Springettsbury Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXIV
Signs
§ 325-99 Purpose and intent.
The purposes of these signage regulations are: to encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication within the Township; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the Township's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to minimize possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property; and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations.
§ 325-100 Definitions.
The following words shall have the following definitions for purposes of this Article XXIV, Signs:
Such business signs that advertise an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted or available on the premises on which the sign is located.
A sign or individual lettering/numbering that designates the street number and/or street name for identification purposes, as designated by the United States Postal Service.
Any sign the appearance of which changes electronically more frequently than every five minutes.
Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, architects and lending institutions responsible for painting or construction on the site where the sign is placed.
Any sign supported by or painted or projected on structures that form a portion of the primary building or structure, including signs located within or attached to the inside face of a window.
Any sign painted on or applied to a structure made of cloth, canvas, metal, plastic, fiberglass or similar material which is affixed to a building and projects from it.
Any sign of durable, lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a pole or building at two or more edges. National, state or municipal flags shall not be considered banners.
The side of a building determined by the Zoning Officer to be the front of the building or tenant space for purposes of determining sign size. Each building and tenant space shall have only one building frontage. The Zoning Officer shall determine the front of the building based on factors, including but not limited to the location of the main entrance doors and disabled access entry, location of the parking areas, location of access drives, location of public streets and the street address.
The area of a building front area shall be computed by means of the smallest square, triangle, rectangle, circle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the structure.
Any sign indicating the name of a building and data and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, product, service, activity or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
An attached sign that is part of or attached to an awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outside service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than eight times per day shall be considered an animated sign and not a changeable-copy sign for the purposes of this chapter. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a time-and-temperature portion of a sign and not a changeable-copy sign for the purposes of this chapter.
A noncommercial temporary sign, posted to promote and advertise an activity sponsored by the Township, school district, church, public agency, civic or other similar not-for-profit organization on the premises where the event is to be held.
A noncommercial temporary sign posted off premises to promote and advertise an activity sponsored by the Township, school district, church, public agency, civic or other similar not-for-profit organization.
Artificial sign lighting projecting from any source within the body of the sign.
A sign which identifies multiple uses in a planned development on a single sign; may be used for shopping centers, shopping streets or business campuses, and similar large complexes which have a variety of tenants and/or uses.
A temporary sign indicating that the premises is in the process of subdivision or development.
An on-premises sign designed to guide vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic by using such words as "Entrance," "Exit," "Parking," "One-Way," or similar direction or instruction, but not including any advertising message. The name or logo of the business or use to which the sign is giving direction may also be included on the sign but shall not exceed 50% of the total sign area.
A sign with two identical faces of equal sign area which are back to back.
Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or design that displays the symbols of a nation, state, local government, company, organization, belief system, idea or other meaning.
Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign that exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever.
Any sign that displays one sign surface that is:
Any sign that is constructed over a portion of the roof of a building and at no point extends more than 12 inches from it. Flat roof signs may not extend above the top of the roofline at any location.
A sign and supporting structure that is secured in the ground and independent of any building, fence or other support.
Any sign to control traffic or for identification, including street signs, warning signs, railroad-crossing signs and signs of public service companies indicating danger or construction, which are erected by or at the order of a public officer, employee or agent thereof in the discharge of his official duties.
A day for celebration of a person or event that is generally recognized as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and by the federal government.
Any sign the primary purpose of which is to celebrate a holiday.
A sign used in conjunction with equipment or other functional elements of a use or operation. These shall include, but not be limited to, drive-through window menu boards; signs on automatic teller machines, gas pumps, vending machines or newspaper delivery boxes. The name or logo of the business or use to which the sign is giving direction may also be included on the sign but shall not exceed 50% of the total sign area.
Any sign indicating the name and address of an occupant of a building.
A nonflashing or nontwinkling sign which has letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by an internal or external lighting source as a part of the sign.
Any artificial sign lighting from lights on or directed toward the sign.
Any sign that is either expanded to its full dimensions or supported by gases contained within the sign, or sign parts, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. For purposes of this definition and chapter, a simple helium balloon is not considered to be an inflatable sign.
A sign located within the interior of a lot, generally not visible from the street or adjoining properties, which provides information as to the location, interior operation and/or use of buildings or facilities. The name or logo of the business or use to which the sign is giving direction may also be included on the sign but shall not exceed 50% of the total sign area.
Any sign located fully within and visible only from the interior of any building or stadium that is intended solely for information relating to the operation of such building or stadium.
Any sign attached to a marquee for the purpose of identifying a movie theater or similar place of entertainment.
A memorial plaque or tablet, to include grave markers or other remembrances of persons or events, which is not for commercial or advertising purposes.
Any sign that is capable of moving from one premises to another, including those painted on vehicles that are parked and/or stored at a location other than where the activity associated with said vehicle is conducted unless said vehicle is being used in the normal day-to-day operations of the use of the premises on which the vehicle is parked or stored.
Any freestanding sign the bottom of which is no more than 12 inches above the ground or pavement.
Any sign composed of glass tubing containing a large proportion of neon or other similar gas. A neon sign may be a wall sign, a projecting sign, or a window sign.
A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located. Off-premises signs include signs attached to and/or painted on vehicles that are parked and/or stored at a location other than where the activity associated with said vehicle is conducted unless said vehicle is being used in the normal day-to-day operations of the use of the premises on which the vehicle is parked or stored.
A sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to an activity on the same lot where the sign is located.
Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
A location designated in an applicant's signage plan for the continuous display of banners. The banner mounting area shall be applied to the total maximum permanent sign area allowed on the premises, and banners displayed in the mounting area do not require a temporary sign permit. Any banner displayed in the mounting area shall not exceed the size of the permitted banner mounting area.
Any sign that expresses an opinion, interest or position. Such signs do not include political or business identification signs.
A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or poles.
[Added 3-25-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-02]
A temporary sign relating to the election of a person to a public office or a political party or a matter to be voted upon at an election by the public.
Any lot, parcel or tract of land.
A wall sign attached to a wall in such a manner that its outermost edge extends more than 12 inches from said wall.
A temporary sign indicating the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is placed.
Any sign located in a district zoned for residential uses that contains no commercial message except advertising for goods or services legally offered on the premises where the sign is located, if offering such service at such location conforms with all requirements of this chapter.
The exterior surface and its supporting structures on the top of a building.
An attached sign that is partially or wholly attached to, erected on, or supported by the roof of a building or structure.
A sign that is intended to be used temporarily, as may be evidenced by the materials from which it is constructed, such as cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, plastic, plywood, fiberboard or other material. Portable signs or any sign that is not permanently embedded in the ground or otherwise permanently affixed to real estate, including variable message signs, are considered temporary signs.
An attached sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of, the sign. For the purpose of this definition, a wall sign shall also include signs projected onto a wall or building structure by an external light source.
An attached sign that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
A temporary sign advertising a yard or garage sale.
§ 325-101 Scope.
This Article XXIV, Signs, shall apply to all signs located with the Township that can be legibly viewed from public property, including the public street rights-of-way, and adjacent private properties.
For purposes of this article, "signs" shall not include holiday decorations, which are subject to the restriction contained in § 325-102.
For purposes of this article, "signs" shall not include any flag, badge, or insignia of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, York County, Springettsbury Township or any agency of the aforementioned governmental entities.
For purposes of this article, "signs" shall not include governmental signs for control of traffic or other regulatory purposes, street signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public service or safety and erected for the health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of the Township, which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his public duty.
§ 325-102 Holiday decorations.
Holiday decorations shall be displayed for no longer than a total of 60 days.
§ 325-103 General regulations.
The following restrictions and regulations shall be applicable to all signs unless otherwise specified:
Materials: All signs, excluding awning and window signs, shall be constructed only from wood, metal, stone or other material, as determined by the Township, which has the general appearance of structures composed primarily of wood, metal or stone with painted, engraved or raised messages. Sign materials should complement the original construction materials and architectural style of the building facade on which they are to be displayed. If plywood is used, medium-density overlay shall be used as a minimum grade. Bare plywood is prohibited.
Color: In selecting the principal colors for a sign, colors that complement the color of the building should be used.
Illumination: Signs shall be illuminated only in accordance with the following regulations, as authorized in an appropriate sign permit:
Light sources shall be shielded from all adjacent properties and streets and shall not be of such intensity as to cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or motorists.
With the exception of marquee signs, signs using internal illumination shall be designed so that when illuminated at night only the letters and logos of the sign are visible. Individual solid letters with internal lighting tubes which backlight a wall in a halo effect are permitted.
Permits for illuminated signs will not be issued without an approved electrical permit. All work shall be completed in full compliance with the Electrical Code as set forth in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as it may be amended from time to time.
Electrical connections: The electrical supply to all exterior signs, whether to the sign itself or to lighting fixtures positioned to illuminate the sign, shall be provided by means of concealed electrical cables. Electrical supply to freestanding signs shall be provided by means of underground cables. Applications for electrical permits shall be filed at the time of the sign permit application.
Nuisance: No sign shall create a public nuisance by emitting smoke, sound, vapor, beams or rays, particle emission, odors or by creating a safety or traffic hazard as determined by the Township Engineer.
Sign removal: Any business that has closed shall remove any signs associated with the business within 60 days after it closes, though the supporting structure may remain as long as it does not become blighted. The owner of the premises shall have the responsibility to ensure such signs are removed within the sixty-day period.
All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the International Building Code, shall be maintained in good condition, shall be kept free of defects or hazards, and shall not be allowed to become dilapidated or deteriorated.
Signs shall not be erected within or extend into the public right-of-way, which for the purpose of this chapter shall be construed to extend to and include the sidewalks on both sides of every street having same at a minimum. The Township has the right to remove and dispose of any sign located in the public right-of-way.
Signs shall not contain material that a reasonable person would consider obscene.
No sign shall obstruct any fire escape or door leading thereto or window, nor shall any sign be attached to a fire escape.
No sign may be placed or erected in such a fashion as to create a safety or traffic hazard.
No sign shall interfere with, compete for attention with, or appear similar to a traffic signal. This shall include any sign which uses an arrow device or the word "stop." It shall also include signs in which the colors red and green are used either in direct illumination or in high reflection by the use of special preparation such as fluorescent paint or glass.
Planters and landscaped areas around signs must be maintained in a manner that prevents visual blight.
The bottommost part of a projecting sign shall be at least 10 feet above the ground or pavement.
Mobile signs, including persons in costumes used to attract public attention, are not permitted within any public right-of-way.
Signs that are damaged, in disrepair or vandalized and not repaired within 30 days' notice from the Township shall be removed at the property owners' expense.
No sign shall be located so as to interfere with visibility for motorists at street or driveway intersections.
In the case of a shopping center, or a group of stores, or other business uses on a lot held in single or separate ownership, the provisions of § 325-107 relating to the total area of signs permitted on a premises shall apply with respect to each building, separate store or similar use. Only attached signs shall be permitted as permanent signage for the individual establishments. However, a total area permitted to be covered by said sign shall not exceed 15% of the area of the building front of the individual establishment.
§ 325-104 Exempt signs.
The following types of nonilluminated signs shall be allowed without a sign permit and shall not be included in the determination of the number or sign area of other signs allowed within a zoning district:
Artisan signs, provided that such signs shall be removed by said artisan promptly upon completion of the work. Artisan signs shall be limited to four and may be freestanding or wall. The sign area of each sign shall not exceed:
Directional signs, provided that such signs are freestanding or wall signs located entirely on the property to which they pertain and do not exceed two square feet in area.
Instructional signs, provided that such signs are freestanding or wall signs located entirely on the property to which they pertain and do not exceed two square feet in area.
Government/regulatory signs.
Real estate signs, provided that such signs shall be removed upon sale, rental or lease of the property. Real estate signs may be banner, freestanding, projecting wall or window signs that meet the following criteria:
Political signs meeting the size limitations below are considered exempt, provided that such signs shall be removed within 30 days after the related election. Larger political signs shall be permitted in nonresidential districts by permit. Exempt political signs may be banner, freestanding, wall or window signs that meet the following criteria:
Personal expression signs meeting the criteria below shall be exempt signs. Larger personal expression signs shall be permitted in nonresidential districts by permit. Exempt personal expression signs shall include banner, freestanding, wall or window signs that meet the following criteria:
Yard sale signs, provided that such signs shall be removed within one day of completion of the sale. Yard sale signs may be freestanding, wall or window signs that meet the following criteria:
Interior signs.
Incidental signs, provided that such signs are freestanding or wall signs located entirely on the property to which they pertain and do not exceed two square feet in area.
Civic event signs on premises.
In the C-H, F-D and G-I Districts only, price tags for items traditionally sold out-of-doors, including but not limited to motor vehicles, trailers, equipment and machinery, swimming pools, spas and patio furniture, provided that such signs do not exceed two square feet.
Bus shelters. Signs are allowed on approved bus shelters to cover no more than 25% of the surface of the shelter and may not be directly illuminated.
§ 325-105 Prohibited signs.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect any sign in the Township unless it is specifically permitted in this article. Unlawful signs include, but are not limited to:
Any sign which by color, shape or location conflicts with or resembles a traffic signal device.
Signs attached to rocks, utility poles, parking meters, traffic signposts, traffic signals or control devices, street signs, or historical markers.
Signs attached to trees, shrubs or any living vegetative matter.
Mobile signs.
Any sign, outside of the G-I District, which advertises or publicizes an activity or business not conducted on the premises, except civic event signs.
Signs erected without the permission of the property owner or authorized agent.
Signs that create a hazard by obstructing the clear view of vehicles and pedestrian traffic.
Animated signs, except time-and-temperature signs.
Any sign that obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required exit.
Abandoned signs.
Animated, flashing or oscillating signs, except for the time-and-temperature portion of a sign.
Revolving signs.
Tethered balloons larger than 12 inches in diameter or attached by a tether longer than five feet, filled either by gas or heated air.
Roof signs.
Wall signs that cover windows or architectural detail.
Pennants longer than 150% of the street frontage of the premises.
Signs with reflective backgrounds.
Signs that may cause glare or emit light to other properties or the public right-of-way.
Open flames used to attract public attention.
Pennants.
§ 325-106 Sign measurement.
Computation of area of signs generally. The area of a sign face shall be computed by means of the smallest square, triangle, rectangle, circle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting bracing, calculated by multiplying A times B as depicted in the drawing below, except that sign posts that extend beyond the edge of the sign face by more than six inches shall be included in the sign width.
[Amended 4-22-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04]
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Computation of area of multifaceted signs: In computing square foot area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered, provided both faces are identical and parallel. Otherwise, all sides shall be considered in calculating the sign area.
Computation of area of three-dimensional signs. In computing square foot area of a three-dimensional sign, the area of every side visible from public property or the public right-of-way shall be calculated in accordance with Subsection A, Computation of area of signs generally, above and then totaled for the computation of the sign area.
Computation of sign height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign or its supporting structures at finished grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Finished grade shall be construed to be the grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign.
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Computation of total permanent sign area: The total sign area shall include all forms of signage visible from the exterior of the premises, including but not limited to all window signage and all types of attached and freestanding signs.
Computation of sign setbacks: Sign setbacks shall be calculated from the outermost edge of the sign and its supporting structure.
§ 325-107 Business identification signs.
Business signs shall be granted a permit according to the requirements of § 325-112 upon compliance with the following provisions:
Sign area standards: The maximum total sign area of any business sign shall be based on the requirements listed in the chart below:
[Amended 4-22-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04]
Business Sign Area Standards by District | ||
|---|---|---|
Zoning District | Business Identification Sign Standards | |
R-1, R-7, R-10, R-20 | Maximum sign area: 16 square feet No freestanding signs except for monument signs are permitted Maximum height for freestanding sign is six feet See § 325-108 for temporary sign regulations | |
R-R | Maximum sign area: 16 square feet Maximum height for freestanding sign is six feet See § 325-108 for temporary sign regulations | |
N-C, N-C/H | For structures smaller than 5,000 square feet, maximum sign area shall be 16 square feet For structures larger than 5,000 square feet, maximum sign area shall be 5% of building front area; for corner lots, the smaller of the two frontages shall be used to calculate the maximum sign area No freestanding signs except for monument signs are permitted The premises shall have no more than one freestanding sign The total monument signage on the premises shall not exceed 60 square feet Monument signs shall be no more than six feet wide and no more than 10 feet high. The minimum width of a monument sign shall be no less than 35% of the height See § 325-108 for temporary sign regulations | |
M-U, B-I | Maximum permanent sign area: 20% of building front area or 5% of street frontage, whichever is greater; for corner lots, the smaller of the two frontages shall be used to calculate the maximum sign area No freestanding signs except for monument signs are permitted The premises shall have no more than two freestanding signs The total monument signage on the premises shall not exceed 120 square feet Monument signs shall be no more than 10 feet wide and no more than 12 feet high. The minimum width of a monument sign shall be no less than 35% of the height See § 325-108 for temporary sign regulations | |
C-H, G-I, F-D | Maximum permanent sign area: 35% of building front area or 10% of street frontage, whichever is greater; for corner lots, the smaller of the two frontages shall be used to calculate the maximum sign area The premises shall have no more than two freestanding signs The total freestanding signage on the premises shall not exceed 180 square feet Freestanding signs shall be no more than 10 feet wide and no more than 18 feet high See § 325-108 for temporary sign regulations | |
F-R, T-N | Business identification signs for commercial uses in the F-R Overlay and the T-N Overlay shall be regulated as in the N-C and N-C/H Districts See § 325-108 for temporary sign regulations | |
Placement standards.
Wall signs: No attached wall sign shall extend beyond the roofline or the end of the wall to which it is attached or project away from the building wall more than 12 inches.
Projecting or hanging signs: No projecting sign shall project more than six feet from the main wall of a building upon which it is mounted. Any projecting or overhanging sign shall provide not less than 10 feet of clearance between the bottom of the sign and the existing ground level (these limitations shall not apply to permanently constructed building canopies, theater marquees or pedestrian shelters).
Freestanding signs are subject to the following standards:
Freestanding signs shall be set back from any lot line at least one foot for each foot in sign height.
[1]When located within 20 feet of any lot line, freestanding signs shall either provide a clear space of not less than 10 feet between the bottom of such sign and the curb level or extend no more than four feet above ground level.
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[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(3)(b), which contained height restrictions for freestanding signs, was repealed 4-22-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04. This ordinance also provided for the redesignation of former Subsection B(3)(c) as Subsection B(3)(b).
Political signs and personal expression signs exceeding the size, type and placement criteria for exempt signs as listed in § 325-104F and G shall be allowed by permit. The sign area of such political and personal expression signs shall be counted toward total sign area allowances listed in the chart above.
§ 325-108 Temporary signs.
Temporary signs shall require a permit according to the requirements of § 325-112 and Subsections B through E below. A placard (sticker) will be issued for each temporary sign permitted. The placard must be affixed to each temporary sign for the entire length of display. Applicant acknowledges that the Township may remove or have removed at owner's expense any sign that:
Temporary signs in the C-H, G-I and F-D Districts and F-O overlay.
A single cloth, vinyl or fabric temporary banner shall be permitted up to four times per year, with each use consisting of consecutive days and no more than an aggregate of 28 days in a calendar year. A banner must be firmly attached to the front facade of the building. No other support structure is permitted. When any banner becomes torn, damaged or disfigured, it must be removed immediately.
Total area of temporary signage, not including a banner as permitted in Subsection B(1) above, shall not exceed 5% of the area of the building front up to a maximum of 48 square feet. In the case of vacant land, no signage in addition to that provided under "permanent signs" shall be permitted.
With the exception of a banner as permitted in Subsection B(1) above, no one sign may be greater than 24 square feet.
Temporary signs in the M-U and B-I Districts.
A single cloth, vinyl, or fabric temporary banner shall be permitted up to four times per year, with each use consisting of consecutive days and no more than an aggregate of 28 days in a calendar year. A banner must be firmly attached to the front facade of the building. No other support structure is permitted. When any banner becomes torn, damaged or disfigured, it must be removed immediately.
Total area of temporary signage, not including a banner as permitted in Subsection B(1) above, shall not exceed 5% of the area of the building front up to a maximum of 48 square feet. In the case of vacant land, no signage in addition to that provided under "permanent signs" shall be permitted.
With the exception of a banner as permitted in Subsection B(1) above, no one sign may be greater than 24 square feet.
Temporary signs in the N-C, N-C/H and R-1 Districts and the commercial portions of the T-N and F-R Overlays.
A single cloth, vinyl or fabric temporary banner shall be permitted up to four times per year, with each use consisting of consecutive days and no more than an aggregate of 28 days in a calendar year. A banner must be firmly attached to the front facade of the building. No other support structure is permitted. When any banner becomes torn, damaged or disfigured, it must be removed immediately.
Total area of temporary signage, not including a banner as permitted in Subsection B(1) above, shall not exceed 24 square feet.
With the exception of a banner as permitted in Subsection B(1) above, no more than two temporary signs are permitted.
The maximum height of a temporary sign is six feet.
Temporary signs in the R-R District.
A single cloth, vinyl, or fabric temporary banner shall be permitted up to four times per year, with each use consisting of consecutive days and no more than an aggregate of 28 days in a calendar year. A banner must be firmly attached to the front facade of the building. No other support structure is permitted. When any banner becomes torn, damaged or disfigured, it must be removed immediately.
Total area of temporary signage, not including a banner as permitted in Subsection E(1) above, shall not exceed eight square feet.
With the exception of a banner as permitted in Subsection E(1) above, no more than two temporary signs are permitted.
The maximum height of a temporary sign is six feet.
§ 325-109 Inflatable signs.
Inflatable signs shall be regulated as temporary signs in § 325-108 and shall be subject to the following additional standards:
Inflatable signs shall only include cold-air inflatable signs, the bottom of which is no more than six inches above the ground or pavement.
Location: A temporary inflatable sign shall be permitted only in a C-H, G-I or F-D Districts or for special events sponsored or cosponsored by the Township and held on Township property. The sign shall not extend into the required zoning setbacks or into the public right-of-way.
Only one temporary inflatable sign permit shall be granted for a single location at one time.
A single inflatable sign shall be permitted up to four times per year, with each use consisting of no more than five consecutive days and no more than an aggregate of 20 days in a calendar year. When any inflatable sign becomes torn, damaged or disfigured, it must be removed immediately.
The inflatable sign shall not exceed 24 feet in height or 24 feet in width.
§ 325-110 Signs for nonconforming uses.
Upon receipt of an application for a permit to erect, alter or reconstruct a sign upon premises having a nonconforming use as defined by § 325-5 of this chapter, the Zoning Officer shall refer said application to the Zoning Hearing Board, said Board to hear and determine whether such permit application should be granted, such determination to be based upon the following criteria:
The sign must have a reasonable commercial need, must be the minimum necessary to meet such commercial need, and shall in no event exceed the requirements as hereinbefore set forth in this article.
The sign shall contain no advertising matter not specifically related to the use of the premises.
The sign shall not conflict, offend or interfere with the conforming uses in the immediate vicinity.
§ 325-111 Off-premises advertising signs.
Off-premises signs shall be allowed by special exception in the G-I District in accordance with the following standards and regulations and shall be in addition to any on-premises signage allowed in that District:
Sign dimensions.
The maximum area for any one sign shall be 700 square feet on limited-access highways and 300 square feet on unlimited-access roadways, inclusive of any border or trim, excluding the base or apron, supports and other structural members.
The maximum width is 48 feet.
A sign structure may contain one or two signs per facing and may be placed double-faced, back-to-back or v-type with the maximum interior angle formed not to exceed 45°, as long as the sign does not exceed 300 square feet.
Special requirements.
No two sign structures shall be spaced less than 1,000 feet apart. Nor shall any structure be permitted within 1,000 feet of the edge of the street right-of-way of any intersecting public street or within 1,000 feet from the beginning or ending of an entrance or exit ramp.
These spacing provisions shall not apply to sign structures separated by a building or other obstruction in such a manner that only one sign facing located within these spacing distances is visible from the highway at any one time.
The distance between sign structures shall be measured along the nearest edge of the pavement between points directly opposite the signs along the same side of the traveled way.
Lighting of off-premises signs.
No sign shall be permitted which is not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light being directed at any portion of the traveled way of any highway or which is of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any vehicle or which interferes with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
No sign shall be so illuminated that it interferes with the effectiveness of or obscures an official traffic sign, device or signal.
Signs that contain, include or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights are prohibited.
Height requirement. No off-premises sign shall exceed a height of 35 feet.
Yard requirement. All off-premises signs shall be located on a lot of adequate size to establish and maintain a front yard setback of 50 feet and two side yard setbacks and a rear yard setback of not less than 30 feet each. All such yards shall be planted with vegetative material that shall be properly kept maintained as a green area.
All off-premises signs shall require permits issued by the Township prior to their display.
§ 325-112 Administration.
Applicants for a sign permit shall provide the following information.
Site plan to include:
Location of access drives and parking areas.
Adjacent property uses.
Photometric plan for all illuminated signs.
Fee to be established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
Within 15 business days of the receipt of all items contained in Subsection A above, the Township shall either issue a sign permit or a written denial of the requested permit. If the information shows that the requested sign is in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, a permit shall be issued.
§ 325-113 Nonconforming signs.
All signs which are nonconforming will be required to be brought into conformance with this article at such a time as any alteration are made to the dimensions, heights, structure or location of the sign. Nonconforming signs approved by variance are also subject to this section.