for nonresidential uses shall be permitted
subject to the following regulations.
(1)
Height: Signs shall have a maximum height equal to eave line except
for buildings with flat roofs and parapets of which the sign shall
not exceed the top of the parapet.
E.
Projecting signs for nonresidential uses shall be permitted subject
to the following regulations.
F.
Window signs for nonresidential uses shall be permitted subject to
the following regulations.
(1)
Area: A maximum of 25% of the total window area of any single storefront
may be used for permanent signs that are etched, painted, or permanently
affixed to the window. A maximum of 35% of the total window area of
any single storefront may be covered by a combination of permanent
and temporary window signs.
G.
Freestanding signs for nonresidential uses shall be permitted subject
to the following regulations.
(1)
Number: One sign per street frontage, up to two signs per property
held in single and separate ownership.
(2)
Area: Each sign shall have a maximum area of 50 square feet plus
an additional 10 square feet per tenant up to a maximum of 100 square
feet.
(3)
Height: Signs shall have a maximum height of 20 feet.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to erect, alter, or relocate any sign within the Township without first obtaining a sign permit, unless the sign is specifically exempt from the permit requirements as outlined in § 240-71.
B.
In order to apply for a sign permit, the applicant must provide the
following information, in writing, to the Township:
(1)
Name of the person and/or organization and location.
(2)
Name, address, and telephone number of the property owner, and
the signature of the property owner or duly authorized agent for the
owner.
(3)
Contact person and contact information.
(4)
Description of any existing signage that will remain on the
site.
(5)
Identification of the type of sign(s) to be erected by the applicant.
(6)
Site plan depicting the locations of proposed signage and existing
remaining signage.
(7)
Two copies of a plan drawn to scale depicting:
(a)
The location of the proposed sign on the lot with the required
sign setbacks from the property line and ultimate right-of-way and
to include lot dimensions, building frontage, and existing cart ways,
rights-of-way and driveways.
(b)
The design of each sign face and sign structure, including dimensions,
total area, sign height, depth, color scheme, structural details,
materials, lighting scheme and proposed location.
(c)
Building elevations, existing and proposed facades, parapet
walls, eave line and the location and size of all proposed and existing
permanent signs.
(d)
Current photographs showing existing signs on the premises and
certifying the date on which the photographs were taken.
(8)
A permit fee, to be established from time to time by resolution
of the Township, shall be paid.
(9)
Additional requirements for plans submitted for off-premises
signs:
(a)
The location and species of existing trees.
(b)
The distance to the nearest right-of-way, property line, building,
structure, on-premises sign, off-premises sign, intersection, interchange,
safety rest area, bridge, residential district, or institutional use,
sewer rights-of-way, and water, electric or petroleum pipelines.
(c)
Certification under the seal by a licensed engineer that the
off-premises sign, as proposed, is designed in accordance with all
federal, state, and local laws, codes, and professional standards.
C.
An application for a sign permit may be denied by the Township if
the application fails to comply with the standards contained herein.
The Township shall inform the applicant of the reasons for denying
the application for sign permit in writing.
D.
Upon denial of an application for a sign permit, the applicant has
30 days to revise and resubmit the application for review by the Township.
In the alternative, the applicant may appeal the denial to the Zoning
Hearing Board in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
E.
Unless otherwise provided in this section, sign permits shall not
expire provided that such signs are not abandoned or distorted. In
the instance that substantial repair or replacement becomes necessary
(i.e., repairs that costs more than 50% of the replacement cost of
the damaged sign), the application must apply for a new sign permit,
and pay an additional fee, if required.
Any sign legally existing at the time of passage of this chapter
that does not conform in use, location, height or size with the regulations
contained herein shall be considered nonconforming and may continue
in such use, in its present location, until the sign is considered
abandoned or replacement or rebuilding of the sign becomes necessary,
at which time a zoning permit will be required and the sign brought
into conformity with this chapter.
A.
Unsafe of unlawful signs.
(1)
Upon written notice by the Township, the owner, person, or firm
maintaining a sign shall remove any sign which meets one or more of
the following:
(2)
The Township may remove, or cause to be removed, the sign, at
the expense of the owner and/or lessee in the event the owner or the
person or firm maintaining the sign has not complied with the terms
of the notice. Permanent signs shall be removed or remedied within
30 days of the date of the notice. Temporary signs shall be removed
within five business days of the date of the notice. In the event
of immediate danger, the Township may remove the sign immediately
upon issuance of notice.
(3)
If the Township removes an unsafe or unlawful sign, any expense
directly incurred in the removal of such sign shall be charged to
the owner of the property. Where the owner fails to pay, the Township
may file a lien upon the property for the purpose of recovering all
reasonable costs and expenses associated with removal of the sign.
B.
Abandoned signs.
(1)
It shall be the responsibility of the owner of any property
upon which an abandoned sign is located to remove such sign within
90 days of the sign becoming abandoned as defined in this chapter.
Removal of an abandoned sign shall include the removal of the entire
sign including the sign face, supporting structure, and structural
trim.
(2)
Where the owner of the property on which an abandoned sign is
located fails to remove such sign in 90 days, the Township may remove
such sign. Any expense directly incurred in the removal of such sign
shall be charged to the owner of the property. Where the owner fails
to pay, the Township may file a lien upon the property for the purpose
of recovering all reasonable costs and expenses associated with removal
of the sign.
