It is the intent of this article to regulate signs in Three
Oaks Township so as to protect public health and safety and to promote
the public welfare. This is accomplished by regulating the size, placements,
relationship, construction, illumination, and other aspects of signs
in Three Oaks Township.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
The purpose of these regulations is to:
A.
Protect the public health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors
and to protect the natural beauty and distinctive character of Three
Oaks Township.
B.
Protect all zoning districts from visual clutter.
D.
Provide ability for the public to identify premises and establishments.
E.
Encourage creativity of sign design.
F.
Enhance the aesthetics of the community.
G.
Prevent
signs which are potentially dangerous to the public due to structural
deficiencies or disrepair.
B.
Sign area. The area of a sign shall be measured within a single,
continuous perimeter composed of any straight-line geometric figure
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 uprights of the sign.
C.
Sign setbacks. Signs in any residential district shall be set back
a minimum of 1/2 the minimum required front yard setback. All signs
in the Commercial or Industrial Districts shall be set back a minimum
of two feet from the property line or right-of-way line, whichever
is greater; provided, however, no sign shall be located where, in
the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, it will obstruct clear visibility.
D.
Height. The height of the uppermost portions of ground-mounted signs
shall not exceed eight feet in height in all districts except the
AG-RR, R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Districts, where the uppermost portions
of such signs shall not exceed six feet.
E.
Illumination. Internally lit and externally lit signs shall comply
with the following requirements:
(1)
Illumination shall not be flashing, blinking, intermittent or
an on-and-off type of lighting.
(2)
Externally provided illumination shall be arranged so that light
is deflected away from adjacent properties so that no direct sources
of light shall be visible to any motorist or pedestrian located in
a public right-of-way, road or street easement or from any land in
a residential district or used for residential purposes.
(3)
External lighting of signs shall be downward facing or directed
at the sign face.
(4)
Signs in the AG-RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 Districts shall not
be illuminated, except for signs allowed for places of public assembly,
educational facilities, public and semipublic uses, and governmental
offices.
(5)
Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in a safe condition
with proper bracing, anchorage and foundation and are subject to inspection
by the Zoning Administrator or designated representative. A sign which
no longer serves the purpose for which it is intended, is abandoned,
or is not maintained in accordance with applicable regulations of
Three Oaks Township shall be removed by the owner, or by the Township
at the expense of such owner, upon notice by Three Oaks Township.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
(6)
Any double-sided sign in which the parallel faces are more than
24 inches apart will be considered individual signs, and the square
footage of each face will be considered for the total sign area.
(7)
Wall signs. A wall sign shall not extend beyond 10 inches from
the surface of the wall to which it is affixed. Sign elements shall
not project above the roofline.
(8)
Changeable copy signs. All ground-mounted signs may include
attached changeable copy signs, which shall be included in the area
calculations of permitted sign area.
(9)
Electronic message boards. Electronic message boards are permitted
in only the C-1 District when part of a ground-mounted sign only.
The area of an electronic message board shall be included in the area
calculations of permitted sign area; provided, however, that the area
of any electronic message board shall not exceed 30 square feet.
(10)
Covering. Covering around a pole of an existing pole sign shall
be permitted and limited in width to a width of not more than 30%
of the total width of the sign. Signage or copy shall not be permitted
on pole coverings.
(11)
Billboards. Billboards, as defined in the Highway Advertising
Act of 1972 (1972 PA 106)[2] and located within the C-1 and I Districts bordering interstate
highways, freeways or primary highways as defined in said Act, shall
be regulated and controlled by the provisions of such statute, notwithstanding
any contrary provisions of this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: See MCLA § 252.301 et seq.
A.
Materials. Ground-mounted signs shall be constructed of wood, brick,
concrete, stone (or equivalent imitation stone), corrosion- and rust-resistant
metal or other similar material as approved by the Zoning Administrator
or Planning Commission.
B.
Landscaping. A landscape area around the base of a ground-mounted
sign shall be provided and shall not obscure visibility of the sign
itself, nor encroach into the clear sight area.
A.
Display of any temporary sign shall be limited to 30 days in advance
and the day of the event up to four times during any twelve-month
period; provided, however, that temporary signage located on property
containing an agricultural roadside stand and/or sale of product grown
on site may continue through the growing season, provided it meets
the other provisions of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
B.
Temporary signs shall be secured at every corner.
C.
Temporary signs and any sign supports shall be removed upon expiration
of a temporary sign permit.
D.
There shall be not more than one temporary sign displayed at any
time upon any parcel of property in Three Oaks Township.
E.
Temporary signs shall be displayed in a manner so as to not cover
nor obscure address markers or other signage upon the building.
F.
Temporary signs shall not obscure the clear sight area.
G.
Every temporary sign displayed shall be dated with an indelible marker,
indicating the first day of display in the current usage period. No
temporary sign shall be displayed longer than 30 days in a usage period.
H.
Prior to the display of any temporary sign, a permit shall be issued
by the Zoning Administrator.
I.
Temporary or portable signs that are torn or otherwise in disrepair
shall be prohibited.
A.
In the AG-RR, R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Districts, the following signs
are authorized upon application for, and issuance of, a sign permit:
(1)
Signs located on parcels containing places of public assembly,
education facilities, nursing homes, governmental buildings, cemeteries,
veterinary clinics, and bed-and-breakfast establishments may include
one ground-mounted sign and one wall sign, one of which may be externally
illuminated. The aggregate area of all signage shall not exceed 48
square feet; however, no single sign may exceed 32 square feet.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
(2)
Signs located on parcels containing open space activities, such
as parks, golf courses, stables, nurseries and similar open space
activities, may include:
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
(3)
A subdivision or other form of concentrated residential development
may have two ground-mounted signs per entrance, not to exceed a sign
area of 32 square feet per sign.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
(4)
In the AG-RR District, a farm stand may display two ground-mounted
signs not more than 24 square feet in area per sign.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
(5)
One temporary sign, with a minimum sign area of 24 square feet,
but not to exceed 32 square feet, shall be permitted for any use.
B.
In the C-1 and I Districts, the following signs are authorized upon
application for, and issuance of, a sign permit:
(1)
One wall sign per building wall frontage facing a public or
private street. The maximum sign area permitted per building wall
frontage shall be expressed in square feet and shall be not more than
12% of the width times the height of the building wall facing the
public or private street to which the sign is attached. No wall sign
shall exceed 100 square feet.
(2)
Two directional signs with each such sign not to exceed three
square feet in area or three feet in height.
(3)
One ground-mounted sign with an area not to exceed 40 square
feet may be permitted.
(4)
For mixed-use or multitenant commercial establishments, one ground-mounted sign with an area not to exceed 40 square feet may be permitted per tenant. Five additional square feet of sign area may be added to the sign area of the sign for each business within the mixed-use or multitenant commercial establishment, not to exceed 72 square feet in total sign area. Each tenant may be permitted a wall sign per Subsection B(1), above.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
(5)
One temporary sign not to exceed 32 square feet shall be permitted.
The following signs are allowed in all zoning districts without
a sign permit, provided all other applicable requirements are met:
A.
Dwellings. One nameplate not exceeding two square feet in area. Such
sign may be ground-mounted.
B.
Building numbers, including residential buildings, not to exceed
two square feet in area.
C.
Minor home occupations and home-based business. One wall sign not
exceeding two square feet, provided that the sign complies with the
other requirements of this chapter as appropriate.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
D.
In the AG-RR District, one sign not more than eight square feet in
area. Such sign may be a wall sign or a ground-mounted sign.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
E.
Signs located on private property that is currently being offered
for sale or lease. Such signs shall further be exempt from district
setback requirements and shall not be limited as to duration, provided
they meet the following standards for sign area and height:
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
F.
Signs, not exceeding nine square feet, placed by an individual on
his or her residence or place of business, the display of which coincides
with a political candidate, issue, or ballot measure.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
G.
Signs placed by a governmental agency, including, but not limited
to:
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
H.
Miscellaneous.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
I.
Signs located such that they are for viewing exclusively within the
premises of the user and not visible otherwise.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
A.
Signs authorized by a valid permit and/or variance that complied
with all applicable requirements prior to adoption of this chapter
shall be permitted to remain and shall be regulated as a legal nonconforming
condition, unless a determination is made by the Township Zoning Administrator
that the sign is improperly maintained, abandoned, and/or presents
threat to public health, safety or welfare.
B.
Legal nonconforming status shall be lost if:
(1)
The sign is relocated or replaced.
(2)
The structure or size of the sign is altered except toward compliance
with this chapter. This does not refer to change of copy or normal
maintenance.
(3)
The sign suffers more than 60% damage or deterioration; it must
be removed or brought in to compliance with this chapter.
(4)
The sign is discontinued for 90 days or longer.
(5)
The sign is structurally altered so as to change the shape,
size, type, or design of the sign.
(6)
The sign is abandoned.
Prohibited signs include, but are not limited to, the following:
A.
A sign located on public land, in a public right-of-way, or in a
private road easement, unless it is part of the traffic control information
for that road, except that signs located on property being offered
for sale or lease displayed in front of the property and temporary
signs coinciding with a political candidate, issue, or ballot measure
are allowed if not obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic, are
not less than 15 feet from the driving surface of the street or road
and are at least 150 feet from the intersection of another street
or road.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
B.
Abandoned signs.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
C.
Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or governmental signs
or signals.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
D.
Flashing or intermittently illuminated signs.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
E.
Moving signs, including, but not limited to, forced-air actuated
or air-supported signs, wind-actuated sign elements, motorized sign
elements, and similar devices.
F.
Trailers, vehicles, or other mobile objects that are clearly used
for advertising purposes.
G.
Portable signs, including, but not limited to, trailer-mounted signs,
whether illuminated or not, sandwich boards and similar devices.
I.
Pole signs, other than directional signs.
A.
Each person or entity desiring to erect or maintain a sign 24 square
feet and greater in area shall make written application to the Zoning
Administrator, accompanied by the applicable fees, as adopted by the
Township Board, which shall include the following:
(1)
A sketch plan with sign plans drawn to scale, showing proposed
location and type of the sign.
(2)
Sufficient other details to demonstrate that the proposed sign,
including structural and electrical components, shall comply with
the provisions of this chapter.
(3)
All applications shall be accompanied by the written consent
of the owner of record of the property on which the signs are proposed
to be erected.
(4)
No sign requiring a sign permit shall be erected or installed
until an application is approved.
(5)
The permit review may be consolidated with site plan review
if the required information is provided to the Planning Commission
as part of a site plan review, in which case the Planning Commission
shall recommend approval, approval with conditions or denial of the
request.
B.
Expiration. Approval of a sign permit shall expire one year from
its effective date if not constructed within one year, unless an extension
not to exceed one year has been granted by the Zoning Administrator.
The Zoning Administrator may deny extension of time for the approved
sign if substantial changes in circumstances are found.
C.
Removal of signs. A sign shall be removed by the owner upon receipt
of notice from the Township stating that the sign is unsafe or not
properly maintained or otherwise does not comply with the requirements
of this chapter by reason of its size, height, design, condition or
location. The notice shall state that if the owner does not remove
the sign, or correct the unsafe or improper condition, within a specified
time period, the sign may be removed by the Township. Upon failure
to remove or correct the unsafe or improper condition, the Township
may take whatever action is necessary to have the sign removed or
to otherwise abate the unsafe or improper condition, and in addition
to other available remedies, the Township shall have the right to
recover from the owner of the sign the full costs of removing and
disposing of the sign or abating the unsafe or improper condition.
D.
Review criteria. In considering a sign permit request, the Zoning
Administrator or the Planning Commission shall base action on the
following criteria in addition to any other criteria elsewhere specified:
(1)
The purpose of this article and this chapter in general.
(2)
The standards and criteria as set forth in this section, including
design standards.
(3)
Each sign shall be of a shape, material, style, letter types
and color appropriate for the use, enhancing to the premises and harmonious
with the neighborhood.
