Union Township, NJ Zoning Ordinance

[Ord. No. 2007-9, § 1]

It is the purpose of this section to promote the public health, safety and general welfare through reasonable, consistent and nondiscriminatory sign standards. The sign regulations in this section are not intended to censor speech or to regulate viewpoints, but instead are intended to regulate the secondary effects of speech and especially insofar as those secondary effects may adversely affect aesthetics and traffic and pedestrian safety. In order to preserve and enhance the Township as a desirable community in which to live and do business, a pleasing, visually attractive environment is of foremost importance. The regulation of signs within the Township is a highly contributive means by which to achieve this desired end. These sign regulations have been prepared with the intent of enhancing the visual environment of the Township and promoting its continued well-being, and are intended to:

Encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communications in the Township;

Maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment and the Township's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth;

Improve pedestrian and traffic safety;

Minimize the possible adverse affect of signs on nearby public and private property;

Foster the integration of signage with architectural and landscape designs;

Lessen the visual clutter that may otherwise be caused by the proliferation, improper placement, illumination, animation, excessive height, and excessive size (area) of signs which compete for the attention of pedestrian and vehicular traffic;

Allow signs that are compatible with their surroundings and aid orientation, while precluding the placement of signs that contribute to sign clutter or that conceal or obstruct adjacent land uses or signs;

Encourage and allow signs that are appropriate to the zoning district in which they are located and consistent with the category of use and function to which they pertain;

Curtail the size and number of signs and sign messages to the minimum reasonably necessary to identify a residential or business location and the nature of any such business;

Establish sign size in relationship to the scale of the lot and building on which the sign is to be placed or to which it pertains;

Categorize signs based upon the function that they serve and tailor the regulation of signs based upon their function;

Preclude signs from conflicting with the principal permitted use of the site and adjoining sites;

Regulate signs in a manner so as to not interfere with, obstruct the vision of or distract motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians;

Except to the extent expressly preempted by State or Federal law, ensure that signs are constructed, installed and maintained in a safe and satisfactory manner, and protect the public from unsafe signs;

Preserve, conserve, protect, and enhance the aesthetic quality and scenic beauty of all districts of the Township;

Allow for traffic control devices consistent with national standards and whose purpose is to promote highway safety and efficiency by providing for the orderly movement of road users on streets and highways, and that notify road users of regulations and provide warning and guidance needed for the safe, uniform and efficient operation of all elements of the traffic stream;

Protect property values by precluding to the maximum extent possible sign-types that create a nuisance to the occupancy or use of other properties as a result of their size, height, illumination, brightness, or movement;

Protect property values by ensuring that sign-types, as well as the number of signs, are in harmony with buildings, neighborhoods, and conforming signs in the area;

Regulate the appearance and design of signs in a manner that promotes and enhances the beautification of the Township and that complements the natural surroundings in recognition of this Township's reliance on its natural surroundings and beautification efforts in retaining economic advantage for the community;

Preserve and enhance the rural and historic character of the Township; and

Enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these Sign Regulations.