Words and phrases used in this Article XI shall have the meanings set forth in this §
180-155. Words and phrases not defined in this §
180-155 but defined in Article
III shall be given the meanings set forth in that Article. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings or captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this article. The diagrams are for illustrative purposes only and shall not be interpreted as having any effect on the meaning of the associated term.
ADVERTISING SIGN, OFF-PREMISES
A sign which conveys a commercial or noncommercial message
unrelated to the activity conducted on the lot where the sign is located
or a sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service,
entertainment or attraction sold, offered, or existing elsewhere than
on the same lot where the sign is located. A structure intended to
support or contain such a sign shall also be considered an off-premises
advertising sign.
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 or varying of light intensity;
the automatic changing of all or any part of the facing of a sign;
the movement of a sign set in motion by the atmosphere. Time and temperature
devices shall be considered animated signs.
APPLICANT
A person or entity who applies for a sign permit in accord
with the provisions of this article.
AWNING SIGN
Signs which are placed on or integrated into fabric or other
material canopies which are mounted on the exterior wall of a building.
Awning Sign
|
BANNER SIGN
A sign intended to be hung either with or without a frame
with characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentations applied
to paper, plastic, fabric or similar material.
Banner Sign
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Civic Event Banner
|
BILLBOARD
A type of off-premises advertising sign and which conveys
a commercial or noncommercial message unrelated to the activity conducted
on the lot where the sign is located, or a sign which directs attention
to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold,
offered, or existing elsewhere than on the same lot where the sign
is located. A structure intended to support or contain such a sign
shall also be considered a billboard.
BUSINESS
For the purposes of this article, business shall mean any
approved nonresidential use including commercial, manufacturing, and
industrial enterprises; public buildings and uses such as public schools,
parks, civic centers, municipal buildings; and semipublic buildings
and uses such as churches, fire houses, ambulance buildings, private
schools, and libraries.
BUSINESS NAME
The name by which a business is commonly recognized and used
by the applicant. The applicant shall provide stationary or other
supporting documents illustrating the use of the business name or
verification of the official business license or tax name. Slogans
or product information shall not be considered as the business name.
CANOPY SIGN
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.
Canopy Sign on Freestanding Canopy
|
CHANGEABLE PANEL SIGN
A sign designed to allow its informational content to be
changed or altered.
Changeable Panel Sign
|
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE
Any sign wording, logo, or other representations that, directly
or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business,
product, service, or other commercial activity.
CONTRACTOR OR SUBCONTRACTOR SIGNS
The temporary signs which identify the contractor or subcontractor
engaged in the construction, reconstruction or repair of a building
or buildings on a lot or parcel or property.
DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A temporary sign used to identify an approved future development.
Development Sign
|
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
An on-site sign, providing no advertising of any kind except
the business name and logo, which provides direction or instruction
to guide persons to facilities intended to serve the public, including,
but not specifically limited to, those signs identifying restrooms,
public telephones, public walkways, parking areas, and other similar
facilities.
Directional Sign
|
DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign which provides a listing of the names of businesses,
activities, addresses, locations, uses or places within a building
or complex of buildings for the purposes of giving directions, instruction,
or facility information and which may contain the name and logo of
an establishment but no advertising copy.
Directory Sign
|
EASEL SIGN
A self-supporting, movable sign consisting of one face with
supporting legs or a supporting frame, or a sign displayed on an easel.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN
Any sign, or portion of a sign, that displays an electronic
image or video, which may or may not include text, where the rate
of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic
processes. This definition includes television screens, plasma screens,
digital screens, LED screens, video boards, holographic displays,
and other similar media.
EMERGENCY SIGNS
Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency,
a public utility company, or a contractor doing authorized or permitted
work within the public right-of-way.
FACADE
Any exterior wall of a building exposed to public view; and
any structure or part of a structure attached to, or otherwise mounted
parallel to, an exterior wall or other vertical part of the structure.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors,
patterns, or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political
subdivision, or other entity which is mounted on a pole, cable, or
rope at one end.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign supported permanently upon the ground by poles or
braces and that is not attached to any building.
Common Freestanding Sign Types
|
GOVERNMENT SIGN
Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by
the Township, county, state, or federal government for traffic direction
or for designation of or any school, hospital, historical site, or
public service, property, or facility.
GRAND OPENING
The introduction, promotion or announcement of a new business,
store, shopping center or office, or the announcement, introduction
or promotion of an established business changing ownership. A business
qualifies for a grand opening sign when it has been closed to the
public for a period of at least 30 days.
GROUND LEVEL
The finished grade of the adjacent street curb or where there
is no street curb, six inches above street grade. Ground level shall
be the existing natural grade.
GROUND SIGN
A freestanding sign that is architecturally integrated with
the building with individually mounted letters and/or logos only.
This sign shall be built with continuous background surface built
from the ground up.
ILLEGAL SIGN
Any sign erected without first obtaining an approved sign
permit, other than nonconforming signs, and which does not meet the
requirements of this article.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally
or externally for the purpose of illuminating the sign.
INCIDENTAL OR INSTRUCTIONAL SIGN
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary
to the use of the zone lot on which it is located, such as "no parking,"
"entrance," "loading only," "telephone," and other similar directives.
No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the
zone lot on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental
or instructional.
Incidental Sign or Instructional Sign
|
INDIRECT ILLUMINATION
A source of external illumination located away from the sign,
but which is itself not visible to persons viewing the sign from any
street, sidewalk or adjacent property.
INDIVIDUAL LETTERS
A cut-out or etched letter or logo which is individually
placed on a landscape, screen wall, building wall or ground sign.
INTERNAL ILLUMINATION
A source of illumination entirely within the sign which makes
the contents of the sign visible at night by means of the light being
transmitted through a translucent material but wherein the source
of illumination is not visible.
Internal and External Illumination
|
LED
Light-emitting diode.
LOGO
A graphic symbol representing an activity, use or business.
Permitted logos shall be registered trademarks or symbols commonly
used by the applicant, and may include graphic designs in addition
to lettering. The applicant shall provide stationary or other supporting
documents illustrating the use of the logo.
LUMINANCE
A measure of the brightness of a surface which is emitting
or reflecting light. The unit of measurement is candelas per square
meter or nits (1 nit = 1 cd/m2).
MAINTENANCE
The replacing or repairing of a part or portion of a sign
necessitated by ordinary wear, tear or damage beyond the control of
the owner or the reprinting of existing copy without changing the
wording, composition or color of said copy.
MARQUEE
Any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building
or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building
generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the
weather.
Marquee Sign
|
MONUMENT SIGN
A freestanding cabinet or panel sign mounted on, or within
a base (above grade), which is detached from any building.
MULTIPLE-OCCUPANT COMMERCIAL BUILDING
A commercial development in which there exists two or more
separate commercial activities, in which there are appurtenant shared
facilities (such as parking or pedestrian mall), and which is designed
to provide a single area in which the public can obtain varied products
and services. Distinguishing characteristics of a multiple-tenant
commercial building may, but need not, include common ownership of
the real property upon which the center is located, common-wall construction,
and multiple-occupant commercial use of a single structure.
NAMEPLATE
A small sign which identifies a resident's or home's
name and address or the name of a farm, ranch or commercial stable.
Such signs may be shingle, building wall or archway-mounted signs.
NIT
A unit of measure of luminance. See "luminance."
NONCOMMERCIAL FREE SPEECH SIGN
A sign with no commercial content which expresses personal
ideas and values, advocates a position on an issue, or seeks converts
and supporters and which does not meet the definition of a "political
sign."
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any sign which is not allowed under this article, but which,
when first constructed before this article was in effect and for which
a sign permit was issued, was legally allowed.
OWNER
A person recorded as such on official records. For the purpose
of this article, the owner of property on which a sign is located
is presumed to be the owner of the sign unless facts to the contrary
are officially recorded or otherwise brought to the attention of the
Zoning Officer.
PANEL
A two-dimensional visual background behind the sign letters
and logos which is visually separated from the mounting upon which
the sign letters and logos are placed by the presence of a border,
different colors, different materials, or other technique of visual
framing around the letters or logos.
PARAPET
That portion of a building exterior wall projecting above
the plate line of the building.
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.
PERMANENT SIGN
Any sign which is intended to be and is constructed as to
be in lasting and enduring condition remaining unchanged in character,
condition (beyond normal wear) and position, and in a permanent manner
affixed to the ground, wall or building, provided the sign is listed
as a permanent sign in this article.
PLATE LINE
The point at which any part of the main roof structure first
touches or bears upon an external wall.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign which supports candidates for office or
urges action on any other matter on the ballot of primary, general
and special elections.
PORTABLE SIGN
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, menu and 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 said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of
the business.
Portable Sign
|
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign affixed to a building wall in such a manner that
its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of
such building or wall.
Projecting Sign
|
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Unless otherwise expressly provided, "public property" means
any and all real or personal property over which the Township or other
governmental entity has or may exercise control, whether or not the
government owns the property in fee, including, sidewalks, rights-of-way
and improved or unimproved land of any kind and all property appurtenant
to it.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A temporary sign advertising the real estate upon which the
sign is located as being for rent, lease, or sale.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
No commercial sign shall be erected so as to project beyond
a property line, over a public sidewalk or over or within a public
right-of-way.
ROOF LINE
The uppermost line of the roof of a building or, in the case
of an extended facade or parapet, the uppermost point of said facade
or parapet.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign mounted on the main roof portion of a building or
on the topmost edge of a parapet wall of a building and which is wholly
or partially supported by such building. Signs mounted on mansard
facades, pent eaves, and architectural projections such as canopies
or marquees shall not be considered to be roof signs. See the following
illustration for example of roof signs, and comparison of differences
between roof and fascia signs.
SHINGLE SIGN
A sign suspended from a roof overhang of a covered porch,
walkway or horizontal plane surface which identifies the tenant of
the adjoining space.
|
Comparison - Roof and Fascia Signs
|
SIGN
Any device for visual communication which is used or is intended
to attract the attention of the public with a purpose of identifying,
when the display of the device is visible beyond the boundaries of
the public or private property upon which the display is made. The
term "sign" shall not include any flag or badge or insignia of the
United States, State of Pennsylvania, Carbon County, the Township,
or official historic plaques of any governmental jurisdiction or agency.
SNIPE SIGN
A sign which is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or
otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences or to other objects,
the advertising matter appearing on which is not applicable to the
present use of the premises upon which such sign is located.
SPECIAL EVENT
A promotional event such as, but not limited to, grand openings,
bazaars, street fairs, shows, exhibitions, sporting events, runs,
bicycling events, and block parties. This does not include sidewalk
sales occurring on private property where merchandise normally sold
indoors is transferred from indoors to outdoors for sale.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign, banner, pennant, or valance of advertising display
constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, plastic, wallboard
or other like materials, with or without frames; or any sign not permanently
attached to the ground, wall or building.
WALL SIGN
Any sign attached parallel to, but within six inches of,
a wall, painted on the wall surface of, or erected and confined within
the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which
is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one
sign surface.
Wall Signs
|
WINDOW SIGN
Any poster, cut-out letters, painted text or graphics, or
other text or visual presentation affixed to or placed behind a window
pane which is intended to be read from the exterior of the building.
Sign Comparison
|
The following signs are permitted in all districts accessory
to a permitted residential use.
A. Residential building name and address signs. Name and address signs
of buildings containing six or more residential units indicating only
the name of the building, the name of the development in which it
is located, the management thereof, and/or address of the premises
shall be subject to the following:
(1)
Type. Building name and address signs may be either wall signs
or ground signs.
(2)
Number. There shall not be more than one name and address sign
for each building except that where a building abuts two or more streets,
one additional sign oriented to each abutting street shall be permitted.
(3)
Area. Building name and address signs shall not exceed four
square feet.
(4)
Location. Building name and address signs shall not be located
within 15 feet of any point of vehicular access to a public roadway.
The location and arrangement of all building name and address signs
shall be subject to the review and approval of the Zoning Officer.
(5)
Height. Building name and address signs shall not project higher
than 15 feet for wall signs and five feet for ground signs.
B. Residential development road entrance signs. Residential development
road entrance signs for developments with two or more buildings with
a total of five or more dwelling units indicating only the name of
the development, including single-family, two-family, and multifamily
developments and mobile home parks, the management or developer thereof,
and/or the address or location of the development shall be subject
to the following:
(1)
Type. The residential development road entrance signs shall
be ground signs.
(2)
Number. There shall not be more than two residential development
road entrance signs for each point of vehicular access to a development.
(3)
Area. Residential development road entrance sign area shall
not exceed 32 square feet.
(4)
Location. Residential development road entrance signs may be
located in any required setback, but shall not extend over any lot
line or within 15 feet of any point of vehicular access from a public
roadway. The location and arrangement of all residential development
signs shall be subject to the review and approval of the Zoning Officer.
(5)
Height. Residential development road entrance signs shall not
project higher than 15 feet.
(6)
Sign faces. Residential development road entrance signs may
be double-faced only when one such sign is used at a road entrance.
C. Home occupation signs. One sign of not more than four square feet
for each face and not projecting more than 15 feet in height shall
be permitted.
Principal nonresidential uses located in R-1 Residential Low
Density, R-2 Residential Medium Density, R-3 Residential High Density
and OS Open Space Districts are permitted to have one freestanding
and one wall sign in accord with the following regulations:
A. Area and height.
(1)
The maximum area and height of freestanding signs shall be 20
square feet and eight feet respectively.
(2)
The maximum area of wall signs shall be 24 square feet.
B. Number.
(1)
The maximum number of freestanding signs shall be one per lot.
On a corner lot, the sign shall be placed on the street of highest
classification.
(2)
The maximum number of wall signs shall be one per principal
building.
For all commercial, manufacturing, industrial, public and semipublic uses (referred to as "business" in this section) in the R/RC Recreation/Resort Commercial, VC Village Commercial, C Commercial and BD/LI Business Development/Light Industrial Districts, the following signs are permitted and then only if accessory to a permitted use, and such signs shall be subject to the requirements of this §
180-161 and any other applicable provisions contained in this article:
A. Individual business identification signs. The provisions of this §
180-161 shall apply where an individual business is located on the lot. The following signs are permitted provided all regulations are met:
(1)
Total square footage permitted. Total aggregate sign area of signs permitted by this §
180-161A shall not exceed 100 square feet. (For two-sided freestanding signs, only one side is counted toward total square footage.)
(2)
Number permitted.
(a)
Only one freestanding business identification sign shall be
permitted per lot, except on corner lots where one may be permitted
on each street frontage.
(b)
One wall sign may be located on each wall of the principal building.
(c)
Retail fuel sales signs are exempt from the total sign square footage limitation, but shall comply with §
180-161E.
(3)
Permitted signs by type.
(a)
Freestanding signs.
[1]
The maximum area of a freestanding sign shall be 64 square feet.
[2]
The maximum height of a freestanding sign shall be 30 feet.
(b)
Wall signs. The area of a wall sign shall not exceed 25% of
the area of the building face to which it is attached, with a maximum
of 50 square feet.
B. Shopping center, mall and multiple-occupant business identification
signs. The following provisions shall apply to developments, whether
planned and developed on one lot or multiple lots as a group, in which
two or more businesses (commercial, manufacturing, industrial, public
or semipublic uses) are housed in one or more principal structures.
(1)
Freestanding signs.
(a)
Number and area. The maximum number and area of freestanding
signs shall be one per street frontage of no more than 150 square
feet.
(b)
Content. The freestanding development identification sign shall
not contain the name of any individual business occupant of the premises
unless such tenant or occupant occupies 30% or more of the total development.
Each freestanding development identification sign may include, affixed
directly to it, a directory indicating only the names of the business
occupants of the development which are not listed on the main sign
face. The gross surface area of a directory sign shall not exceed
10 square feet for each exposed face for each occupant in the development.
(c)
Height. The main identification signs shall not exceed 30 feet
in height.
(2)
Individual occupant wall signs. (See §
180-161G for shingle signs.)
(a)
Number. There shall be not more than one wall sign for each
principal business occupant except that where a principal occupant
abuts two or more streets, one additional such sign oriented to each
abutting street shall be permitted.
(b)
Area. The surface area of a wall sign shall not exceed 35 square
feet.
(c)
Location. A wall sign may be located on the outermost wall of
any principal building. The location and arrangement of all wall signs
shall be subject to the review and approval of the Zoning Officer.
(d)
Height. A wall sign shall not project higher than the parapet
line of the wall to which the sign is to be affixed.
C. Business subdivision road entrance signs. Business subdivision road
entrance signs for developments with two or more commercial, manufacturing,
industrial, public and semipublic buildings (referred to as "business"
in this section) indicating only the name of the development shall
be subject to the following:
(1)
Type. The business subdivision road entrance signs shall be
freestanding signs.
(2)
Number. There shall not be more than two business subdivision
road entrance signs for each point of vehicular access to a development.
(3)
Content. Each freestanding development identification sign may
include, affixed directly to it, a directory identifying each lot
of the subdivision. The gross surface area of a directory sign shall
not exceed 10 square feet for each exposed face for each occupant
in the development.
(4)
Area. Business subdivision road entrance signs shall not exceed
64 square feet.
(5)
Location. Business subdivision road entrance signs may be located
in any required setback, but shall not extend over any lot line or
within 15 feet of any point of vehicular access from a public roadway.
The location and arrangement of all residential development signs
shall be subject to the review and approval of the Zoning Officer.
(6)
Height. Business subdivision road entrance signs shall not project
higher than 30 feet.
(7)
Sign faces. Business subdivision road entrance signs may be
double-faced only when one such sign is used at a road entrance.
D. Automatic teller machine (ATM) signs. ATM signs shall be permitted
in association with an approved business subject to the following:
(1)
Location. Such sign shall be located on the face of the machine
and may only identify the individual business name, logo, time, and
principal services offered at the ATM.
(2)
Area. The area of any such sign shall not exceed 10 square feet.
The bezel and architectural border of an ATM sign shall not be included
in the sign area unless they contain sign characters, logos, or other
sign graphics. The area of any ATM signs not visible beyond the boundaries
of the property shall not be deducted from the sum total area permitted
for the use. Wording, symbols, and graphics which instruct persons
on the use of the ATM shall not be considered part of the sign area
unless they are visible beyond the boundaries of the property and
attract the attention of the public.
(3)
Permit not required. A permit shall not be required for automatic
teller machine signs.
E. Retail fuel sales.
(1)
Permitted sign. Retail fuel sales establishments shall, in addition to the other permitted signs, be permitted one sign with up to four fuel prices attached to the business identification sign. The height of the letters/numerals shall not exceed the following and the sign shall be no larger than necessary to encompass the letters/numerals, but in no case shall exceed the width of the business sign. The prices shall be stationary but may be electronically controlled in accord with §
180-163C.
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Number of Products Advertised
|
1 or 2
|
3
|
4
|
---|
|
Maximum letter height
(inches)
|
24
|
15
|
12
|
(2)
Height. The sign shall be installed below the business identification
sign.
F. Changeable panel signs. One changeable panel sign per lot may be
incorporated into a permitted freestanding sign, monument sign or
wall sign to identify special, unique, limited activities, services,
products, or sale of limited duration occurring on the premises on
which the changeable panel sign is located. The changeable panel sign
shall be counted in the sign area of the sign in which it is incorporated.
G. Shingle signs. In addition to the other signs permitted by this chapter each establishment with a separate entrance to the outside shall be permitted a shingle sign in accord with this §
180-161G.
(1)
A shingle sign shall not exceed six square feet and the area of the shingle sign shall count toward the total square footage permitted for individual business identification signs by §
180-161A(1) and toward the wall sign permitted for individual occupant occupants by §
180-161B(2)(b).
(2)
Shingle signs shall be limited to two sign faces installed perpendicular
to the building facade.
(3)
No portion of a shingle sign shall be less than eight feet above
any pedestrian walkway or the grade below the sign.
(4)
No portion of a shingle sign shall project above the top of
an eave or parapet.
(5)
Shingle signs suspended from the underside of a building overhang
shall be centered under the overhang and shall not project beyond
the overhang.
(6)
A shingle sign shall maintain a ten-foot separation from another
shingle sign.
(7)
Shingle signs shall be located at the business entrance.
(8)
Shingle signs shall not be more than six inches or less than
one inch thick.
H. A-frame or sandwich board signs. A-frame or sandwich board signs
shall be permitted for retail/service/wholesale commercial establishments
subject to the following:
(1)
Each business establishment shall be limited to one A-frame
or sandwich board sign.
(2)
The sign shall be comprised of two boards of durable material
with no attachments.
(3)
The sign shall not exceed eight square feet for each exposed
face and shall not exceed 30 inches in width or four feet in height.
(4)
The sign shall not be illuminated.
(5)
The sign shall be displayed only during the hours when the establishment
is open for business and shall include advertising pertaining only
to the establishment of location.
(6)
The sign shall not be placed in such manner as to impede pedestrian
or vehicle traffic or the opening of vehicle doors.
(7)
The sign shall be sufficiently secured or weighted to resist
overturning.
(8)
The sign shall not be displayed at any time when snow has accumulated
on or has not been completely removed from the sidewalk in front of
the premises where the sign is permitted.
Off-premises advertising signs and billboards (referred to as
"advertising sign") are permitted only in C-Commercial and BD/LI-Business
Development/Light Industrial Districts subject to the following:
A. Spacing. The minimum distance required between any advertising signs
shall be 500 feet.
B. Right-of-way. Advertising signs shall not encroach on any road the
right-of-way.
C. Residential setback. All advertising signs shall be located a minimum
distance of 100 feet from any residential building.
D. Size. The maximum area of any advertising sign shall be 240 square
feet.
E. Height. No portion of the advertising sign shall be more than 15
feet from the ground.
F. Intersection setback. All off-site advertising signs shall be located
no closer than 100 feet from any public road intersection.
G. Landscaping. Advertising signs shall be exempt from the landscaping requirements of §
180-157I.
H. Electronic signs. An off-premises advertising sign or billboard may be an electronic sign in compliance with §
180-163. (See §
180-163B for permitted and prohibited conversions to electronic signs.)
In addition to all other applicable regulations, the following
regulations shall apply to all electronic message signs. In the case
of conflict, the more restrictive standard shall apply.
A. Location, number, size and height.
(1)
Location. Electronic message signs shall be located only on
parcels within the VC-Village Commercial District, the C-Commercial
District and the R/RC-Recreation/Resort Commercial District.
(2)
Number. Each development parcel shall be limited to one electronic
message sign which is used in lieu of another permitted sign. In the
case of a shopping center, mall or multiple-occupant business comprised
of several parcels, one electronic message sign shall be permitted
for the entire development.
B. Nonconforming sign conversion.
(1)
Any nonconforming sign which is converted to an electronic message
sign shall be made conforming to the requirements of this article.
(2)
A sign which is nonconforming as to zoning district location
shall not be converted to an electronic message sign.
C. Message display.
(1)
Hold time. Any portion of the message shall have a minimum duration
(hold time) of five seconds and shall be a static display. Messages
shall completely change to the next message within one second.
(2)
Motion. The images and messages displayed shall be complete
in themselves without continuation in content to the next image or
message or to any other sign. The image shall be static, with no animation,
streaming video, flashing, scrolling, fading, or other illusions of
motion.
(3)
Malfunction. All signs shall be equipped with a properly functioning
default mechanism that will stop the sign in one position and lock
the luminance level to the nighttime setting should a malfunction
occur.
(4)
Projection. Images or messages projected onto buildings or other
objects shall be prohibited.
(5)
Luminance. (See also §
180-67 for lighting and glare.)
(a)
No sign may display light of such intensity or brilliance to
cause glare, hazard or impair the vision of the motorist, or interfere
with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device or signal.
(b)
Signs shall have a maximum luminance of 5,000 nits during daylight
hours. During the nighttime, signs and billboards shall be limited
to a maximum luminance of 150 nits.
|
Luminance. A measure of the brightness of a surface which is
emitting or reflecting light. The unit of measurement is candelas
per square meter or nits (1 nit = 1 cd/m2).
Nit. A unit of measure of luminance.
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(c)
All signs shall be equipped with both a dimmer control and a
photocell that automatically adjusts the display's luminance
according to natural ambient light conditions. The sign shall also
be equipped with an automatic malfunction shut off switch.
(d)
Signs shall comply with light trespass regulations set forth in §
180-67.
(e)
Surface luminance measurements shall be made directly with a
calibrated luminance meter, following the instrument manufacturer's
directions. Readings shall be taken from the area from which the sign
will be visible, usually the road, and which is closest to being directly
in front of the sign where the luminosity output is most focused.
This reading shall be the measurement of an all-white image display
to evaluate the worst-case scenario. With an all-white display, a
maximum of 200 nits shall be permitted during nighttime.
(f)
Prior to issuance of a sign permit, the applicant shall provide
written certification from the sign manufacturer that the sign luminance
has been factory preset to not exceed 5,000 nits and that the intensity
has been protected from end-user manipulation by password-protected
software.