[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
1.
To provide for signs as a means of effective visual communication.
2.
To assure compatibility of signs with land uses and buildings in
the vicinity of the signs and in the community as a whole.
3.
To improve the safety of pedestrians, vehicular traffic, and property.
4.
To enhance the economic value of the community.
5.
To enhance the aesthetic environment.
6.
To minimize adverse effects of signs on nearby property.
7.
To otherwise promote the public health, safety, morals, and general
welfare of the community.
8.
To regulate the use of signs through a sign permitting process.
9.
To enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations.
[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
1.
The following shall apply when interpreting area and height regulations
in this article:
A.
Area. The area of a sign shall be the area of the smallest rectangle,
triangle, or circle that will encompass all elements of the sign,
such as letters, figures, symbols, designs, or other display.
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(1)
When the sign is a separate unit, the area shall include any
borders, framing, trim, decorative attachments, background, and space
between elements; it shall not include any supporting structure unless
that structure is illuminated, is in the form of a symbol, or contains
advertising elements.
(2)
When the sign is applied to a wall or otherwise has no definable
edges, the area shall include all color, artwork, or other means used
to differentiate the sign from the surface upon which it is placed.
(3)
When a single sign structure has more than one face with the
same message, and no two sign faces are more than three feet apart
at any point, the area shall be computed by determining the greatest
total area of all sign faces visible from any single location.
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B.
Height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the average ground
level beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign. The ground
level shall be the lower of the ground level existing at the time
of construction or the ground level existing prior to construction
and prior to any earth disturbance at the site. This prior ground
level may be established by any reliable source, including, without
limitation, existing topographic maps, aerial photographs, photographs
of the site, or affidavits of people who are personally familiar with
the site. No person(s) shall artificially increase the maximum height
of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign by any means.
(1)
No sign shall be higher than the height limitation imposed by
this article.
(2)
The height of freestanding signs shall be controlled by the standards in Tables 1, 2 and 3 listed in § 27-1704 of this article.
(3)
Wall signs may be at any height on the wall to which they are
attached, except that they may not extend higher than the top of the
wall.
(4)
Roof signs may extend no more than five feet above the lowest
point where they are attached to the building and may not extend above
the highest point of the roof.
[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
1.
The following regulations shall apply to all signs, in addition to the specific regulations contained in the following provisions of § 27-1704 of this article. Where these general regulations are contradicted by a specific regulation, the specific regulation shall control.
A.
All signs shall be constructed of durable materials, maintained in
good condition, and secured in a safe manner. All signs shall be designed
and constructed in accordance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction
Code (UCC).
B.
When a sign becomes unsafe, the Zoning Officer shall give written
notice to the owner of the premises on which the sign is located that
the sign must be made safe or removed immediately.
C.
The areas surrounding all signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean,
and attractive condition.
D.
All signs shall be removed within three months if the purpose for
which they were erected no longer exists.
E.
Each property that displays one or more permanent freestanding signs
and that is in an area where street addresses have been assigned,
must prominently display the address on one permanent freestanding
sign visible from the street. The address must include the street
number; the street name is optional. The address must be of a size
and design that is easily identifiable and legible from moving traffic
in the street at a distance of 100 feet (three-inch high lettering/numerals
with a 3/4 inch stroke). The area taken up by the address does not
count as part of the sign area. Planned center signs are exempt from
this requirement.
F.
No temporary signs shall be permitted except as authorized elsewhere
in this article.
G.
No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way, except a government
sign, a public utility sign, a sidewalk sign, a nonprofit organization
sign, or another sign approved by the Board of Supervisors or the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
H.
No sign within any required clear sight triangle shall obstruct vision
between the heights of 30 inches and eight feet above the elevation
of the center line of the street.
I.
No signs shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise
attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an
unauthorized manner to walls or other signs, except insofar as such
signs comply with generally applicable rules, regulations, or policies
formally adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
J.
No sign shall be located in a position that will endanger traffic
on nearby roads, access drive or driveways, by obscuring the view.
K.
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct any door, stairway, window,
fire escape, or other means of egress or ingress.
L.
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light from
a building.
M.
(13)—. No overhead sign shall have a clearance of less than
eight feet between any pedestrian walk and the lowest part of the
sign nor less than 17 feet six inches between any roadway and the
lowest part of the sign.
N.
No flat wall sign shall project more than 18 inches from the face
of the wall to which it is attached over a public sidewalk.
O.
No wall projecting sign shall project more than 48 inches from the
face of the wall to which it is attached over a public sidewalk.
P.
No sign shall have lights or other illuminating devices that constitute
a public safety or traffic hazard.
Q.
No sign shall be permitted which imitates or which might be confused
with an official traffic sign or signal, such as by containing the
words "Stop," "Yield," "Detour," "Caution," "Work Area" or "Danger"
or by including red, green, or yellow traffic lights.
R.
No sign or window display shall include a revolving beam or beacon
of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
S.
No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under
federal, state, or local municipal laws or regulations.
T.
No sign shall include statements, words, or pictures that are considered
to be vulgar, obscene, or pornographic. No sign shall depict "specified
anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities," both as defined
herein.
U.
No streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons
or similar materials shall be displayed outside a building. (See "Special
Event Sign" in Temporary Sign Regulations Table for regulations that
apply to banners used as special events signs.)
V.
In addition to any other signage permitted by this article, each
commercial or industrial use may display one flag not to exceed 35
square feet with a company or corporate identification logo on premise
on an approved, standard flagpole.
W.
No sign shall emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor.
X.
No sign shall be placed on an automobile, truck, or other vehicle
if that vehicle is being used primarily for displaying such sign.
Y.
No inflatable signs shall be permitted.
Z.
No open flames shall be permitted as part of a sign or in any other
way to attract attention.
AA.
Advertising painted upon or displayed upon a barn or other structure
shall be considered a sign and shall comply with this article.
BB.
Any sign may be exempted from the regulations of this article as
a conditional use, if the applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction
of the Board of Supervisors that the sign has been authenticated as
historically significant and accurate for its specific location, whether
original or a replica.
CC.
The lighting of new, or relighting of existing, billboards and signs
shall be subject to the following requirements:
(1)
Externally illuminated billboards and signs shall have fixtures
mounted at the top of the billboard or sign and aimed downward. The
fixtures shall be designed, fitted and aimed to shield the source
from off-site view and to place the light output onto the billboard
or sign and not to project their output into the windows of neighboring
residences, adjacent uses, past the face of the billboard or sign,
skyward or onto a public roadway. Lighting shall be by linear fluorescent
sources. At no point on the face of the sign or billboard and at no
time shall the illumination exceed 30 vertical footcandles during
nighttime.
(2)
The light source for internally illuminated signs and billboards
shall not exceed 1,000 initial lumens per square foot of sign face.
(3)
The illumination of billboards shall be limited to the (IP and
CH) Districts and the illumination of billboards within 500 feet of
a residential use or (ESC, R-S, R-U, R-M, V or R-MH) District shall
not be permitted.
(4)
The maximum illumination on the face of an externally illuminated
billboard or sign shall not exceed 30 footcandles and shall have a
maximum to minimum uniformity ratio not to exceed 6:1.
(5)
Rotating, traveling, pulsing, flashing, or oscillating light
sources, lasers, beacons, or strobe lighting shall not be permitted
except within the (IP and CH) Districts and not within 500 feet of
a signalized traffic intersection, a residential use or any (ESC,
R-S, R-U, R-M, V or R-MH) District.
(6)
The use of highly reflective signage that creates nuisance glare
or a safety hazard shall not be permitted.
(7)
Applications for the lighting or relighting of signs and billboards
shall be accompanied by a point-by-point plot of illuminance on the
sign or billboard face, catalog cuts of proposed fixtures and any
glare reduction devices and a description of lamps, mounting locations,
aiming angles and proposed hours of operation and method for automatically
extinguishing the lighting.
(8)
The light from any illuminated sign shall not adversely affect
the vision of operators of vehicles moving on public or private streets
or parking areas, any (ESC, R-S, R-U, R-M, V or R-MH) District, or
property used for residential purposes.
(9)
No lighting shall be permitted to outline signs or parts thereof
through the use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights, or other
means with the exception of customary holiday decorations, which may
be installed 30 days prior to and removed not later than 21 days after
the holiday.
(10)
Business signs in other than commercial and industrial districts
shall not be illuminated when the business is closed.
(11)
All electrically illuminated signs shall be constructed to the
standard and listing of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL).
All electrical devices and wiring shall be installed in accordance
with the International Code Council (ICC) Electrical Code and the
National Fire Protection Association, National Electrical Code, (NFPA
70).
(12)
Signs incorporating dynamic message displays, as defined herein,
shall not be permitted except within the (IP and CH) Districts and
not within 500 feet of a signalized traffic intersection, a residential
use or any (ESC, R-S, R-U, R-M, V or R-MH) District and shall comply
with the following requirements:
(a)
Such signs shall employ sufficient size lettering
and/or symbols for immediate recognition by motorists;
(b)
Such signs shall display simple and static messages
for immediate recognition by motorists. Messages shall be complete
in each display cycle and shall not require viewers to see multiple
display cycles to derive its meaning;
(c)
Such signs shall use instantaneous transitions
from one message display cycle to the next with no blank-outs, scrolling,
fading, streaming, zooming, flashing or any other animated effect;
and,
(d)
Each message display cycle shall comply with the
following minimum time standards based upon the lowest speed limit
of the road travel lane from which the sign is visible:
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Required Minimum Message Display Cycles (seconds)
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|---|---|---|---|
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Speed Limit
(miles per hour)
|
Total sign area with up to 64 square feet
|
Total sign area with between 64 and 300 square feet
|
Total sign area with more than 300 square feet
|
|
25 mph
|
17 sec.
|
28 sec.
|
56 sec.
|
|
30 mph
|
14 sec.
|
24 sec.
|
48 sec.
|
|
35 mph
|
12 sec.
|
20 sec.
|
40 sec.
|
|
40 mph
|
11 sec.
|
18 sec.
|
36 sec.
|
|
45 mph
|
10 sec.
|
16 sec.
|
32 sec.
|
|
50 mph
|
9 sec.
|
14 sec.
|
28 sec.
|
|
55 and plus; mph
|
8 sec.
|
12 sec.
|
24 sec.
|
[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
The tables on the following pages tabulate requirements imposed
upon permanent, temporary and planned center signs as permitted within
the Township.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Sign Requirements Tables are included as an attachment to this chapter.
[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
1.
Irrespective of regulations contained elsewhere within this article,
the following types of signs shall be permitted in the (ESC) District:
A.
Business identification signs of buildings, provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sign is not in excess of 20 square feet;
and
(2)
Not more than one sign is placed for each separate building
on each property in single and separate ownership, unless such property
fronts upon more than one street, in which event one such sign may
be erected for each such building on each such frontage.
B.
Business directional signs, signs that are accessory to a principal
use on the site and that provide direction to the location of buildings,
provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sign is not in excess of 20 square feet;
and
(2)
Not more than one sign is placed for each separate building
on each property in single and separate ownership, unless such property
fronts upon more than one street, in which event one such sign may
be erected for each building on each such street.
C.
On site directional signs that are accessory to a principal use on
the site and that provide direction to the location of parking lots,
receiving areas, loading spaces, rest rooms and other pertinent information,
provided that:
[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
1.
Any sign that legally existed on the effective date of this article
that does not comply with the provisions listed in this article, shall
be considered a nonconforming signs. All nonconforming signs may continue
for whichever is the shortest of the following continuance periods
of time:
2.
No expansion or increase in the nonconforming aspect of a nonconforming
sign is permitted. After the above-described continuance period, all
nonconforming signs shall be removed, re-constructed and/or altered
so that they comply with all of the provisions contained within this
article. Any improvements, repairs, reconstructions, or any other
alterations made to the nonconforming sign during the continuance
period shall not waive the requirements for elimination of the nonconforming
signs at the end of the continuance period. This section shall not
apply to any legally-existing nonconforming billboards.
[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
1.
Billboards, as defined herein, shall only be permitted by conditional
use within the (IP and CH) Districts, subject to the following criteria:
A.
No billboard shall be located within 1,000 feet of another billboard;
B.
All billboards shall be a minimum of 50 feet from all property lines
and any street right-of-way;
C.
All billboards shall be set back at least 300 feet from any land
within a (R-A) District and at least 1,000 feet from any land within
a (ESC, R-S, R-U, R-M, V, R-MH and/or R-C) District;
D.
No billboard shall obstruct the view of motorists on adjoining roads,
or the view of adjoining commercial or industrial uses, which depend
upon visibility for identification;
E.
No billboard shall exceed an overall size of 300 square feet, except
that a two-sided billboard shall not exceed an overall size of 600
square feet provided both sides are arranged back-to-back faces and
are no more than three feet apart at any point. No billboard shall
exceed 25 feet in height;
F.
All billboards and properties upon which they are erected shall be
regularly maintained so as not to create a safety hazard due to structural
integrity nor a nuisance by means of weeds, litter or vector habitation;
[Ord. No. 2-2007, § 18, 5/22/2007]
1.
Permits for the placement of signs are required as indicated by the last column in the tables listed in § 27-1704 of this article. All signs requiring permits must have such permit prior to the erection, installation, or alteration of the sign. Sign permit applications, forms, plan requirements, and fees shall be established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
A.
Application for permit shall be made in writing to the Zoning Officer
and shall contain all information necessary for such officer to determine
whether the proposed sign, or the proposed alterations, conform to
the requirements of this article. All applications for sign permits
shall be accompanied by scaled plans or diagrams showing the following:
(1)
Exact dimensions of the lot including any right-of-way lines
or building upon which the sign is proposed to be erected;
(2)
Exact size, dimensions, and location of the said sign on the
lot or building together with its type, construction, materials to
be used, and the manner of installation; and
(3)
Any other lawful information that may be required of the applicant
by the Zoning Officer.
B.
Applications for the lighting or relighting of signs and billboards
shall be accompanied by a point-by-point plot of illuminance on the
sign or billboard face, catalog cuts of proposed fixtures and any
glare reduction devices and a description of lamps, mounting locations,
aiming angles and proposed hours of operation and method for automatically
extinguishing the lighting.
C.
No sign permit shall be issued except in conformity with the regulations
of this article, except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board, granted
pursuant to the procedures established for the issuance of a variance.
D.
Permits shall be granted or refused within 30 days from date of application,
or within 30 days from the date of the Zoning Hearing Board's decision,
where applicable.
E.
Sign permits shall include a signature by the owner of the property;
except that an owner's legal agent may sign the permit. When a legal
agent signs the permit, the owner shall be bound by the terms of the
permit.
