Patterson Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVI
Sign Requirements
§ 190-56 Authority.
Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the provisions of this article and any and all other ordinances and regulations of the Township which may be applicable.
§ 190-57 Exclusions.
The following shall not be subject to the provisions of this article unless otherwise specifically cited herein:
A.
Signs of a duly constituted local, state or federal governmental body, including traffic or similar safety and regulatory devices, legal notices, railway warning signals, memorial signs or tablets;
B.
Flags of a political, civic, religious or educational organization.
C.
Small signs with a surface area not exceeding three square feet, displayed for the direction or convenience of the public which identify landmarks, parking areas, convenience facilities and similar features;
D.
One temporary nonlighted sign on a construction site not exceeding an area of 32 square feet, denoting engineer, architect, contractor or funding agencies and related information regarding the development.
E.
Business sponsorship signs bearing the name, logo, general service offered, location and/or telephone number shall be permitted on off-premises recreation locations where the sign is posted as part of a fundraising program for the recreational activity. Such signs shall be subject to the following requirements.
[Added 2-13-2003 by Ord. No. 397]
(1)
Signs may be hung only on the fences encompassing the field being used for the recreational activity and shall not exceed a total gross sign area of more than 16 square feet.
(2)
Signs hung from fences shall not interfere with the line of sight for motor vehicle traffic along the public roads and streets.
(3)
The sign may only be displayed during the playing season of the recreational activity and must be removed at the end of the playing season.
§ 190-58 Permitted signs in R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Districts.
In the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Residential Districts, the following requirements shall apply:
A.
The following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
One permanent identification sign for each dwelling unit, which may cite the name of the occupant, address and other distinguishing features of the structure or property. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area.
(2)
One temporary nonlighted real estate sign pertaining to the sale, lease, hire or rental of property on which the sign is displayed, not to exceed six square feet in area.
(3)
One small announcement sign designating home occupations, provided that all such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area.
(4)
One permanent announcement sign erected by churches, schools, municipal facilities, or similar permitted uses, which may include any appropriate message, and may be an electronic message sign as defined under § 190-61F, provided that the area of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet.
[Amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. 476]
(5)
A temporary sign advertising a garage sale, street fair or other temporary activity or a temporary sign directing persons to the location of such activity. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area and must be removed within 24 hours of the termination of the activity.
[Amended 4-11-1988 by Ord. No. 294]
(6)
Political signs shall not exceed four square feet in area. Political signs may not be erected more than 30 days prior to an election and shall be removed within five days after the election for which they were erected. Each sign which is erected that is not in compliance with this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not greater than $100.
[Added 4-11-1988 by Ord. No. 294; amended 8-11-2011 by Ord. No. 432]
(7)
Small signs with a surface area not exceeding three square feet, displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, that identify other properties (e.g., a sign providing directions to another property). A request for a sign permit under this subsection shall be made by the property owner.
[Added 5-28-1991 by Ord. No. 3113-A]
B.
Moving, flashing, intermittently lighted signs and electronic message signs are prohibited in the four residential districts except as provided for in § 190-58A(4) herein.
[Amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. 476]
C.
Signs shall be located a minimum distance of four feet from the street right-of-way line.
D.
The bottom-most part of a sign shall not be more than two feet above ground level, except signs attached to a building. No sign shall project above a roof or be mounted on a building above the eave line of a roof.
§ 190-59 Permitted signs in C-1, C-2 and C-3 Districts.
[Amended 5-12-1999 by Ord. No. 370]
In the C-1, C-2 and C-3 Commercial Districts, the following requirements shall apply to individual lots:
A.
The following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
Business signs not to exceed one square foot of sign area for each one linear foot of lot frontage. No individual sign shall exceed 200 square feet in area.
(2)
Freestanding signs or projecting signs extending outward from a building shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
(3)
Temporary signs which may be in addition to the limitations cited in Subsection A(1) above, which are placed in windows or affixed to the exterior wall areas of buildings and which advertise special promotional business sales or services available on the premises. Such signs shall be removed within 24 hours when the special circumstances which led to their placement no longer apply. Such signs shall not cover in excess of 25% of involved wall areas of any single side, front or rear of the structure.
(4)
Temporary signs advertising the sale, rental or development of property, buildings or portions thereof, not to exceed 32 square feet.
(5)
Temporary signs or banners announcing sales or special events on the immediate site may be used in C-1 and C-2 Districts for a period not to exceed 15 days, provided that they shall only be displayed if hung or installed flush with the wall of the principal structure on the lot or on poles or support cables which project no more than two feet from the face of the principal structure.
(6)
Portable or mobile signs and other similar advertising displays in excess of six square feet may be used for special sales, announcements and related purposes in the C-1 and C-2 Districts subject to the following provisions:
(a)
Display area of such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(b)
No portion of the sign or its supporting structure shall occupy a public right-of-way.
(c)
All lighting and illumination restrictions which apply to displays, signs and structures under this chapter shall apply.
(d)
Permits for the placement of such signs shall be issued for a maximum of 30 consecutive days.
(7)
Political signs are permitted as described in § 190-58A(6).
[Added 4-11-1988 by Ord. No. 294]
(8)
Small signs with a surface area not exceeding three square feet, displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, that identify other properties (e.g., a sign providing directions to another property). A request for a sign permit under this subsection shall be made by the property owner.
[Added 5-28-1996 by Ord. No. 313-A]
B.
Advertising subject matter or business identification in excess of 20 square feet in area which is painted or otherwise inscribed directly on the wall surface of a building in a permanent manner shall require a reduction in the maximum total sign size permitted for that business under Subsection A(1) above. The required reduction shall be computed at the rate of a twenty-five-percent decrease in the permitted maximum sign size for each 100 square feet, or portion thereof, of painted or inscribed wall surface.
C.
Electronic message signs shall be permitted in Zoning Districts C-2 and C-3, subject to the requirements of § 190-61F.
[Amended 8-11-2011 by Ord. No. 432]
D.
Signs may not be attached to utility poles except for municipal purposes.
§ 190-60 Permitted signs in P District.
In the P Preservation District, the following requirements shall apply:
A.
The only signs permitted shall be temporary nonlighted real estate signs pertaining to the sale, lease, hire or rental of property on which the sign is displayed, not to exceed six square feet in area, signs identifying residential occupants not to exceed two square feet in area and announcement signs designating public recreation areas.
B.
Political signs are not permitted in P Districts.
[Added 4-11-1988 by Ord. No. 294]
§ 190-61 General sign standards.
The following standards shall apply to signs in all zoning districts of the Township:
A.
No sign shall be located or constructed as to obstruct or interfere with any traffic control signal, sign, device or intersection sight triangle.
B.
No sign shall be permitted which is deemed to constitute a hazard of any kind.
C.
There shall be no more than one sign of each type allowed herein on any lot within the Township, except that for each 100 feet of road frontage over the first 100 feet of road frontage a second sign of the types approved in that zoning district shall be permitted. This limitation does not apply to temporary or political signs.
D.
A sign shall be removed within 30 days when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply. Circumstances which dictate sign removal shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(1)
The creation of a safety hazard.
(2)
Dilapidation.
(3)
Vacancy or termination of the subject business for more than 90 days.
(4)
Legal transfer of ownership of a business which involves a change of name or business activity.
(5)
The completion of an event, business transaction or other activity for which the sign was originally installed.
(6)
Any illegality under the provisions of this chapter or regulation of a duly constituted governmental authority.
E.
Signs shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1)
All lighting and illumination of signs shall conform to regulations regarding traffic hazards as specified in local and state regulations.
(2)
Signs may be illuminated, where permitted by this chapter, provided that the use of such illumination does not confuse, blind or distract vehicle operators on adjacent or nearby streets.
(3)
Electronic message signs shall be permitted in Zoning Districts C-2 and C-3, shall be a conditional use in Zoning District P, and shall be permitted in the four residential districts as set forth in § 190-58A(4), all subject to the requirements of § 190-61F.
[Amended 8-11-2011 by Ord. No. 432; 5-13-2021 by Ord. No. 476]
F.
Electronic message signs.
[Added 8-11-2011 by Ord. No. 432]
(1) ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN FADE FRAME
Definitions. As used in this Subsection F, the following words shall have the meanings indicated:
A sign capable of displaying words, symbols, figures or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means.
A mode of message transition on an electronic message sign accomplished by varying the light intensity, where the message gradually reduces intensity to the point of not being legible and the subsequent message gradually increases intensity to the point of legibility.
A complete, static display screen on an electronic message sign.
(2)
Operational limitations. Such displays shall be limited to static displays; messages that appear or disappear from the display through fade, travel or scroll modes, or similar transitions; and frame effects that have text, animated graphics or images that appear to move or change in size or are revealed sequentially rather than all at once. Such displays shall not include the flashing, scintillating or varying of light intensity, except for varying of light intensity for fade.
(3)
Prohibited signs. All signs not expressly permitted under Subsection F are prohibited in the Township. Prohibited signs include, but are not limited to:
(a)
All signs that imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device; or that use a revolving beam or beacon resembling any emergency vehicle; or that are located or illuminated in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device, or so as to obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of approaching, emerging, or intersecting traffic, or so as to prevent any traveler on any street from obtaining a clear view of approaching vehicles for a distance of 250 feet along the street.
(b)
Beacons.
(c)
Signs that are located in or interfere with the use of a required off-street parking space or maneuvering area.
(d)
Illuminated signs, illuminated from within or without, that are illuminated in such a manner, with high intensity, or without proper shielding, so as to constitute a hazard to the operation of motor vehicles upon a public street or to substantially interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of residential property.
(4)
Illumination. Brightness of electronic message signs shall be no greater than 7,000 nits during daylight hours and no greater than 500 nits during nighttime hours. However, regardless of luminance, no electronic message signs shall be illuminated in such a manner that creates glare conditions on adjacent properties or adjacent streets, impairs the vision of a motor vehicle driver, interferes with a motor vehicle drive's operation of a vehicle, or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device, or signal. All electronic message signs shall be equipped with a dimmer control and a photo cell, which constantly keeps track of ambient light conditions and adjusts the sign brightness accordingly. A written certification is required from the sign manufacturer, stating that the light intensity has been preset not to exceed the illumination levels established by this Subsection F, and that the preset intensity level is protected from end-user manipulation by password-protected software.
(5)
Minimum display time. Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of five seconds.
(6)
Message change sequence. A minimum of 0.5 second of time with no messages displayed shall be provided between each message, animated graphic or image displayed on the sign.
§ 190-62 Permits.
A.
A separate zoning permit shall be required for erection of signs under this chapter, except that no permit shall be required for the following exclusions:
(2)
Signs specified under § 190-58A(1), (2), (5) and(6) of this chapter.
[Amended 4-11-1988 by Ord. No. 294]
(3)
Signs specified under § 190-59A(3), (4), (5) and (7) of this chapter.
[Amended 4-11-1988 by Ord. No. 294]
(4)
Signs painted directly on the wall surface of a building which do not exceed 20 square feet in area.
B.
Each application for a permit shall be accompanied by a drawing to scale showing the proposed sign, the size, general characteristics, method of illumination, the exact location of the sign in relation to the lot and structure involved and other data as may be requested by the Zoning Officer.
C.
A fee shall accompany each application for a permit. Such fees shall be established by resolution of the Board of Township Commissioners.