[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1.
Signs may be erected, altered and maintained only when in compliance
with the provisions of this Part, and any other appropriate Township
regulations.
2.
This Part of this chapter is intended solely as a means for regulating
the form or manner of display and is not meant as a restriction upon
the content.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
For the purposes of this chapter, terms shall be defined and
applied as follows:
Boards which direct the motorist or pedestrian to a business
establishment or call the attention of motorists or pedestrians to
a product, place, or activity that is available, exists or occurs
at a location other than the location upon which the Board is erected.
Billboards are free standing structures, and are differentiated thereby
from wall signs, which are attached to the wall of a building. "Billboard,"
as used herein, shall refer to a sign with a single face area greater
than 76 square feet.
Signs or boards that are directly oriented to activities
that occur on the same premises as the sign or board. Such signs may
be either free standing or attached to a wall of a building.
A sign supported vertically by one or more uprights placed
in or on the ground but designed to be movable. Such a sign advertises
products or items offered for sale or are directly related to the
premises upon which it is located, e.g., a business identification
sign.
Signs or boards directing attention to or promoting a particular
individual or group of persons running for office in a public election.
The area occupied by a single business, professional office,
or other public enterprise or home. When more than one business office
or home occupies a single building on the ground floor, each business
area shall be considered a separate premises. Businesses, homes or
other enterprises which occupy space on other floors shall be considered
separate premises.
Any sign erected and maintained on or above the roof of any
building.
The area of the smallest triangle, rectangle, or circle which
can wholly enclose the message-carrying surface area of a sign. All
visible faces of a multi-faced sign shall be counted separately and
then totaled in calculating the sign area, if those faces carry messages.
Three-dimensional signs shall be treated in the same manner as dual-faced
signs, i.e., the message-carrying area(s) of the faces shall be calculated,
and then totaled to calculate the total sign area.
Flags, pennants, ground signs, or special promotional devices
intended to be erected for a limited period of time to call attention
to a legally permissible special event.
Signs attached to a wall or part of a wall of a building
or structure, not including billboards as defined above, which advertise
products sold or directly related to the premises on which they are
located, e.g., a business identification sign.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1.
When a regulation hereunder is nonspecific, i.e., when the terms
"reasonably necessary," "as appropriate," "noncommercial," etc., are
used, the Zoning Officer shall decide any questions that may arise
as to the necessity, appropriateness, or content of a sign or signs
hereunder. The following regulations shall apply to all permitted
sign uses:
A.
Signs Permitted in All Districts. Signs listed in this section shall
be permitted in all zoning districts, except where noted, and shall
require permits as noted. Where no specific regulation is given, such
signs shall conform to the general regulations for signs set forth
in the remainder of this Part:
(1)
Name and Address of Resident; Professional Signs. Such signs
shall not include any commercial advertising, and shall not be larger
than nine square feet in area per side, or 18 square feet total for
a two- or three-dimensional sign. No more than three such signs allowed
per premises located on the premises. Such signs shall include signs
identifying a professional office, such as doctor, dentist, osteopath,
lawyer, accountant, architect, surveyor, or other licensed professionals,
or farms, farmettes or camps. Such signs are not subject to the permit
provisions herein.
(2)
No Trespassing and Similar Signs. Included in this group shall
also be other similar signs regulating or warning of use of the property,
such as "no hunting," "no fishing," "no camping," etc. Such signs
may be no more than two square feet in total area. There shall be
no limit as to the number of signs per premises. They must be located
on the premises. Commercial content is not allowed. Such signs are
not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(3)
Real Estate Signs. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet
in total area in residential zones, and 20 square feet in total area
in all other zones. They shall be limited to statements advertising
that the premises are for sale, rental or lease, and names and other
information for interested parties to contact. They may be located
only upon the premises offered for sale, rent, or lease. Such signs
shall be removed within two weeks after the premises advertised has
been sold, rented, or leased. No more than three such signs per premises
may be erected. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(4)
Charitable or Religious Institution Signs and Bulletin Boards.
Such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in total area and shall
be used exclusively for noncommercial announcement. They may be located
only on the premises of the church or other institution. No more than
one per premises. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(5)
Informational Signs for On-Premises Direction. Such signs shall
not exceed five square feet in total area each, and shall be used
exclusively for noncommercial direction, e.g., "telephone," "no parking,"
"office entrance," "lubrication and tune up," etc, they shall be located
only on the premises. As many of such signs as are reasonably necessary
to accomplish the purposes of the signs may be erected. Such signs
are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(6)
Signs Erected by the governing body. Such signs may be erected
as any governing body, (federal, state, county or local) may direct,
including holiday banners. They shall not be limited in size, type,
number, location, design or any other manner by anything contained
herein. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(7)
Memorial Signs or Tablets. Such signs shall not exceed such
dimension as is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose thereof,
and shall be noncommercial in nature. They need not be located on
the premises referred to. Two such signs per premises may be erected.
The content shall be limited to date of erection of buildings or events,
and statements of historical circumstances, as appropriate. Such signs
are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(8)
The Flag, Banner, Pennant or Insignia of any Governmental Body,
or Religious, Charitable, or Fraternal Organization. Such signs must
be located on the premises. Size, shape, number, and other characteristics
may be as appropriate. Such signs shall have no commercial content.
Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(9)
Temporary Signs, Advertising Farm Products, Auctions, Yard Sales,
and Special Events of Charitable, Public Service, or Political Groups.
Such signs shall have a total sign area no greater than six square
feet each. Location (on or off premises) and number as appropriate.
In the case of farm products, the products advertised must be produced
on the premises. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(10)
Permanent Residential, Commercial and Industrial Development
Signs, Signs Identifying Country Clubs, and Similar Recreational Facilities.
Such signs shall be located on the premises, at or near the entrance(s)
of residential, industrial, and commercial developments, or on the
premises of any recreational facility. They shall be no larger than
72 square feet total, per entrance, or no more than 72 square feet
total for recreational facilities. No more than two faces per entrance.
No commercial content is allowed. Such signs shall not be subject
to the permit provisions herein.
(11)
Signs Identifying Places of Warship. Location and number as
appropriate. Total size to be no greater than 32 square feet. No commercial
content allowed. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(12)
Political Signs. Number, size and location may be as appropriate,
provided that the property owner has given permission for any signs
located on his property. No commercial content allowed. Failure to
remove political signs within 30 days after the election shall constitute
a violation hereunder, and shall subject the candidate, or the local
party affiliate or committee, to a fine of $5 per sign. Such signs
are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(13)
Directional Signs.
(a)
These signs may be erected along major roadways to direct motorists
to premises in locations far removed from the roadway. They shall
be ground pole signs with a total area of 76 square feet for a single-sided
sign and 152 square feet for a double-sided sign. These signs may
be erected by a Gregg Township-based business only.
(b)
Content shall be limited to the name of the establishment, and
distance/direction information. Such signs may be located in any district
except residential, and only with the written permission of the landowner.
No more than two such signs per single advertising establishment.
Such signs shall be subject to the permit provisions herein.
(14)
Real Estate Development Signs.
(a)
Such signs may be erected only by developers or owners with
a minimum of six lots for sale in a single subdivision. Such signs
must be located on the premises which are for sale.
(b)
Content is limited to advertisement of the lots in the subdivision
on which the sign is located, the name of the development, and the
developer's, realtor's or landowner's names, addresses
and telephone numbers. Content shall not include reference to the
sale of lots elsewhere or the realtor's, developer's or
landowner's business in general.
(c)
No more than two such signs per premises, located no closer
than 1,000 feet apart. Maximum total area for each single-faced sign
shall be 32 square feet, and 64 square feet for a double-faced sign.
No sign shall be higher than 10 feet above grade or in excess of 12
feet in any direction. Such signs shall be subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(15)
Shopping Center Signs. Such signs are limited to ground pole
signs located on the premises of the shopping center. One such sign
per premises is allowed. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet
for a single-sided sign, and 64 square feet for a double-sided sign.
No such sign shall be higher than 10 feet above grade or in excess
of 12 feet in any direction. Content shall be limited to the name
of the shopping center. Such signs shall be subject to the permit
provisions herein.
B.
Signs Permitted in the Village District.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Table of Specific Sign Regulations
in the Village District is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1.
The following signs shall not be erected, permitted, or maintained
in any district, notwithstanding anything else contained in this chapter
or elsewhere. Signs which are prohibited in paragraphs marked with
an asterisk (*) shall be removed or brought into conformance with
the provisions of this chapter within 90 days after the effective
date of this chapter.
A.
Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination
or with illumination which varies in intensity or color, and signs
which have any visible moving part, visible revolving parts, or visible
mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible
movement achieved by electrical pulsations, or by actions of normal
wind currents, except when not visible from motor vehicles traveling
on public roadways. Hanging signs which simply swing in the wind,
clocks, time and temperature signs, barber poles and similar signs
may be exempted, provided that they comply with the other provisions
hereunder.
B.
Light sources which cast light on signs shall be shielded by opaque
material so that the bulbs, floodlights, or tubes are not visible
off the property or premises on which the signs are located.
C.
Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety
or public health.
D.
Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner
of illumination obstruct the vision, or impair the concentration of
drivers, or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness
of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.
E.
Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape,
door, window, or other required exit way.
F.
Signs which make use of words such as "stop," "look," "one way,"
"danger," "yield" or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or
characters in such a manner as to interfere with, confuse, or mislead
traffic.
G.
Any obsolete sign (including the structural members of the sign)
which advertises a business no longer being conducted, or a product
no longer sold.
H.
Signs on public property or public rights-of-way unless erected by
a governing body, or unless required to be so located by order of
a governing body. No sign erected on public property or on a public
right-of-way shall contain any commercial content.
J.
String lights, other than temporary holiday decorations, which are
unshielded from off of the premises on which they are located.
K.
Searchlights, pennants, banners, spinners and streamers, except for
occasions such as grand openings and similar events, and then only
with written permission of the Zoning Officer. Use shall be limited
to 15 days.
L.
Except as specifically allowed herein, the erection, placing, and construction of ground pole signs, commonly known as "billboards" or "advertising sign boards" and as defined in § 15-702 above, off of the premises where the product or service advertised is to be found, shall be prohibited in all districts.
2.
No alteration in either length, height or width shall be allowed,
nor shall any single-faced billboard be converted into a two-faced
billboard.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1.
These regulations shall apply to all signs, commercial and otherwise,
where such signs are not more specifically regulated herein. In the
case of conflict between any two provisions of this Part, the more
stringent shall apply.
A.
Height of Signs. No sign, or any part thereof, shall exceed a height
of 15 feet, as measured from grade level directly below the face of
the sign to the highest part of the sign.
B.
Location. Signs must be located on the premises which they advertise,
except as specifically allowed herein. When located off the premises,
written permission of the property owner must be obtained.
C.
Area.
(1)
The total area of signs erected hereunder shall not exceed 76
square feet on a single-faced sign or 152 square feet on a double-faced
sign, per sign.
(2)
The total area of all signs that maybe erected or maintained
on any single premises shall not be greater than 228 square feet.
The total area of all signs that maybe erected or maintained by any
person, or single business or corporate entity, off the premises,
shall not exceed an additional 228 square feet.
D.
Number. No more than four signs may be erected or maintained on any
one premises at any one time, and no more than three additional signs
may be erected or maintained off the premises, except as specifically
allowed herein.
E.
Permitting. All signs shall be subject to the permitting provisions
of this Part, unless otherwise noted.
F.
Projecting Signs. No sign shall project more than five feet beyond
the building line in the direction of the street. No portion of any
projecting sign shall be any lower than 10 feet above grade level.
No single face of any projecting sign shall exceed 15 square feet
in sign area. No projecting sign shall exceed 15 square feet in sign
area. No projecting sign shall have a vertical dimension greater than
five feet. No more than one projecting sign is allowed per premises,
unless said premises is located on a corner lot, in which case two
projecting signs shall be allowed, one erected for and towards each
public way.
G.
Wall Signs. No wall sign shall project above the top, or to the left
or to the right of the wall to which it is attached. No wall sign,
or any, part thereof, shall project more than one foot from the wall
on which it is mounted. If external lighting is mounted on the building,
reflectors must be not less than 10 feet above grade, and no part
may extend further than two feet from the wall of the building. Reflectors
must be shielded to prevent glare from leaving the premises or interfering
with motorists.
H.
Ground Pole Signs.
(1)
All ground pole signs, and all parts, braces, and supports thereof
shall be located entirely behind the property line and any appropriate
setback lines and shall not project over any property line, setback
line, public right-of-way, or adjoining land.
(2)
No ground pole sign shall be larger than 32 square feet in area
for a single-faced sign, and 64 square feet in area for a double-faced
sign. No ground pole sign shall exceed 12 feet in any dimension of
the sign face.
(3)
A premises may erect one ground pole sigh or one projecting
sign, but not both. No individual business or other enterprise within
a planned retail commercial or industrial development hereunder may
erect or maintain a ground pole sign except off the premises of the
development.
I.
Roof Signs. No more than one roof sign per premises.
J.
Indoor Signs. No indoor sign shall be considered a sign for purposes
of this Part, nor shall any indoor sign be subject to the regulations
hereunder.
K.
Signs in Historic Areas. These regulations shall apply to any property
listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or to any property
or portion thereof within 500 feet of such historic property:
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1.
All signs shall be classified as either temporary or permanent and
shall be subject to the following regulations:
A.
Permanent Signs; General Provisions.
(1)
Prior to placing a sign not otherwise exempt hereunder, an application
shall be submitted to the Township Zoning Enforcement Officer on a
form provided by the Township. If the application is approved, the
applicant shall pay a permit fee as set forth below, and may place
or erect his sign.
(2)
Any sign altered structurally or moved will be considered a
new sign and is subject to the application and permit requirements
hereof, however, a change in content shall not require re-application,
or re-licensing.
(3)
Permit fees shall be set by resolution of the Gregg Township
Board of Supervisors, from time to time.
B.
Temporary Signs; General Provisions.
(1)
Prior to placing a sign not otherwise exempt hereunder, an application
shall be submitted to the Township Zoning Enforcement Officer on a
form provided by the Township. If the application is approved, the
applicant shall pay a permit fee as set forth below, and may place
or erect his sign.
(2)
After the sign is in place, the Zoning Officer shall inspect
the sign, and if it complies with all applicable Township rules, regulations
and ordinances, will prepare a sign permit. The sign permit fee shall
then be paid, and the permit will be issued for a thirty-day period.
The permit may be renewed upon payment of additional permit fees but
in no case shall renewal be granted more than three times.
(3)
Size, content, and location of a temporary sign may be varied
at any time so long as the variations remain within the restrictions
of this chapter.
(4)
Permit fees shall be set by resolution of the Gregg Township
Board of Supervisors, from time to time.
C.
County and State Regulation. All applicable provisions of county
and state regulations and ordinances must be adhered to. The applicant
should be aware of the restrictions imposed by the Pennsylvania Outdoor
Advertising Act of 1971 (Act 160), 36 P.S. § 2718.100 et
seq.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
Every sign and all parts thereof, including framework, supports, background, anchors, and wiring systems shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with the Building, Electrical, and Fire Prevention Codes [Chapter 2], as they now exist, or may hereafter exist. All signs and all parts thereof shall be kept in good repair and maintenance.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
1.
The Zoning Officer shall examine all applications for permits for
erection of new signs, and issue permits for new signs.
2.
The Zoning Officer shall make an annual inspection of all signs in
the Township, and make such report to the Supervisors as may be necessary
or as they may require. An inventory of all nonconforming signs shall
be made by the Zoning Officer, and a copy submitted to the Township
Secretary.
3.
The Township Zoning Enforcement Officer shall record and file all
applications for sign permits, with any accompanying plans or documents.
4.
Violations of this Part of the chapter shall be treated in the same
manner as any other violation of this chapter.
[Ord. 05-01-01, 5/7/2001]
The Zoning Hearing Board may, but is in no manner whatsoever
obliged to, grant variances to the regulations herein. The procedure,
including application and appeals, for granting variances shall be
as set forth in Part 10.
