Greencastle City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
Supplementary Regulations
§ 205-21 Accessory buildings and structures.
[Amended 5-7-1984; 9-6-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-8; 12-1-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-08]
A.
A private detached garage may be permitted as follows:
(1)
Only one private detached garage may be permitted.
(2)
A private detached garage shall not exceed one story or be more than 20 feet in height.
(3)
A private detached garage may be located in any required side or rear yard.
(4)
A private detached garage located in any required side or rear yard shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any side or rear lot line.
(5)
A private detached garage shall not exceed 1,000 square feet.
[Added 12-2-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-04]
B.
A building accessory to a residential principal building, other than a private detached garage, and not attached to the principal building (examples include workshops, storage/utility sheds and tool/garden sheds, playhouses and animal shelters), may be permitted as follows:
(1)
Only one accessory building may be permitted.
(2)
An accessory building shall not exceed one story or be more than 20 feet in height.
(3)
An accessory building shall not exceed 240 square feet.
(4)
An accessory building may be located in any required side or rear yard.
(5)
An accessory building located in any required side or rear yard shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any side or rear lot line.
C.
Residential buildings sharing common walls.
(1)
Where residential principal buildings share common walls (examples include single-family attached dwelling or single-family semidetached dwelling), buildings accessory to the principal building, other than a private detached garage, and not attached to the principal building, may be permitted as follows:
(a)
Only one accessory building may be permitted.
(b)
An accessory building shall not exceed one story or be more than 20 feet in height.
(c)
An accessory building shall not exceed 240 square feet.
(d)
An accessory building may be located in a required side or rear yard.
(e)
A single accessory building located in a required side or rear yard shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any side or rear lot line.
(2)
Accessory buildings, including private detached garages, may be located in pairs or groups on contiguous lots in the required side or rear yard along the common lot line; provided, however, they shall be constructed at the same time and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the rear lot line.
D.
A building accessory to a nonresidential use, or use permitted in the Community Commercial District (CC), shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any side or rear lot line abutting a residential district or lot used for residential purposes.
E.
A building accessory and attached to the principal building shall comply in all respects with the requirements of this chapter applicable to the principal building.
F.
All buildings accessory to the principal building in the aggregate shall not occupy more than 30% of the area of the required rear and/or side yard.
G.
No part of a building accessory to the principal building shall be located closer to the street, on which the principal building fronts, than the front of the principal building.
H.
No building accessory to the principal building shall be erected on a corner lot in either required front yard.
I.
No building accessory to the principal building shall be inhabited.
J.
Fences, walls and retaining walls.
[Amended 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-04]
(1)
Fences.
(a)
Unless otherwise stated, fences are permitted uses in all districts, subject to the following:
[1]
Fences may be located in the front, side, or rear yard.
[b]
Barbed wire fences shall not be permitted in any district other than in the (I) Industrial and (HC) Highway Commercial districts. Barbed wire shall not be permitted in the front yard in any district other than the (I) Industrial District.
[c]
Chain-link fences or a pattern similar (including but not limited to chicken wire, galvanized garden fencing, etc.) to that of a chain-link fence shall not be permitted in the front yard in any district other than the (I) Industrial and (HC) Highway Commercial districts. For any chain-link fences located in the (I) Industrial or (HC) Highway Commercial Districts, vegetative material of sufficient height and density on the exterior of the fence or chain-link fence privacy slats to conceal the chain-link fence from the view of the adjoining lots must be provided in conjunction with any chain-link fence which fronts upon a street or shares a lot line with any lot located in a district other than (I) Industrial and (HC) Highway Commercial. Any chain-link fence privacy slats shall not be cracked or broken.
[2]
In the R-1, R-2, and RM districts, fences shall be limited to a maximum height of eight feet in side and rear yards; however, a fence of up to 10 feet in height may be constructed solely in the rear yard for the sole purpose of enclosing a court for tennis, basketball, or other similar sport. In all other districts, fences shall have a maximum height of 10 feet.
[3]
In the CC, CC-II, HC, and I districts, businesses with garden centers and the permitted outdoor storage of inventory or materials which share one common wall with the principal use may erect a fence equal in height to the height of the common wall for the remaining three sides of the garden center or outdoor storage area.
[4]
No fence shall be constructed in a location which interferes with the minimum sight distance required by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 13M, Highway Design Manual, as amended and supplemented from time to time.
[5]
No fence shall be located within a public access or public utility easement or right-of-way unless the applicant has written permission of the person who has been granted the public access or public utility easement. If the Borough or applicable utility needs access to the easement or right-of-way, the portion of fence obstructing the easement or right-of-way shall be removed by the property owner at their sole cost and expense.
[6]
The finished or smooth side of the fence must face the exterior of the lot, so that any exposed posts, frames, or supports face the interior of the lot unless the fence is designed in a manner in which both sides are equally finished or smooth. Simply put, the "attractive" side of the fence must face outward.
[7]
Any fence located in a front yard of a property without existing sidewalks may have to be removed or relocated at the property owner's sole cost and expense if sidewalks are required at the property.
(b)
A fence shall not be required to comply with accessory structure setbacks and may be constructed on the applicant's side of the property line, subject to Subsection J(1)(c) below.
(c)
Any applicant for a zoning permit to construct a fence bears sole responsibility for the accurate representation of any property lines and in the event information presented by the applicant is incorrect, the applicant shall bear all liability for the correction of the error.
(2)
Walls.
(a)
Unless otherwise stated, walls are permitted uses in all districts, subject to the following:
[1]
Walls may be located in the front, side, or rear yard.
[a]
In the R-1, R-2, RM, CC and CC-II districts:
[i]
Walls located in the front yard shall not exceed four feet in height and must be set back one foot from the property line for every foot or portion thereof of the wall's height, subject to Subsection J(2)(b) below. For example, if the proposed wall is 3 1/2 feet in height, it must be set back four feet from the front lot line. There shall be no required setback for walls in a side or rear yard.
[ii]
On a corner lot in the R-1, R-2, RM, CC, and CC-II Districts, the wall height shall be limited to four feet on both front yards.
[b]
Barbed wire shall not be permitted to be combined with walls in any district other than in the (I) Industrial and (HC) Highway Commercial districts. Barbed wire shall not be permitted in the front yard in any district other than the (I) Industrial District.
[2]
Walls shall have a maximum height of six feet except in the (I) Industrial and (HC) Highway Commercial districts, where the maximum height shall be limited to eight feet.
[3]
No wall shall be constructed in a location which interferes with the minimum sight distance required by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 13M, Highway Design Manual, as amended and supplemented from time to time.
[4]
No wall shall be located within a public access or public utility easement or right-of-way unless the applicant has written permission of the person who has been granted the public access or public utility easement. If the Borough or applicable utility needs access to the easement or right-of-way, the portion of wall obstructing the easement or right-of-way shall be removed by the property owner at their sole cost and expense.
[5]
The exterior of all walls must be finished with brick, stone, or other decorative block or decorative concrete product and must be architecturally compatible with the primary use structure and surrounding landscape. Concrete masonry blocks (alone, painted, stained or treated) shall not be considered a "finished wall."
[6]
The finished side of the wall must face the exterior of the lot, so that any exposed pillars, columns, or supports face the interior of the lot unless the wall is designed in a manner in which both sides are equally finished or smooth. Simply put, the "attractive" side of the wall must face outward.
[7]
Any wall located in a front yard of a property without existing sidewalks may have to be removed or relocated at the property owner's sole cost and expense if sidewalks are required at the property.
(b)
Any applicant for a zoning permit to construct a wall bears sole responsibility for the accurate representation of any property lines and in the event information presented by the applicant is incorrect, the applicant shall bear all liability for the correction of the error.
(3)
Retaining walls.
(a)
Unless otherwise stated, retaining walls are permitted uses in all districts, subject to the following:
[1]
Retaining walls may be located in the front, side, or rear yard.
[2]
No retaining wall shall be constructed in a location which interferes with the minimum sight distance required by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 13M, Highway Design Manual, as amended and supplemented from time to time.
[3]
No retaining wall shall be located within a public access or public utility easement or right-of-way unless the applicant has written permission of the person who has been granted the public access or public utility easement. If the Borough or applicable utility needs access to the easement or right-of-way, the portion of retaining wall obstructing the easement or right-of-way shall be removed by the property owner at their sole cost and expense.
[4]
Retaining walls must be finished with brick, stone, or other decorative block or concrete product and must be architecturally compatible with the primary use structure and surrounding landscape.
(b)
Retaining walls may be placed on the applicant's side of the property line, subject to Subsection J(3)(c) below.
(c)
Any applicant for a zoning permit to construct a retaining wall bears sole responsibility for the accurate representation of any property lines and in the event information presented by the applicant is incorrect, the applicant shall bear all liability for the correction of the error. An applicant to construct a retaining wall bears sole responsibility to ensure that the proposed retaining wall is properly engineered and designed to serve the purpose for which it is intended.
§ 205-22 Accessory uses.
A.
Customary home occupations including professional offices or studios are permitted as an accessory use subject to the following provisions:
(1)
Such use shall be located in a single dwelling unit or in a building accessory to the dwelling unit and provided those persons residing in said dwelling are involved in the home occupation and not more than two other persons.
(2)
Such use shall not display or create any exterior evidence of the home occupation other than one unanimated, nonilluminated flat sign having an area of not more than four square feet.
(3)
Only one customary home occupation shall be permitted in conjunction with a single-family dwelling.
(4)
Prior to the establishment of each and every customary home occupation after the effective date of this chapter, it shall be incumbent upon the owner to adequately document to the Borough Zoning Officer the kind, location and magnitude of such customary home occupation and obtain a certificate of occupancy.
(5)
Where off-street parking spaces are required for the principal use, two additional parking spaces shall be provided for the customary home occupation.
(6)
The occupation is secondary and incidental to the principal residential use.
B.
Private outdoor swimming pools shall be permitted as an accessory use subject to the following:
(1)
Such pool may be erected in the required rear yard but not in the required side or front yard.
(2)
No part of any such pool shall be located within 15 feet of any lot line.
[Amended 12-5-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-05]
(3)
Any such pool with a surface area of 150 square feet or more, or a depth of two feet or greater, shall be completely surrounded by a fence or wall that is not less than four feet in height. All gates or doors opening through said fence shall be erected, maintained and provided with a self-closing, self-locking gate to prevent unauthorized use of the pool and to prevent accidents. However, if said pool is located more than four feet above the ground level, then a fence is not required, provided that all points of access to said pool are adequately protected by a self-closing, self-locking gate.
[Amended 12-5-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-05]
(4)
A building permit and certificate of occupancy shall be required for all swimming pools.
[Amended 12-5-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-05]
§ 205-23 Height regulations.
[Amended 1-3-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-2]
A.
Where a lot has frontage on two or more streets or other public rights-of-way, the limitation shall apply only as measured from the curb level along the street or way with a higher elevation above sea level.
B.
Chimneys, flues, towers, spires, cupola domes, pole masts, and antennas shall be exempt from the height limitations of this chapter.
§ 205-24 Yard and lot regulations.
A.
On corner lots.
(1)
Front yards are required on both streets' frontages, and one yard other than the front yard shall be deemed to be a rear yard, and other (or others) side yards.
(2)
No obstructions to vision in any district other than the (CC) Community Commercial District exceeding 30 inches in height above curb level shall be erected or maintained within a thirty-foot clear sight triangle formed by the center line of intersecting streets.
B.
Front yard exception. No proposed principal or accessory building need have a setback greater than the average of the existing dwellings located within 50 feet on each side of the adjacent lot line of the proposed dwelling, in the same side of the street, within the same block, and the same district.
C.
Projections into required yards. Open patios may be located in side and rear yards provided, if located closer than 10 feet to any adjacent property line, they shall be screened in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
D.
Existing small lots. A lot owned individually and separately and separated in ownership from any adjoining tracts of land on the effective date of this chapter, which has a total lot area or dimension(s) less than prescribed in this chapter, may be used, provided such lot shall be developed in conformity with all applicable district regulations other than the minimum lot area and setback requirements. Existing small lots meeting the above stipulations shall comply with the following:
E.
Through lots. Where a lot extends through from street to street, the applicable front yard regulation shall apply on both street frontages. However, in the event of a complete system of through lots which are designed for reversed frontage, the front yard need only be along the more minor street of the subdivision.
F.
Waiver of yards. No side yard or rear yard shall be required for commercial or industrial uses when such yard abuts an operating railroad right-of-way.
§ 205-25 Parking regulations.
A.
Parking requirements. Accessory off-street parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the table set forth below and elsewhere in this chapter.
[Amended 12-5-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-05]
Single-family detached dwelling | 2 per dwelling unit |
Single-family dwellings semidetached | 2 per dwelling unit |
Two-family detached dwellings | 4 |
Attached dwelling residences | 2 per dwelling unit |
Multiple dwelling residences | 2 per dwelling unit |
Multiple occupancy buildings | 2 per dwelling unit and 1 space for each 200 square feet of floor area1 |
Detached commercial buildings | 1 space for each 200 square feet of floor area2 |
Detached industrial buildings | 1 space for each employee on maximum shift |
In the (CC) Community Commercial District, off-street parking spaces are not required, but are encouraged. | |
In the (MX) Mixed Use District, all parking must be on the interior of the lot, with all structures fronting on adjacent streets. On corner lots, parking may be located on interior side yards, provided that screening of at least 10 feet in width separates the street from the parking area (not including sidewalks). | |
Shared parking | In the Mixed Use District, multifamily dwellings and detached commercial uses may share parking spaces to meet the requirements of this section, with the total parking requirement being reduced by 35% provided that: 1) the uses are located on the same lot and 2) the commercial uses do not have hours of operation between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. |
In the Mixed Use District, mixed commercial/residential uses may share parking spaces to meet the requirements of this section, with the total parking requirement being reduced by 35% of the total parking requirements for the mixed commercial/residential uses. | |
Uses not specifically addressed | In the event that a use is not specifically addressed in this section, the Zoning Officer shall determine what enumerated use and parking requirement is more analogous to the proposed use, and use the respective parking requirement for the proposed use. |
1 | Hotels or motels which only have overnight guest rooms and administrative offices for the operation of the hotel or motel shall only be required to provide one off-street parking space for each overnight guest room and one off-street parking space for each employee. |
2 | ld. |
B.
Areas computed as parking spaces. Areas which may be computed as open or enclosed off-street parking spaces include any private garage, carport or other area available for parking, other than a street or driveway. However, a driveway within a required front yard for a one-family or two-family residence may count as two parking spaces.
C.
Size of spaces. Minimum parking stall width shall be nine feet; length shall be 18 feet. All parking aisles shall have a minimum width of 25 feet for ninety-degree parking, and a minimum width of 20 feet for two-way angle parking. One-way angle parking shall have a minimum aisle width of 15 feet.
D.
Circulation. All dead-end parking lots shall be designed to provide sufficient backup area for the end stalls. Parking areas shall be designed so that each vehicle may proceed without requiring the moving of any other vehicle. In no case shall commercial parking areas be designed to require or encourage vehicles to back onto a public street.
E.
Access. Unobstructed access to and from a street or alley shall be provided. The width of entrance or exit drives shall be a minimum of 15 feet for one-way use only and a minimum of 25 feet for two-way use. No entrance or exit for any multiple dwelling, commercial or industrial parking area shall be located within 50 feet of any street intersection.
F.
Drainage and surfacing. All parking areas shall be surfaced with an asphaltic or Portland cement or similar durable and dustless surface and shall be so graded and drained to dispose of all surface water anticipated within the area. Surface materials shall be subject to Borough approval.
G.
Screening and setbacks of parking areas.
[Amended 12-5-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-05]
(1)
For multifamily, industrial uses, and any use in the Highway Commercial District and Community Commercial II District, no parking area shall be closer than 10 feet to the multiple dwelling, industrial building, or Highway Commercial or Community Commercial II principle structure, or to the side or rear lot line of the lot on which the respective use is situated.
(2)
For Mixed Commercial/Residential structures in the Mixed Use District (MX) parking areas shall not be closer than five feet to the Mixed Commercial/Residential structure.
(3)
For multifamily, industrial uses, any use in the Highway Commercial District or Community Commercial II District, and any use in the Mixed Use District, the parking shall be screened from adjoining lots with a minimum five-foot planting strip.
(4)
Parking areas shall be physically separated from any public cartway by a minimum of a five-foot planting strip (certain districts may have more stringent screening requirements which are applicable) and in no case shall parking areas be designed to require or encourage vehicles to back into the public street.
H.
Location. Parking areas planned and designed to serve a permitted use shall be located in the same district as the permitted use. Ingress and egress for a parking area shall also be located in the same district as the permitted principal use which it serves.
§ 205-26 Off-street loading requirements.
Off-street loading berths open or enclosed shall be permitted as an accessory use to commercial and industrial principal uses subject to the following minimum provisions:
A.
Size of spaces. Each loading berth shall be at least 12 feet wide, 33 feet long, and 14 feet high.
B.
Location and access. Unobstructed access, at least 15 feet wide, to and from a street shall be provided. Such access may be combined with access to a parking lot. All permitted or required loading berths shall be on the same lot and same district as the use to which they are accessory. No entrance or exit for any off-street loading area shall be located within 50 feet of any street intersection. No off-street loading berth shall be located in any front yard or within 10 feet of any side or rear yard which adjoins a residential district boundary or existing residential use.
§ 205-27 Sign regulations.
[Amended 5-7-1984; 2-1-1988 by Ord. No. 88-01; 1-3-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-2; 9-6-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-8; 4-3-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-04; 4-7-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-04]
Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the following provisions:
A.
General regulations applying to all signs.
(1)
Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed to become dilapidated.
(2)
Signs shall not be placed in such a position that they will cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
(3)
No sign, except for a scoreboard permitted electronic message center, shall be permitted which rotates and/or causes interruption or flashing of light. Any illuminated sign shall be illuminated with a steady, stationary, and shielded light directed solely onto the sign without causing glare so that only the illumination of the sign, rather than the source of lights, is visible.
(4)
Abandoned or outdated signs. Signs advertising a use no longer in existence shall be removed within 30 days of the cessation of such use. If the owner of a property does not remove such sign within 30 days after receiving a written notice from the Zoning Officer, the sign may be removed by the Borough at the expense of the property owner.
[Amended 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05]
(5)
Billboards or similar outdoor advertising signs, except scoreboards, which advertise products or businesses not connected with the site or building shall comply with the requirements of § 205-27.1 of this chapter.
(6)
Signs placed on the roof of a building shall be prohibited except in the (HC) Highway Commercial and (I) Industrial districts. No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, except by a utility or government agency. No sign shall be attached to a tree or governmental- or municipal-owned infrastructure to include but not be limited to: stop signs, yield signs, etc. The police officers of the Borough of Greencastle, the Zoning Officer, his/her designee, or the owner of the utility pole or tree shall have the authority to remove and dispose of signs attached to a utility pole or tree in the public right-of-way, or governmental-, or municipal-owned infrastructure to include but not be limited to: stop signs, yield signs, etc.
[Amended 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05]
(7)
Signs erected in violation of these provisions shall be removed upon written notice of the Borough. Failure to remove such signs shall constitute a violation of this chapter, and in addition to the penalties contained herein, the Borough will charge the owner for the cost of Borough removal of such signs.
(8)
Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include any explicit sexual materials, as defined by 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5903, as amended, shall be prohibited.
[Added 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05]
(9)
Signs shall be prohibited that are of such character, form, shape or color that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street (such as the prominent use of the word "danger").
[Added 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05]
B.
Signs permitted in all districts. The following signs shall be permitted in all districts without the necessity to obtain a permit from the Borough:
(1)
Real estate signs announcing the sale or rental of the property where located.
(2)
Civic and religious signs or bulletin boards not exceeding 20 square feet.
(3)
Construction signs announcing the architect, engineer and/or contractor(s) placed upon the property only during the duration of construction activity and not exceeding 32 square feet.
C.
Signs permitted in the R-1 and R-2 Districts.
(1)
Customary home occupation signs, which shall be unanimated and nonilluminated and shall not exceed an area of four square feet.
(2)
Residential development signs not exceeding an area of 32 square feet and providing only one such sign shall be permitted for each accessway into the residential development.
(3)
Signs used as accessory to a special exception not exceeding 20 square feet in area and providing only one such sign shall be permitted for each special exception.
D.
Signs permitted in (CC) Community Commercial Districts.
(1)
Only one sign for each street frontage shall be permitted for each commercial use, except that awning signs shall also be permitted, provided that the awning sign does not exceed 50% of the face of the awning.
[Amended 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05]
(2)
Hereafter, signs may project beyond the property line abutting a street, providing the overhanging sign is not less than eight feet above the sidewalk and at least three feet horizontal from the curbline. Overhanging signs shall not project over the cartway of any street or alley.
(3)
No sign shall exceed an area of 20 square feet for commercial uses with up to 75 feet of street frontage, and no sign shall exceed an area of 32 square feet for commercial uses with over 75 feet of street frontage.
(4)
No sign shall be placed so that its height measured from the base of the building where located exceeds 20 feet.
(5)
Sandwich board signs shall be permitted subject to the following:
(a)
Sign is not in a location that would interfere with pedestrian traffic, emergency access or parking spaces and retains a five-foot-wide minimum clearance path for pedestrians, and such sign is kept as close to the building's facade as feasible.
[Amended 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05]
(b)
A sandwich board may only be displayed during business hours, and said sandwich board sign must be removed at the close of business each day. A sandwich board sign must be stored inside a building or structure during non-business hours.
(c)
Any sandwich board sign must be no greater than four feet in height and three feet in width per side.
(d)
Only one sandwich board sign is permitted per business or entity, except any business or entity that faces two public streets or rights-of-way is permitted to have one sandwich board sign located on each public street or right-of-way located immediately adjacent to the business or entity. In no event shall a business or entity be permitted to have more than two sandwich board signs.
(e)
The owner of a sandwich board sign shall place and locate a sandwich board sign in a manner that will not cause any damage to any person and/or property. The owner of a sandwich board sign assumes any and all liabilities associated with and/or related to said sandwich board sign, indirectly and/or directly, including but not limited to any damage to person and/or property. By placing a sandwich board sign in the Borough, the owner of such sandwich board sign agrees to indemnify the Borough of Greencastle from any and all damages, claims, costs and/or expenses associated with any damage to any person and/or property, caused by and/or related to, indirectly and/or directly, a sandwich board sign.
E.
Signs permitted in (HC) Highway Commercial, (I) Industrial, (CC-II) Community Commercial-II, and (MX) Mixed Use Districts.
[Amended 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-05; 12-5-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-05]
(1)
Business identification signs shall be permitted subject to the following:
(a)
Specific district requirements.
[1]
In the (HC) Highway Commercial, (I) Industrial, (CC-II) Community Commercial-II and (MX) Mixed Use Districts, not more than one sign attached to and parallel with the premises facing each street shall be permitted.
[2]
In the (HC) Highway Commercial District and the (MX) Mixed Use District:
[a]
In the (HC) Highway Commercial District, for a single use housed in a single building with at least 500 lineal feet of frontage upon a street, no more than:
[i]
Two business identification signs attached to and parallel with the premises facing each street shall be permitted not to exceed 96 square feet each; and
[ii]
Additional service identification signs, provided that the total signage of the two business identification signs and the service identifications signs together do not exceed 5% of the surface area of the front of the building.
[b]
For any other use (single uses with less than 500 lineal feet of frontage or any multiple use lot, not including shopping centers), not more than one sign attached to and parallel with the premises facing each street shall be permitted. The size of such sign shall not exceed 96 square feet or 10% of the surface area in total of the surface area of the front of the building.
(b)
Additionally, not more than one freestanding sign shall be permitted for each street frontage of 100 feet, and an additional freestanding sign shall be permitted for each additional 100 feet of frontage or faction thereof. The size of such sign shall not exceed 96 square feet nor exceed the height limitation of 25 feet. If the permitted freestanding sign area is not used, such sign area may be added to the permitted wall sign area; provided, however, that the wall sign shall not exceed 10% of the surface area of the front of the building. An auto service station may also include an additional 24 square feet of sign area to display fuel prices.
(c)
No sign shall be located in the established right-of-way of any street.
(d)
Additionally, awning signs shall be permitted, provided that the awning sign does not exceed 50% of the face of the awning and provided that awning signs for uses subject to Subsection E(1)(a)[2] shall be included in calculating the total signage for the use, which shall not exceed 5% of the surface area of the front of the building.
(2)
Signs located in shopping centers shall be subject to the following:
(a)
There shall be only one freestanding sign per road frontage which shall be designed and used for the purpose of announcing the shopping center. Such sign shall not exceed 96 square feet nor exceed a height limitation of 25 feet.
(b)
Individual tenant business identification signs shall not exceed 96 square feet and in total (all tenant business identification signs in the shopping center) shall not exceed 10% of the surface area of the front of the building.
(3)
Sandwich board signs shall be permitted in the ( CC-II) Community Commercial-II, (HC) Highway Commercial and (MX) Mixed Use Districts, and not in the (I) Industrial District, subject to the following:
(a)
A sandwich board sign must be located at either the facade of the building where the business or entity is located or at the curb immediately adjacent to the building where the business or entity is located and in a manner that said sandwich board sign is not intruding into any state right-of-way; provided, however, that said sandwich board sign must be located in a manner that it provides at least five feet of unobstructed clearance for pedestrians to use any sidewalk or other walkway in the Borough of Greencastle and must not obstruct the view of any individual operating a motor vehicle within the Borough of Greencastle.
(b)
A sandwich board may only be displayed during business hours, and said sandwich board sign must be removed at the close of business each day. A sandwich board sign must be stored inside a building or structure during non-business hours.
(c)
Any sandwich board sign must be no greater than four feet in height and three feet in width per side.
(d)
Only one sandwich board sign is permitted per business or entity, except any business or entity that faces two public streets or rights-of-way is permitted to have one sandwich board sign located on each public street or right-of-way located immediately adjacent to the business or entity. In no event shall a business or entity be permitted to have more than two sandwich board signs.
(e)
The owner of a sandwich board sign shall place and locate a sandwich board sign in a manner that will not cause any damage to any person and/or property. The owner of a sandwich board sign assumes any and all liabilities associated with and/or related to said sandwich board sign, indirectly and/or directly, including but not limited to any damage to person and/or property. By placing a sandwich board sign in the Borough, the owner of such sandwich board sign agrees to indemnify the Borough of Greencastle from any and all damages, claims, costs and/or expenses associated with any damage to any person and/or property, caused by and/or related to, indirectly and/or directly, a sandwich board sign.
F.
Information kiosk signs are permitted in the (CC) Community Commercial, (CC-II) Community Commercial-II, (HC) Highway Commercial, (INS) Institutional, and (MX) Mixed Use Districts.
[Amended 12-5-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-05]
G.
Electronic message center signs are permitted in the (HC) Highway Commercial and (CC-II) Community Commercial-II Districts.
I.
Permit requirements. All signs, with the exception of those signs specifically identified in Subsection B, and signs placed in the windows of permitted commercial uses are subject to Borough permit requirements prior to installation or erection.
J.
Scoreboard requirements. All signs which are determined to be a scoreboard shall meet the following regulations:
(1)
Size. Such signs shall have a total maximum size area of 500 square feet with a maximum height off the ground of eight feet.
(2)
Primary purpose. The primary purpose of such signs shall be to transmit the time and/or score and/or other relevant information regarding such athletic information or any other event taking place to the spectators at the event.
(3)
Accessory use. Such signs shall be permitted to have an accessory use of advertising for off-premises business and/or entities; provided, however, that such accessory use shall be limited to 25% of the total sign area.
(4)
Sign illumination. Such sign shall be permitted to externally illuminate by electricity, gas or other artificial light, including reflective or phosphorescent light; provided, however, that any illumination shall include lighting devices such as any light, string of lights, or group of lights located or arranged so as to cast illumination on a sign.
K.
Nonconforming signs. Every sign in existence at the time this article becomes effective, which does not conform with the provisions herein, shall be removed, altered, or replaced so as to conform with this article after any change of use of the property upon which the sign is erected, upon the change of the name of any business for which the sign is erected, or upon replacement or alteration of the existing nonconforming sign.
§ 205-27.1 Outdoor advertising signs.
[Added 4-3-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-04]
Outdoor advertising signs may be authorized by special exception upon a finding that compliance with the requirements of this Chapter, as well as the following specific criteria, have been established by the applicant:
A.
The submission by the applicant of a site development plan, which shall contain the information, maps, plans and narrative and graphic materials set forth in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance[1] and this chapter, for the Borough of Greencastle.
B.
All lots upon which outdoor advertising signs are to be located must conform to the area requirements of the Highway Commercial Zoning District and be located entirely within that zoning district and, in addition, have frontage on U.S. Route 11 within the Borough.
C.
The leased portion of any lot upon which the outdoor advertising is to be located shall contain a minimum of 5,000 square feet in area.
D.
The total area of an outdoor advertising sign face shall be a maximum of 300 square feet, and all portions of any display shall fit within such area with no extensions beyond the edge of the outdoor advertising sign's framework. Only one sign face, not exceeding 300 square feet in face area, may be attached or constructed on each side of a sign.
E.
V-shaped billboard and advertising sign structures supported by a single structure shall be permitted, provided that the angle formed by the two sides of the advertising sign structure does not exceed 30°.
F.
All utility lines serving the outdoor advertising sign, or those extended to provide such service, must be installed completely underground. Such requirement may be waived if the outdoor advertising sign is powered by nontraditional alternative energy sources (for example, solar power).
G.
All outdoor advertising signs shall be set back from the below described items as follows:
(1)
From a roadway intersection: 500 feet.
(2)
From any other outdoor advertising sign, whether such sign is located in the Borough of Greencastle or otherwise, on the same side of the roadway: 1,000 feet.
(3)
From any other outdoor advertising sign, whether such sign is located in the Borough of Greencastle or otherwise, on the opposite side of the roadway: 600 feet.
(4)
From the street right-of-way: 50 feet.
H.
The maximum height of outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed 25 feet, as measured from the grade of the roadway from which the advertising message is principally visible, and the bottom edge of the outdoor advertising sign shall be no more than eight feet above the elevation of the adjacent roadway, which height shall be sufficient to prevent unauthorized access upon the outdoor advertising sign.
I.
A buffer yard shall be required between outdoor advertising signs and any adjacent lot(s). Such buffer yard shall be a minimum of 40 feet.
J.
The land area utilized for an outdoor advertising sign shall not be otherwise required to support another underlying use upon such lot, including but not limited to buffer yard, parking area or setback necessary to any preexisting use upon such lot.
K.
All displays on the face of outdoor advertising signs shall be stationary. Animated, sequential, flashing, moving, rotating, revolving, or oscillating or otherwise nonstationary signs or displays shall be prohibited.
L.
Except as otherwise specifically provided within this subsection, illumination of outdoor advertising signs shall comply with the requirements of § 205-28.
M.
Illumination of the display shall be designed so that it shall be focused on the face of the display itself, so as to prevent glare upon the surrounding area. All sources of illumination shall be external and equipped with shields to prevent spillage of light off the display.
N.
Except as otherwise may be specified herein, all development of outdoor advertising signs shall comply with the land development standards contained in the Borough of Greencastle Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance[2] and this Chapter
O.
Outdoor advertising signs, including any and all supporting structures thereof, shall be dismantled and removed from the premises upon which they are located within 180 days of the cessation of use.
P.
Outdoor advertising signs shall be constructed to all applicable structural standards for such devices, and all applications for the special exception approval shall verify compliance with such standards as documented and sealed by a registered engineer.
Q.
Outdoor advertising signs shall be maintained by their owner in a state of repair so that they are as safe and as functional as when originally installed.
R.
No outdoor advertising sign shall be constructed or erected until an applicant thereof has made an application for same, which shall include a copy of a written lease for use of the land if the applicant is not the owner thereof, and paid the applicable fee thereof, as set by separate ordinance or resolution of the Borough of Greencastle, and received a permit thereof from the Borough.
S.
Billboard signs shall be permitted only if the provisions of the Outdoor Advertising Control Act of 1971, Act 160, 36 P.S. § 2718.101 et seq., have been met.
T.
Before any outdoor advertising signs are erected, the appropriate state and/or federal permits that are required for the erection of a billboard shall be obtained and copies of the same shall be filed at the Borough Office prior to issuance of a signed permit by the Borough.
§ 205-28 Lighting requirements.
[Added 9-6-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-8; amended 12-5-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-05]
The following standards shall apply to the design and operation of outdoor lights (for example, artificial illuminating devices, installed or portable, used for floodlighting, general illumination, or security) for multifamily dwellings, commercial uses, all uses permitted in the Mixed Use District, all uses permitted in the Institutional District, and industrial uses:
A.
Light fixtures or lamps shall be shielded in such manner as to direct all light toward the earth's surface and away from reflective surfaces.
B.
Light fixtures or lamps shall be shielded in such manner as to direct incident rays away from all adjacent property.
C.
Light fixtures or lamps on poles shall not exceed the height of the building whose area they illuminate, or 15 feet, whichever is less.
D.
Light fixtures or lamps shall not shine toward any street, adjacent residential district, residential use or into the night sky.
E.
Light-emitting surfaces of light fixtures or lamps shall not be visible when viewed from the ground, from any street, residential district or residential use.