The purpose and intent of these rules and regulations governing
signs is to apply reasonable controls over size, placement and general
appearance of signs in their use in each district that will ensure,
promote and safeguard standards for protecting the public health,
safety, welfare, and the environment.
The definitions in this section are unique to the provisions
of this article.
A sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide
business.
A sign made of fabric or any nonrigid material with no enclosing
framework.
See "off-premises sign."
A sign on which the copy changes automatically on a lamp
bank or through mechanical means, e.g., electrical or electronic time
and temperature units.
A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, e.g.,
reader boards with changeable letters.
A temporary sign identifying an architect, contractor, subcontractor,
and/or material supplier participating in construction on the property
on which the sign is located.
A sign which gives a name, place, location, and general nature
of a specific establishment or attraction and is intended to give
directions to that place.
A sign with two faces.
See "changeable copy sign, (automatic)."
A sign which contains an intermittent or sequential flashing
light source used primarily to attract attention. Does not include
changeable copy signs, animated signs, or signs which, through reflection
or other means, create an illusion of flashing or intermittent light
(compare "animated sign," "changeable copy sign").
A sign supported upon the ground by poles or braces and not
attached to any building.
Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by
the Township, county, state, or federal government for traffic direction
or for designation of or direction to any school, hospital, historical
site, or public service, property, or facility.
The vertical distance measured from the highest point of
the sign, excluding decorative embellishments, to the grade of the
adjacent street or the surface grade beneath the sign, whichever is
less.
A sign whose copy is limited to the name and address of a
building, institution, or person and/or to the activity or occupation
being identified.
A sign which does not meet requirements of this chapter and
which has not received legal nonconforming status.
For the purposes of this chapter, the cleaning, painting,
repair, or replacement of defective parts of a sign in a manner that
does not alter the basic copy, design, or structure of the sign.
A roof having two slopes on all four sides with the lower
slope almost vertical and the upper almost horizontal.
A permanent rooflike structure or canopy of rigid materials
supported by and extending from the facade of a building (compare
"awning").
Any sign attached to or supported by a marquee structure.
A nonelectric on-premises identification sign giving only
the name, address, and/or occupation of an occupant or group of occupants.
A sign which was erected legally but which does not comply
with subsequently enacted sign restrictions and regulations or a sign
which does not conform to the sign code requirements but for which
a special permit has been issued.
A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise,
service MISE, or entertainment which is not sold, produced, manufactured,
or furnished at the property on which said sign is located, e.g.,
billboards or outdoor advertising.
A sign which pertains to the use of the premises on which
it is located.
A sign which is applied with paint or similar substance on
the face of a wall.
For the purposes of this chapter, a temporary sign used in
connection with a local, state, or national election or referendum.
Any sign designed to be moved easily and not permanently
affixed to the ground or to a structure or building.
A temporary sign advertising the real estate upon which the
sign is located as being for rent, lease, or sale.
Any sign erected over or on the roof of a building (compare
"mansard," "wall signs").
Any device, structure, fixture, or placard using graphics,
symbols, and/or written copy designed specifically for the purpose
of advertising or identifying any establishment, product, goods, or
services.
[Amended 4-12-2018]
PROJECTING AND FREESTANDINGThe area of a freestanding or projecting sign shall have only one face (the largest one) of any double- or multi-faced sign counted in calculating its area. The area of the sign shall be measured as follows if the sign is composed of one or two individual cabinets:
The area around and enclosing the perimeter of each cabinet
or module shall be summed and then totaled to determine total area.
The perimeter of measurable area shall not include embellishments,
such as pole covers, framing, decorative roofing, etc., provided that
there is not written advertising copy on such embellishments.
If the sign is composed of more than two sign cabinets or modules,
the area enclosing the entire perimeter of all cabinets and/or modules
within a single, continuous geometric figure shall be the area of
the sign. Pole covers and other embellishments shall not be included
in the area of measurement if they do not bear advertising copy.
WALL SIGNSThe area shall be within a single, continuous perimeter composed of any straight-line geometric figure which encloses the extreme limits of the advertising message. If the sign is composed of individual letters or symbols using the wall as the background with no added decoration, the total sign area shall be calculated by measuring the area within the perimeter of each symbol or letter. The combined areas of the individual figures shall be considered the total sign area.
A freestanding or wall sign identifying a recognized subdivision,
condominium complex, or residential development.
A sign not constructed or intended for long-term use.
A sign attached parallel to and extending not more than four
inches from the wall of a building. This definition includes painted,
individual letter, and cabinet signs, and signs on a mansard.
A sign installed inside a window and intended to be viewed
from the outside.
A.
Prohibited signs:
(1)
Encroaching signs and roof signs, as defined herein, are specifically
prohibited.
(2)
Any sign which, by reason of its size, location, content, coloring
or manner of illumination, constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment
to traffic safety by obstructing the vision of drivers, or by obstructing
or detracting from the visibility of any traffic control device on
public streets and roads (i.e., flashing signs).
(3)
Signs which make use of words such as "stop," "look," "danger," or
any other words, phrases, symbols or characters, in such a manner
as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(4)
Abandoned signs and sign structures that are no longer in use as
originally intended or have been abandoned; or are structurally unsafe,
constitute a hazard to safety and health, or those not kept in good
repair or maintenance.
(5)
Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required
door, window, fire escape or other required exit way.
(6)
Any sign or other advertising structure containing any obscene, indecent
or immoral matter.
(7)
Any sign unlawfully installed, erected or maintained after the effective
date of this chapter (illegal sign).
(8)
Signs having flashing, blinking or running-type lights are prohibited
for any lots adjoining residential districts except for signs presenting
changing of copy for time, temperature and date.
(9)
Any sign installed prior to the effective date of this chapter without
a permit, when in fact previous or other ordinances required a permit
(illegal sign).
(10)
Billboards except where off-premises signs are allowed.
(11)
Billboards used for on-premises advertising are prohibited.
(12)
Billboards located within 300 feet of residential districts.
B.
Signs allowed in any district:
(1)
"No hunting," "no trespassing" signs and on-premises directional
signs not exceeding four square feet in area.
(2)
Signs located in the interior of buildings.
(3)
Any identification, address, or for sale sign affixed to a wall,
mailbox, post, lamp post, or pillar; and which is not larger than
four square feet in display surface; and not for the purpose of advertising
a home occupation.
(4)
Traffic control or other governmental signs such as, but not limited
to, directional signs placed in rights-of-way, legal notices, railroad
crossing signs, danger and other temporary emergency signs.
(5)
Nameplates, memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and dates
or erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed
of bronze or other noncombustible material.
(6)
Flags or banners bearing the official design of a nation, state,
municipality, educational institution and organization.
No sign shall exceed a 200 square feet limit in the Township
of Lawrence. No sign up to 32 square feet shall require a permit.
If over 32 square feet, a permit is required, along with a site plan
review.
A.
Wind load. Signs and sign structures shall be designed and constructed
to resist wind forces of not less than 20 pounds per square foot on
signs up to 60 feet in height and not less than 30 pounds per square
foot for signs of over 60 feet in height.
B.
Bracing. All bracing systems shall be designed and constructed to
transfer lateral forces to the foundation. For signs on buildings,
the dead and lateral loads shall be transmitted through the structural
frame of the building to the ground in such a manner as to not overstress
any of the elements thereof. Uplift due to overturning shall be adequately
resisted by proper anchorage to the ground or the structural frame
of the building.
C.
Anchorage. Signs attached to masonry, concrete, or steel shall be
safely and securely fastened thereto by means of metal anchors, bolts
or approved expansion screws of sufficient size and anchorage to safely
support all loads applied.
D.
Electrical. All signs of electrical construction and installation
shall comply with the National Electrical Code and shall be connected
by a licensed electrician.
E.
Other. The Building Official may require an engineer-sealed set of
drawings thereby certifying that all loads are in compliance with
this section.
A.
Application for a permit. Application for a permit to erect or replace
a sign shall be made to the Building Official by submission of the
required forms, fees, exhibits, and information by the owner of the
property on which the sign is to be located, or by his/her agent,
or lessee. The application shall contain the following information:
(1)
The property owner's name and address in full.
(2)
Applicant's name and address.
(3)
Address of property on which sign is to be situated.
(4)
Business to which sign belongs or relates.
(5)
Total display area in square feet.
(6)
Proposed setback from right-of-way.
(7)
Sign type.
(8)
Sign purpose.
(9)
Sign height.
(10)
Height and width of building to be served.
(11)
Drawing of proposed sign indicating proposed copy.
B.
Sign permits issued on the basis of plans and applications approved
by the Planning Commission authorize only the design and construction
set forth in such approved plans and applications, and no other design.
C.
The Planning Commission/Building Official shall not approve plans
or issue sign permits for any sign which does not conform to the provisions
of this chapter.
D.
The Building Official shall maintain a record of all sign permits
issued, and said record shall be open for public inspection.
Permit fees will be established by resolution of the Township
Board of Trustees. A copy of current costs will be available from
the Building Official and Township Clerk.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 20, Code Adoption,
Art. II)]
For all signs hereafter erected without issuance of a required
sign permit, the Building Official shall inform the property owner
upon whose property the sign is situated of the alleged violation
of this chapter.
A.
Notification of the enactment of this section and any future amendments by the Township Board of Trustees along with a copy of each shall be sent by the Township Clerk to the Michigan State Transportation Commission and the Michigan Department of Transportation. All off-premises signs are subject to the site plan provisions of Article VIII.
B.
The Township Board shall adopt a schedule of fees administering this
section of this chapter for permits related to off-premises advertising
signs and sign structure.
C.
Off-premises advertising signs shall be permitted as a principal
or accessory use on parcels of land located along and adjacent to
the right-of-way lines of I-94, Red Arrow Highway and CR 365 in any
zoning district.
D.
Off-premises advertising signs shall be spaced at least 1,000 feet
apart, including signs located on these highways and roads in adjoining
townships. For purposes of this chapter, each side of the roadway
shall be considered separately.
E.
Off-premises advertising signs shall not have more than two faces.
F.
An inside angle not to exceed 20° may be permitted for a two-faced
sign attached at one end.
G.
The maximum area of each face of an outdoor advertising sign shall
not exceed 200 square feet except on I-94.
H.
The height of the sing at the highest point on the sign structure
shall not exceed 30 feet.
I.
Off-premises advertising signs shall be located at least 300 feet
from all residential, church and school structures.
J.
All lighted signs shall not have any light source or reflected glare visible to traffic on any of the highways and roads specified in Subsection D above or on any other road or highway or property adjacent to any of these highways and roads. No intermittent flashing, rotating, moving or oscillating lighting shall be permitted.
K.
Each sign shall meet all of the highway or road setback requirements
for the zoning district in which it is to be located.
L.
Construction of a sign shall be structurally sound so as to withstand
the wind load on its surface and any vibration of it so that it will
not blow down or change its alignment.
M.
Any off-premises advertising sign not in use for advertising purposes
shall have such unused surfaces colored uniformly or, if no panel
surface remains, then a uniform color on its structural supports.
O.
All signs prohibited by P.A. 106 of 1972, as amended, "The Highway
Advertising Act of 1972," are also prohibited in the Township.
