[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Mount Pleasant 10-8-1985.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town Board recognizes the necessity both to preserve the character
of the town and to maintain the town's appearance at the highest level.
The Board further recognizes that lack of propriety or inconsistencies in
the design of signs would adversely affect the desirability of the immediate
area as well as surrounding areas. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter
is to control or otherwise regulate the installation, erection and maintenance
of all signs defined below within the Town of Mount Pleasant.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any framework, painting, drawing, printing or other configuration
which is constructed or affixed upon the exterior of any building or structure
or when placed within the interior of any building or structure can be easily
viewed from the outside or a freestanding framework, whether permanent or
temporary in nature, purporting to indicate the nature of, name of or publicize
any service, any organization, any commercial or industrial enterprise or
any product which is or may be located, sold or made upon the premises.
No sign shall be constructed except as provided in this chapter.
A.
No sign shall be erected on any property unless a permit
has first been obtained from the Building Department as may be required by
the provisions of this chapter.
B.
Any sign shall conform to a specific color and shape
as determined by the Advisory Board on Architecture and Community Appearance.
The applicant shall, upon applying for a permit, submit a rendering of the
sign to the Advisory Board on Architecture and Community Appearance, which
shall include the size, shape, materials used and color scheme of the sign.
C.
No application for a sign permit shall be processed unless
the occupant for whom such sign is intended and the owner of the premises
shall join therein. Such application shall be made in writing upon forms provided
by the Building Department of the Town of Mount Pleasant. When filing the
application, the applicant shall pay the required fee in accordance with the
fee schedule then in effect.
D.
No sign for which a permit has been granted hereunder
shall be moved, modified or otherwise reconstructed without a new permit issued
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
E.
All applications for a permit to erect a sign shall be
made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Before granting the
permit, the Building Inspector, in addition to the standards set forth in
this chapter. shall determine that the proposed sign:
F.
After the installation or erection of a sign, the applicant
shall file with the Building Department a photographic print, in color, with
the negative of the sign as completely installed.
A.
No sign shall be erected which does not relate to a use
located on the property unless a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals
is granted after a public hearing thereon.
C.
No part of any sign shall contain banners, posters, ribbons,
streamers, spinners or other similar moving, fluttering, revolving, flashing
or any animated devices, except that trademarks shall be permitted, provided
that such are made part of a permitted sign and the area thereof is included
in calculating the total permitted sign area allowed under this chapter.
D.
The illumination of any sign shall be arranged to protect
public streets adjoining or nearby property from direct glare, nuisance or
hazardous interferences therewith. All illuminated signs shall bear the Underwriter's
label.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to safety
signs, road signs, historical markers and highway directional signs erected
by municipal or public agencies.
B.
Traffic directional signs not exceeding three square
feet in size shall be permitted on private property without a permit, provided
that such signs shall conform to the provisions of this chapter relating to
illuminations and shall not cause interference with traffic on public highways.
All nonconforming signs legally existing at the time of the adoption
of this chapter shall be allowed to continue in their existing condition.
However, should any such sign be altered in any manner, then the provisions
of this chapter shall apply.
A.
Residential districts.
(1)
For single-family or two-family dwellings, a sign not
exceeding two square feet indicating only the name and address of occupant
and a permitted accessory use shall be allowed. Such sign may be attached
to a principal building or may be on a separate support, but in either case
shall not project more than eight feet in height above grade, shall not be
nearer than 10 feet to any lot line and shall not be illuminated except indirectly.
A permit shall not be required for this type of sign.
(2)
For multiple dwellings, one sign not exceeding two square
feet in area for each building and indicating only the street address shall
be allowed. Such sign shall attach to and be parallel to the building, shall
not project more than eight feet in height above grade and shall not be illuminated
except indirectly.
(3)
For multiple-dwelling projects or other residential developments,
one sign not exceeding 25 square feet in area indicating only the name of
the project or development shall be permitted for each of such. Such sign
shall not project more than eight feet above grade, shall not be closer than
10 feet to any lot line and shall not be illuminated except indirectly.
(4)
For a convalescent or nursing home, one sign not exceeding
four square feet in area, non-flashing and not lighted by exposed tubes, bulbs
or other exposed light sources, announcing the name of the convalescent or
nursing home, may be permitted facing each public street.
(5)
For a hospital or sanatorium, one sign not exceeding
20 square feet in area, not flashing and not lighted by exposed tubes, bulbs
or other exposed light sources, announcing the name of the hospital may be
permitted facing each public street.
(6)
For a farm, no sign other than one facing each public
street, announcing the name of the farm and having a total sign area of no
more than six square feet, shall be permitted.
(7)
For public utility substations, there shall be no signs
other than one facing each public street announcing the name or insignia,
or both, of the company established on the site. Such a sign shall not exceed
15 square feet in area and shall not extend above the roof or coping of any
building. The sign shall not be illuminated by exposed tubes, bulbs or similar
exposed light sources. Necessary small direction signs shall be permitted.
(8)
For motels:
(a)
No sign shall be greater than 50 square feet in area.
No more than one such sign shall be located on the site, except that an accessory
restaurant, coffee shop or cafeteria may have one additional sign, but no
such additional sign shall be greater than 25 square feet in area. Necessary
small direction signs shall be permitted.
(b)
Signs shall be erected on separate frameworks and shall
comply with all regulations applicable to the height and location of buildings
and structures, except that signs may be erected to within 25 feet of the
street line.
(c)
In addition to the signs permitted above, the Board of
Appeals may permit one additional sign, not exceeding 50 square feet in area,
located on a wall, roof or chimney of a permitted principal building, provided
that such sign shall not extend more than five feet above the level of the
roof. A lighted sign shall be so located and designed that it is not visible
from any contiguous residence district if within 750 feet thereof, and an
unlighted sign shall be so located and designed that it is not visible from
any contiguous residence district if within 250 feet thereof. The additional
sign may be permitted by the Board only if it can be clearly demonstrated
that other permitted signs would not be satisfactory in bringing the presence
of the motel to the attention of traffic on the principal roads from which
the motel's clients would come and provided that such additional sign
would be in general harmony with the district.
(d)
No sign shall be erected which would be a nuisance to
adjacent residential property, schools or parks. No sign shall be of the flashing
type or be illuminated by exposed tubes, bulbs or similar exposed light sources.
(9)
For a church or other permitted institution, club or
permitted principal use other than dwellings not listed heretofore, one sign
not exceeding 20 square feet in area shall be permitted. Such sign shall not
be nearer to any lot lines less than 1/2 the required front setback of 20
feet, whichever is greater, shall not project more than eight feet in height
above grade and shall not be illuminated except indirectly.
(10)
Temporary signs used in connection with the sale, rental
or improvement of real property. These signs shall be located on the premises
to be sold, rented or improved, shall not exceed, in the case of the sale,
rental or improvement of a one- or two-family house or multiple dwelling or
commercial building, nine square feet. In the case of a residential or commercial
development, said signs shall not exceed one sign of 32 square feet at maximum
size or two signs of 16 square feet at a maximum size for each development.
For the purpose thereof, a residential subdivision shall be considered a single
development. Such signs shall not be illuminated except indirectly and may
be erected and installed only after a permit shall have been obtained from
the Building Department. The permit shall be valid for a period of 12 months
and may be renewed. The signs shall be removed within 48 hours after the time
of the sale or rental or completion of the improvement.
(11)
Any signs placed or in connection with a commercial or
industrial use, including the sale of farm products, conducted in a residential
district shall be subject to the provisions hereof relating to signs in commercial
and industrial districts, but this shall not be construed to permit any use
which would otherwise be prohibited under this chapter.
B.
Commercial and industrial districts.
(1)
The following signs may be erected after obtaining a
permit from the Building Department:
(a)
A single non-flashing sign pertaining to a permitted
use and located on the same lot. Such sign shall not have a total sign area
greater than one square foot for each linear foot of building frontage, and
the aggregate area of all such signs erected or placed upon the building or
located on the same lot shall not exceed one square foot in area for each
linear foot of building frontage. The sign shall not extend beyond the top
of any wall of a building on which displayed, shall not be displayed on a
separate structure, shall not project into any required rear or side yard
or into the street right-of-way more than six inches and shall not face any
side or rear line of an adjoining lot in a residential district.
(b)
A single non-flashing sign placed within the interior
of the building to be easily seen from the outside and in area covering no
more than 20% of the aggregate area of the front windows allocated to such
enterprise or in area no greater than one square foot for each linear foot
of building frontage.
(c)
In no case shall the aggregate area of any sign or signs
permitted under Subsection B(l)(a) or (b) exceed 50 square feet.
(d)
Signs of the type called "sandwich signs" or any type
of sidewalk sign shall not be permitted anywhere at the exterior of a building
or business enterprise.
(2)
In shopping plazas, each individual store or other enterprise shall be permitted to have one sign of a type permitted under Subsection B(1)(a), (b) or (c). In addition, the shopping plaza may erect a single freestanding sign not exceeding 60 square feet in area identifying the name of the shopping plaza and a directory of the establishment contained therein. Such sign shall be non-flashing, and light sources in any shall not be exposed. Such sign shall be erected only after a special permit has been obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals. For the purposes of this chapter, a "shopping plaza" shall be defined as any complex constructed and otherwise maintained under the provisions of the Use District designated C-PS (Commercial-Planned Shopping) as set forth in the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Mount Pleasant.[1]
(3)
Gasoline filling stations or service stations shall be permitted no more than two signs, one of which shall be attached to the front and the other to the side of the building. If located on a corner lot, in lieu of one of the signs a freestanding sign not exceeding 20 square feet carrying the logo of the gasoline or oil company may be allowed, upon application to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special permit. These signs, exclusive of the freestanding sign, shall conform to the provisions set forth under Subsection B(1)(a) (b) or (c); provided, however, that the top of the sign shall not be higher than six feet above the roof of the building. Such signs shall conform in all other respects to the provisions of this chapter and shall be erected only after a permit has been obtained from the Building Department, provided that, if such signs are proposed for a new gasoline filling or service station, they shall be installed only after a permit is obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(4)
Accessory signs. Each of the preceding businesses or
enterprises may have the following accessory signs:
(a)
Two signs, each not exceeding six square feet in area,
indicating or calling attention to traffic entrances and exits, provided that,
if illuminated, such illumination shall cease at the close of business hours.
Such signs shall not carry any advertisement, shall not be nearer than six
feet to any lot line and shall not project more than eight feet in height
above grade. All such accessory signs shall require a permit.
(b)
One sign not exceeding two square feet in area, indicating
only the street address of the property. Such sign shall not project more
than eight feet in height above grade and shall not be nearer than 10 feet
to any lot line. A permit shall not be required.
(c)
In gasoline filling service stations or public garages
each fuel pump may carry lettering indicating the brand name and type of fuel
dispensed, provided that the lettering or any device carrying the lettering
does not extend beyond the width or depth of the pump. In addition, each pump
may carry one sign, not to exceed one square foot in size, indicating the
price per gallon of the fuel to be dispensed. The obtaining of a permit is
not required.
(d)
In any use zone designated OBT1 through OB6, and OB-CE,
M1 and M2, at each ingress from a public street a freestanding sign, not exceeding
60 square feet in total area and not more than 10 feet in height nor more
than 10 feet in width, limited to the name of the development and a listing
of the major sections and use areas therein, may be erected; in addition,
a freestanding sign, limited to the dimensions listed in the foregoing, may
be placed in connection with each ingress to provide directions for visitors
to the various businesses or enterprises contained therein. Additional signs
not exceeding 40 square feet in area nor more than seven feet in height or
width may be placed at each ingress to the various sections or use area located
within the site. Each sign shall contain the name of the use area or section
and a listing of the occupants therein. For all nonresidential use areas or
sections at each ingress to a building site, a sign shall not exceed 20 square
feet in area and not more than seven feet in height identifying the occupant
or occupants of the building. Directional signs each not exceeding six square
feet in area and not more than four feet in height may be placed as required
giving the direction to a building, use or group of buildings or parking and
loading areas. Temporary non-illuminated real estate and construction signs
not exceeding 75 square feet in area and 15 feet in height may be placed on
each building site, which signs must be removed from such site no later than
12 months after the issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy. All
signs shall be nonmoving and nonflashing. Light sources, if any, shall not
be exposed. Signs shall not extend above the roof or coping of any building.
There shall be no advertising signs other than one facing each public street
announcing the name or insignia, or both, of the company or companies established
on the site. Such a sign shall not exceed 50 square feet in area and shall
not extend above the roof or coping of any building. Signs shall not be illuminated
by exposed tubes, bulbs or other similar exposed light sources. Necessary
small direction signs shall be permitted in locations approved by the Building
Department.
(5)
One non-illuminated sign, not exceeding 32 square feet
in area, denoting the architect, engineer or contractor, may be placed on
the premises where construction, repair or renovation is in progress. Such
sign shall project no more than 10 feet in height above grade and shall not
be nearer than 10 feet to any lot line. Such sign shall require a permit,
which permit shall be valid for a period of not more than one year and may
thereafter be renewed. Upon completion of the project, the sign shall be removed.
(6)
Temporary signs announcing coming events, special sales,
contests, civic activities or promotional activities, through the use of devices,
banners and decals, etc., may be exhibited only if inside any window area
of a building, provided that the aggregate area of such signs, posters or
banners does not exceed 50% of the area of the window in which they are exhibited.
Such signs shall be removed within 48 hours after the end of such event, sale
and civic activity, etc. Neither Board approval nor a permit is required.
(7)
Use of town bulletin boards and structures. No sign,
poster, drawing, printing or any other configuration shall be posted upon
a Town of Mount Pleasant bulletin board or other town maintained structure
by any group other than a duly constituted civic, fraternal, religious or
educational organization. Information contained on each sign shall relate
solely to the civic, fraternal, religious or educational intent of the group.
Permission from the Supervisor's office, in writing, must be obtained
prior to the posting of the sign, and the organization is required to post
a copy of the information contained on the sign with the Superintendent of
Recreation prior to posting said sign.
The Zoning Board of Appeals may, in the case of unnecessary hardship
or practical difficulty, suspend the provisions of this chapter and may, in
the public interest, grant variances therefrom.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter
shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $250 or to imprisonment
for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both, for each day the violation exists.
