This chapter shall apply to all persons, firms, partnerships,
associations and corporations owning, occupying or having control
or management of any premises located within the Charter Township
of Northville.
The intent of this chapter is to regulate outdoor advertising
and all signs within the Township. These regulations are intended
to enhance the physical appearance of the Township, to preserve scenic
and natural beauty, and to create an attractive economic and business
climate. The following objectives are accomplished by establishing
the minimum amount of regulation necessary regarding the size, placement,
construction, illumination and other sign aspects in order to:
A. Recognize the proliferation of signs is unduly distracting to motorists
and nonmotorized travelers, reduces the effectiveness of signs directing
and warning the public, causes confusion, reduces desired uniform
traffic flow and creates potential for accidents.
B. Eliminate potential conflicts between business signs and traffic
control signs, which could create confusion and hazardous consequences.
C. Recognize the principal intent of commercial signs is for identification
of an establishment on the premises, not for advertising special events,
brand names or off-premises activities.
D. Enable the public to locate goods, services and facilities without
excessive confusion by restricting the number and placement of signs.
E. Prevent placement of signs which will conceal or obscure signs of
adjacent uses.
F. Protect the public right to receive messages, especially noncommercial
messages such as religious, political, economic, social, philosophical
and other types of information protected by the First Amendment of
the U.S. Constitution.
G. Prevent off-premises signs from conflicting with land uses.
H. Maintain and improve the image of the Township by encouraging signs
of consistent size which are complementary to related buildings and
uses and are harmonious with their surroundings.
I. Prevent signs that are potentially dangerous to the public due to
structural deficiencies or disrepair.
J. Prohibit certain types of signs due to the negative impact on traffic
safety and aesthetics.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
ABANDONED SIGN
An obsolete sign that exists for a period of 180 consecutive
days.
AWNING/CANOPY SIGN
A nonrigid fabric, Plexiglas or similar material attached
to a building by a supporting framework, and includes a business identification
message, symbol and/or logo.
BANNER
A piece of cloth, canvas, plastic or other nonrigid material
used to display any words, numerals, figures, devices, designs, artwork,
graphics or trademarks used to convey a message or attract attention
to an individual firm, profession, business, product or message and
is visible to the general public.
BUILDING FRONTAGE
When used to determine the permitted area of a sign, the
length of the building on which the sign will be located, or amount
of the facade occupied by a tenant, as measured parallel to the ground.
Recessed or projecting building elements shall not constitute the
building frontage.
CONSTRUCTION/MARKETING SIGN
A temporary ground or wall sign listing the name of the project,
developer, contractors, engineer or architects and located on a site
being developed.
FACADE
The exterior walls of a building exposed to public view.
FESTOON SIGN
A sign where incandescent light bulbs, banners, pennants
or other such features are hung overhead and are not an integral,
physical part of the building or structure they are intended to serve.
FLASHING, ANIMATED OR MOVING SIGNS
A sign that intermittently reflects lights from an artificial
source, or the sun; a sign which has movement of any illumination
such as intermittent, flashing, scintillating or varying intensity;
a sign that has any visible motion caused by either artificial or
natural sources.
GROUND SIGN
A freestanding sign, not attached to any building, supported
by more than one brace or a single base.
HOME OCCUPATION SIGN
A sign used to advertise an occupation customarily conducted
in a dwelling unit that is clearly an incidental and secondary use
of a residential dwelling.
INFLATABLE SIGN
A sign that is expanded to its full dimension or supported
by gases contained within the sign or sign parts, at a pressure greater
than the atmospheric pressure.
MARQUEE SIGN
A sign which is attached to or hung from a rooflike structure
and projects over a building entrance. A canopy or awning sign shall
not be considered a marquee sign.
NATURAL MATERIALS
For the purpose of this chapter, substances determined to
be natural materials include, but are not limited to, wood, stone
and brick. Plywood, pressed board, drywall, concrete block, poured
concrete, wood or metal paneling, steel, aluminum or alloys thereof,
sheet metal, or similar substances synthetically created in a manufacturing
process are generally excluded by this definition, although consideration
will be given to synthetic materials which simulate the appearance
of natural materials through the manufacturing process and meet the
intent of this chapter.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected
and maintained prior to the effective date of this chapter, and any
amendments thereto, and fails to conform to all applicable regulations
and restrictions of this chapter.
OBSOLETE SIGN
A sign which does not meet the provisions of this chapter
or does not identify or advertise a bona fide business, tenant, owner,
activity conducted or product available on the premises where the
sign is displayed.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which is not accessory to the principal use of the
premises.
PAINTED WALL SIGN
A sign, containing any words, numeral, figures, devices,
designs, artwork, graphics or trademarks, painted directly on any
outside wall, roof or glass surface of any building.
POLE (PYLON) SIGN
A sign located in the ground and having at least 10 feet
between the bottom of the sign face and the established grade.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign which is not permanently affixed to a building,
structure or the ground, including, but not limited to, sandwich board
signs, A-frame signs, inverted "T" signs and signs attached to a mobile
vehicle or person. This does not include temporary, real estate, construction,
and similar signs defined herein.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign attached to a building or other structure and extending
more than 12 inches beyond the building line or extending into the
right-of-way.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A temporary sign placed on the premises of a residential
or nonresidential development to indicate a proposed project or information
relative to availability.
REGULATORY SIGN
A sign that complies with the Michigan Manual of Uniform
Traffic Control Devices to direct traffic flow, regulate traffic operations
and provide information.
RESIDENTIAL ENTRY SIGN
A sign located on a major thoroughfare and serving as the
entrance marker to a residential development.
SIGN
Any words, numerals, figures, devices, designs, artwork,
graphics or trademarks used to convey a message or attract attention
to an individual firm, profession, business, product or message and
is visible to the general public.
SIGN AREA
Measured as the total area of a sign included within the
rectangle caused by encompassing the outermost edges of letters or
symbols and including the area within any illuminated border.
SNIPE SIGN
A sign with advertising that is not applicable to the present
use of the premises upon which the sign is located, such as a sign
tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or otherwise attached to the
ground, trees, poles, stakes, or fences or to other objects.
SWINGING SIGN
A sign that is not rigidly attached to an arm, mast, spar
or building overhang.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign with or without letters or numerals such as marketing
signs, construction signs, signs related to an election or to identify
seasonal events, public and semipublic functions.
VEHICLE SIGN
A sign that is painted or attached to a vehicle, trailer
or other similar device and parked or placed primarily for advertising
purposes.
WALL SIGN
A sign erected or fastened to the wall of a building and
having the exposed face of the sign parallel to the plane of the wall;
not extending more than 12 inches beyond the surface of the portion
of the building wall on which it is erected or fastened.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign or display that is visible from the exterior of
any building window.
WINDOW SIGN, TEMPORARY
Any sign which is not permanently applied, affixed or attached
to the interior or exterior of any building window and is constructed
of lightweight cardboard, cloth, plastic or paper materials and intended
to be displayed for special events, sales and notices.
The following nonilluminated signs shall be permitted in all
sign districts without obtaining a permit prior to installation:
A. Regulatory and street signs.
B. Decorative displays for holidays, public demonstrations, promotions,
civic welfare or charitable purposes when authorized by the Township
Board, provided that the display does not contain any advertising
material.
C. Name plates or directory signs, defined as a sign located at the
pedestrian entry of a building listing occupants and tenants inside
a building or the address, provided that:
(1) Signs are limited to one per building unless the building has more
than one entrance or direct frontage on more than one public thoroughfare,
in which case two signs are permitted.
(2) Signs shall not be larger than two square feet in area.
(3) For developments with multiple buildings, the style of the name plate
or directory sign shall be consistent.
(4) See Chapter
60 of the Northville Charter Township Code of Ordinances, Buildings, Numbering of.
D. Municipal signs installed or approved by the Township Board. This
may include legal notices, emergency signs, special events or other
signs sanctioned by the Township.
E. Flags bearing the official design of the United States, State of
Michigan, a public educational institution, or official design of
a corporation or award flags provided:
(1) No more than three different flags are permitted on any single lot
of record.
(2) In Sign Districts C, E and all other areas not identified below,
flags are limited to a maximum size of 40 square feet and flagpoles
are limited to 30 feet tall.
(3) In Sign Districts A, B and D, flags are limited to a maximum size
of 60 square feet, and flagpoles are limited to 35 feet tall.
F. Flags to market new developments, or homes within residential districts,
shall not contain any advertisement, names of individual firms, builders,
etc., but may state "open," "model" or other similar message. Such
flags shall be limited to two per driveway or development entrance
and may only be displayed during business hours.
G. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection
when signs are cut into a masonry surface or constructed of bronze
or other noncombustible material.
H. Institutional bulletin boards used to display the name and announcements
of a religious institution, school, library, community center or similar
institutions, provided that:
(1) Total sign area is less than 16 square feet.
(2) The sign is located at least 20 feet from any property line or right-of-way.
I. Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of the property
in residential districts provided that:
(1) The sign is located on the lot or in front of the unit for sale.
(3) The sign shall not exceed six square feet in area.
(4) The sign shall be placed at least 10 feet from the edge of the road
right-of-way or easement.
(5) Signs shall be removed within seven days after the property has been
sold, rented or leased.
(6) For signs advertising the general availability of units for sale,
rent or lease within multiple-family development projects, signs advertising
such may be added to the approved ground/entrance sign as a changeable
message, provided that the following standards are met:
(a)
The changeable message component of the sign must be complementary,
in terms of materials and color, to the ground sign upon which it
is attached.
(b)
The sign may not be internally illuminated.
(c)
The sign shall not occupy more than 10% of the permanent sign
area.
(d)
The area devoted to the changeable message component may be
in addition to the allowable sign area.
(7) Temporary signs for the purpose of advertising residential open houses,
provided that the following standards are met:
(a)
Sign area shall not exceed six feet in area.
(b)
Signs shall be located outside of the public right-of-way or
easement and shall not create a traffic hazard to motorists or pedestrians.
(c)
Signs are permitted for one day.
J. Informational signs, attached to a building and of a size and scale
intended to be viewed by pedestrians, such as but not limited to menus,
hours of operation, etc., provided that:
(2) Signs are limited to eight square feet in area.
(3) Signs shall not exceed six feet in height.
K. Garage sale signs in residential districts, provided that:
(1) Signs are permitted for a maximum of three days.
(2) Sign area shall not exceed a total of six square feet.
(3) Signs shall be located outside of the public right-of-way or easement
and shall not create a traffic hazard to motorists or pedestrians.
L. Temporary now-hiring signs for new businesses, provided that:
(1) Sign area complies with the sign area permitted for the sign district.
(2) Signs are not erected more than 60 days before the store is opened
and removed seven days after the store opening.
(3) Signs are located on the inside of the window.
M. Temporary signs related to an election, to identify seasonal events
or civic functions, provided that:
(1) Signs shall not be placed more than 60 days before the event or cause
it advertises or supports and must be removed seven days after the
event advertised or supported has occurred.
(2) Signs shall not be located within a public right-of-way.
(3) In Sign Zones A, B, C, D and E, the sign shall not exceed 16 square
feet in area or four feet in height.
(4) In all other sign zones, the sign shall not exceed six square feet
in area or 2 1/2 feet in height.
NOTE: The standards for signs in any district are located in §
145-6.
If, at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter,
a lawful sign exists that is made no longer permissible under the
terms of this chapter as enacted or amended, such signs may be retained
in use, so long as it remains otherwise lawful. Nothing in this chapter
shall be deemed to prevent the normal maintenance or repair of a nonconforming
sign. A nonconforming sign:
A. Shall not be changed to another type of sign which is not in compliance
with this chapter.
B. Shall not be structurally altered in any way so as to prolong the
life of the sign or to change the shape, size, type, face or design
of the sign.
C. Shall not be reestablished after the sign becomes an abandoned sign.
D. Shall not be reestablished after damage or destruction if the estimated
expense of reconstruction exceeds 50% of the appraised replacement
cost, as determined by the Chief Building Official.