It is the intent of this article to regulate the size, number, location, and manner of display of signs in the township consistent with the following purposes. All signs hereafter erected shall conform to this article and all other codes or ordinances of the township.

(1)

Protection of the natural beauty and distinctive character of the township;

(2)

Protection of uses which are adequately and appropriately identified, from too many and too large signs;

(3)

Protection of the commercial districts from visual chaos and clutter;

(4)

Enhancement of the village business district's image;

(5)

Protection of the public's ability to identify uses and premises without confusion;

(6)

Elimination of unnecessary distractions which may diminish driving safety;

(7)

Protection of the tranquility of the community and the peace of mind of residents and visitors;

(8)

Enhancement and improvement of the community by encouraging signs to be compatible with and complementary to related buildings and uses and harmonious with their surroundings.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.01, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987; Ord. No. O-071309-2, § 1, 7-13-2009)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Billboard means a sign directing attention to a use, activity, or product not located, sold, manufactured, or processed on the premises on which the sign is located.

Business center means any two or more uses, activities, or enterprises having one or more of the following characteristics:

(1)

They are located in the same building; or

(2)

They are located in multiple buildings on one lot; or

(3)

They are located in multiple buildings on multiple lots, have shared parking and driveway access to a public street, and the buildings have a unified or consistent architectural style, character and appearance.

In the event that any two or more uses fall within more than one of the above categories, for purposes of determining the maximum number and size of freestanding signs, the uses shall be considered as being within a business center comprised of the largest grouping of businesses resulting from any of the characteristics identified above.

Community special event sign shall mean a sign displayed only for a limited time, to call attention to special events of interest to the general public which are sponsored by governmental agencies, schools or other groups which are nonprofit and whose purpose is charitable, philanthropic, religious or benevolent.

Driveway entry sign means a sign located near the front property line intended to provide direction for vehicular circulation into or out of a drive-in business.

Freestanding sign means any sign structurally separated from a building and being supported by one or more poles or braces or mounted directly on the ground.

Identification sign means a sign located adjacent to a building entryway identifying the names of the occupants or residents whose premises are accessed by means of the entry.

Pedestrian sign shall mean a sign held or worn by a person standing, walking or otherwise located outdoors on either public or private property, for the purpose of displaying the sign to passing motorists or pedestrians on a nearby public road or sidewalk, and calling attention to a business, product, service or event.

Projecting sign means any sign attached to a building wall with the display face of the sign at an angle of 30 degrees or more to the building wall.

Sign means any words, numerals, figures, devices, designs, pictures or trademarks erected on or otherwise affixed to a building, wall board, plate or any other structure, or on a vehicle or trailer, for the purpose of advertising or identifying an establishment, product, service, or activity.

Temporary sign shall mean a sign intended to be displayed for a limited period of time, and which is not permanently attached to a building wall or to the ground.

Wall sign means any sign painted on, incorporated in, or attached directly to a building wall, with the exposed face of the sign in a place parallel to the building wall, and projecting not more than 15 inches from the wall.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.02, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987; Ord. No. O-071309-2, § 2, 7-13-2009; Ord. No. O-112816-1, §§ 1—4, 11-28-2016)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

(a)

Sign area. Sign area shall include the entire area of the smallest geometric figure enclosing all elements of the sign which form an integral part of the sign. Supporting poles, braces, or uprights shall not be included in the sign area. Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where the two faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than two feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face.

(b)

Illumination. Signs may be illuminated by either internal or external sources of light. Illumination of signs shall comply with the following requirements:

(1)

All illuminated signs. Illumination of signs shall not be flashing, blinking, intermittent or of an on-and-off type of illumination, with the exception of time and/or temperature signs.

(2)

Internally-illuminated signs. Light shall not be emitted from greater than 35 percent of the area of any sign face. The illuminated portion of any sign face may include lettering or other graphic symbols. Measurement of the illuminated area of a sign face shall be made in the manner specified in this article for measurement of sign area, except that in the case of individually-illuminated letters the area illuminated shall be defined as the area of the smallest plane geometric figure enclosing each of the individual words. No light shall be emitted from the perimeter edges of any sign.

(3)

Externally-illuminated signs.

a.

External sources of light shall be arranged so that light is deflected away from adjacent properties and so that it does not impede the vision of drivers along adjacent streets. No direct source of light shall be directly visible to any driver or pedestrian located in a public right-of-way or from any land in a residential zone district or used for residential purposes.

b.

Lighting fixtures shall be mounted on the top of the sign structure whenever practical, or mounted so that no light rays are emitted by the installed fixture at angles above the highest horizontal plane of the sign.

(c)

Height and overhang.

(1)

A wall sign shall not project beyond the ends of the wall to which it is attached.

(2)

No wall sign shall project above the roofline; a wall sign may be placed on a gable end of a building.

(3)

No sign shall project into the public right-of-way of the adjacent street or streets, except as otherwise permitted in this article.

(4)

Freestanding signs, if mounted on a pole or other support structure, shall not exceed a height of 25 feet and shall have a minimum clearance between the ground and the bottom of the sign of ten feet. If ground-mounted, such signs shall not exceed a height of five feet.

(d)

Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in a structurally safe condition and shall be subject to inspection by the building inspector.

(e)

Location. With the exception of billboards, which are governed by section 78-744, each sign shall be located on the same premises as the use, activity, or person to which it refers. Each wall sign shall be located on, and parallel to, the front face of the building. No sign shall be located where, in the opinion of the zoning administrator, it will obstruct visibility of traffic on the abutting street.

(f)

Other standards. In addition to complying with the requirements of this article, all signs must fully comply with the current BOCA Basic/National Building Code, Article 19 or any other building code adopted by the township, copies of which are available at the township offices.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.03, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987; Ord. No. O-081390-1, 8-13-1990; Ord. No. O-112816-1, §§ 5, 11-28-2016 )

(a)

In AGP, RP-1, RP-2, RR, VR, R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 districts, the following signs are authorized upon application for and issuance of a sign permit, pursuant to section 78-748.

(1)

Institutional identification for churches, schools, nursing homes, and public buildings may include one wall sign and one ground-mounted freestanding sign. One of the permitted signs for churches and schools may contain internally illuminated changeable message bulletin board, provided no more than 50 percent of the total sign area is used for such bulletin. The aggregate area of all signage shall not exceed 50 square feet.

(2)

Identification for open space activities such as golf courses, riding stables, nurseries, and similar open space uses may include one wall sign or ground-mounted freestanding sign not exceeding an area of 16 square feet.

(3)

Identification for residential subdivisions, apartment complexes, mobile home parks, and other forms of concentrated residential development may include one sign per entrance into the development. Such sign shall be ground-mounted or attached to a permanent wall structure and shall not exceed 16 square feet per sign.

(b)

In the C-1 district, the following signs are permitted upon application for and issuance of a sign permit, pursuant to section 78-748:

(1)

Wall signs. The maximum permitted area of all wall signs placed on a building, the maximum number of wall signs per business or occupant, and the maximum area of an individual wall sign shall be as specified in the following table:

(2)

One projecting sign per entry door to a business (excluding an entry door serving more than one business) or two projecting signs per business, whichever is greater, provided the following conditions are met:

a.

The sign shall not exceed six square feet in area.

b.

There shall be a minimum clearance between the ground and the bottom of the sign of ten feet, if the sign projects over a public sidewalk.

c.

The sign shall not project more than four feet from the building wall, nor extend closer than two feet to the curb line.

d.

An individual business premises shall have no more than one projecting sign per street or sidewalk frontage.

(3)

Freestanding signs, subject to the following limitations:

a.

Maximum number of freestanding signs:

1.

On a lot or parcel having frontage on and vehicular access from one street or on a corner lot, one freestanding sign is permitted.

2.

On a double frontage lot having vehicular access from both streets, two freestanding signs are permitted.

b.

A freestanding sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area, unless the sign identifies the premises of a business center, as defined herein, in which case the sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.

c.

A freestanding sign shall not exceed a height of five feet.

d.

A freestanding sign shall not project over any street right-of-way line.

(c)

In the PO, C-2, LI and I districts, the following signs are permitted, upon application for and issuance of a sign permit, pursuant to section 78-748.

(1)

One wall sign per business, subject to the following size limits:

a.

For a business having 1,200 square feet or less of floor area, a maximum of 24 square feet.

b.

For a business having over 1,200 square feet of floor area, the lesser of one square foot per 50 square feet of building floor area occupied by the business or 40 square feet.

(2)

One freestanding sign per property or parcel, subject to the following limitations:

a.

The sign shall not exceed 40 square feet in area, unless the sign identifies the premises of a business center, as defined herein, in which case the sign shall not exceed 60 square feet in area.

b.

The sign shall not exceed a height of five feet.

c.

The sign shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any property line.

(3)

One pair of driveway entry signs, not exceeding one sign per driveway, provided the following conditions shall be met:

a.

Such signs relate only to drive-in establishments.

b.

Such signs shall, in the opinion of the zoning administrator, be necessary to direct vehicles into or out of driveways designed for one-way traffic only and to eliminate motorist confusion concerning access to the establishment.

c.

No sign shall be located within the road right-of-way.

d.

The maximum height shall not exceed three feet.

e.

The maximum sign area shall not exceed four square feet per sign.

f.

No words other than "enter" or "exit" shall be permitted on each sign.

g.

The corporate logo and/or other recognizable symbol associated with the business, but not including words, may appear on the driveway entry sign, provided that use of such symbol shall cause the maximum permitted size of a freestanding sign to be reduced by 25 percent.

(d)

Permitted temporary signs.

(1)

A temporary sign, unless specifically exempt from the issuance of a permit by section 78-746, shall not be placed on any lot, parcel or premises unless a permit authorizing such temporary sign has been issued by the zoning administrator.

(2)

The following standards shall apply to display of temporary signs for all nonresidential uses, in all districts:

a.

Issuance of a permit for a temporary sign shall authorize the display of the sign for seven consecutive days.

b.

A maximum of four permits authorizing display of a temporary sign shall be issued in any calendar year for any individual business premises.

In the case of a business center, as defined herein, a maximum of two permits for display of a temporary sign may be issued in any calendar year to an individual business located within the business center.

In addition, permits authorizing a maximum of two additional temporary signs may be issued for display at a business center, when the application is submitted by the owner of the business center, the manager of the business center, or another individual or organization acting on behalf of all of the business entities located within the business center.

c.

A temporary sign shall not be located within or over a public right-of-way, except as provided in subsection d., below.

d.

All temporary signs shall be constructed of materials and shall be installed in such a manner which ensures that the sign will not constitute a safety hazard in the event of high winds, as determined by the zoning administrator.

e.

A temporary sign shall comply with the following dimensional and locations standards:

(3)

Community special event signs are permitted in any zoning district, subject to the following restrictions:

a.

A community special event sign may be located either on or off the lot on which the special event is held.

b.

For a reoccurring event which takes place on more than five occasions within a period of 12 consecutive weeks, the number, size, height, duration of display and location of community special event signs pertaining to the event shall be as determined by the zoning administrator.

c.

For all other community special events, the maximum number, size and height of signs pertaining to the event shall be as follows:

1.

A maximum of two community special event signs shall be permitted for a special event, on all lots on which such a sign is displayed.

2.

The display of the signs shall be limited to the 14 days immediately preceding and including the date of the special event.

3.

The signs shall have a maximum size of 40 square feet in area, and a maximum height above ground level of six feet. The front setback shall be as required for signs in the zoning district in which the sign is to be located.

4.

The signs shall be removed within 48 hours of the conclusion of the special event which is being advertised.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.04, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987; Ord. No. O-020888-1, 2-8-1988; Ord. No. O-031102-1, §§ 1—3, 3-11-2002; Ord. No. O-100807-1, § 2, 10-8-2007; Ord. No. O-071309-2, §§ 3, 4, 7-13-2009; Ord. No. O-021710-1, § 25, 2-17-2010; Ord. No. O-112816-1, §§ 5, 11-28-2016; Ord. No. O-071221-1, § 1, 7-12-2021)

(a)

Prohibited types of signs.

(1)

Private use sign[s] located on public land or in a public right-of-way;

(2)

Sign[s] cut, burnt, or otherwise marked on a hillside or tree;

(3)

Unsafe signs;

(4)

Signs identifying discontinued uses;

(5)

Bill boards, as defined in this article.

(6)

Pedestrian signs, as defined herein.

(b)

Prohibited types of material and form.

(1)

Sign with reflective material.

(2)

Banners, pennants, streamers, or other wind-activated devices intended to attract attention except in conjunction with a fair, carnival, circus, athletic event, or during the first 30 days of occupancy of a new building or operation of a new business.

(3)

Sign, other than a clock or meteorological device, having moving parts or parts so devised that the sign appears to move or to be animated.

(4)

Portable sign including an "A" frame sign, or a sign on a vehicle, float, boat, balloon or other movable object designed primarily for the purpose of advertising.

(5)

Sign in the form or shape of a directional arrow, or otherwise displaying a directional arrow, except such a sign as may be approved by sign review or as may be required for safety and convenience and for control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic within the premises of the subject use.

(c)

Erection of a prohibited sign. Erection of any unauthorized sign, or any sign prohibited in this section shall result in a fine of a minimum of $25.00 to a maximum of $100.00 per day of violation.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.05, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987; Ord. No. O-020888-1, 2-8-1988; Ord No. O-100807-1, § 1, 10-8-2007; Ord. No. O-071309-2, § 5, 7-13-2009)

Editor's note— Ord. No. O-071309-2, § 5, adopted July 22, 2009, added subsection (5) to subsection 78-745(a). Inasmuch as subsection (5) already existed, the new material has been redesignated as (6) at the editor's discretion.

The following signs are permitted without a township sign permit, provided all applicable requirements are met:

(1)

Identification signs.

a.

Dwelling. One nameplate not exceeding two square feet, may be freestanding;

b.

Home occupation. One wall sign not exceeding one square foot;

c.

Farm, plant nursery, or orchard. One sign not exceeding eight square feet, may be freestanding if ground-mounted.

d.

Business or other non-residential/nonfarm premises. One occupant identification sign per occupant, not exceeding one square foot per sign, located adjacent to each common building entry shared by multiple occupants.

(2)

Temporary.

a.

Real estate sale and lease:

1.

Dwelling or dwelling site: One sign not exceeding four square feet;

2.

Property other than dwelling: One sign not exceeding 12 square feet;

b.

Construction: One sign identifying the proposed use and/or building and persons or firms involved during the period of construction not exceeding 32 square feet;

c.

Sales: Temporary signs announcing sales or special features attached to or painted on the surfaces of store windows provided they do not exceed 25 percent of the area of the windows and provided they are removed immediately after the termination of the subject event;

d.

Political: Signs not exceeding four square feet located by an individual on his own residence or place of business or on some part of the property; provided such signs are displayed not more than 45 days before, or more than ten days after, the conclusion of the political campaign to which it relates;

e.

Christmas tree lot: One sign not exceeding 32 square feet, set back a minimum of ten feet from the street right-of-way line, and removed by December 27 of each year;

f.

Holiday decorations: Holiday bunting, decoration and displays;

g.

Roadside stands: One sign not exceeding 24 square feet;

h.

Sidewalk message signs: In the C-1 zoning district, a maximum of one sidewalk message sign shall be permitted for each business or establishment, subject to the following standards:

1.

A sidewalk message sign shall not exceed three feet in width and four feet in height, shall be constructed in a "sandwich board" or "A-frame" style, and shall not be illuminated.

2.

A sidewalk message sign shall not be permanently anchored to the ground surface or to any other object or structure, but shall be designed or weighted to prevent instability or movement by wind or other natural forces.

3.

A sidewalk message sign shall only be displayed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

4.

Except as provided in subsection 5., below, a sidewalk message sign may only be placed on the property of the business or establishment to which the sign pertains.

5.

Where a public sidewalk exists within the public right-of-way, a sidewalk message sign may be placed on the sidewalk abutting the property to which the sign pertains, provided that the sidewalk has a minimum width of eight feet, and provided the sign placement is aligned with raised planting beds or municipal street light poles located thereon, so as not to unreasonably interfere with use of the sidewalk by pedestrians.

6.

A sidewalk message sign shall not be placed in a parking area or driveway.

(3)

Governmental.

a.

Emergency and warning signs necessary for public safety or civil defense;

b.

Traffic signs erected and maintained by an authorized public agency;

c.

Legal notices, licenses, permits and other signs required to be displayed by law; provided no sign shall be any larger than the minimum size required by law;

d.

Flags and emblems of governmental jurisdictions not used for commercial advertising;

(4)

Miscellaneous.

a.

Address numbers not exceeding 12 inches in height;

b.

Public sign identifying a neighborhood, district or community;

c.

Historical plaques erected and maintained by nonprofit organizations, memorials, building cornerstones and erection date stones;

d.

Association membership, credit card system, trading stamps given, patronage games, etc., one sign not exceeding one square foot for each, flush on the building;

e.

Posted restaurant menu identical to those made available to diners;

f.

Parking area and traffic control signs, not including driveway entry signs, provided such signs conform to the state manual of uniform traffic control devices;

g.

Signs containing no product advertising, with letters not exceeding six inches in height, for identification of telephones, service entrances, restrooms, litter receptacles and other similar signs as may be determined by the zoning administrator.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.06, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987; Ord. No. O-071309-2, §§ 6, 7, 7-13-2009; Ord. No. O-112816-1, §§ 6, 11-28-2016)

Signs lawfully erected prior to August 24, 1987, which do not meet the standards established herein, may be continued except as hereafter provided.

(1)

Nonconforming signs shall not:

a.

Be altered, or moved, nor shall any sign or any substantial part of a sign which is destroyed, or removed be re-erected, reconstructed, rebuilt, or relocated unless it is made to comply with all applicable requirements of this article;

b.

Have any changes made in the words or symbols used or the message displayed on the sign unless the sign is specifically designed for periodic change of message;

c.

Be structurally altered so as to prolong the life of the sign or so as to change the shape, size, type, or design of the sign; and

d.

Be reestablished or continued after the activity, business, or use to which it relates has been discontinued for 90 days or longer.

(2)

No person shall be required to remove a sign which was erected in compliance with these sign requirements if such sign becomes nonconforming due to a change in the location of buildings, streets, or other signs which change is beyond the control of the owner of the premises upon which the sign is located.

(3)

If the owner of a sign or the premises on which a sign is located changes the location of a building, property line, or sign or changes the use of a building so that any sign on the premises is rendered nonconforming, such sign must be removed or made to conform to the sign requirements specified in this section.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.07, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987)

(a)

Permits for permanent signs.

(1)

Each person or entity desiring to erect or maintain a sign which is permitted by section 78-744, subsections (a) through (c) shall make written application together with appropriate fees and escrow amounts, as specified in section 78-746, to the zoning administrator on an application form provided for that purpose. Such application shall include the following:

a.

The plans of the sign drawn to scale, showing the proposed location of the sign and the dimensions of the sign;

b.

Sufficient other details of the proposed sign to show that it complies with the provisions of this article;

(2)

All applications shall be accompanied by the written consent of the record owner of the property upon which the sign is proposed to be erected or by other evidence that the applicant is entitled to erect and maintain the sign. Where several signs are proposed for the same use, all such signs may be included on a single application.

(3)

No sign requiring a sign permit shall be erected or installed until an application for sign permit is approved.

(4)

This permit review may be eliminated if the required information is provided to the planning commission as part of the site plan review in accordance with article XXII. In such case, the planning commission shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request consistent with the provisions of this article and applicable provisions of this chapter.

(5)

An application for a sign permit shall be approved if the application, plans, other submissions and any necessary inspection indicate that the proposed sign or signs comply with the regulations of this article.

(6)

An application for sign permit may be approved, conditionally approved, or disapproved.

(7)

Guarantees, sureties or other evidence of compliance may be required in connection with, or as a condition of, a sign permit.

(8)

An approved application, and all other related and approved plans, drawings and other supporting materials constituting a part of the approved application, shall be so endorsed by the zoning administrator.

(9)

Expiration and extension of sign permit.

a.

A sign permit shall expire one year from its effective date unless the sign has been erected or a different expiration date is stipulated at the time of approval. Prior to the expiration of a sign permit or sign review approval, the applicant may apply to the zoning administrator for an extension of one year from the date of expiration. The zoning administrator may make minor modifications or may deny further extensions of the approved sign at the time of extension if it is found that there has been a substantial change in circumstances.

b.

The expiration date of the sign permit shall be automatically extended to concur with the expiration date of building permits or other permits relating to the installation of the sign.

(b)

Permits for temporary signs. Application for a permit to display a temporary sign permitted by section 78-744, paragraph (d) shall be made to the zoning administrator, by submission of the required forms, fees, exhibits and information by the owner of the property on which the sign is to be located, or by his agent or lessee. The application shall contain the following information:

(1)

The name, mailing address and telephone number of the property owner, business owner and applicant for the permit.

(2)

Identification of the street address and parcel number of the parcel on which the sign is to be placed.

(3)

A site plan, drawn to scale, accurately identifying the location of the proposed temporary sign on the subject property.

(4)

A scaled drawing which accurately depicts the dimensions and display area of the proposed sign.

(5)

Identification of the specific calendar date or dates on which the temporary sign or signs will be displayed.

(6)

A nonrefundable application fee, in an amount established by resolution of the township board.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.08, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987; Ord. No. O-020888-1, 2-8-1988; Ord. No. O-072699-1, § 7, 7-26-1999; Ord. No. O-071309-2, § 8, 7-13-2009)

In considering any sign permit request, the zoning administrator, or, if conducted as part of the site plan review, the planning commission, shall grant approval according to the following applicable criteria in addition to any other criteria specified above:

(1)

The purpose of this article stated in section 78-741;

(2)

The standards and criteria set forth in sections 78-743, 78-744;

(3)

Each sign shall be of a shape, material, style, letter type and color appropriate for the use, enhancing to the premises and harmonious with the neighborhood, and, where applicable, shall be consistent with the adopted design guidelines and recommendations in the township comprehensive plan.

(Ord. No. O-042682-1, § 20.09, 4-26-1982; Ord. No. O-082487-1, 8-24-1987)