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Cinnaminson Township
City Zoning Code

§ 525-116

General sign regulations.

[Amended 11-12-1985 by Ord. No. 1985-11; 9-18-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-10]
A. 
All signs within the Township of Cinnaminson shall be erected, constructed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this section and the Building Code.
B. 
No sign shall be erected, enlarged, rebuilt, structurally altered or relocated until a permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer and the Construction Official, except as hereinafter permitted. The issuance of a permit shall not relieve the owner or lessee of the premises from the duty of maintaining safely any such structures. No sign of any description shall be installed, erected, constructed or maintained in such a manner as to block the exit from any fire escape, window or door, nor shall any sign be attached in any manner to a fire escape, nor shall any sign block access to the roof. Every sign constructed or maintained shall be plainly marked with the name of the person, firm or corporation erecting or maintaining such sign.
C. 
No sign shall be erected in the Township of Cinnaminson that would tend, by its location, color, shape, message or nature, to be confused by motorists or pedestrians with or obstruct the view of traffic signs or traffic signals.
D. 
No sign other than official traffic control devices or street signs shall be erected within or encroach upon the right-of-way lines of any street unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or regulation of local, county, state and federal agencies.
E. 
No sign shall contain flashers, animators, movable reflectors, mechanical movements or contrivances of any kind. No intermittent or flashing signs shall be permitted. No statuary or sculpted or molded figures used for promotional or advertising purposes are permitted.
F. 
Sign illumination devices, such as but not limited to flood- or spotlights, shall be so placed and so shielded as to prevent illumination of neighboring properties and shall be situated so as not to interfere with or pose a threat to traffic safety.
G. 
Any sign located within or suspended over a pedestrian walk shall have a ten-foot vertical clearance above the walkway.
H. 
The area of a permitted sign shall be determined by multiplying the greatest horizontal dimensions by the greatest vertical dimensions, including spaces between open-type letters and figures and the background structure or other decoration or addition which is an integral part of the sign. Sign supports shall be excluded in determining the area of a sign unless they contribute directly to either the overall height or width of the sign.
I. 
Any sign, billboard, signboard or advertising device existing at the time of the passage of this chapter that does not conform in use, location, height or size with the regulations of the district in which such sign is located shall be considered a nonconforming use and may be continued and maintained in such use in its present location until replacement or rebuilding becomes necessary, at which time a permit will be required and the sign brought into conformity with this chapter.
J. 
The area of signs painted on buildings shall be computed in the same way as fabricated signs and shall be subject to the same sign restrictions.
K. 
Signs located on roofs are prohibited.
L. 
The limitations on sign area prescribed in this chapter shall not apply to parking lot markers, directional signs or entrance and exit signs erected on the premises which shall not exceed two square feet in area.
M. 
Billboards, outdoor advertising, off-premises signage.
[Amended 9-20-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-28]
(1) 
Incorporation of recitals. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth at length.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The recitals are on file with the ordinance in the Clerk's office.
(2) 
Definitions. The following word(s) shall have the following meanings as used in this chapter.
BILLBOARD
A sign, in excess of 24 square feet in area, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or facility not located, conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located. The term shall also include similar terms including, but not limited to, "off-premises sign" and "outdoor advertising displays."
(3) 
Conditions for construction.
(a) 
Billboards shall be permitted as conditional uses in the Business Development, Commercial, Industrial, Light Industrial and Marine Commercial Zones if the following conditions are met:
[1] 
Location. Billboards shall be located only in the following manner and places:
[a] 
Billboards shall be located only on properties abutting Route 73, Broad Street and Union Landing Road.
[b] 
No support post or sign face shall be closer that 10 feet from the right-of-way line of said roadways.
[c] 
All portions of the post and sign face of a billboard shall be set back from the property lines in all directions at least the same distance as the total height of the structure.
[d] 
Billboards shall be located only on properties that have a minimum of 200 feet of frontage along the permitted or allowable roadways noted herein.
[e] 
Billboards will not be allowed on properties that already have two uses.
[2] 
Buffer. Billboards shall meet the following buffer requirements:
[a] 
No portion of any billboard shall be located with 250 feet of:
[i] 
Any residential zone as identified on the Zone Map of Cinnaminson Township as last revised on February 8, 2002, and as may be amended from time to time; or
[ii] 
Any redevelopment zone as identified in the Cinnaminson Township Redevelopment Plan, dated June 2002, which was adopted through Township Ordinance 2002-16, and as subsequently amended.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 411, Redevelopment.
[b] 
The distance from any billboard to any other billboard shall not be less than 750 feet, measured in all directions from any point on the billboard or pole.
[c] 
Where a property within 250 feet of an residential zone or redevelopment zone contains a mixed use which includes a residential use, the residential use may be ignored if the residential use is inconsequential.
[d] 
No billboard shall be erected within the clear sight triangles of any public street or road and shall not in any manner obstruct or impede traffic safety, including ingress and egress, not block the view from the road or street of any traffic sign, signal, device, directional sign or existing or proposed business sign, logo or sign.
[3] 
Height and size. Billboards shall meet the following height and size restrictions:
[a] 
The maximum size of each sign face of a billboard shall be 14 feet high and 48 feet wide.
[b] 
The total height shall be the same as allowed for other structures in the same zoning district as measured from the highest peak of the structure to the top of the roadway to which the billboard is oriented.
[4] 
Lighting and technical enhancements. Billboards shall meet the following lighting and technological restrictions:
[a] 
Any lighting shall be directed onto the advertising surface of the billboard.
[b] 
No lighting shall be erected as to cause reflection or interference with normal traffic flow.
[c] 
No lighting shall be include red, amber or green lighting so as to give the appearance of a traffic signal.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection M(3)(a)[4][d], regarding variable displays, was repealed 11-15-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-7. See now Subsection O, Election billboards.
[5] 
Construction. Billboards shall meet the following construction requirements:
[a] 
No billboard shall be constructed on any other structure.
[b] 
Billboards shall be supported by a single pole affixed to or embedded into the ground.
[c] 
No billboards shall overhang any building structure.
[d] 
The billboard shall be oriented only in the direction of the permitted or allowed flow of traffic for the roadways mentioned above.
[e] 
Billboard shall be constructed to limit access to the billboard and platform by unauthorized persons.
[6] 
Landscaping. A billboard shall be landscaped to include:
[a] 
Evergreen species planted adjacent to the support at a planting height of at least 25% of the pole height and of a variety to grow to reach a maximum height of at least 50% of the pole height.
[b] 
Flowering materials such as annuals or perennials shall be used as bedding around the evergreens.
[c] 
All landscaping shall be maintained by the owner of the billboard.
[d] 
The area of landscaping shall not be less than 20 feet by 20 feet around the base of the pole.
[7] 
Requirement for sign permit. All billboards shall conform with all other state regulations and rules governing billboards, including the requirement of an off-site premises sign permit issued by the Township.
[8] 
Requirement of site plan review. All billboards shall be subject to site plan review according to the requirements of this chapter.
[Amended 3-1-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-4]
N. 
Banners, spinners, pennants or any moving objects used for advertising purposes are not permitted except in conformance with § 525-118. This provision does not apply to single flags or pennants attached to a permanent pole.
[Amended 9-17-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-13]
O. 
Electronic billboards.
[Added 11-15-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-7]
(1) 
Definitions. As used in this subsection, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ELECTRONIC BILLBOARDS
Include the following technologies, as well as those not specifically identified herein, but which bear the same characteristics of these electronic billboards in terms of size, electronic nature of the sign/billboard, image generation, changeable nature of the message, etc. Electronic billboard technologies include the digital light-emitting diode (LED) billboards; commercial electronic variable message signs; digital billboards; electronic billboards; and such other signs that incorporate short sequences of words in which each letter is defined by a small number of matrix elements, such as a four-by-six matrix or a five-by-seven matrix, which involve typically light-emitting diode (LED) or incandescent materials presented generally against a dark background or such type of background as to make them more visible.
(2) 
Regulations.
(a) 
No electronic billboard shall be greater in dimension than the size of signs permitted for the particular district in which the sign/billboard is to be located. No such sign shall be permitted to vary its message in intervals of less than 15 seconds, and no more than four messages per one-minute interval shall be permitted.
(b) 
A digital sign must have installed an ambient light monitor, which shall continuously monitor and automatically adjust the brightness level of the display based on ambient light conditions consistent with the terms of this subsection.
(c) 
Except for time and temperature signs or electronic billboards as otherwise regulated herein, all billboards must be stationary and may not contain any visible moving parts or alternating or moving messages, or have the appearance of having moving parts or messages. Under no circumstances may any type of billboard contain a message or display that appears to flash, ungulate, pulse, move or portray explosions, fireworks, flashes of light or blinking lights or otherwise appear to move forward or away from the viewer, expand or contract, bounce, rotate, sign, twist or make other comparable movements.
P. 
Enforcement.
[Added 4-18-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5]
(1) 
If the Zoning Officer shall find that any sign regulated herein is in violation of §§ 525-116 through 525-121, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the owner thereof or to his/her attorney. If the owner fails to remove, alter or repair the sign within 30 days after such notice, the Zoning Officer may initiate further action as provided in this section in order to abate or remedy the violation.
(2) 
Upon failing to comply with the violation notice from the Zoning Officer within the time specified, the Zoning Officer is authorized to cause the removal of the sign and at any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the permittee or owner of the property upon which the sign is located.
Q. 
Violations and remedies.
[Added 4-18-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5]
(1) 
Penalties. Any violation of any provision of §§ 525-116 through 525-121 shall be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than $50 and not to exceed $500. In addition to any fine imposed for a violation of §§ 525-116 through 525-121, the sign shall be brought to conformity at the owner’s sole expense. The following individuals shall be subject to potential punishment:
(a) 
The owner, tenant, or occupant of a building, premises, or part thereof where such a violation has been committed or does exist; and
(b) 
Any agent, contractor, corporation, or other person who commits, takes part, or assists in the violation.
(2) 
Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense, punishable as such in accordance with the following:
(a) 
A minimum penalty of $100 per day shall be imposed.
(b) 
A person or entity who is convicted of violating any provision of §§ 525-116 through 525-121 within one year of the date of a previous violation of the same provision of §§ 525-116 through 525-121, and who was fined for the previous violation, shall be sentenced by the municipal court to an additional fine as a repeat offender. The additional fine imposed by the court upon such person or entity for a repeat offense shall not be less than the minimum fine fixed for a violation of the section but shall be calculated separately and in addition to the fine imposed for the violation of §§ 525-116 through 525-121.
(c) 
The imposition of penalties herein shall not preclude the Township of Cinnaminson or any other person from instituting an action to prevent the unlawful construction, reconstruction, installation, alteration, repair, conversion or use of a sign, or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation.
(3) 
Injunctive and other relief. In addition to the foregoing, the Township of Cinnaminson may institute and maintain a civil action for injunctive or other relief as provided in the Municipal Land Use Law[4] or other applicable laws.
[4]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.