It is the intent of this article to:
A.
Place reasonable standards on the erection and maintenance of signs
within the Township of Hamiltonban.
B.
Promote the safety, welfare, and convenience of uses of rights-of-way,
relative to signs, while maintaining and enhancing the rural character
of the Township of Hamiltonban.
C.
Promote commerce while identifying places of business and cultural
and social activity in a visually attractive manner compatible with
the rural character of the Township of Hamiltonban.
D.
Avoid excessive use of large or multiple signs, so that permitted
signs can provide identification and direction while minimizing clutter,
confusion, and hazardous distractions to motorists and pedestrians.
The following regulations shall govern signs in all districts:
A.
No sign shall be erected, enlarged, or relocated until a zoning permit for doing so has been issued by the Zoning Officer, or unless specifically exempted from permitting by § 375-87 below. Applications shall be on forms provided by the Township. All applications shall include a scale drawing specifying dimensions, materials, illumination, letter sizes, colors, location on land or buildings, means of installation on land or building, and all other relevant information.
B.
Signs, and the structure and equipment used in the erection and/or
installation of such signs, shall be comprised of durable materials
requiring little maintenance. All signs shall be permanently affixed
to the ground or building, as appropriate, using generally accepted
construction practices.
C.
No sign shall be located so as to interfere with the clear sight distance regulations of Chapter 320, Subdivision and Land Development.
D.
No sign shall be located within the right-of-way of any public or
private street.
E.
Signs may be illuminated in accordance with the following standards:
(1)
Where sign illumination is limited in this chapter to external illumination,
the light source shall be hidden from vehicular and/or pedestrian
view by a vegetative screen or a fixture surrounding the light source
that directs the light to the sign face. Indirect illumination shall
not be permitted that either directly or indirectly produces glare
affecting neighboring residential properties or any adjoining street.
(2)
Where sign illumination is not limited in this chapter to external
illumination, the sign may employ internal illumination.
The following types of signs are exempted from the permitting
requirements of this chapter, provided the sign meets all other applicable
requirements of this section.
A.
Official street and traffic signs and any other signs required by
law.
B.
Trespassing signs, signs indicating private ownership of roads and/or
property, and similar signs, provided that such signs are spaced at
intervals of no less than 100 feet and do not exceed two square feet
in area.
C.
Temporary, nonilluminated real estate signs advertising the sale
or rental of the premises upon which they are erected, provided that
the maximum area on any side of the sign shall not exceed six square
feet, that the total area of the sign shall not exceed 12 square feet,
that not more than two signs are placed on a property under single
ownership, and that such signs are removed not more than five business
days following the sale or rental of the premises.
D.
Temporary, nonilluminated signs of contractors, painters, or similar
artisans, erected on the premises where the work is being performed,
provided that the maximum area of any one side of the sign shall not
exceed eight square feet, that the total area of the sign shall not
exceed 16 square feet, that not more than one such sign for each contractor,
painter, or similar artisan shall be erected on any property under
single ownership, and that the sign shall be removed within one day
of the completion of the work.
E.
Temporary, nonilluminated yard or garage sale signs, provided that
such signs shall not be displayed for more than 48 hours of each calendar
month, that the total area of such signs shall not exceed four square
feet, and that not more than two signs shall be displayed for any
sale event.
F.
Freestanding signs designating the entrances and exits to commercial
and industrial establishments, provided that sign illumination shall
be limited to external illumination and that each side of the sign
shall not exceed four square feet.
G.
Legal notices, identification, informational, or directional signs
erected or required by governmental bodies.
H.
Window signs, directly affixed to the exterior or interior of a window,
or placed in inside a building in a manner that can be seen through
a window.
I.
Flags indicating that the use is open for the business day. Such
flags shall be installed in a manner that provides a minimum of seven
feet of clearance between the flag and any pedestrian walkway, including
but not limited to public sidewalks. Such flags shall be removed at
the end of the advertised business day.
The following types of signs and/or sign design features are
prohibited in all districts:
A.
Flashing signs.
B.
Flashing and/or rotation lights.
C.
Signs using the words "stop," "caution," or "danger." Signs using
red, yellow, and/or green lights resembling traffic signals. Signs
that resemble traffic control signs in terms of size, shape, or color.
D.
Revolving, rotating, or otherwise moving signs. This prohibition
shall not include feather signs.
E.
Animated signs, where a component of the sign is designed to physically
move.
F.
Portable signs, whether mounted on a trailer, vehicle, temporary
base, or similar such devise. A vehicle, painted or decorated so as
to display an advertising or related message, and parked in a visible
location, shall be considered a portable sign.
G.
Roof signs.
H.
Streamers, pennants, inflatable, or lighter-than-air signs. This
prohibition shall not include feather signs.
I.
Strings or light bulbs, searchlights, or other lighting intended
to attract attention to a nonresidential use, other than traditional
holiday decorations.
The following types of signs are permitted in all districts:
A.
Off-premises directional signs shall be permitted in accordance with
the following requirements:
(1)
The maximum area of any one side of a sign shall not exceed 10 square
feet.
(2)
The total area of the sign shall not exceed 20 square feet.
(3)
The maximum height of the sign shall not exceed 10 feet.
(4)
Within the OS, LC, RR, AP, SR, VM, and V Districts, sign illumination
shall be limited to external illumination.
(5)
If three or more off-premises directional signs are proposed on the
same property, consolidation of the individual signs on a single off-premises
directional sign shall be required. Compatibly designed business logos
shall be required. In addition, the following size requirements shall
be required:
(6)
Where the applicant for an off-premise directional sign does not
own the property where said sign is proposed, the property owner shall
be a coapplicant for the zoning permit necessary to authorize said
sign.
B.
Community welcome signs. Signs erected by municipal, civic, or community
organizations, and designed to welcome visitors to the Hamiltonban
Township community and notify the public of community events may be
erected in any zoning district, provided that the following standards
are met:
C.
Signs for places of worship, service clubs, fraternal organizations,
schools, municipal, emergency services, public and noncommercial parks
and recreation, and similar uses that perform civic or community serving
functions.
(1)
The maximum area of any one side of the sign shall not exceed 32
square feet.
(2)
The maximum area of all sides of the sign shall not exceed 64 square
feet.
(3)
If a freestanding sign is used, the maximum height of the sign shall
not exceed 10 feet.
(4)
Sign illumination may include internal illumination.
D.
Historical markers shall be permitted in accordance with the following
requirements:
Within the OS, LC, RR, AP, and SR Districts, the following sign
regulations shall apply:
A.
Signs advertising a home occupation are permitted, provided that
the following requirements are met:
(1)
The maximum area of any one side of the sign shall not exceed four
square feet.
(2)
The total area of the sign shall not exceed eight square feet.
(3)
Sign illumination shall be limited to external illumination.
(4)
The maximum height of a freestanding sign shall not exceed six feet.
Wall signs or projecting signs are permitted, provided that said sign
does not extend above the eaves of the building.
Within the MC and C Districts, the following sign regulations
shall apply:
A.
For individual nonresidential uses of property, the following sign
standards shall apply:
(1)
One freestanding sign shall be permitted in accordance with the following
requirements.
(2)
One wall sign shall be permitted in accordance with the following
requirements:
(3)
Two feather signs shall be permitted in accordance with the following
requirements:
(4)
Where the nonresidential use is located at the intersection of two public streets, excluding alleys, one sign meeting the requirements of § 375-91A(1) and one sign meeting the requirements of § 375-91A(2) may be erected along each street.
B.
For shopping plazas, the following sign standards shall apply:
(1)
One freestanding sign shall be permitted to identify the name, entrance,
and tenants of the shopping plaza. Such sign shall comply with the
following requirements:
(2)
One wall sign shall be permitted for each tenant within a shopping
plaza. Such sign shall comply with the following requirements:
(a)
The maximum area of a wall sign shall be 30 square feet or 15%
of the surface area of the wall, whichever is less.
(b)
Wall signs shall not extend above the eaves of the building
and shall not be placed over windows.
(c)
Each wall sign shall be designed to be visually compatible,
in terms of color and materials, with buildings of the shopping plaza.
Within the I District, the following sign regulations shall
apply:
A.
For individual nonresidential uses of property, the following sign
standards shall apply:
(1)
One freestanding sign shall be permitted in accordance with the following
requirements:
(2)
One wall sign shall be permitted in accordance with the following
requirements:
(3)
Where the nonresidential use is located at the intersection of two public streets, excluding alleys, one sign meeting the requirements of § 375-92A(1) and one sign meeting the requirements of § 375-92A(2) may be erected along each street.
(4)
The signs authorized in § 375-92A(1) and (2) above may include an electronic message center component, provided that such component complies with the electronic message center standards established in § 375-94.
C.
The total maximum area of the billboard sign shall not exceed 400
square feet.
D.
The maximum height of the billboard sign shall not exceed 20 feet.
E.
The billboard sign, including its support structure, shall be placed
at least 25 feet from any street right-of-way line and at least 50
feet from any side or rear property line.
F.
The billboard sign shall be located along a minor arterial street
as identified by the Southwest Adams Joint Comprehensive Plan.
G.
The billboard sign shall be located at least 500 feet from any other
billboard sign.
H.
The billboard sign shall be located at least 500 feet from any residential
zoning district.
I.
Billboard signs shall be limited to external illumination. Any illumination of a billboard sign shall comply with the sign illumination standards of § 375-86E(1).
Within the V and VM Districts, the following sign regulations
shall apply:
A.
For every nonresidential use of property, one freestanding or one
projecting sign shall be permitted in accordance with the following
requirements:
(1)
The maximum area of any one side of a freestanding or projecting
sign shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(2)
The total area of a freestanding or projecting sign shall not exceed
24 square feet.
(3)
Where three or more nonresidential uses are located on the same property,
one consolidated freestanding or projecting sign shall be used. In
this case, maximum sign areas may be increased by 50%.
(4)
Any freestanding or projecting sign placed above public sidewalks,
driveways, or walkways shall be located so as to provide for eight
feet of clearance beneath the sign.
(5)
Any projecting sign shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
(6)
Any freestanding sign shall not exceed six feet in height.
B.
For every nonresidential use of property, one wall sign or one awning
sign shall be permitted in accordance with the following requirements:
(1)
The total area of a wall or awning sign shall not exceed 24 square
feet.
(2)
Wall signs shall not extend above the eaves of the building and shall
not be placed over windows.
(3)
Where three or more nonresidential uses are located on the same property
and use of wall signs is proposed, one consolidated wall sign shall
be used. In this case, maximum sign area may be increased by 50%.
(4)
Awning signs shall be used only on an awning extending from the primary
entrance to the nonresidential use.
(5)
Where three or more nonresidential uses are located on the same property and use of awning signs is proposed, one consolidated awning sign shall be used if the nonresidential uses are provided a common building entrance. Where nonresidential uses are provided separate building entrances, an awning sign meeting the size standards of Subsection B(1) may be used at each entrance.
Where authorized, electronic message centers shall comply with
the following standards:
A.
Where an electronic message center is authorized, the electronic
message center shall be incorporated into an existing or proposed
sign that complies with the sign type, sign height, and sign area
requirements of the underlying zoning district. Under no circumstances
shall an electronic message center be permitted to be incorporated
into a nonconforming sign.
B.
The electronic message center shall not exceed more than 50% of the
total sign area of the sign into which the electronic message center
is being incorporated.
C.
No more than one electronic message center shall be permitted per
property.
D.
The electronic message center shall not employ animated graphics
or streaming video. The electronic message center shall not employ
text or images which flash, pulsate, move, or scroll. Each complete
message must fit on one screen.
E.
Any message on an electronic message center shall have a minimum
hold time of eight seconds.
F.
Message transitions on an electronic message center shall occur instantly,
and no transition graphics (for example, fades or dissolves) may be
employed.
G.
The electronic message center shall be equipped with a default mechanism
that will freeze the message when a malfunction in the electronic
programming occurs.
H.
Audio speakers on electronic message centers are prohibited.
I.
Electronic message centers shall not exceed a maximum illumination
of 5,000 nits (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours and
a maximum of 500 nits (candelas per square meter) between dusk to
dawn. The sign shall be equipped with an automatic dimmer control
that produces a distinct illumination change from the higher allowed
illumination level to the lower allowed illumination level for the
time period between a half hour before sunset and a half hour after
sunrise.
J.
The owner of every electronic message center shall coordinate with
local authorities to display, when appropriate, emergency information
important to the traveling public, including, but not limited to,
Amber Alerts or alerts concerning terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
Emergency information messages shall remain in the advertising rotation
according to the protocols of the agency that issues the information.
