Fredon Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXIII
Signs
§ 550-129 Permits required.
Except as hereinafter specifically provided, no sign shall be constructed, displayed or erected unless a permit shall have been first obtained from the Construction Official. The sign application shall contain sufficient information and the plan shall be in sufficient detail to permit the Construction Official to administer the requirements of this section. No sign permit shall be issued until the required fee for such sign is paid.
§ 550-130 Sign area measurement.
In administering this section, the area of any sign shall be computed as the total square foot content of the background upon which the lettering, illustration or display is presented, including in such background any decorative motif or moldings. If the lettering, illustration or display is not affixed to a background but is affixed directly to the wall of a building or other structure, the area of a sign shall be computed as the product of the largest horizontal distance and the largest vertical distance of the lettering, illustration or display. The supporting members of any sign, which are used exclusively for such purpose, shall not be included in the computation of the area of the sign. Signs having more than one display face may have the maximum area permitted on each face.
§ 550-131 Conformance required.
No sign shall be erected anywhere within the Township except in accordance with the requirements and regulations of this section.
§ 550-132 Existing signs.
Any sign in existence at the time of the adoption of this chapter is entitled to remain, so long as it is not moved, altered or replaced, in which event, it shall conform to all the requirements of this section.
§ 550-133 General regulations.
Signs in all zone districts shall comply with the following requirements:
A.
All signs shall relate to a use or activity located on the same lot. Signs related to activities off the premises shall be prohibited.
B.
All signs shall be so located as to not interfere with traffic safety or visibility.
C.
Signs permitted in the residential zones, placed in the front yard area, and all other signs permitted in the front yard area shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street line and shall not exceed eight feet in height, nor be closer to the ground than three feet, except as may be hereinafter specifically permitted. Signs in all other yard areas shall conform to the setbacks required for all structures.
D.
The repainting, relettering or repair of an existing sign shall not constitute a new use or a change of use so long as the area of the sign is not altered.
E.
Flashing, rotating or intermittent illuminated signs shall be prohibited, except that time and temperature signs shall not be considered to be intermittent illumination.
F.
Illuminated signs, where permitted, may be internally or externally illuminated, so long as such illumination does not shine directly onto adjoining property or onto any street or highway.
G.
Signs attached to any part of a building shall not extend beyond the highest point of the building to which it is attached. Chimneys, towers, cupolas, steeples and silos shall not be considered in calculating the height of such building.
H.
Signs shall be constructed, as far as possible, with natural materials.
I.
Signs affixed or attached to a wall shall not project beyond such wall in any direction.
J.
Overhanging signs, that is signs that project perpendicularly from the wall of a building, shall be prohibited.
§ 550-134 Signs permitted in all zones.
Unless hereinafter specifically prohibited, the following signs shall be permitted in all zones:
A.
Temporary for rent and for sale signs. Such signs shall not exceed four square feet in total area and the permit for such signs shall be valid for a period of six months, at which time such signs shall be removed, unless the sign permit is renewed for good cause shown.
B.
No hunting and no trespassing signs. No sign shall exceed one square foot in area. No permit shall be required for the posting of these signs.
C.
Signs locating and advertising subdivisions of land and projects requiring site plan approval, which have received tentative or final approval by the Township, provided that no such sign shall exceed 32 square feet in area, exceed two in number, nor be located closer than 20 feet to any street line. Such sign permits shall be valid for a period of six months and then such signs shall be removed, unless the permit is renewed. Such signs shall be removed as a condition of the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy for the development. In addition to the advertising signs permitted for subdivisions or projects requiring site plan approval, the developer may erect temporary traffic directional signs, each not exceeding one square foot in area, to guide potential purchasers to available lots/dwellings. Such directional signs shall only be erected within the development itself and shall be removed as a condition of the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy for the development.
D.
Entrance and exit signs, traffic directional signs, temporary safety, traffic or warning signs approved by the Township Committee.
§ 550-135 Residential zones.
The following signs shall be permitted in the AR, RA, R-6, R-4 and R-1 zone districts and for residential uses in the MUMD zone district and shall comply with the following regulations:
A.
In zones permitting agricultural uses, the following signs are permitted:
(1)
One identification sign, not more than 18 square feet in area, identifying the farm, the address of the owner and the type of farm.
(2)
If seasonal produce is sold on site, not more than two additional signs advertising seasonal farm produce available, the total area of which shall not exceed 16 square feet. Such sign shall not be permanent and shall be permitted to be in place only during the time such seasonal produce is available.
B.
One name plate sign containing the name and/or address of the resident, which shall not exceed one square foot in area.
C.
In residential zones permitting cluster development, one sign, not exceeding 18 square feet in area publicizing the name of the cluster development.
D.
One sign not exceeding two square feet in area advertising roomers or boarders.
E.
One sign advertising professional uses or home occupations, not exceeding one square foot in area.
F.
Professional uses, in addition to the sign permitted in the front yard area, may have one additional sign, attached to the building in which the professional use is located, not exceeding two square feet in area.
G.
One sign, not more than 18 square feet in area, identifying permitted conditional uses except those for which a smaller or larger sign area is specified.
§ 550-136 Conservation and Community Park zones.
The following signs shall be permitted in the C and CP zone districts and shall comply with the following regulations:
§ 550-137 Community Facilities zone.
Signs in the CF zone shall be permitted as deemed necessary to the public welfare by the Township Committee.
§ 550-138 Mixed-Use Market zone district.
The following signs shall be permitted in the MUMD zone district and shall comply with the following regulations:
A.
Any business establishment may display one or more signs relating to its business. The maximum area of any single sign shall not exceed 24 square feet and the maximum area of all signs on a single lot shall not exceed 50 square feet.
B.
In the case of a shopping village, the maximum area of any single sign shall not exceed 24 square feet and the maximum area of all signs for each use located in such shopping village shall not exceed 24 square feet.
C.
The total area of all signs permitted on the face of any wall shall not exceed 5% of the area of the face of the wall upon which such signs are attached and the maximum height of any such sign shall not exceed 10% of the height of such wall, except that such sign can be at least two feet in height. The maximum width of any sign shall not exceed 50% of the width of the wall to which it is attached or 12 feet in width, whichever is less.
D.
No sign shall extend farther than six inches from the face of the wall upon which it is attached. Where a sign extends more than three inches from the face of the wall, the bottom of such sign shall be at least eight feet above ground level. Signs overhanging any public or private walkway shall not extend more than three inches from the face of the wall to which it is attached.
E.
One freestanding sign may be permitted on each lot, in the front yard area, not exceeding 18 square feet in area, except for automotive service station and public garage uses.
§ 550-139 Automotive service stations and public garages.
The following signs, in addition to the foregoing signs, shall be permitted in connection with an automotive service station or public garage and shall comply with the following regulations:
A.
One pylon sign advertising the name of the service station or garage and/or the principal products sold on the premises, including any special company logo, brand name, insignia or emblem, provided that this one sign shall not exceed 18 square feet in area and shall not be less than eight feet nor more than 15 feet above the ground. The pylon shall be at least five feet from any property line.
B.
Signs or lettering displayed over individual entrance doors or bays consisting of the words: washing, lubrication, repairs or such other legend related to the functions performed in such location, provided that there shall be no more than one such sign over each entrance and the letters thereof shall not exceed 12 inches in height and a single line shall not exceed the width of the entrance over which it appears.
C.
The customary lettering or other insignia, such as company logo, which are an integral part of any gasoline pump, together with any signs located thereon dealing with the product dispensed therefrom, a price indicator and any other sign which may be required by law.
D.
Other signs describing, locating and identifying other services or products dispensed, such as air, water and oil, provided that such signs shall not exceed one square foot in area.
E.
Nonilluminating credit card signs indicating those credit cards which are honored at such establishment, provided that no individual signs shall exceed two square feet in area.
§ 550-140 Light Industrial zone.
The following signs shall be permitted in the LI zone district and shall comply with the following regulations:
A.
Any business establishment may display one or more signs relating to its business. The maximum area of any single sign shall not exceed 24 square feet and the maximum area of all signs on a single lot shall not exceed 50 square feet.
B.
In the case of an industrial park development, the maximum area of any single sign shall not exceed 24 square feet and the maximum area of all signs for each use located in the industrial park shall not exceed 24 square feet.
C.
The total area of all signs permitted on the face of any wall shall not exceed 5% of the area of the face of the wall upon which such signs are attached and the maximum height of any such sign shall not exceed 10% of the height of the wall, except that such sign can be at least two feet in height. The maximum width of any sign shall not exceed 50% of the width of the wall to which it is attached or 12 feet in width, whichever is less.
D.
No sign shall extend farther than six inches from the face of the wall upon which it is attached. Where a sign extends more than three inches from the face of the wall, the bottom of such sign shall be at least eight feet above ground level. Signs overhanging any public or private walkway shall not extend more than three inches from the face of the wall to which it is attached.
E.
One freestanding sign may be permitted on each lot, in the front yard area, not exceeding 18 square feet in area.