The purpose of this article is to regulate the size, number,
location and manner of construction and display of signs in the Township
of Buchanan. This article is further intended to protect all zoning
districts from visual chaos and clutter, eliminate distractions hazardous
to motorists, protect appropriately identified uses from excessive
signage, provide ability for the public to identify premises and establishments
and enhance the aesthetics of the community.
All signs shall meet the following standards:
A.
All signs shall conform to all applicable codes and ordinances of the Township of Buchanan and shall be approved by the Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator and a permit issued under § 300-21.06.
B.
Sign area. The area of a sign shall be measured within a single,
continuous rectilinear perimeter composed of straight lines which
encloses the extreme limits of the advertising message, together with
any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the
display, message, drawing, or similar device, or used to differentiate
same from the background against which it is placed, excluding the
necessary supports, braces and/or uprights of the sign. When two sign
faces are placed back-to-back so that both faces cannot be viewed
from any one point at the same time, and when such sign faces are
part of the same sign structure and are not more than 24 inches apart
at any point, the sign area shall be computed by the measurements
of one of the faces.
 |
C.
Height. Sign height shall be measured as the vertical dimension from
the finished grade to the highest point of the highest attached component
of the sign. A sign shall not extend beyond the edge of the wall to
which it is affixed nor above the roof line of a building to which
it is attached.
D.
Sign setbacks. All signs shall be set back a minimum of 1/2 of the
minimum front yard setback. All signs shall be set back a minimum
of 10 feet from any other property line. In addition, no sign shall
be located where, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, it will
obstruct clear vision and 20 feet from the road edge.
E.
Illumination. When illumination of signs is permitted, illumination
shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)
Illumination shall be by steady, stationary, shielded light
sources directed solely at the sign, or internal to it.
(2)
Use of glaring undiffused lights or bulbs shall be prohibited.
Lights shall be shaded so as not to project onto adjoining properties
or roads.
(3)
Sign illumination that could distract motorists or otherwise
create a traffic hazard shall be prohibited. Illumination shall not
be installed or designed to be confused with, or appear similar to,
a highway sign or traffic safety device.
(4)
There shall be no strobing, oscillating or intermittent sign.
All illuminated signs shall be designed and located to prevent the
light therefrom being cast upon adjoining residences.
F.
Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in a safe condition with
proper bracing, anchorage and foundation and be subject to inspection
by the Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator or other designated
representative. A sign which no longer serves the purpose for which
it is intended or is abandoned or is not maintained in accordance
with applicable regulations of the Township of Buchanan shall be removed
by the owner, or by the Township at the expense of such owner, upon
written notice by the Township of Buchanan.
G.
Where a proposed sign appears to meet the definition of more than
one sign, the most restrictive requirements and limitations of the
defined sign types shall apply.
H.
Wall signs. Wall signs shall not extend further than 12 inches from
the face of the wall to which it is attached. The maximum width of
a wall sign shall not exceed 90% of the width of the wall to which
the sign is attached.
I.
Where a projecting sign, awning or canopy sign or suspended sign
protrudes over any public or private sidewalk or walkway, the bottommost
point of the sign structure shall be at least nine feet from the sidewalk.
J.
Signs for approved home occupations shall be subject to § 300-21.05.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
K.
Electronic message boards. Electronic message boards are permitted
in accordance with the following standards:
(1)
An electronic message board shall be located on the same parcel
as the principal use.
(2)
An electronic message board shall be permitted in the Commercial/Service,
Industrial or Municipal Districts only. Electronic message boards
are also permitted in any district for churches, schools and municipal/governmental
buildings.
(3)
The intensity and contrast of light levels on the electronic
message board shall remain constant throughout the sign face. An electronic
message board shall use automatic day/night dimming software to reduce
the illumination intensity of the sign at night.
(4)
A photometric plan shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator
prior to the placement of an electronic message board.
(5)
All electronic message boards shall meet the following requirements:
(a)
The message shall change no more frequently than every five
seconds.
(b)
The brightness of an electronic message board, measured at the
property line, shall not exceed 0.3 footcandle.
(c)
It shall be the responsibility of the owner on whose property
the sign is located to present to the Township Zoning Administrator
documentation that the brightness of the electronic message board
is compliant with this chapter within 10 days of installation.
The following signs shall be exempt from regulations in this
article:
A.
Any public notice, traffic control or warning required by a valid
and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
B.
Property address and owner identification up to three square feet
in area.
C.
Any sign wholly located within a building and not visible from outside
the building. This does not include window signs.
D.
Holiday lights and decorations.
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
E.
Works of art.
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
F.
Directional signs including stop, yield, one-way, and similar signs,
provided the following standards are met:
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
(1)
Directional signs shall not exceed six square feet in area or
six feet in height.
(2)
The number of directional signs permitted on a property shall
be the minimum necessary to provide adequate orientation, as determined
by the applicable the Township of Buchanan representative or board
or commission.
G.
Flags up to 24 square feet in area.
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
H.
All yard signs, as defined herein, provided such yard signs shall
be limited to one sign per frontage, not greater than 12 square feet
in area. If the subject lot or parcel has more than 100 feet of frontage,
one additional sign shall be permitted per frontage.
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
I.
One temporary sign or portable sign, limited to a maximum of 15 days,
provided that the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign area
per frontage and not exceed six feet in height.
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
J.
Special event signage on public property.
K.
All yard signs, as defined herein, provided such yard signs shall
be limited to one sign per frontage, not greater than 12 square feet
in area. If the subject lot or parcel has more than 100 feet of frontage,
one additional sign shall be permitted per frontage. Such signs shall
be removed after seven days from which the event occurs.
L.
Flags or insignia of any nation, state, local government, community
organization, education institution.
M.
Farm crop hybrid signs.
N.
One temporary sign or portable sign for the promotion of special
event activities by churches, nonprofit or educational institutions,
provided that the sign is displayed no more than two weeks prior to
the event or activities and that it must be removed within two days
of the conclusion of the event or activity provided that the sign
shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign area per frontage. Such signage
shall not exceed six feet in height.
O.
Land and building For Sale or For Lease signs, provided such signs
do not exceed six square feet in area in the AG, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4L,
R-4R, R-5 and RE Districts or 20 square feet in the CS and IND Districts.
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
The following signs shall not be allowed in any district:
A.
Signs which are illegal under state laws or regulations and applicable
local ordinances or regulations, and which are not consistent with
the standards in this chapter.
B.
Signs affixed to public utility poles within the right-of-way, which
are not public notices, or traffic control or warnings required by
a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or
ordinance.
C.
Animated or moving signs, as defined herein.
D.
Signs that are not clean and in good repair and signs that are out
of compliance with applicable building and electrical codes.
E.
Signs not securely affixed to a supporting structure.
F.
Signs that are not official traffic signs which interfere with any
official traffic sign, signal, or device and which may obstruct a
motorist's vision.
G.
Pole signs, bench signs and roof signs, as defined herein.
H.
No sign shall be painted on or be attached to a motor vehicle used
primarily for the display of such sign, including, but not limited
to, a billboard truck.
[Amended 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 118-2019]
In addition to the above standards, the following signs are
permitted in the applicable zoning districts.
A.
The following uses in the following districts may be permitted signage
in accordance with the following:
(1)
AG District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel*
|
20
|
No
|
|
*
|
If the subject lot or parcel has more than 100 feet per frontage,
one additional ground sign may be permitted.
|
(2)
R-1 District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel
|
12
|
No
|
(3)
R-2 District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel
|
12
|
No
|
(4)
R-3 District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel
|
12
|
No
|
(5)
R-4L and R-4R Districts:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel
|
12
|
No
|
(6)
R-5 District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel
|
12
|
No
|
(7)
RE District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel*
|
20
|
No
|
|
*
|
If the subject lot or parcel has more than 100 feet per frontage,
one additional ground sign may be permitted.
|
(8)
MU District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Any
|
1 per parcel
|
32
|
Yes, subject to § 300-21.02E
|
(9)
CS District:
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel
|
32
|
Yes, subject to § 300-21.02E
|
|
or Projecting
|
1 per building entrance
|
12; the sign shall not project more than 4 feet from the building
wall
|
Yes, subject to § 300-21.02E
|
|
or Suspended
|
1 per building entrance
|
12
|
No
|
|
Wall
|
1 per road frontage
|
10% of wall surface area, but no more than 32
|
Yes, subject to § 300-21.02E
|
|
or Awning or Canopy
|
1 per road frontage
|
10% of wall surface area, but no more than 32
|
Yes, subject to § 300-21.02E
|
|
Window
|
1 per road frontage
|
4
|
No
|
(10)
IND and RS Districts. All permitted and special land uses except
accessory structures and single-family dwellings:
[Amended 2-20-2020 by Ord. No. 119-2020]
|
Type
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
Illumination Permitted
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Ground
|
1 per parcel
|
32
|
Yes, subject to § 300-21.02E
|
A.
A sign permit shall be required for the erection, use, construction
or alteration of all signs, except for those exempted by the terms
of this chapter. For purposes of this section, alteration shall mean
any substantial change therein, but shall not include normal maintenance
or repair thereof.
B.
An application for sign permit shall be made to the Zoning Administrator,
and shall include submission of a fee as may be required by resolution
or other action by the Township Board. The application shall include
the following:
(1)
Name, address, date, and telephone number of the applicant and
the person, firm or corporation erecting the sign.
(2)
Address and permanent parcel number of the property where the
sign will be located.
(3)
A sketch showing the location of the building, structure or
parcel of land upon which the sign is to be attached or erected, and
showing the proposed sign in relation to the buildings and structures,
together with the depth of the setback from the lot lines.
(4)
A scaled print or drawing of the plans and specifications for
the sign (area, height, lighting, etc.) and information on the method
of construction and attachment to structure or the ground.
(5)
Any required electrical permit or building permit.
(6)
Identification of the zoning district in which the sign is to
be located, together with any other information which the Zoning Administrator
may require in order to determine compliance with this chapter.
C.
All signs requiring electrical service shall be reviewed for compliance
with the electrical code applicable in the Township.
D.
The Zoning Administrator shall issue a sign permit if all provisions
of this article and other provisions of this chapter and other applicable
ordinances are satisfied. A sign authorized by the permit shall be
installed or shall be under construction within six months of the
date of issuance of the sign permit or the permit shall expire. A
new permit may be issued upon the filing of a new application and
payment of the required fee.
