The purpose of this article is to permit such signs that will
not, by their size, location, construction or manner of display, obstruct
the vision necessary for traffic safety, or otherwise endanger public
health, safety and morals, and to permit and regulate signs in such
a way to support and compliment the Township's community character
and advance the community objectives set for the in Township Comprehensive
Plan. Additionally, the purpose of the Township's sign regulations
are to:
A. Encourage the effective use of signs as a means of identification
and communication.
B. To maintain and enhance the Township's unique community aesthetic
and character.
C. To promote pedestrian and vehicular safety and prohibit the erection
of signs in such numbers, sizes and designs, and locations that may
create a hazard to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
D. To minimize adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private
property.
E. To promote and protect the public health, safety, morals, and general
welfare of the Township.
F. To promote the installation of signs that are complementary to the
buildings they serve and consistent with the general character of
the surrounding development.
G. To provide adequate identification for locations within the Township
while minimizing sign clutter and confusion.
H. To avoid the uncontrolled proliferation of signs.
I. To promote legibility, reduce the time needed to read signs, and
reduce vehicular driver distraction.
J. To restrict signs that overload the public's capacity to receive
information or that increase the probability of traffic congestion
and accidents by distracting attention or obstructing vision.
K. To avoid potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians using the
public streets, sidewalks, and rights-of-way.
L. To control public nuisances created by signs.
The following types of signs shall not require the issuance
of a sign permit:
B. Signs erected by a public agency or utility providing warning or
information to the public, and any signs erected by the Township or
under direction of the Township.
C. Signs denoting the availability of property for lease or sale, a
maximum of 12 square feet in area and a maximum of one sign per property.
Such signs shall be permitted only if the property on which the sign
is located, or a building thereon, is for lease or sale. No such sign
shall be located within the public right-of-way.
D. Political signs. Such signs shall be removed within seven days after
the political event for which they were intended.
E. Temporary signs.
(1) Temporary event signs and banners announcing a nonprofit event of
a civic organization for noncommercial purposes, provided that there
is only one sign per property and the sign shall not exceed 32 square
feet in area, and the sign shall be erected for a period not to exceed
30 days prior to the start of the event and removed within three days
after the conclusion of the event.
(2) Signs announcing special events, including but not limited to: auctions,
grand openings, new management, going-out-of-business and similar
special, limited-time events of a defined duration, provided that
such signs shall be displayed for a maximum of fourteen consecutive
days per special event and there shall be only one sign per occupied
tenant space.
(3) Portable sign (excluding changeable letter signs) including A-frame,
sandwich board or tent signs, provided that:
(a)
The sign has a maximum of two sign faces.
(b)
The sign shall be located within the main street frontage of
a building provided that only one temporary sign is permitted per
building and the sign shall be placed immediately in front of the
building with which the sign content is associated.
(c)
The sign face size shall be a maximum of five square feet per
sign face of the sign.
(d)
Such signs shall be removed at the end of the business day and
during nonbusiness operating hours.
(e)
Such signs shall not obstruct pedestrian traffic.
(4) Signs announcing new building or construction projects and identification
of the contractors associated with the projects, provided the sign
is erected after the beginning of the construction activity and removed
upon completion of the construction project or issuance of an occupancy
permit, if required.
(5) Other temporary signs. All other temporary signs, including but not
limited to those which advertise or announce community, civic, educational,
charitable, or religious projects, special events, political campaigns,
and the like, and including, but not limited to, signs placed in anticipation
of an upcoming election or during other similar political campaigns
or events, shall meet the following requirements:
(a)
Shall not exceed 12 square feet in area per side, except that
one such sign per property may be no more than 20 square feet in sign
area per side.
(b)
Shall not be more than eight feet tall, measured from ground
level to the top of the sign, except where one such sign may be attached
to a building, existing sign structure, or other permanent structure.
(c)
Where more than one such sign is placed on a single property,
parcel, or lot, the signs shall be separated by a distance of no less
than 10 feet.
(d)
Shall not be erected sooner than 30 days prior to the scheduled
date of the advertised event, election, or the like.
(e)
Shall be removed within seven days after completion of the project,
or after the date on which the advertised special event, election,
or the like, has taken place or otherwise concluded.
The following signs are permitted in residential zoning districts:
A. Building signs for identification of home occupations or no-impact
home-based businesses shall be permitted, except in PRDs and on lots
in the R-2 and R-3 Zoning Districts, provided that such sign is a
maximum of five square feet and shall not be illuminated.
B. Monument signs identifying a residential development or neighborhood,
provided that the maximum sign area shall be 18 square feet per sign
face and the sign shall not exceed four feet in height.
C. Signs displaying name, activities and/or functions for public institutions
(churches, public schools, accredited private schools, and publicly
owned or operated buildings), provided that:
D. One monument sign is permitted on a property.
(1) The maximum sign area shall not exceed 30 square feet per sign face
and there shall be a maximum of two sign faces.
(2) Changeable copy/lettering and LED signs are permitted provided that
they do not comprise more than 50% of the total sign area. Except
as to permitted location, all other requirements of this chapter for
LED signs shall be met.
(3) The maximum height shall be four feet.
(4) No monument sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct
traffic sight visibility.
E. One building sign is permitted per building.
(1) The maximum sign area shall be 15 square feet.
Any physical change or alteration to the structure of an existing,
nonconforming sign, excluding regular maintenance and in-kind replacement
of the sign face, requires compliance with the requirements of this
chapter.