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ZONING DEPARTMENT Comments Sec. 10B-293. Prohibited
sign features. No sign shall contain features which: (a) Bear or contain statements, words or pictures which are offensive to the community's standards. (b) Purport to be or resemble official traffic signs or signals or which bear the words "stop," "go slow," "caution," "danger," "warning," or similar words; or which by reason of size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device; or which obstruct from view any pedestrian or vehicular traffic or any street sign or signal. (c) Except as provided in section 10B-294, advertise or publicize an activity, use, business, product, real estate, or service not located or conducted on the premises upon which such signs are located. (d) Contain electronic, flashing, glowing or moving devices (except time and temperature devices) or emit smoke, visible vapor, particles, sound or odor, or use exposed incandescent bulbs, or neon tubes, or use mirrors or other similar reflecting devices. (e) Are located in a public right-of-way, except with the approval of the zoning officer based on a finding that the particular type of sign is customarily located within the right-of-way (such as, but not limited to, no hunting signs, farm produce signs, names on roadside mailboxes, entrance/exit signs, etc.) and that the interrelationship among the right-of-way line, the information to be conveyed by the sign, and the particular characteristics of the property (including its topography, vegetation, and structures) requires the sign to be located within the right-of-way. No sign shall be located so as to cause a visual obstruction within an approved sight easement. (f) Consist of banners (except grand opening banners), posters, flags (except U.S. flags), pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs (except seasonal decorations) and spinners. (g) Are portable or temporary, except as permitted in section 10B-294, such as sandwich boards or signs fixed on a movable stand, not permanently embedded in the ground or supported by other objects, mounted on wheels or on a movable vehicle or temporary structure. (h) Are located, painted or affixed on benches, water towers, storage tanks, smokestacks, utility poles or other similar structures, or on trees, rocks or other natural features. (i) Are placed on a flat roof or above the roof peak of a building or structure, project from the facade of a structure (other than as permitted for a facade sign), or appear on awnings or canopies (other than on the valance). (j ) Are attached to or placed on merchandise or materials stored or displayed outdoors and visible from a public street or other public area. (k) Contain changeable copy (except theater marquee signs, business directories, church and museum signs and gas price signs). (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1.) Sec 10B-294. Exempt signs not requiring a permit. The following signs do not require a 'permit if they do not violate the criteria set forth in section 10B-293 and comply with the standards of section 10B-298 and with all other relevant sections of the township code: (a) Permanent signs. (1) Non-illuminated memorial or historical signs, corner stones and tablets indicating the name and/or date of erection of the building on which they are located, which do not exceed two square feet in surface area, and which are part of the wall of the building which is identified. (2) Non-illuminated residential nameplates with an area of less than two square feet, which may include the name of the owner or resident and the address of the property. One sign for each access drive may be permitted provided the signs meet the above requirements. Sign background for house numbers shall not be counted as part of the sign area. (3) Seasonal decorations for display purposes provided that such decorations are safely maintained. (4) Grave markers. (5) Private "no trespassing" and "no hunting" signs placed on private property, provided that each sign does not exceed one square foot. (6) Directional signs not exceeding thirty inches in height and located within a site, provided that the following criteria are met. a. Entrance and exit signs may contain the name of an accessory use conducted on the property, such as loading zones, service areas, and service truck routes. b. Entrance and exit signs not exceeding three square feet in area, and located at a minimum setback distance of five feet from a public right-of-way. c. Signs related to emergency medical care not exceeding an area of twelve square feet. (7) One ground sign identifying the name of a multifamily complex not to exceed ten square feet may be erected at the primary entrance to the complex. The sign shall be located at a minimum setback of fifteen feet from the public right-of-way and shall not exceed seven feet in height. (8) One ground sign identifying the name of a singlefamily development and. not exceeding ten square feet may be erected at the primary entrance to a residential development having a homeowner's association provided that the association or the developer agrees .to maintain the sign. The sign shall be located at a minimum setback or twenty?five feet from the public right-of-way and shall not exceed seven feet in height. (9) Directory signs erected as part of a municipally sponsored program, at a location and of a size approved by the zoning officer. (10) All signs and signals owned or operated by the township, the county, the state or the United States of America. (b) Temporary signs. Signs may be erected for a limited period of time and for a specific purpose which: (1) Advertise the sale or rental of the premises on which they are located, provided that: a. The size of any sale or rental sign for a single dwelling shall not exceed eight square feet. Not more than one sign may be placed upon any property and such signs shall be promptly removed when premises are sold or rented, except that a sign with the words "sold" or "rented" may be continued for an additional two weeks. b. Developments with four or more homes for sale may advertise the development on each frontage, if the development fronts on more than one street. All signs advertising the development shall be removed when seventy-five percent of .the lots have been initially sold or initially rented, or within fifteen months, whichever is less. Each sign shall not exceed twelve square feet. (2) Advertise the future construction or location of a nonresidential use, provided that: a. The sign does not exceed twenty-four square feet in area. b. The sign may also identify public or private lenders providing the construction financing and identifying architects, engineers, contractors, tradesmen, or others engaged or to be engaged in construction work. Such signs shall not be erected until final subdivision or final site plan approval has been granted, including approval of the proposed temporary sign, and shall be removed as soon as the work ceases or is completed, in any event not to exceed a two year period. (3) Advertise farm products grown on site, provided that the sign does not exceed ten square feet. It may be erected at the entrance of an active farm stand advertising the sale of farm products when such sale is conducted in accordance with the provisions of this code. Such sign shall be displayed only when the products are on sale. The sign shall be located at a minimum setback of' ten feet from the public right-of-way. The sign may be a wall or a ground sign not to exceed six feet in height. (4) Warn of construction, excavation or similar hazards for as long as the hazard exists. (5) Advertise the sale of merchandise, if they are located in a window and do not exceed four square feet, or fifteen percent of the window area of each facade, whichever is greater. For windows which are more than twenty-five feet from the public right-of-way, such signs shall not exceed twenty-five percent of such window area. (6) Advertise a garage or yard sale, provided the sign does not exceed four square feet and is displayed for no more than seven days. Off-premises signs may be permitted upon the approval of the zoning officer. (7) Consist of directional signs that concern particular transitory purposes or occasions shall be permitted, provided that: a. Such signs shall be removed as soon as the purpose of occasion has passed or been served, and, in any event; the sign shall not be erected more than ten days prior to the event nor remain more than one week after posting, unless an extension of time is granted by the zoning officer. b. The advertising area of the sign shall not exceed three square feet and shall not be more than three feet in height. c . Signs may be located elsewhere than on the lot to which they refer, as permitted, by the zoning officer. In no event shall more than one directional sign for the same event be independently posted at an intersecting street. (8) Consist of on-premises grand opening banners attached to the building in which the new activity is being established. These may remain in place for three weeks from the date of opening of the activity. (9) Consist of celebration bunting with no lettering on state holidays and days of public celebration. Bunting shall be removed within seven days of celebration. (10) Publicize special public issues or events, including elections and the events of fraternal, charitable or religious organizations, provided that: a. The sign is removed within five days after the event takes place. b. The sign does not exceed six square feet. c. The sign shall not remain in place more than four weeks. Signs publicizing special public issues or events, including elections, may be located elsewhere than on. the lot to which they refer, as permitted by the zoning officer. (11) Consist of federal, state or local government signs and notices issued by any court, person or officer in performance of a public duty. Unless otherwise restricted, temporary signs may be erected not more than two weeks prior and shall, unless a longer period is permitted, be removed within three days after termination of the event advertised by the sign. (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1; Ord. No. 89-29, §§ 1, 2.) Sec. 10B-295. Permits. Except for the exempt signs described in section 10B-294, no sign shall be erected, altered, or moved without a permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. Applications for a sign permit shall be filed with the zoning officer. To obtain a permit, the proposed sign must meet the dimensional standards set forth in Table A (free standing signs) or Table B (facade signs) contained at section 10B-297. Signs shall be classified by the zoning officer as being in one of the three review categories specified in section 10B-296. Signs in the SC zoning district shall be consistent with the general signage plan for the district. If the zoning officer determines that a proposed sign in such district is not consistent with such plan, he shall refer the application to the site plan review advisory board, which may approve same only if it determines that the proposed sign is consistent with the plan and that the criteria set forth in section 10B-296(c) have been met. (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1.) Sec 10B-296. Review categories and criteria. (a) "As of right" signs. If the proposed sign does not contain any of the prohibited features set forth in section 10B-293 and meets the size, height, and location standards for this category as set forth in Table A or Table B and the illumination standards of section 10B-298(h) the Zoning Officer shall issue a permit. Site plan review pursuant to section 10B-205 shall not be required for "as of right" signs. (b) "Restricted" signs. If the proposed sign does not contain any of the prohibited features set forth in section 10B-293 and meets the size, height, and location standards for this category as set forth in Table A or Table B, the zoning officer shall issue a, permit. Site plan review pursuant to section 10B-205 shall not be required for "restricted signs;" provided that: (1) The information on the sign is limited to the name, address and a brief description of the business; and if a business logo is also to appear on the sign, the logo may not exceed ten percent of the area of the sign. Alternatively, directory signs shall be limited in content to the address of the property and may contain the names of the several on-site businesses or professional users and shall be designed to meet the standards of section 10B-296(c)(8). (2) A maximum of three colors (including black and white) may appear on the sign. (c) "Design Review" signs. Signs in this category are to be reviewed by the zoning officer for conformity with the requirements set forth in Table A or Table B. Signs for conditional uses shall be classified as "design review" signs. Unless waived by the zoning officer as unnecessary, concept plans and sample field mock up signs shall accompany the permit application for all signs in this category. The review and approval process shall be as in the case of a classification applicable for minor site plan approval. The site plan review advisory board shall review the application based on the following review criteria: (1) Lettering styles shall be clear and visible under normal viewing conditions in the area where the sign is to be located. (2) Sign content shall comply with the following. a. The name of the business shall appear only once. b. A brief description of the nature of the business may be on the sign. c. The street name and number may be given, if useful to avoid confusion, but numbers shall be no smaller than the largest letter on the sign, but in no event smaller than three inches in height. d. If a logo is used, it may not exceed ten percent of the sign area. e. Such other content as the reviewing agency may in its discretion allow, provided that all other standards below are met. (3) The sign shall be designed to take into account the relative scale and proportions of the building or surface to which it is related or on which it is .mounted. (4) The sign shall have a logical relationship to the building to which it is related and in the case of facade signs shall be integrated into the existing architecture. (5) The construction materials of the sign shall be chosen to complement the architecture and building materials of the building on which it is located, or to which it is related, as well as the surrounding buildings. (6) If more than one sign is permitted on a site or building, the signs shall be compatible with each other and with the character of the site and should not obscure other signs or architectural features. (7) Messages on signs shall be brief, the layout simple, and the range of colors limited. The use of product trademarks is discouraged. (8) Signs setting forth a listing of multiple on-site businesses or professional services shall be designed as a unified and internally compatible single sign with all listings being of a relatively uniform size. (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1; Ord. No. 89-29, § 3.) Sec. 10B-297. Standards of size, setback and height. (a) The size, setback, and height of permanent signs, both free-standing (Table A) and facade mounted (Table B), shall be regulated by applying the following standards to each zone district:
(b) Signs aligned with
the outer facing of a covered passageway shall have a minimum
height of nine feet and a maximum height of twelve feet. |
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