Doylestown Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIXB
Off-Premises Outdoor Advertising Overlay District
§ 175-103.10 Permitted signs.
Off-premises outdoor advertising signs are permitted by special exception in the Off-Premises Outdoor Advertising Sign Overlay District, subject to compliance with the following requirements. The overlay district has been created to limit the area where such signs are permitted to certain lands zoned commercial and having frontage on the major highways located in the Township so as to allow this advertising medium while encouraging the development and use of property in a manner consistent with sound community planning, to protect and enhance the appearance and character of the community, and to ensure public safety. The overlay district is limited to that portion of Doylestown Township set forth on the Zoning Map attached hereto as Exhibit A and is limited to the parcels identified in Exhibit B.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said Zoning Map with the parcels identified is a file in the Township offices.
§ 175-103.11 Special exceptions.
In addition to the standards for special exception as set forth in Article XXIII, §§ 175-137 and 175-138, and all other applicable general sign regulations of Article XX, Signs, the following standards shall apply to special exceptions related to off-premises outdoor advertising signs:
A.
One off-premises outdoor advertising sign shall be permitted on each lot, and shall be considered a principal use and not an accessory use, which sign shall not exceed a maximum size of 250 square feet and a maximum height (to the top of the sign) of 35 feet above the mean cartway elevation. An outdoor off-premises advertising sign shall not contain more than two sign faces, and no more than one sign support structure shall be permitted on any lot.
B.
No portion of an off-premises outdoor advertising sign or its support structure or any other structure or improvement related thereto shall be permitted to be located within the minimum front, side or rear yard, or special setback required within the underlying zoning district.
C.
No off-premises outdoor advertising sign may be constructed, erected, or otherwise placed on another structure or building on the lot, except for the specific support structure required to construct, erect or otherwise place the off-premises outdoor advertising sign.
D.
No off-premises outdoor advertising sign or its support structure shall be permitted to be located within 300 feet of any residentially zoned property or within 500 feet of any Township-owned park, open space or any historic structures, buildings and/or homes as identified in the Doylestown Township Zoning Ordinance.
E.
The sign shall carry and be covered at all times by a policy of insurance under which the limits of public liability shall not be less than $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per accident and under which the property damage liability shall not be less than $500,000.
F.
The Zoning Hearing Board shall have the power to impose such restrictions on the brightness and source of the illumination of any permitted sign, the location of the sign, the size and height of the sign, etc., which may be more restrictive than the general performance standards found herein, if the Board finds such restrictions to be in the public interest.
G.
All signs shall be constructed in accordance with applicable local, state and federal building and electrical codes, and all other applicable codes and standards. The applicant shall demonstrate by submitting sufficient documentation to the Zoning Hearing Board that the proposed sign, its structure, and all other parts thereof, are to be constructed in a manner consistent with all applicable standards and codes, including wind speed requirements as may be set forth in the applicable Uniform Construction Code,[1] and that the surrounding area will not be adversely affected by support structure failure.
H.
The applicant shall present a site plan showing the following items:
(1)
Location of all existing uses and proposed off-premises outdoor advertising signs.
(2)
Elevations and drawings of any existing uses and proposed uses, including signs, showing proposed width, depth, height, architectural style and structural data for all proposed signs.
(3)
Vehicular access, fencing, landscaping, and any easements for access and utilities.
I.
The applicant shall provide financial security, in a form acceptable to the Zoning Hearing Board, sufficient to secure to the Township the removal of any off-premises outdoor advertising sign upon which no advertising is located or otherwise ceases to be used for a period of three consecutive months. The applicant further shall provide, in a form acceptable to the Zoning Hearing Board, proof that the record owner and licensee or other person in control of the signage consents to the removal of the sign for reasons as set forth in this subsection, which said consent shall be in such form so as to be recorded of record with the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds office.
J.
Off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall be regularly maintained in good and safe condition. The general area in the vicinity of any off-premises outdoor advertising sign on an undeveloped property shall be landscaped to the reasonable satisfaction of the Township Zoning Hearing Board and shall be kept free and clear of sign materials, debris, trash and refuse.
K.
All off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall be free of graffiti. The applicant shall remove any graffiti from the sign within two business days after receiving written notice from the Township that the sign contains graffiti. If the applicant fails to do so, then the applicant shall be subject to the provisions of Subsection I of this section related to the removal of the off-premises outdoor advertising sign and/or may be subject to a fine as further provided in the Doylestown Township Zoning Ordinance.
L.
No off-premises outdoor advertising sign may be established within 1,500 feet of any other off-premises outdoor advertising sign, measured in a radius from the center of the sign, nor shall an off-premises outdoor advertising sign be established within 500 feet of any other commercial sign measuring in the radius from the center of the off-premises outdoor advertising sign.
M.
Off-premises signs may be illuminated subject to the following:
(1)
The source of light may not be visible from any point off the property upon which the sign is located. All light sources must not be of such intensity or brilliance to cause glare or otherwise impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle or otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
(2)
No sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, signal or device.
(3)
No portion of an outdoor advertising sign may contain any flashing, moving, changing or animated display.
(4)
The Zoning Hearing Board may impose such other reasonable limitations and restrictions upon the illumination of off-premises outdoor advertising signs, including limitations on the hours of illumination, that it finds to be in the interest of the health, safety and/or welfare of the residents of the Township and/or the traveling public.