A.Â
Conformance required. Any sign hereafter erected or
maintained shall conform with the provisions of this article and any
other ordinance or regulation of the Township not consistent herewith.
B.Â
The purpose of this article is to establish a legal
framework for a comprehensive system regulating all exterior signs
and interior signs placed for exterior observance so as to protect
the aesthetic character of the Township, to protect the health, safety
and welfare of residents and to ensure the availability to citizens
of on-premises signs of an adequate quality.
C.Â
Any sign placed on land, water or a building for the
purpose of identification or for advertising a use conducted therein
or thereon shall be deemed to be accessory and incidental to such
land, building or use. It is intended that the display of signs will
be appropriate to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant
and will be adequate, but not excessive, for the intended purpose
of identification or advertisement.
D.Â
It is further intended that in proposed commercial
and industrial areas all signs within one complex be coordinated with
the architecture in such a manner that the overall appearance is harmonious
in color, form and proportion.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated.
Wood or materials not more combustible than wood, and approved
combustible plastics.
Only those plastics which, when tested in accordance with
American Society for Testing and Materials standard method for test
for flammability of plastics over 0.050 inch in thickness (C635-44),
burn no faster than 2.5 inches per minute in sheets of 0.060 inch
thickness.
A sign generally made of flexible material that is usually
fixed to a permanent structure or strung between fixed objects with
string, rope, wires, hooks or the like. Materials which do not contain
letters, but whose purpose is to focus attention, are also banners.
Any sign attached to and deriving its major support from
a building, and including but not limited to the following: arcade
signs, awning signs, canopy signs, projecting signs, wall signs, window
signs and signs painted on the surface of walls.
A material attached to the structure as an architectural
feature, which may also contain sign data. Also known as an "awning."
A sign specifically designed so that the letters and graphic
material may be changed an unlimited number of times by the easy removal
and replacement of the letters and graphic material.
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations
that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the
surface of the sign. A sign on which the only copy that changes is
an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall
be considered a time-and-temperature portion of a sign and not a changeable
message sign for purposes of this article.
[Added 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
Any sign which combines the characteristics of two or more
types of signs, including roof, projecting and ground signs.
The total area made available, by the sign structure or otherwise,
upon, against or through which the message of the sign is exhibited.
A sign which indicates the name of an individual enterprise
or business, or any of its affiliates, and which may or may not indicate
the products, services or entertainment offered by that business.
To build, construct, attach, place, suspend or affix, and
shall also include the painting of wall signs and the painting of
signs or displays on the exterior surface of a building, structure
or natural surface.
Any illuminated sign whose illumination is derived from an
external artificial source outside the display portion of the sign.
[Added 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
See "building-mounted sign."
A cloth or flexible material, usually but not limited to
rectangular, that is fixed on one side to a vertical pole or placed
on the surface of a structure. Flags typically depict emblems of a
country, state, municipality or service organization and logos of
all types.
Any sign supported by structural members or by braces in
the ground and not attached to a building, including, but not limited
to, the following: bulletin board signs, outdoor advertising signs,
pole or pylon signs or ground signs.
Directional, information or public service signs, such as
signs advertising locations of rest rooms, telephone or similar facilities
of public convenience, and signs located on mechanical dispensing
equipment that identifies its products.
A sign that gives the name, or name and address, of a building,
business, development or establishment. Such a sign may be wholly
or partly devoted to a readily recognized symbol or trademark.
A sign which is lighted by self-contained interior light
or by lights projected or directed on to it.
[Added 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
Any sign whose sole source or artificial illumination is
contained within the display portion of the sign, including neon-type
signs and internally and backlit signs.
[Added 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
Any digital, illuminated sign with changeable message and
changeable copy which shall not scroll.
[Added 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
Any sign, symbol or device erected and maintained by any
federal, state, county or local governmental agency for the purpose
of informing or guiding the public or for the protection of health,
safety, convenience and/or general welfare.
Any sign on which is portrayed information which directs
attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment not related
to uses existing or permitted on the lot upon which the sign is located.
This definition includes billboards.
Any sign painted or affixed to the pavement surface.
Any sign not affixed to the ground nor to a building, including
any sign attached to or displayed on a vehicle that is used solely
for the purpose of advertising a business establishment, product,
service or entertainment, when that vehicle is so parked as to attract
the attention of the motoring or pedestrian traffic.
Any sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises,
or part of the premises, on which the sign is displayed.
Any sign erected, constructed or maintained wholly upon or
over the roof of any building with the principal support on the roof
structure.
A freestanding sign which identifies only the name of the
shopping center and does not identify the individual enterprises or
their products, services or amusements.
A structure, building, wall or any writing, letter work or
numeral, pictorial or graphic presentation, illustration or decoration,
emblem, device, symbol or trademark, flag, banner or pennant, or any
other structure device, figure or similar character which is:
A sign which advertises or presents information to the public
of a location, event or occurrence which will take place at a certain
time or date or within a certain period. Inflatable signs, balloons
or any inflatable advertising device shall be considered temporary
signs.
Any sign painted or attached to the glass area of a window
or placed behind the glass of a window so that it can be read from
out-of-doors.
A.Â
In keeping with the purpose and intent of this article,
all signs shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions that
follow and in accordance with the provisions of the zoning district
in which the sign is to be located.
B.Â
No sign, except for those signs listed in § 285-225 below, shall be painted, constructed, erected, remodeled, relocated or expanded until a sign permit for such sign has been obtained.
C.Â
No permit for any sign shall be issued unless the
sign complies with all regulations of the article and those set forth
in the Uniform Construction Code,[1] and the payment of fees shall be required in accordance
with fees adopted by the Township Council.
[Amended 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
D.Â
The Planning Board shall review and act on all new
sign proposals, except where the Zoning Board of Adjustment has original
jurisdiction. Applications to modify prior approved existing signs
and to change a tenant sign within a project where a master sign plan
has previously been approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board
of Adjustment may be reviewed and approved directly by the construction
official, provided that the requested changes comply with this article.
After approval for new signs is received from the Planning Board,
an application for a sign permit shall be made to the construction
official.
E.Â
All new businesses shall be required to obtain a permit
for all signs, including existing conforming and nonconforming signs,
whether or not such existing signs are to be changed.
A.Â
Exceptions. The following operations shall not be
considered as creating a sign and therefore shall not require a sign
permit:
(1)Â
The changing of the advertised copy or message on
an approved painted or printed sign or billboard, a theater marquee,
or similar approved signs which are specifically designed for the
use of replaceable copy.
(2)Â
Painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance
and repair of a conforming sign or a conforming sign structure, unless
a structural change is made.
B.Â
Exempt signs. The following enumerated signs, allowed
in all districts, shall be exempt from the requirements of this article:
(1)Â
Signs of a constituted governmental body, including
traffic signs and signals or similar regulatory devices, legal devices
or warnings at railroad crossings.
(2)Â
Memorial tablets or signs and historic markers, as
approved by the Township Council.
(3)Â
Signs required to be maintained on any lot or parcel
by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, with a total surface
area not exceeding 10 square feet.
(4)Â
Signs which are within public recreation facilities,
such as, but not limited to, signs setting forth rules and regulations
of play, hours of use, parking facilities, directional signs, scoreboards,
park names and sponsor signs.
(5)Â
Flags, emblems or insignia of the United States, State
of New Jersey, Gloucester County, other counties or states, religious
groups, civic organizations and service clubs. Each project shall
be allowed up to three flags, one flag each of any type listed above.
Flagpoles shall not exceed 35 feet in height and flags shall not be
of a dimension greater than five feet by eight feet.
(6)Â
Signs which post or display address numbers and occupant
names with a total area not to exceed two square feet.
(7)Â
Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of
the public, including signs which identify rest rooms, location of
public telephones, freight entrances or the like, with a total area
not to exceed two square feet.
(8)Â
Signs, each of which has a total area not exceeding
two square feet, placed by a public utility, showing the location
of underground facilities.
(9)Â
Seasonal displays and decorations not advertising
a product, service or entertainment, for a period not to exceed 45
days.
(10)Â
Freestanding signs or signs attached to fences
at approximate eye level, no larger than four square feet, warning
the public against hunting, fishing, trespassing, dangerous animals,
swimming or the like.
(11)Â
Any information or directional sign or historical
marker erected by a public agency, which may include signs displayed
by a public agency for the purpose of giving directions and distances
to commercial districts in which are located the following types of
commercial facilities for the convenience of the traveling public:
restaurants, motels and establishments for the servicing of motor
vehicles, provided that no such sign shall give direction or distance
to any specific business establishment.
(12)Â
Signs, each of which has a total area not exceeding
two square feet, identifying parking for the handicapped, except when
the handicap logo is painted on the specific parking stall pavement.
(13)Â
Parking lot markers, internal traffic control
signs and entrance and exit signs erected on the same premises to
which they apply, provided that each such sign does not exceed three
square feet.
(14)Â
Nonresidential property building numbers in
excess of two square feet.
C.Â
Temporary signs. All temporary signs are required to obtain a sign permit, except temporary real estate signs, as set forth in Subsection C(6) below and temporary daily special signs, as set forth in Subsection C(10.1) below:
[Amended 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008; 6-10-2009 by Ord. No.
15-2009]
(1)Â
Temporary flags.
[Amended 5-23-2018 by Ord. No. 10-2018; 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 13-2019]
(a)Â
Businesses shall be allowed up to three temporary flags per calendar
year.
(b)Â
A permit allows a temporary flag to be displayed for a period of
60 days starting from the date the permit was issued.
(c)Â
Permits shall not be issued for consecutive months.
(d)Â
Only three temporary flags per business are permitted to be displayed
during any one time.
(e)Â
Temporary flags shall be no more than 20 square feet.
(2)Â
Inflatable signs shall not exceed 64 square feet,
shall be limited to one inflatable sign per lot per year, and shall
be removed within seven days.
(3)Â
Official notices or advertisements posted or displayed
by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance
of his/her official or directed duties or by trustees under deeds
of trust, deeds of assignment or other similar instruments, provided
that all such signs shall be removed not later than 10 days after
the last day of the period for which the same are required to be displayed
in order to accomplish their purpose.
(4)Â
Temporary political signs, not exceeding 32 square
feet in area, may be erected on any privately owned lot or parcel
in any nonresidential zone. Political campaign signs not exceeding
six square feet in area are permitted in all districts. No such sign
shall be erected more than 30 days prior to the nomination, election
or referendum which it purports to advertise, and all such signs shall
be removed within 10 days after the event. Each candidate, or representative
of such candidate, must apply for a permit, but shall be exempt from
all fees. Political signs that are fixed permanently are prohibited.
(5)Â
Temporary signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area
announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational
or religious organization, provided that the sponsoring organization
shall ensure proper and prompt removal of such sign. No such sign
shall be erected more than 30 days prior to the event advertised,
and all such signs shall be removed within 10 days after the event.
Each organization, including nonprofit organizations, must apply for
a permit, but shall be exempt from all fees.
(6)Â
Nonilluminating temporary real estate signs advertising
the sale, rental or lease of the premises or part of the premises
on which the sign is displayed. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square
feet, all sides combined, in all residential districts and 64 square
feet, all sides combined, in all other districts. Such signs, not
to exceed one in number per lot, shall be permitted on each major
road frontage.
(a)Â
Temporary "Open House" signs may be placed on
the lot no sooner than 24 hours before and shall be removed within
two hours after the open house is closed. Only one such sign shall
be permitted per lot. No more than three off-site directional signs
are allowed. These signs shall include the day and time of the open
house on the sign.
(b)Â
All temporary real estate signs shall be removed
no later than five days after settlement. The realtor or listing broker
shall be the entity cited if there is a violation of this regulation.
(7)Â
Temporary construction signs which identify the architects,
engineers, contractors and other individuals or firms involved with
the construction and, during the construction period, signs announcing
the character of the building, enterprise or the purpose for which
the building is intended. Such signs shall not include any advertisement
of any product and shall be limited to a maximum area of 32 square
feet on each side for each sign. The signs shall not exceed one in
number per site and shall be confined to the site of the construction
and shall be removed within 14 days following issuance of the last
certificate of occupancy. In no case, however, shall such signs be
displayed for a period of more than one year. With respect to temporary
construction signs, no permit fee shall be required by contractors
as set forth in fees adopted by the Township Council.
(8)Â
Temporary signs, not exceeding 30 square feet on each side, announcing
a "Grand Opening," "Under New Management" or "Going Out of Business,"
only, shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 15 days. The applicant
has the right to request one fifteen-day extension.
[Amended 10-10-2018 by Ord. No. 24-2018]
(9)Â
Banners, subject to the following regulations:
[Amended 10-10-2018 by Ord. No. 24-2018]
(a)Â
Permits shall not be issued for consecutive months.
(c)Â
An applicant may secure a maximum of three permits per calendar
year.
(d)Â
A permit allows a banner to be displayed for a period of 60
days starting from date the permit was issued.
(e)Â
Banners shall not exceed 30 square feet.
(f)Â
Only one banner per business is permitted to be displayed during
any one time period.
(10)Â
Temporary garage sale or yard sale signs, not
to exceed two per lot. Each lot shall be entitled to the posting of
such signs no more than two times each year. The maximum size of such
sign shall not exceed 20 square feet.
(10.1)Â
Temporary daily special signs (sandwich-board-type)
not to exceed one per business. The maximum size of such sign shall
not exceed 10 square feet. Such sign can only be displayed during
business hours, upon the sidewalk, and cannot unreasonably obstruct
any sidewalk. Such sign cannot be located on any roadway or along
any roadway unless it is upon a sidewalk. Such sign must be located
within 15 feet of the building entrance.
(11)Â
Any person or entity in violation of these temporary
sign regulations shall be subject to the following penalties:
(a)Â
First offense, $50, and the sign to be removed
within five days. Failure to respond shall constitute a second violation.
(b)Â
Second offense, $100 and the sign to be removed
within five days. Failure to respond shall constitute a third violation.
(c)Â
Third offense, $150, and the sign to be removed
by the Township and the cost billed to the violator.
(d)Â
For each offense, the violator shall be denied
one sign permit during the calendar year.
The following signs are prohibited in all zoning
districts:
A.Â
Signs with a lighting arrangement which is more than
that which is necessary for the primary illumination of the sign.
This shall include exposed lighting which is intended to attract attention
as well as to illuminate the sign.
B.Â
Any portable sign.
C.Â
Any sign that violates any provision of the Uniform
Construction Code.
D.Â
Any sign so located as to obscure all or any portion
of a sign or traffic signal erected by a governmental authority.
E.Â
Any sign, except fire signs, so erected, constructed
or maintained so as to obstruct or be attached to any fire escape,
window, door or opening used as a means of egress or ingress or for
fire-fighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening
for ventilation required by law.
F.Â
Any sign or illumination that causes any direct glare
into or upon any road or any building, other than the building to
which the sign may be related.
G.Â
Any sign of which all or any part is in motion by
any means, including fluttering or rotating. This shall not apply
to the hands of a clock or to a weather vane.
H.Â
Any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights,
rotating beams or lights of changing degrees of intensity of color,
except signs indicating time, temperature, barometric pressure or
air pollution index, but only when the sign does not constitute a
public safety or traffic hazard.
I.Â
Any sign that is attached to a tree or rock, whether
on public or private property, except official notices or announcements.
J.Â
Any sign that is attached to a public utility pole,
whether on public or private property, except official notices or
announcements.
K.Â
Any sign which by reason of its location, position,
size, shape or color may obstruct, impair, obscure, confuse or interfere
with any traffic control sign, signal or device. Accordingly, no sign
shall use the words "Stop," "Slow," "Caution," "Yield," "Danger,"
"Warning" or "Go" when such sign may be confused with a traffic control
sign used or displayed by a public authority.
L.Â
Any advertisement which uses a series of two or more
signs or units placed in a line parallel to the highway or in similar
fashion, all carrying a single advertising message, part of which
is contained on each sign.
M.Â
Signs advertising any business or industry not conducted
within the Township.
N.Â
Signs extending above the roof line.
O.Â
Outdoor advertising signs, such as billboards, except
for Washington Township welcome signs and affiliated logo(s).
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
P.Â
Pavement signs, except for identification of handicap
parking stalls and fire zones and areas.
Q.Â
Flags, except as listed under §§ 285-225B(5), and 285-225C(1), pennants with or without words, copy balloons, kites or other similar devices.
[Amended 5-8-2019 by Ord. No. 13-2019]
S.Â
Homemade signs that are not professional in appearance
and which detract from the neighborhood.
T.Â
Merchandise shall not be located outside so as to
constitute a sign.
A.Â
The area of a sign shall mean and shall be computed
as the area to the outside edge of the frame surrounding the sign
or by the edge of the sign if no frame exists. When no frame or edge
exists, the area shall be defined by a projected, enclosed parallelogram
drawn to include all figures, letters, pictures and graphics on such
sign. Standard signs shall be assumed to have only two sides. Multifaced
signs shall not exceed the area followed for standard signs.
B.Â
A margin of at least 15% shall be located around all
signage text, graphics, and logos. Such margin shall simply provide
for a "background" that does not permit text, graphics or logos to
extend to the edge of any given sign.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
The following sign regulations shall apply to
all single-family residential and institutional uses within the Residential
Zones A, B, C, R, PR-1, PR-2, PR-3 and Institutional Districts:
A.Â
One nameplate sign indicating a professional use,
accessory use or home occupation or name signs indicating the occupant
of a dwelling and trespassing signs or signs indicating the private
nature of a driveway or premises shall be permitted, provided that
the area on one side of any such sign shall not exceed two square
feet, the sign shall not be illuminated and the sign shall be situated
within the property lines of the premises it identifies.
B.Â
Signs for each residential development shall not exceed
50 square feet on each side. If the sign consists of additional architectural
features or improvements which are intended to establish a theme,
logo or special identification for the project, then the 50 square
feet may be applicable only to the area of the lettering. Architectural
features which are harmonious with the sign may include, but shall
not be limited to, brick, stone or wood focal features, fences, walls
and pedestrian shelters. All signs shall be located within the development
and may be located adjacent to any street bounding the development
and shall not exceed two in number per major entrance street. All
signs and architectural features shall not exceed five feet in height
from ground level (ground-mounted monument style) and shall be ground
maintained.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
C.Â
Institutional District uses may be permitted one identification
building-mounted sign, not exceeding a total of 32 square feet in
area. Freestanding signs limited to one per use, with or without bulletin
board or reader board for religious uses, shall be permitted, provided
that the sign does not exceed 24 square feet on each side. LED (light-emitting
diode) or LCD (liquid-crystal display) digital message boards, illuminated
and changeable message signs, shall be permitted in Institutional
Districts. The LED (light-emitting diode) or LCD (liquid-crystal display)
digital message boards shall comply with all other requirements and
permits and shall not have any scrolling message but allow for digital,
changeable copy.
[Amended 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
D.Â
No more than one permanent sign per lot shall be permitted,
unless otherwise specified, for each use permitted in these zones.
E.Â
No freestanding sign, including supports, shall extend
more than five feet above the ground unless otherwise specified, and
all such signs shall be ground-mounted.
The following sign regulations shall apply within
the Residential Zones MH, H, PACC and PUD:
B.Â
The single-family sections of such projects, if permitted, shall be permitted the applicable signs specified in § 285-228, subject to those specifications.
C.Â
The multifamily sections shall be permitted one wall-mounted
sign per building, totaling 12 square feet per building. Such signs
shall indicate only the number or name of the building and shall be
lighted.
F.Â
Building address numbers shall be clearly shown on
each building.
G.Â
All signs shall adhere to the provisions of § 285-230A(3).
The following sign regulations shall apply in
the NC Neighborhood Commercial District:
A.Â
Each commercial use or tenant may have one facade
sign as follows:
(1)Â
If the building consists of a series of strip stores
attached to each other, the owner shall submit a master sign program
for the entire project. A facade sign board or area shall be provided.
The master sign program shall show the proposed color combinations,
location and size of all signs. Individual facade sign boxes shall
not be more than three feet high. The length may vary in accordance
with the width of store frontage, but there shall be six feet of open
area between any two signs. If individual channel letters are used,
they shall not exceed three feet in height. Spacing between tenant
signs shall be as noted above.
(2)Â
For individual buildings, not part of the strip store center, each tenant shall be allowed one facade sign, not to exceed 40 square feet in size. The regulations in Subsection A(1) above shall apply where applicable.
(3)Â
Signs shall be limited to identifying or advertising
the property, the individual enterprises, the products, services or
the entertainment available on the same property where the sign is
located.
B.Â
Each store or group of stores approved as a single
subdivision or site plan application may have one freestanding enterprise
sign which shall not exceed 32 square feet in area on each side.
[Amended 3-12-2003 by Ord. No. 4-2003]
(1)Â
The freestanding sign shall contain only the name
and logo of the project or tenant. Individual tenants can be listed
on the freesanding sign.
[Amended 3-16-2012 by Ord. No. 3-2012]
(2)Â
The freestanding sign shall be architecturally consistent
with the materials and design of the building.
(3)Â
A store or building on several lots shall not have
a separate freestanding sign on each lot.
(4)Â
All freestanding signs shall be ground-based monument
signs not to exceed six feet in height and shall not be raised in
the air on poles.
[Amended 3-16-2012 by Ord. No. 3-2012]
(5)Â
All freestanding signs shall be located no closer
than 10 feet to a street right-of-way or adjoining property line,
and shall not create a visibility hazard for motorists.
C.Â
Signs for professional offices, as specified in Subsection B above. If the offices are on the second or greater floor above the retail occupants, then no exterior facade-mounted signs are permitted. All office tenants shall be contained on lobby directory signs.
D.Â
Banks shall be permitted one facade sign, as specified in Subsection A above. In addition, a separate facade sign, not to exceed 24 square feet, shall be permitted as part of a wall-mounted money access machine.
E.Â
The building address number shall be clearly shown
on each building.
F.Â
A master sign program shall be submitted, showing
proposed color combinations, locations and sizes of all signs.
The following sign regulations shall apply in
the HC Highway Commercial District:
B.Â
For all other uses, as specified in § 285-230, except that freestanding signs in the HC zone shall be permitted up to 50 square feet in area on each side.
[Amended 3-16-2012 by Ord. No. 3-2012]
C.Â
Up to two facade signs shall be permitted within the HC zone, provided the combined sign area does not exceed the sign area as specified in § 285-230A.
[Amended 3-16-2012 by Ord. No. 3-2012]
D.Â
Building address numbers shall be clearly shown on
each building.
E.Â
All signs shall adhere to the provisions of § 285-230A(3).
F.Â
Motor vehicle sales agencies shall be permitted freestanding
signs indicating "Parts," "Service" and "Customer Parking." Such freestanding
signs shall not exceed 15 square feet in size, shall not be higher
than six feet, and shall be located internally within the project
and not along the public street.
G.Â
Gasoline filling stations shall be limited to the
following signs:
(1)Â
One freestanding sign, which shall be a combination
identification and price sign. The total sign square footage shall
not exceed 50 square feet. The maximum width of the sign may not exceed
eight feet, nor may the sign exceed 15 feet in height.
(2)Â
One facade sign on the face of the building indicating
the identification name, food services, or a combination of both.
Such sign shall not exceed 10 feet in length nor shall the sign letters
exceed three feet in height.
(3)Â
If there is a canopy, two sides of the canopy may
contain identification signs. Such signs shall not exceed eight feet
in length nor shall the letters exceed two feet in height. Two project
logos may be included on the canopy in addition to the identification
signs.
(4)Â
No more than three service bay banner signs, which
shall be located on the facade of individual service bays. These signs
shall advertise auto service only and not food or drink.
H.Â
A master sign program shall be submitted showing color
combinations, locations and sizes of all signs.
I.Â
LED (light-emitting diode) or LCD (liquid-crystal
display) digital message boards, illuminated and changeable message
signs, shall be permitted in Highway Commercial Districts. The LED
(light-emitting diode) or LCD (liquid-crystal display) digital message
boards shall comply with all other requirements and permits and shall
not have any scrolling message but allow for digital, changeable copy.
[Added 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 25-2008]
J.Â
Notwithstanding
any other provision in this section, businesses shall be permitted
one freestanding sign for each road fronting on the project.
[Added 3-16-2012 by Ord. No. 3-2012]
The following sign regulations shall apply in
the SC Shopping Center District:
B.Â
Each shopping center may be permitted one freestanding
sign for each major road fronting on the project.
C.Â
No freestanding sign shall exceed 25 feet in height
nor 64 square feet in size.
D.Â
A master sign program shall be submitted showing proposed
color combinations, locations and sizes of all signs.
The following sign regulations shall apply in
the CI Commercial Industrial, PI Planned Industrial, O-1 Office Residential
and O-2 Office Districts:
C.Â
For all other uses in the CI Commercial Industrial
and PI Planned Industrial Districts, signs as follows:
(1)Â
For all projects, a master sign program shall be submitted
for review and approval. The master sign program shall show the proposed
color combinations, location and sizes of all signs.
(2)Â
If two or more buildings are proposed in a project,
the overall project shall be permitted freestanding project identification
signs, one along each existing perimeter street or highway. These
signs shall identify only the name and logo of the entire project.
They shall be monument based and ground-mounted horizontally, and
shall not be raised in the air on poles. They shall not be greater
than 10 feet long and six feet high.
(3)Â
Each office building, hotel and industrial building
shall be permitted one freestanding sign indicating either the name
and logo of the building, the address of the building or both. These
signs shall be located where they are visible from the adjacent street.
They shall be monument based and ground-mounted horizontally, and
shall not be raised in the air on poles. They shall not be greater
than 12 feet long by three feet high, or four feet long by six feet
high.
(4)Â
Each office building and industrial building shall
be permitted one or more tenant directory signs for multi-occupied
buildings. These signs shall be located within the parking lot near
the vehicular access points. These signs shall be monument based and
ground-mounted horizontally, and shall not be raised in the air on
poles. These signs may list the occupants of the building and suite
numbers. Such signs shall not be greater than 3 1/2 feet in height
by 4 1/2 feet in length, or three feet in length by six feet in height.
(5)Â
Each tenant in a multi-occupied office or industrial
building shall be permitted a wall-mounted sign next to the exterior
entry doors listing the occupant's name, suite number and logo. These
signs shall not be greater than 12 inches by 12 inches. These signs
may also be painted on entry doors.
(6)Â
Each office building, hotel and industrial building
may be permitted one facade sign on the face of the building indicating
the name and logo of the building. If the building name is the same
as a tenant, then that tenant must occupy at least 60% of the rentable
area of the building. These signs and logos shall be individual channel
letters, not exceeding 30 inches in height. The length may vary according
to the number of letters and logo necessary to spell the complete
name.
The following sign regulations shall apply in
the CR Commercial Recreation District:
B.Â
A building facade sign is permitted, as specified in § 285-233C(6).
A.Â
The Planning Board may permit, at selected locations,
welcome signs identifying projects and service organizations located
in the Township.
B.Â
The size of each welcome sign shall not exceed 32
square feet, and shall be constructed in accordance with the model
sign on file in the office of the Planning Board Secretary.
C.Â
Within the permitted sign area, the Planning Board
may approve any combination of project identification and service
organization lettering.
D.Â
A uniform color combination, as approved by the Planning
Board, shall be used for the entire sign. Deletions and additions
shall conform to the original color specifications, which shall be
on file with the Planning Board.
[Added 11-22-1999 by Ord. No. 29-1999]
The following signage as regards the use of
premises within the zone by a health care system shall apply:
A.Â
One freestanding sign (monuments preferred) is permitted
at each road entry/curb cut. The sign shall not exceed 100 square
feet per side, maximum 10 feet high for monument and 20 feet for pole-mounted,
set back 10 feet from the property line.
B.Â
Facade signage on each facade facing a street and
one internal side totaling three facades is permitted to identify
the facility name, not to exceed 10% of the facade face.
C.Â
Emergency room identification and directional signs
shall be permitted in a size acceptable to the Planning Board. "Tower"
structures are permitted four-foot-high letters.
A.Â
Illegal signs. In accordance with the provisions of
this article, it is the intent of these regulations to bring all illegal
signs into conformity with the standards set forth herein. Therefore,
within six months of the effective date[1] of this article, all illegal signs shall either be removed
or brought into conformity with these standards.
[1]
Note: July 3, 1995.
B.Â
Nonconforming signs. All signs which prior to the
adoption of this article received either Planning Board or Zoning
Board approval and are now nonconforming according to the current
sign standards may continue as nonconforming signs without further
alteration.
In order to provide directional assistance to
the public, the construction official is authorized to have installed
at the intersections of state, county and municipal highways within
the Township, and at a charge sufficient to defray the costs thereof,
uniform, ladder-type signs establishing the general direction of geographical
areas, public or semipublic uses, shopping centers, industrial parks
and businesses. Such signs shall be maintained and serviced upon completion
of initial installation by the Department of Municipal Support Services.
The charge for installation of each slat shall be per Township ordinance.
Administrative procedures and sign design for instituting this section
shall be approved by the Township Council, upon recommendation of
the construction official.
Anything to the contrary in this article notwithstanding,
the Township shall have the right to erect any signs needed or required
in connection with the operation of the municipal government, including,
but not limited to, signs to preserve order, protect the public health
and welfare, regulate traffic, identify Township limits, advertise
Township police regulations and advertise Township ordinances.
For all use variances granted, the signs permitted shall be the same as specified for the zoning district where the use is first permitted as a matter of right, except as herein modified. If the use variance is for a property that is contiguous on two or more sides to residential housing or residentially zoned land, then the signs permitted shall be as specified in § 285-228.
A.Â
General regulations.
(1)Â
Every sign permitted by this article must be constructed
of durable materials and must be kept in good condition and repair.
No sign may be injurious to the public interest or endanger the interests
of public safety or morals. If the owner fails to comply with this
section, the Township reserves the right to remove such sign at the
owner's expense.
(2)Â
All unapproved signs shall be removed upon 10 days'
notice, in writing, to the landowner or the lessor or the lessee of
the sign. If the owner fails to comply with this section, the Township
reserves the right to remove such sign at the owner's expense.
(3)Â
No sign shall be erected containing information on
it which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose
not permitted under the provisions of this chapter in the zoning district
in which the property to which the sign relates is located.
(4)Â
Signs within Washington Township shall comply with the requirements
of Section 5 of P.L. 1991, c. 413 (N.J.S.A. 27:5-9) and the Sign Fabrication
Safety Quality Assurance Act [Sections 2 through 7 of P.L. 2019, c.
84 (N.J.S.A. 34:15B-41 to 34:15B-46).]
[Added 9-14-2022 by Ord.
No. 15-2022]
B.Â
Private regulations. Whenever private parties establish
internal sign regulations for private property that are more restrictive
than these regulations, then the more restrictive private sign regulations
shall take precedence over these regulations.
A Sign Review Board may be established, whose
purpose is to determine the appropriateness of signs and to hear disputes
relative to abuses. Members may be appointed from both the Planning
Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
