[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 700; as amended by
Ord. 6-2007, 10/8/2007]
Signage may include a variety of different types of signs, each
with unique functions. The following list itemizes and defines the
various signs considered under the provisions of this Part:
A. Awning
Signs. Signs that are mounted or painted on, or attached to, an awning
or canopy of a business establishment, i.e., a business identification
sign.
B. Billboards
or Advertising Sign Boards. Signs or boards which direct motorists
or pedestrians to a business establishment or call the attention of
a motorist or pedestrian to a product, place, or activity that exists
or occurs at a location other than the location upon which the board
is erected, i.e., an off-premises sign. For the purposes of this chapter,
billboards shall be wall signs and shall not include freestanding
structures.
C. Business
Identification Signs. Signs or boards that are directly oriented to
activities that occur on the same premises as the sign or board, i.e.,
an on-premises sign. Such signs may be freestanding or may be attached
to a wall or awning and may be either temporary or permanent in nature.
D. Freestanding
Signs. A self-supporting sign resting on the ground or supported by
means of poles or standards placed in or on the ground. Such signs
may be designed to be movable and shall advertise products or items
offered for sale or that are directly related to the premises upon
which they are located, i.e., business identification signs.
E. Political
Signs. Temporary signs announcing or supporting political candidates
or issues in connection with any national, state or local election.
F. Product
or Service Advertising Signs. Devices, structures or objects used
to advertise a product, service, commodity, or activity available
or occurring on the same premises as the sign(s). Such signs shall
include but need not be limited to placards, boards, or other devices
which are mounted, hung or painted on the inside of windows and faced
outward, or are placed outside of a business, either on the building
itself or on the same lot as the business, which advertise or are
intended to advertise the variety, type, or pricing of available products
or services. Flags, pennants, and banners which advertise specific
products or services shall also be considered product or service advertising
signs for the purposes of this chapter.
G. Temporary
Signs. Promotional flags, pennants, portable ground signs, temporary
business identification signs, political signs, special promotional
or advertising devices or banners or temporary event signs intended
to be erected for a limited period of time to call attention to a
legally permissible special event.
H. Traffic
or Roadway Signs. Signs erected by or with the approval of the Borough
Council which are intended to direct or inform the general public
about traffic or roadway conditions.
I. Wall
Signs. Signs attached or mounted to a wall or part of a wall of a
building or structure which advertise products sold or directly related
to the premises upon which they are located, i.e., business identification
signs, or may advertise products or services offered elsewhere, i.e.,
advertising sign boards or billboards.
[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 701; as amended by
Ord. 6-2007, 10/8/2007]
The following regulations shall apply to all permitted sign
uses:
A. Location.
(1) The main supporting structure of all signs shall be setback in accordance
with the minimum requirements established in this Part for the specific
type of sign and the district in which it is to be located. In no
case, however, shall any freestanding sign be located closer than
three feet to any side or rear property line or be situated within
any public right-of-way, except traffic signs or signs that are required
in connection with the provision of municipal services.
(2) No sign shall be permanently painted, erected, affixed or maintained
on any tree, stone or other natural object.
(3) No sign shall be located on a sidewalk or other walkway which obstructs
or restricts a pedestrian's passage, including temporary or portable
signs. In addition, where permitted, portable signs shall not exceed
nine square feet per face and shall be removed from the walkway during
times that the business is closed.
B. Sign
Area. Sign area shall include the entire face of a single side of
a sign, including all framing, trim and border area, but excluding
any supporting framework or bracing. (A double-faced sign shall be
considered a single sign.) Where a sign consists of individual letters
or symbols attached to a building, wall or window, the area shall
be considered to be the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric
shape which encompasses all of the letters and/or symbols.
C. Illumination. Illuminated signs shall not cause excessive glare or other disturbance which would be incompatible with the nature of the surrounding neighborhood or which would in any way impair the vision of passing motorists. Illumination shall be steady in nature, not flashing, animated, moving or changing in brilliance, color or intensity. No flashing or animated signs shall be permitted. The following types of illumination may be permitted as provided in §§
703,
704,
705,
706 and
707.
(1) Direct Illumination. Illumination provided either directly or through
transparent or translucent material from a source of light within
a sign, including, but not limited to, neon and exposed lamps.
(2) Indirect Illumination. Illumination provided by a light which is
shielded so that no direct rays are visible from elsewhere on the
lot where the sign is located. Where such shielding is incomplete
or defective, the illumination shall be deemed to be direct illumination.
D. Traffic
or Visual Obstruction. No sign shall be erected at the intersection
of a street which could obstruct a motorist's clear vision. If located
within the direct line of vision of any traffic control signal, no
sign shall have red, green or amber illumination. In addition, no
sign shall cause a visual obstruction for property owners in the Borough.
E. Attachment.
All signs shall be constructed and securely fastened in a manner which
will prevent their displacement by the elements and prevent collapse.
Wall signs may not project more than 12 inches from the surface to
which they are mounted or attached nor extend more than 12 inches
over a public street or sidewalk. No such wall sign shall extend above
the top nor beyond the edge of the wall or surface to which it is
mounted. Awning signs shall not project above, below or beyond the
awning or canopy to which they are attached. In addition, no signs
shall be erected or maintained on the roof or eave of any building.
F. Anchoring.
All freestanding signs shall be anchored, weighted, springloaded or
otherwise designed to minimize wind action. The application for such
signs shall indicate the method of anchoring to be employed.
G. Access.
No sign shall be erected or maintained which prevents free ingress
and egress from any door, window or fire escape, or which prevents
free access from one part of a roof to any other part. No sign shall
be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
H. Construction
and Maintenance. All signs permitted under this chapter must be constructed
of durable material and shall be adequately maintained to present
a legible appearance and to avoid deterioration, decay or other conditions
which could endanger the public health, welfare or safety. In such
cases, the sign and all appurtenances shall be removed by the permittee
when the circumstances leading to its erection or display no longer
apply.
I. Landowner's
Permission. No sign shall be displayed upon private or public property,
other than on that of the applicant, without first being permitted
by the owner or agent thereof. Written consent or a copy of the lease
shall be presented with an application for a building/zoning permit.
J. Nonconforming
Signs. Signs existing at the time of passage of this chapter which
do not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered
nonconforming signs, and once removed, shall be replaced with only
conforming signs. Nonconforming signs may be painted, repaired or
maintained, provided such maintenance or repair does not extend the
dimensions of the existing sign.
K. Temporary Event Signs. (See also Subsections
L and
M below for specific types of temporary event signs.) Temporary signs which are to be erected for a legally permissible special event or purpose may be permitted in any zoning district, subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Temporary event signs may refer to only one event or purpose.
(2) No more than two such signs may be permitted on a premises at any
one time.
(3) The size or area of each sign shall not exceed 16 square feet and
such signs shall not exceed six feet above the average grade of the
site.
(4) Such signs shall not be located within any public right-of-way, without
prior approval of the Borough Council.
(5) Temporary event signs shall not be displayed for more than 30 days
prior to the event.
(6) The signs shall be removed by the property owner or applicant within
seven days after the event has occurred.
L. Garage,
Porch or Yard Sale Signs. Signs advertising garage, porch or yard
sales or similar periodic events may be permitted subject to the following
requirements:
(1) Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area.
(2) Signs shall not be erected more than two days prior to the sale or
activity, without the prior approval of the Borough Council.
(3) Signs shall be removed within 24 hours following the date of the
sale.
M. Political
Signs. Political signs may be permitted in any zoning district, subject
to the following regulations:
(1) A building/zoning permit shall be required for the erection of political
signs in the Borough. There shall be no fee, however, for the issuance
of such a permit.
(2) Political signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area per sign
face and shall not have more than two faces.
(3) Signs shall not endanger the public nor be located within the right-of-way
of any public street.
(4) Signs may be erected 60 days prior to the election date and must
be removed by the applicant within seven days after the election.
(5) Should the applicant fail to remove all such signs within the established
time limits, the Borough shall remove them and shall charge the applicant
for said removal. In addition, the Borough shall have the right to
enter upon any premises and remove signs that are not in compliance
with these regulations without notice.
N. Building/Zoning
Permit Requirements. A building/zoning permit shall be required for
the erection or alteration of all signs, with the exception of temporary
signs meeting the requirements of subsections (K), (L) and (M) above,
and those signs permitted in § 703(A), General Signs in
the R-1 and R-3 Residential Districts.
O. Fees.
Fees for the issuance of building/zoning permits for signs shall be
paid to the Borough upon filing of an application for such use and
shall be in accordance with the schedule of fees established by resolution
of the Borough Council. No fee shall be charged for any permit connected
with the erection of a sign necessary for the public welfare.
[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 702]
The following signs may be placed or located in the R-1 and
R-3 Residential Zoning Districts, subject to the specified requirements:
A. General
Signs. No more than one of the following nonilluminated signs may
be permitted on a property at any one time (except trespassing signs),
unless such property is situated on a corner and fronts on two streets,
in which case one sign may be erected on each frontage.
(1) Name plates, identification signs or similar signs. (Maximum size
— two square feet)
(2) Trespassing signs. (Maximum size — two square feet)
(3) Sale and rental signs. (Maximum size — six square feet)
(4) Signs directing individuals to the location of service clubs, churches
or other nonprofit organizations. (Maximum size — eight square
feet)
(5) Signs of mechanics, painters or other artisans while performing work
on same premises. (Maximum size — 12 square feet)
B. Specific,
Noncommercial Signs. No more than one of the following nonilluminated
signs may be permitted on a property at any one time, unless such
property is situated on a corner and fronts on two streets, in which
case one sign may be erected on each frontage:
(1) Home occupation signs bearing the name and occupation of the practitioner.
(Maximum size — four square feet)
(2) Development or housing complex name signs located on the premises
being identified. (Maximum size — 20 square feet)
(3) Development signs, advertising the sale or development of the premises
upon which they are located. Such signs may be permitted on the site
for no more than one year. (Maximum size — 15 square feet)
C. Location. Permitted signs may be located in any portion of a required front yard, but shall be no closer to the adjoining street right-of-way line than 10 feet. (See also §
702, Subsection
A.) No sign shall be erected, however, which will effectively limit proper sight distance for safety purposes and no such sign shall exceed five feet above the average grade of the site.
[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 703]
The following signs may be placed or located in the R-2 Residential
District, subject to the specified requirements:
A. General
Signs. Those signs permitted in § 703(A), "General Signs
in the R-1 and R-3 Residential Districts."
B. Specific,
Noncommercial Signs. No more than one of the following nonilluminated
signs may be permitted on a property at any one time, unless such
property is situated on a corner and fronts on two streets, in which
case one sign may be erected on each frontage:
(1) Home occupation signs bearing the name and occupation of the practitioner.
(Maximum size — four square feet)
(2) Day care centers. (Maximum size — four square feet)
(3) Signs of schools, churches, governments or similar institutions.
(Such signs may also be indirectly illuminated.) (Maximum size —
20 square feet)
(4) Development or housing complex name signs located on the premises
being identified. (Maximum size — 20 square feet)
C. Business
Identification Signs (Freestanding or Wall Signs). Where proposed
in conjunction with a permissible commercial use or activity in the
R-2 Residential District, business identification signs may be erected,
subject to the following requirements:
(1) No more than one nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated business
identification sign may be erected and maintained on a property in
the R-2 Residential District.
(2) Business identification signs, either freestanding or wall signs,
shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
(3) Business identification signs shall not exceed five feet in height
above the average grade of the site, unless proposed as wall signs.
D. Location. Permitted signs may be placed within any required front yard, but shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from the edge of the adjoining street right-of-way line, or such signs may be attached to a wall of the principal building or structure in accordance with the requirements outlined in §
702, Subsection E. (See also §
702, Subsection
A.) No sign shall be erected, however, which would effectively limit proper sight distance for safety purposes.
[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 704]
The following signs may be placed or located in the C-1 Commercial
Zoning District, subject to the specified requirements:
A. General
Signs. Those signs permitted in § 703(A), "General Signs
in the R-1 and R-3 Residential Districts."
B. Specific,
Noncommercial Signs. No more than one of the following nonilluminated
or indirectly illuminated signs may be permitted on a property at
any one time, unless such property is situated on a corner and fronts
on two streets, in which case one sign may be erected on each frontage.
(1) Home occupation signs bearing the name and occupation of the practitioner.
(Maximum size — four square feet)
(2) Signs of schools, churches, day care centers, governments or similar
institutions. (Maximum size — 20 square feet)
(3) Development or housing complex name signs located on the premises
being identified. (Maximum size — 20 square feet)
C. Business
Identification Signs (Freestanding, Wall Signs or Awning Signs). Where
proposed in conjunction with a permissible commercial use or activity
in the C-1 Commercial District, business identification signs may
be erected, subject to the following requirements:
(1) No more than one nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated business
identification sign may be erected and maintained on a property in
the C-1 Commercial District.
(2) Business identification signs, either freestanding, wall signs or
awning signs, shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
(3) Freestanding business identification signs shall not exceed 15 feet
in height above the average grade of the site nor be located closer
to the ground than 10 feet (measured from the lowest part of the sign)
when in a parking, vehicular or pedestrian circulation area, unless
they are resting on the ground.
D. Location. Permitted signs may be placed within any required front yard, but shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from the edge of the adjoining street right-of-way line. (See also §
702, Subsection
A.) No sign shall be erected however which would effectively limit proper sight distance for safety purposes.
[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 705; as amended by
Ord. 6-2007, 10/8/2007]
The following signs may be placed or located in the C-2 Commercial
and I Industrial Zoning Districts, subject to the specified requirements:
A. General
Signs. Those signs permitted in § 703(A), "General Signs
in the R-1 and R-3 Residential Districts."
B. Specific,
Noncommercial Signs. No more than one of the following nonilluminated,
indirectly illuminated or directly illuminated signs may be permitted
on a property at any one time, unless such property is situated on
a corner and fronts on two streets, in which case one sign may be
erected on each frontage.
(1) Home occupation signs bearing the name and occupation of the practitioner.
(Maximum size — 12 square feet)
(2) Signs of schools, churches, day care centers, governments or similar
institutions. (Maximum size — 20 square feet)
C. Business
Identification Signs (Wall Signs or Awning Signs). Where proposed
in conjunction with a permissible commercial or industrial use or
activity in the C-2 Commercial or I Industrial Districts, business
identification signs may be erected, subject to the following requirements:
(1) No more than two nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or directly
illuminated business identification signs, either wall signs or awning
signs, may be erected and maintained on a property in the C-2 Commercial
or I Industrial District.
(2) Business identification signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in
area. Total sign area per lot shall not exceed 100 square feet.
D. Product
or Service Advertising Signs. Where proposed in conjunction with a
permissible commercial or industrial use or activity in the C-2 or
I District, product or service advertising signs may be erected, subject
to the following requirements:
(1) The total amount of permissible product or service advertising signage
per commercial or industrial establishment shall not exceed 32 square
feet for establishments containing less than 10,000 square feet of
gross floor area and 75 square feet for establishments containing
more than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area.
(2) All such signs shall be nonflashing, nonanimated, and nonilluminated
and shall be located on the same lot as the business or product they
are advertising.
E. Billboards
or Advertising Sign Boards (Wall Signs Only). Billboards or advertising
sign boards may be erected and maintained on a property in the C-2
Commercial or I Industrial Districts, subject to the following requirements:
(1) No more than one nonilluminated, indirectly illuminated or directly
illuminated billboard or advertising sign board may be erected and
maintained on a property in the C-2 Commercial or I Industrial District.
(2) Billboards or advertising sign boards shall not exceed 150 square
feet in area.
(3) Billboards or advertising sign boards shall be located no closer than 500 feet (measured on the same side of the street) to any other such sign, except for vertically double signs. (See also §
702, Subsection D.)
(4) All applicable provisions of the state's Outdoor Advertising Act
of 1971, as amended, shall be adhered to where signs are to be erected
in areas adjacent to highways in PennDOT's Primary and Interstate
Highway System. Any individual desiring to establish a sign in these
areas shall contact PennDOT's Division of Outdoor Advertising to determine
if the state's regulations will affect his proposal. A copy of PennDOT's
determination shall accompany all applications for signs in such areas,
and a copy of the state permit, where required, shall be submitted
to the Borough prior to initiation of construction or erection of
the sign.
F. Location. Permitted noncommercial and business identification signs may be placed within any required front yard, but shall be setback a minimum of 35 feet from the center line of the adjoining street. Billboards or advertising sign boards shall be setback at least 40 feet from the adjoining street center line. (See also §
702, Subsection
A.) No sign shall be erected, however, which will effectively limit proper sight distance for safety purposes.
[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 706]
The following signs may be placed or located in the Open Space
District, subject to the specified requirements:
A. General
Signs. Those signs permitted in § 703(A), "General Signs
in the R-1 and R-3 Residential Districts."
B. Specific,
Noncommercial Signs. No more than one of the following nonilluminated
or indirectly illuminated signs may be permitted on a property at
any one time, unless such property is situated on a corner and fronts
on two streets, in which case one sign may be erected on each frontage.
(1) Mobile home park or campground development name signs. (Maximum size
— 12 square feet.)
C. Business
Identification Signs (Freestanding or Wall Signs). Where proposed
in conjunction with a permissible commercial use or activity in the
Open Space District, business identification signs may be erected,
subject to the following requirements:
(1) No more than one nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated business
identification sign may be erected and maintained on a property in
the Open Space District.
(2) Business identification signs, either freestanding or wall signs,
shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
(3) Freestanding business identification signs shall not exceed 15 feet
in height above the average grade of the site nor be located closer
to the ground than 10 feet (measured from the lowest part of the sign)
when in a parking, vehicular or pedestrian circulation area, unless
they are resting on the ground.
D. Location. Permitted signs may be placed within any required front yard, but shall be setback a minimum of 10 feet from the edge of the adjoining street right-of-way line. (See also §
702, Subsection
A.) No sign shall be erected however which would effectively limit proper sight distance for safety purposes.
[Ord. 8-1994, 12/12/1994, § 707]
Same as the underlying district, except that no sign may impede
natural drainage or the flow of water. No signs shall however be permitted
in the floodway unless placed by federal, state or local governments
to protect the health, safety or welfare of the public.