While signs are recognized as a necessity in that they function
to identify properties, businesses, services, residences, events,
institutions and other matters of interest to the public, it is also
recognized that it is vital to everyone's interest to control and
regulate signs in order to protect the health, safety and welfare
of the community.
A. Signs must not be permitted if they are in any way a hazard to vehicular
or pedestrian traffic, either directly or indirectly, by virtue of
exposing a pedestrian to danger as a result of concealing the presence
of a pedestrian to vehicular traffic.
B. Signs must be regulated so as to minimize their negative impact on
vehicular traffic. They must not cause excessive diversion of a driver's
attention from the safe operation of his or her vehicle. They must
not cause confusion on the part of the vehicle operator, and they
must not constitute any type of obstruction or distraction for the
motoring public.
C. Signs have a direct impact on property values. It is the intent of
these regulations to insure that the impact is positive. A negative
impact would not be in the best interest of the general welfare of
the community.
D. Signs convey the character of an area. It is the intent of these
regulations to maintain signage that is appropriate to the various
districts of the community, including but not limited to residential,
commercial, industrial and recreational.
E. It is the goal of these regulations to enhance the community aesthetics
as a means to promote economic development. A positive visual environment
will promote the economic health of a community which in turn serves
the citizens of the community.
F. A Wisconsin Department of Transportation study found that sideswipe
and rear-end collisions were up as much as 35% where signs with variable
messages showing ads and sports scores were most visible. Signs must
be regulated so as not to cause an increase in traffic accidents.
G. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2006, found
that taking one's eyes off the road for more than two seconds for
any reason not directly related to driving "significantly increased
individual near crash/crash risk." Signs must be regulated so as not
to be so attention-getting (such as signs that are so brightly lit
that their changing messages can be seen from hundreds of feet away)
that they result in drivers being distracted and removing their eyes
from the road for more than two seconds.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
Any sign erected or maintained in Franconia Township after the
effective date of this article shall conform to the following regulations:
A. The maximum height of any sign in any district shall be six feet.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
The following are permitted permanent signs on premises for
residential use and/or in the RR, R-175, R-130, R-100, R-50, MHD,
MRD, OSR and OSR-200 Districts:
A. Identification/address sign: a sign that shows the name of the resident,
the address, the name of the property, the name of a professional
practitioner or any combination thereof. The sign may be two-sided,
with the area of one side not exceeding two square feet. The sign
may be illuminated internally or externally. There shall not be more
than one such sign installed per dwelling. Internally illuminated
signs may be lit by a single lamp with a maximum lumen output equivalent
to a forty-watt incandescent lamp. Externally illuminated signs may
be lit on each side by a single lamp with a maximum lumen output equivalent
to a forty-watt incandescent lamp.
B. Signs addressing trespassing or private ownership. The sign may be
two-sided with the area of one side not exceeding one square foot.
The signs may not be illuminated and they may not be spaced at intervals
of less than 100 feet.
C. Signs for farm stands, provided that the area of one side does not
exceed six square feet, and provided that not more than one such sign
shall be erected on any one street frontage of any property in single
and separate ownership.
D. Signs identifying residential developments shall be permitted subject
to review and approval of the Board of Supervisors as part of the
land development/subdivision process.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
E. A development
sign located at the entrance to a residential development shall be
constructed of masonry or natural materials and shall be externally
illuminated.
[Added 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
The following are permitted temporary signs on premises for
residential use and/or in the RR, R-175, R-130, R-100, R-50, MHD,
MRD, OSR and OSR-200 Districts:
A. Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of premises on which
the sign is erected, provided that the total area of any one side
of such sign on any street frontage of any property in single and
separate ownership shall not exceed six square feet. Real estate signs
shall be removed within 14 days of the date of execution of an agreement
of sale or lease pertaining to the property.
B. Signs for advertising, on the premises, the sale or development of
homes within a subdivision of four or more homes, provided that the
area of any one side of any sign shall not exceed 25 square feet.
C. Temporary signs of contractors, mechanics, and artisans, erected
and maintained on the premises where work is being performed, only
during the period when such work is being performed, provided that
the area of one side of any sign shall not exceed six square feet,
and provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected on
any property in single and separate ownership, and provided that such
sign shall be removed immediately upon completion of the work.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
The following and no other signs are permitted permanent signs
on premises for commercial use in the C and VC Districts:
A. Freestanding or monument signs for Commercial District C:
(1)
One freestanding or monument identification sign per property
per street frontage, a maximum of 40 square feet in area.
(2)
Such signs must be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the curbline
of the street or outer edge of the shoulder and outside the legal
right-of-way of the street.
(3)
The maximum height to the top of a freestanding or monument
sign shall be six feet.
(4)
No portion of any sign shall be erected or maintained within
the clear-sight triangle at any intersection or driveway.
B. Freestanding or monument signs for Commercial District VC:
(1)
One freestanding or monument identification sign per property
per street frontage, a maximum of 20 square feet in area.
(2)
Such signs must be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the curbline
of the street or outer edge of the shoulder and outside the legal
right-of-way of the street.
(3)
The maximum height to the top of a freestanding or monument
sign shall be six feet.
(4)
No portion of any sign shall be erected or maintained within
the clear sight triangle at any intersection or driveway.
C. Commercial Districts C and VC:
(1)
Only one awning sign or parallel wall sign or permanent window
sign may be placed on the side of a building which faces a street.
The sign shall not exceed 40 square feet in area.
(2)
Projecting signs may be placed on the side or front of a building
which faces a street and shall not exceed 40 square feet. The sign
shall project no more than seven feet from the building wall; the
outermost portion shall be no closer than five feet to the curbline
or shoulder of a public street or parking area; there shall be a minimum
clearance of 10 feet between the bottom of the sign and a public sidewalk
or walkway. In multitenant buildings each tenant shall be permitted
to have one such sign.
(3)
The base of all freestanding or monument signs associated with
a commercial use shall be constructed of brick, stone, or concrete
which is formed to have a masonry unit or brick appearance. If the
primary building features brick, stone, or concrete which is formed
to have a masonry unit or brick appearance, the material used on the
base of the sign shall match or be complimentary to the building material
used on the primary structure.
[Added 1-20-2020 by Ord.
No. 409]
The following are permitted temporary signs on premises for
Commercial Districts C and VC:
A. Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of premises on which
the sign is erected, provided that the total area of any one side
of such sign on any street frontage of any property in single and
separate ownership shall not exceed 12 square feet. Real estate signs
shall be removed within 14 days of the date of execution of an agreement
of sale or lease pertaining to the property.
B. Temporary signs of contractors, mechanics, and artisans, erected
and maintained on the premises where work is being performed, only
during the period when such work is being performed, provided that
the area of one side of any sign shall not exceed six square feet,
and provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected on
any property in single and separate ownership, and provided that such
sign shall be removed immediately upon completion of the work.
The following are permitted permanent signs on premises for
the LI Industrial District:
A. Freestanding or monument signs.
(1)
Industrial parks.
(a)
Industrial parks shall be permitted to have one freestanding
or monument sign per street frontage, identifying the business or
owner, plus tenant names, sized as follows:
[1]
One to two tenants: 40 square feet;
[2]
Three to four tenants: 60 square feet;
[3]
Five or more tenants: 80 square feet.
(b)
Forty percent shall be devoted to the business, owner or center
name; 60% shall be devoted to tenant names.
(2)
Such signs must be set back a minimum of 30 feet from the curbline
of the frontage street or outer edge of the shoulder and outside the
legal right-of-way.
(3)
The maximum height to the top of a freestanding or monument
sign shall be six feet.
(4)
No portion of any sign shall be erected or maintained within
the clear-sight triangle at any intersection or driveway.
B. Business identification signs. Parallel wall signs may be placed
on each side of a building which faces a street on the same property
and shall not exceed 40 square feet. In multitenant buildings each
tenant shall be permitted to have one such sign.
The following are permitted temporary signs on premises for
the LI Industrial District:
A. Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of premises on which
the sign is erected, provided that the total area of any one side
of such sign on any street frontage of any property in single and
separate ownership shall not exceed 12 square feet for properties
carried by a single broker. Real estate signs shall be removed within
14 days of the date of execution of an agreement of sale or lease
pertaining to the property.
B. Temporary signs of contractors, mechanics, and artisans, erected
and maintained on the premises where work is being performed, only
during the period when such work is being performed, provided that
the area of one side of any sign shall not exceed six square feet,
and provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected on
any property in single and separate ownership, and provided that such
sign shall be removed immediately upon completion of the work.
The following are permitted permanent signs on premises for
the IN Institutional District:
A. Signs for an institutional use on the same lot therewith, for the
purpose of displaying the name of the institution and its activities
and/or services:
(1)
One freestanding or monument identification sign, a maximum
of 40 square feet in area, per street frontage.
(2)
Such signs must be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the curbline
of the frontage street or outer edge of the shoulder and outside the
legal right-of-way.
(3)
The maximum height to the top of a freestanding or monument
sign shall be six feet.
(4)
No portion of any sign shall be erected or maintained within
the clear sight triangle at any intersection or driveway.
B. Each building shall be permitted to have a sign identifying the name,
use or purpose of said building, provided that the total area of any
one side of such sign shall not exceed 10 square feet.
The following are permitted temporary signs on premises for
the IN Institutional District:
A. Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of premises on which
the sign is erected, provided that the total area of any one side
of such sign on any street frontage of any property in single and
separate ownership shall not exceed six square feet for properties
carried by a single broker. Real estate signs shall be removed within
14 days of the date of execution of an agreement of sale or lease
pertaining to the property.
B. Temporary signs of contractors, mechanics, and artisans, erected
and maintained on the premises where work is being performed, only
during the period when such work is being performed, provided that
the area of one side of any sign shall not exceed eight square feet,
and provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected on
any property in single and separate ownership, and provided that such
sign shall be removed immediately upon completion of the work.
The following are permitted permanent signs on premises for
the RE Recreation - Open Space District:
A. One nonilluminated identification sign not exceeding 20 square feet
in area for each use permitted.
B. Other directional or historical signs approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The following are signs permitted in all districts:
A. Interior directional signs with a maximum area of four square feet
per side and a maximum height of three feet. Minimum setbacks shall
be:
(1)
Fifty feet from the curb line or pavement of any street;
(2)
Five feet from the edge of the pavement of a driveway within
the lot;
(3)
Ten feet from any lot line.
B. Incidental signs to control traffic (speed limit, one way, stop,
do not enter, etc.) and to identify crosswalks, bus stops, and fire
lanes, with a maximum area of six square feet and a maximum height
of six feet. Signs must meet traffic safety standards based on the
evaluation of the Township Engineer.
C. The supports of every freestanding or monument sign shall be designed
so as to obscure the bare pole or other support by the use of architectural
features such as masonry or other covering of such bare pole or other
sign supports.
[Added 1-20-2020 by Ord.
No. 409]
In all districts the following general sign regulations shall
apply:
A. No sign shall endanger traffic on a street by obscuring a clear view
or by confusion with official street signs or signals, by virtue of
position, color, design, sound or light.
B. Prohibited signs. The following types of signs or illumination of
signs shall be prohibited in the Township:
(3)
Flashing, blinking, interactive, intermittently lighted, moving
or reflective signs or electronically changing message signs including
pulsating, moving, and scrolling messages and those that indicate
time and temperature. This restriction specifically includes window
signs and signs that give the appearance of any of the above. This
shall not prohibit standard holiday lighting or displays.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
(4)
Illuminated temporary signs.
(6)
Revolving, changing or rotating signs that change copy more
often than once every three minutes or do not change instantaneously.
Barber poles shall be exempt.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
(8)
Trailer signs, including commercial vehicles parked on public
rights-of-way, public property or private property or in the same
vicinity within view of a public street for 14 consecutive days, when
using the trailer and/or signs for purposes of advertising an establishment,
service or product or directing people to a business or activity located
on the same or nearby property. Construction trailers are exempt from
these provisions.
(9)
Vehicular signs, including commercial vehicles parked on public
rights-of-way, public property or private property within view of
a public street for 14 consecutive days, when using the vehicle and/or
signs for purposes of advertising an establishment, service or product
or directing people to a business or activity located on the same
or nearby property.
(10)
Tacking, pasting or otherwise affixing of signs or posters on
buildings, barns, sheds, trailers, trees, poles, posts, vehicles,
walls, fences or any other structure on a property, excluding "no
trespassing," "no hunting," and "beware of animal" warnings or other
legal postings as required by law.
(11)
Signs that transmit excessive emissions, such as light, sound,
odors, vapors or particles.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
(12)
String lights, other than holiday decorations.
(13)
Searchlights, floodlights and lasers.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
(16)
Balloons or other inflatable figures.
(17)
Banners, spinners, flags, streamers, pennants or any moving
object used for commercial advertising purpose whether containing
a message or not, except for a special event regulated herein.
[Added 1-20-2020 by Ord.
No. 409]
(18)
Message center signs (electronically programed signs using alpha-numeric
symbols, such as gas sign display) and digital displays (internally
illuminated signs with electronic images which can change and can
include text, such as LCD, LED screens, plasma screens).
[Added 1-20-2020 by Ord.
No. 409]
C. No sign, other than official street signs, shall be erected or maintained
within the street right-of-way.
D. No sign shall project more than 24 inches over a public walkway,
and the lower edge of such projecting sign shall not be less than
10 feet above the walk level.
E. No temporary or permanent signs shall be erected on Township property
other than official identification or directional signs unless authorized
by the Township.
F. Every sign permitted in this chapter shall be constructed of durable
materials and shall be maintained in good condition and repair at
all times.
[Amended 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 409]
G. Special event signs, banners, portable signs or commemorative flags
announcing a grand opening, going-out-of-business sale or other special
event shall comply with the following standards:
(1)
The area of the special event sign, banner, portable sign or
commemorative flag shall not exceed 25 square feet.
(2)
The property or business shall display only one special event
sign, banner, portable sign or commemorative flag at any one time.
(3)
A special event sign, banner or commemorative flag for a business
shall be displayed no more than four times during the calendar year
for periods of time not exceeding 14 calendar days. Portable signs
may be displayed only once during the calendar year for a period of
time not exceeding 14 calendar days.
(4)
Special event signs or banners for public or quasi-public events
by nonprofit organizations recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
or sponsored by a political subdivision or agency thereof shall comply
with the following standards:
(a)
Such banners shall be affixed to a building or some other appropriate
sturdy structure.
(b)
The permanent size of any street banner shall be determined
on a case-by-case basis by the Zoning Officer.
(c)
If the banner is to be strung across a state-owned road, the
sponsoring organization must comply with policies of the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation as detailed in Franconia Township Resolution
No. 02-18-23-07 and any other resolution hereafter.
(d)
All special event signs or banners shall be installed under
the supervision and control of the Township.
(e)
Signs or banners shall be displayed for a period not to exceed
21 days and must be removed within five days after the ending date
of the event.
(5)
A maximum of two off-premises directional signs, not exceeding
six square feet in area and six feet in height, shall be permitted
for any special event, provided that permission has been obtained
from the property owner where the sign is to be placed.
H. The following signs do not require a permit, provided they adhere
to the requirements of this chapter:
(1)
Temporary signs, as follows:
(a)
Political signs erected solely for and pertaining to a public
election, subject to the following restrictions:
[1] Said signs shall not be erected more than 30 days
prior to any primary, general or runoff election to which the sign
pertains.
[2] Said signs shall be removed within five days after
the primary, general or runoff election to which the sign pertains.
[3] Signs shall not exceed four square feet.
(b)
Garage/yard sale signs, provided that said signs shall be placed
no more than 48 hours before the sale and must be removed before the
end of the day of the sale.
(2)
Nameplate, street and address and "welcome" signs not exceeding
two square feet in area.
(3)
Warning, security and directional signs for parking, etc.
(4)
Government signs, such as flags, insignia or legal notices.
(5)
Informational or directional signs not exceeding two square
feet.
(6)
Official street signs, traffic signs and any signs required
by law.
(7)
Signs in connection with the identification, operation or protection
of any public utility or municipal activity.
(8)
Trespassing signs and signs indicating private ownership of
roadways or other property not exceeding two square feet each.
(9)
"No hunting" signs on private property not exceeding two square
feet each.
(10)
Property security signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
I. The power to all illuminated signs shall be turned off no later than
12:00 midnight prevailing time and shall remain off the balance of
the night.
[Added 1-20-2020 by Ord.
No. 409]
A. Upon written notice by the Township, the owner, person, or entity
maintaining a sign shall remove a sign when it becomes unsafe, is
in danger of falling, becomes so deteriorated that it no longer serves
a useful purpose of communication, or is determined by Township to
be a nuisance, unsafe, or having been unlawfully erected in violation
of any of the provisions of this article. Removal of an abandoned
sign shall include the removal of the entire sign including the sign
face, supporting structure, and structural trim.
B. The Township may remove or cause to be removed the sign at the expense
of the property owner upon failure to comply with the terms of the
notice within 30 days of the date of the notice. In the event of immediate
danger, the Township may remove the sign immediately upon the issuance
of notice to the owner, person, or entity maintaining the sign.