The purpose of this section is to regulate and limit the construction or reconstruction of signs and billboards to protect the public peace, morals, health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the township and to preserve, improve and enhance the scenic beauty consistent with the provisions of section 131 of title 23 of USC, as amended, and to preserve property values and encourage and promote business and industry, including the tourist industry. Such signs as will not, by reason of their size, location, construction or manner of display, endanger the life and limb, confuse or mislead traffic, obstruct vision necessary for vehicular and pedestrian traffic safety, or otherwise endanger public welfare, shall be permitted. Further, the regulation of such permitted signs and billboards are meant to prevent them from causing annoyance or disturbance to the residents of the City of Watervliet. For purposes of this section, the word "sign" shall, unless specifically stated otherwise, also includes within its meaning the words "advertising signs."

As used in this section, the following words shall have the meaning hereinafter set forth in this section:

1.

Signs. A name, identification, description, display, or illustration which is affixed to, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or piece of land and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business.

2.

Advertising signs. A sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted or to a commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered.

3.

Illuminated signs. A sign that provides artificial light directly (or through any transparent or translucent material) from a source of light connected with such sign, or a sign illuminated by a light so shielded that no direct rays from it are visible from any public right-of-way or from the abutting property.

4.

Election campaign signs. Signs not exceeding five square feet of display area advertising candidates or soliciting votes in support of or against any proposition or issue at any general, primary, special, school or any other election.

5.

Identification signs. A sign that identifies the business, owner or resident and/or the street address and which sets forth no other advertisement.

6.

Off-premises signs. A sign whose message relates to a business, service, commodity, or profession lawfully being conducted, sold, or offered on premises other than that upon which the sign is located.

7.

On-premises signs. A sign whose message relates to a business, service, commodity, or profession lawfully being conducted, sold or offered on premises other than that upon which the sign is located.

8.

Pole signs. A sign supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground surface and not attached to any building and having a sign area not more than 100 square feet on a side, and a clear space of at least nine feet from the ground to the bottom of the sign.

9.

Projecting signs. A sign which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building and does not extend beyond the minimum required setback line or into and over street right-of-way, and not less than nine feet, at its lowest point, above sidewalk or ground level.

10.

Portable signs. A freestanding sign not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground such as, but not limited to, "A" frame, "T" shaped, or inverted "T" shaped sign structures.

11.

Real estate signs. A sign located on premises containing land or buildings for sale, rent or lease, or buildings under construction and intended for sale, rent or lease.

12.

Temporary sign. A display, informational sign, banner or other advertising device with or without a structural frame and intended for a period not to exceed 90 days of display, including seasonal produce sales, decorative displays for holidays, or public demonstrations.

13.

Marquee sign. An identification sign attached to a marquee, canopy or awning projecting from and supported by the building, and not less than nine feet at its lowest point above sidewalk level.

14.

Wall sign. A sign which is attached directly to a building wall and which does not extend more than 18 inches therefrom nor above the roofline, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the building wall.

15.

Roof sign. Any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon or over the roof of any building with the principal support of the roof structure.

16.

Institutional bulletin board. A sign containing a surface area upon which is displayed the name of a religious institution, school, library, community center or similar institution and the announcement of its institutional services or activities.

All off-premises signs prohibited. Any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited.

Signs are permitted according to the district in which they are located or intended to be located. Certain types of signs are permitted in certain districts according to the following regulations:

1.

Residence district. The following types of signs are permitted:

a)

Identification sign: One per dwelling unit not exceeding two square feet in area.

b)

Temporary sign: One per premises advertising produce raised on said premises; not exceeding 32 square feet in area; set back from any right-of-way at least 15 feet, and removed from view during seasons when said produce is not normally considered in season.

c)

Institutional bulletin board: One per public or semipublic institution, located on-premises, and not exceeding 32 square feet in area; provided, however, that the zoning board of appeals is given the specific authority to permit an institutional bulletin board of not to exceed 150 square feet where, in its discretion, the same will cause no adverse effect to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

d)

Real estate sign: One per premises or building and located on same premises or building only while said real estate is actually on the market for sale, rent or lease, provided that the same does not exceed seven square feet in area; and further provided, however, that a temporary sign may be approved by the zoning board of appeals up to 100 square feet in area for a period not to exceed 12 months for signs proposed to be located on unimproved or undeveloped parcels of real estate.

e)

Election campaign signs: Provided such signs may be placed and kept in place only during the period commencing on the 30th day prior to an election and ending on the tenth day following an election.

1.

No sign shall block any required accessway or window.

2.

No sign shall be attached to a tree or utility pole.

3.

The following signs are exempt from the permit required and from the regulations of section 11.00:

a)

Memorial signs and tablets displayed on private property, not to exceed five square feet;

b)

Address numerals.

4.

The following signs are exempt from the permit requirements but must comply with all other regulations of section 11.00:

a)

Signs permitted by section 11.07.1, paragraphs a) and b);

b)

Signs permitted by section 11.07.2, paragraph a).

1.

Highway directional signs and markers which shall be made and installed in accordance with the specifications of the City of Watervliet announcing the location of or directing traffic to given locations which include, but are not limited to, the following:

a)

Service areas: automobile, food, lodging;

b)

Public and quasipublic information signs;

c)

Business or business districts.

2.

Parking area signs.

a)

One sign per parking area or lot, designating the conditions of use or identity of such parking area and limited to a maximum size of nine square feet, shall be permitted. On a corner lot, two such signs, one facing each street, shall be permitted.

b)

Signs designating parking area entrances or exits are limited to one sign for each such entrance or exit and to a maximum size of two square feet each.

3.

The city may permit tourist-oriented directional signs as defined by MCL 247.401 within its jurisdictional boundaries as provided by and pursuant to MCL 247.403(7).

a.

An operator of a tourist-oriented activity who wishes to participate in a directional sign program under 1996 PA 299, as amended, and is applying for a sign that would reside within the boundaries of the City of Watervliet in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of 1996 PA 299 (MCL 247.402) shall submit the application for review by the city commission or its designee.

b.

The city commission or its designee may approve or reject the placement of any tourist-oriented directional sign within its jurisdictional boundaries under the provisions of this ordinance.

c.

The city commission may appoint a designee by resolution to approve or reject the placement of any tourist-oriented directional sign within its jurisdictional boundaries under the provisions of this ordinance.

d.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance, or who installs or causes to be installed a tourist-oriented directional sign without the approval of the Watervliet City Commission, shall be guilty of a municipal civil infraction, punishable by a civil fine of not more than $100.00, plus costs, and if applicable, damages and expenses as provided by law. A municipal civil infraction action brought for any violation of this ordinance shall be guilty of a municipal civil infraction, punishable by a civil fine of not more than $100.00, plus costs, and if applicable, damages and expenses as provided by law. A municipal civil infraction action brought for any violation of this chapter shall follow the procedures set forth in Public Act No. 12 of 1994 (MCL 600.8701 et seq.), and a defendant charged with a municipal civil infraction violation shall have all of the rights, duties, responsibilities and obligations set forth therein.

(Res. No. 11-2011, 6-30-2011)

In all residential districts, the following classes of signs are permitted in accordance with the regulations set forth herein:

1.

Nonflashing, nonilluminated accessory signs.

a)

Nameplates and identification signs, subject to the following:

(1)

For one- and two-family dwellings, there shall be not more than one nameplate, not exceeding two square feet in area for each dwelling unit indicating the name or address of the occupant or a permitted occupation.

(2)

For multiple-family dwellings, for apartment hotels and for buildings other than dwellings, a single identification sign not exceeding nine square feet in area and indicating only the name of the management thereof, may be displayed.

(3)

In connection with the construction or remodeling of a building, there shall be permitted one sign not exceeding 25 square feet in area; on corner lots two such signs, one facing each street shall be permitted. Said signs shall be removed by the person or persons erecting same within two weeks after completion of the structure indicated.

(4)

Height: No sign shall project higher than one story or 15 feet above curb level, whichever is lower.

(5)

Projection: No sign shall project beyond the property line into the public way.

b)

For sale and to rent signs, subject to the following:

(1)

Area and number: No sign shall exceed a total of seven square feet in area. Additional auxiliary or satellite signs in conjunction with the main sign shall be considered in the computations of the total sign area allowable. Only one sign per zoning lot shall be permitted.

(2)

Projection: No sign shall project beyond the property line into the public way.

(3)

Height: No sign or post or standard shall project higher than 5.5 feet above ground level.

(4)

Width: Signs and supports shall not exceed 4.5 feet in width.

In all business districts, the following signs are permitted, subject to the requirements set forth hereinafter:

1.

All signs and nameplates that are permitted in the residential districts.

2.

Signs on marquees, canopies and awnings: Restrictions imposed hereinafter on the projection of signs across property lines into the public way shall not apply, except in residential districts to signs located on a marquees or canopies, provided that any sign located on a marquee or canopy shall be affixed flat to the surface thereof and, further, no sign shall extend vertically or horizontally beyond the limits of said marquee or canopy, except that individual, freestanding letters may project to a height not exceeding 18 inches above [the] same. Restrictions imposed here on the projection of signs across property lines into the public way shall not apply except in residence districts to signs located on awnings, provided that any sign located on an awning shall be affixed flat to the surface thereof, shall be nonilluminated and nonflashing, and shall indicate only the name and address of the establishment of the premises. Further, no such sign shall extend vertically or horizontally beyond the limits of said awning.

3.

Signs relating only to the name and use of buildings or premises upon which they are placed.

4.

Signs, clocks or other advertising devices erected upon standards or separate support shall be placed so as to be entirely within the property lines of the premises upon which it is located and no part of the sign or standard shall have a total height greater than 50 feet above the level of the street upon which the sign faces or above the adjoining ground level, nor shall the surface of any such sign exceed an area of 141 square feet.

5.

For an integrated planned business development in single ownership and management or under unified control, an additional sign may be erected not exceeding 100 square feet in area advertising only the name and the location of the integrated shopping center. Such sign shall be placed so as to be entirely within the property lines of the premises upon which it is located, and the bottom edge of such sign shall be at least eight feet above the level of the ground, and the overall height shall not exceed 20 feet above curb level is above the street level.

6.

No sign may be painted, pasted or similarly posted directly on the surface of any wall. Nor shall any sign be permitted to be placed on any wall, fence or standard facing the side of any adjoining lot located in a residence district.

7.

No illuminated sign shall be of the flashing or intermittent type, except that advertising devices denoting the time, temperature and other similar information shall not be considered a flashing sign for the purpose of this ordinance. Signs which may be in conflict with public traffic signs shall not be permitted. Illuminated signs shall be shaded so at to shine on adjacent residential properties or public ways.

8.

Traffic or directional signs designating entrances, exits and conditions of use of parking facilities, accessory to the main use of the premises may be maintained, provided they are located within the property lines of the subject lot.

9.

In all business districts, the permitted signs are subject to the following:

a)

Area. The gross area of a sign or signs on the front or rear wall of any principal building shall not exceed one-tenth of the area of the front face (including doors and windows) of the principal building. The gross area of a sign or signs on a side wall of a principal building shall not exceed one-tenth of the area of the side wall (including doors and windows) of the principal building.

b)

Location. The sign or signs may front on the front, side or rear walls or wall of the principal building.

c)

Projection. Signs suspended from any building shall not project more than 12 inches beyond the front of the building and the bottom of such signs shall not be less than ten feet above the finished grade of the sidewalks. Any sign projecting or suspending from a building shall not exceed ten feet in height, subject to approval of the building inspector.

d)

Height. No sign shall project higher than 25 feet above curb level, and in no case shall a sign project higher than four feet above the roofline. Any proposed sign in excess of 25 feet in height shall be erected only with the approval of the City of Watervliet planning commission.

e)

Illumination. Signs shall be shaded whenever necessary to avoid casting bright light upon property located in any residential district or public way.

f)

Materials and construction. The facing of all signs placed on state primary highways shall be constructed of plastic materials. The finish of the sign shall not be pasted to the surface.

10.

Signs accessory to automobile service stations. The following signs accessory to automobile service stations are permitted:

a)

Racks for the orderly display of cans of engine oil for convenience in dispensing said oil, may be located on or at the ends of pump islands (limit of two to each island).

b)

Two open portable tire racks (not more than seven feet in height, including signs, and six feet in length) on casters for the purpose of displaying new tire casings, shall be permitted for each gasoline or tire service station.

c)

Items for sale on the premises may be openly displayed within ten feet of the principal building. Products may be displayed under pump island canopies or between pumps within the area of the pump island base.

d)

A sign may be painted on the inside and outside front door of the closed tire rack but shall not be painted on the sides or rear.

(Mo. of 12-12-2000, § 11.08.4)

The following nonflashing signs are permitted and shall be governed as follows:

1.

All signs and nameplates which are permitted in the business districts.

2.

Advertising signs having a sign area not exceeding 275 square feet.

3.

All signs shall be set back from the street line a distance of the minimum building setback requirements of the district or greater, if specifically required herein.

4.

The minimum distance between any two advertising signs located on the same side of a street or highway shall be no less than four feet for every one square foot of the total area of the two signs.

5.

The gross area in square feet of all signs on a zoning lot shall not exceed six times the lineal feet of frontage of such zoning lot.

6.

No sign shall project higher than 25 feet above the ground level beneath it.

7.

No advertising sign shall be located within 500 feet of any public park of more than five acres in area, or any freeways, expressways, and toll roads designed as such in the records of the governing authorities.

8.

No advertising sign shall be located within 100 feet of any residence district.

No person shall construct, alter, rebuild, enlarge, erect or place a sign without first filing with the building inspector a written application and obtaining a permit therefor. Such application shall be in duplicate and shall contain all such information and drawings as may be required by the building inspector, at least the name of the property owners, the name of the person in charge of the sign and drawings of the sign or structure showing type, size, location and method of attachment. The Inspector may require that all plans be drawn by a registered architect or structural engineer licensed by the State of Michigan. The fee for such permit shall be as established by the city commission.