[Ord. 570, 4/10/1995, § 101]
This Part shall be known as the "Borough of Wellsboro Sign Ordinance."
[Ord. 570, 4/10/1995, § 102]
SIGNS
Any material system, emblem, structure or advertising device,
composed of lettered or pictorial matter, used to identify any business,
person, object or activity when visible from a public area.
[Ord. 570, 4/10/1995, § 103]
1. Any new sign or any change of business name require a permit. Applications
and permits are given by the Wellsboro Code Enforcement Officer.
2. Applications for permits will include the following information:
name of applicant, address of site and date. A drawing of the sign,
illustrating the location of the sign (as it relates to the full storefront),
all dimensions and materials. The drawing may be done in schematic
form, or be completed to accurate scale. Colors to be used on all
components of the sign should be indicated or described. Method of
installation shall be included as well as the name of the contractor.
Lighting for any sign will be fully described. Application must be
approved in writing before start of construction.
[Ord. 570, 4/10/1995, § 104]
1. In the area of Main Street, Central Avenue to East Avenue (hereinafter
known as the Main Street Commercial District) the following signs,
Subsections A through J, will be permitted, based on the criteria
for dimension, location and design listed below:
A. Flat facade signs placed flush with the building, will be placed
below the second floor or lower window sill of a second story window
and be no larger than 25% of the first floor facade square footage
(see Illustration 19-1). Square footage is measured by multiplying
the width of the storefront by the height, as determined by the distance
of the lower window sill to the sidewalk. A maximum of one flat sign,
per business, per building will be permitted. Where a building's
side facade faces a side street, rear alley or parking lot, a maximum
of one flat sign per facade will be permitted. Flat signs or signboards
will have a maximum height of four feet with sign letters being on
larger than 18 feet in height. Sign lettering will be restricted to
the name of the business, one secondary description, address and phone
number. Where two or more businesses occupy one building, on the street
level, the overall sign area for all signs shall be no larger than
25% of first floor facade square footage. Signs representing businesses
on any of the upper floors shall be limited to one sign per business
with each sign being no larger than 10% of the overall square footage
of the upper building facade of which it is a part.
B. Projecting signs, on a bracket, perpendicular to the building, shall
be no larger than 20 square feet, extend a maximum of four feet from
the facade and have a clearance of no less than eight feet from the
ground (see Illustration II).
C. Awning signs may be placed anywhere on a structure which such awning
has a ground clearing of seven feet six inches and extend no more
than five feet from facade. No back lit, flat metal or wood canopies
will be permitted. Lettering is to be restricted to the name of the
business, secondary description, address and phone number. Lettering
will be restricted to no more than nine inches in height. Any logo
or graphic design will not exceed 20% of the awning surface (see Illustration
III).
D. Window signs on windows shall occupy no more than 20% of window area
and letters no larger than eight inches in height. A maximum of three
signs will be allowed for any one business.
E. Illuminated signs are permitted as long as the external light sources
are aimed at the sign they are illuminating and not positioned in
such a manner so as to shine onto the adjoining property or into the
eyes of a passing pedestrian or motorist. Internally lit signs are
not permitted. Neon signs are permitted only within a store interior
and are restricted to the same size limitations a window signs.
F. Wall signs, wall murals or wall painted signs shall occupy no more
than 20% of the wall area or facade of which they are a part and may
not exceed an area of 200 square feet, whichever is less.
G. Banners will be considered as a projecting sign and follow the same
restriction. Banners hung across the street are prohibited.
H. Temporary signs shall comply with the following requirements: signs
temporarily affixed to a window or door are permitted, provided they
do not exceed 20% of the area of the window or door and are in place
for not more than 30 days.
I. Signs, whether permanent or temporary are prohibited on the boulevards.
J. Sidewalk signs shall not exceed four feet in height and be no wider
than 24 inches. Signs will be located within three feet of the storefront.
On special occasions, billboard signs may be worn by an individual,
i.e., Dickens at Christmas, school fund-raising events, etc.
2. Within the remainder of the Borough's commercial zone, all sign
configurations listed above are permitted. In addition, the following
restrictions apply for signage in commercial areas of Wellsboro outside
the Main Street Commercial area:
A. Free standing signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height or 30 square
feet in area and may be internally lighted.
[Ord. 570, 4/10/1995, § 105; as amended by A.O.]
1. The following signs shall be prohibited within the Borough of Wellsboro:
B. Off-premises advertising signs.
C. Signs carried or worn by a pedestrian, unless in compliance with §
19-104, Subsection 1J.
D. Strung light and windblown devices such as pennants, spinners or
streamers.
E. Any sign which flashes or blinks on and off or contains moving lights
or which is otherwise illuminated on an intermittent basis.
F. Any neon sign other than a window sign.
G. Any backlight awning which has lettering on it in the Main Street
Commercial District.
H. Any sign mounted on the roof top of the building.
I. Blade
signs, also known as feather, swooper, and windblown devices.
[Ord. 570, 4/10/1995, § 106; as amended by A.O.]
Any person, firm or corporation who or which being the owner
or agent of the owners of any lot, tract or parcel of land shall erect
or permit to be erected a sign without first securing the requisite
permit or who shall violate any provision of this Part shall, upon
conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $1,000
plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to imprisonment
for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this
Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.