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West Caldwell City Zoning Code

§ 20-24.4

Signs in B-1 and B-3 Zone Districts.

[Ord. No. 890 § 20-24.4; Ord. No. 937; Ord. No. 1171 § 1; Ord. No. 1206, § 9; Ord. No. 1419 §§ 37, 38; Ord. No. 1425 § 6; Ord. No. 1464 § 16; Ord. No. 1488 §§ 4, 18; Ord. No. 1729 § 9; Ord. No. 1745 § 9; Ord. No. 1797-2017 § 11]
The following signs shall be permitted subject to all provisions of Subsections 20-24.1 and 20-24.2 and the following conditions:
a. 
One identification sign attached to and parallel with, but not painted on, the front wall of a principal building, which sign may identify all existing, approved uses or occupancies within the building and/or the name and/or the street number of the building. A street number sign may be separate from the principal identification sign, subject to the provisions of Subsection 5, of Subsection 20-24.2i.
1. 
A principal building located on a lot having frontage on two or more streets may have an additional identification sign on the wall facing such additional street or streets. In designated shopping centers, the same shall apply to applicable business establishments located at the corners of the principal building.
2. 
A principal building served by a rear or side entrance opening on an approved, off-street public parking area, may, if deemed necessary by the Sign Committee, have an additional identification sign attached to the wall of the building fronting on the parking area, same to be no larger than 50% of the sign permitted on the front wall of the building.
3. 
In no event shall there be more than three identification signs, and the aggregate area of all such signs shall not exceed 200% of the area of the sign permitted on the front wall of the building.
b. 
The maximum height of any identification sign attached to the wall of a principal building shall not exceed three feet when measured vertically from its lowest point to its highest point, except as otherwise provided elsewhere herein. The maximum width of such sign shall not exceed 85% of the width of the building wall or 30 feet, whichever is less. In no event shall the area of such sign exceed 15% of the area of the building wall on which it is attached. Sign areas and building wall areas shall be measured in accordance with the provisions of Subsection 20-24.2g.
c. 
Signs located within a principal building which are visible or directed to be seen by the general public from the outside of the building shall be permitted and shall be exempt from application and permit, subject to the following conditions:
1. 
Such signs shall be limited to permitted and approved retail business uses and shall not be located above the first floor of any building, and
2. 
Such signs as may be identification signs pursuant to Subsection 20-24.2c shall conform with all regulations herein applicable to the same.
3. 
The aggregate area of all such signs shall not exceed 50% of the area of the windows or other surfaces through which such signs may be viewed.
d. 
In multiple use buildings, one directory sign containing the name of each tenant and the permitted use may be placed in the lobby of the building facing the entrance and such sign shall be exempt from application and permit unless it is visible or directed to be seen from the outside of the building.
e. 
One non-illuminated temporary sign advertising the prospective sale or rental of the premises upon which it is maintained is permitted. Such sign shall not exceed one-fourth square foot in area per foot of sign set back from the property line, except that no such sign shall be required to be less than eight square feet nor permitted to be greater than 12 square feet. Such sign shall be removed within seven days after the consummation of the lease or sale transaction. The location of such sign shall conform to location regulations applicable to permanent identification signs on the same property, and the lower edge of any such free-standing sign shall not be more than two feet above the ground surface.
f. 
One identification sign shall be permitted on the valance or, in the absence of same, the lowermost portion of an awning, canopy or similar structure bearing only the name of the building or principal occupant and/or the building number. Such sign shall be permitted in addition to other identification signs permitted pursuant to Subsection 20-24.4. Such sign shall not exceed eight square feet in area or 10 inches in height, and no part of such sign shall be located below nor more than 12 inches above the bottom edge of the valance or, in the absence of same, the bottom edge of the awning or canopy. All signs permitted pursuant to this subsection shall conform to the provisions in Subsection 20-24.2q, 7.
g. 
An apartment complex or multiple family building containing 10 or more dwelling units may have one identification sign, not exceeding 16 square feet, limited to identifying the name of the complex or building and/or street number. Such sign may be attached to, and shall be parallel with, but not painted on, the front wall of a principal building. In the alternative, such sign may be free-standing providing it is located in the rear half of the front yard setback required for the principal building, that it is not in any side or rear yard, and that the lower edge of such sign shall be not more than two feet above the ground surface. Signs for all other residential uses shall conform with the provisions of Subsection 20-24.3.
h. 
A business occupancy consisting of a motor vehicle service station may have one free-standing, stationary, illuminated or non-illuminated sign identifying only the company name or brand name of the gasoline sold, including any associated insignia or emblem, provided that such sign shall not exceed 45 square feet in area, that the top of such sign shall not be more than 22 feet above the ground surface, and that such sign shall not be less than 10 feet from any property line.
1. 
Signs affixed to the exterior surfaces of gasoline pumps shall be permitted, limited to identification of the company name or brand name of the gasoline sold, including any associated insignia or emblem, gasoline type and/or grade, and such other information as may be required by law. Such signs shall not extend or project beyond the surfaces on which affixed. In addition, price indicator signs not exceeding 150 square inches in area may be attached to, supported by or suspended from each gasoline pump.
2. 
No more than two additional special signs deemed customary and necessary by the Sign Committee may be permitted provided that no such sign exceeds four square feet in area and that such signs are either attached to the front wall of a principal building or located in the rear half of the front yard setback required for the principal building. "Sandwich" and/or "portable" signs and signs affixed to canopy structures are prohibited.
3. 
In addition to all other signs permitted in this subsection, a motor vehicle service station may have one permanent, stationary, illuminated or non-illuminated, gasoline price indicator sign attached to the same support stanchion as, but below, the primary business identification sign. Such price sign shall not exceed five feet in height nor four feet in width and shall not be less than 10 feet from the nearest property line. The bottom of such price sign shall not be less than 10 feet above the ground surface, or eight feet if the outer extremities of such price sign are wholly located within a landscaped area. Color limitations pursuant to Subsection 20-24.2n shall apply to the aggregate of all signs attached to the aforesaid support stanchion.
i. 
One free-standing identification sign for business occupancies other than the use specified in Subsection h to identify all existing, approved uses or occupancies on the lot and/or the name and/or the street number of the building shall be permitted. If the front yard setback to the principal building is less than 50 feet, such sign shall be in the alternative to, but not in addition to, the sign permitted by Subsection a. Such sign shall be located in the rear half of the front yard setback required for the principal building or 25 feet, whichever is less, and shall be subject to the following conditions:
1. 
If the lot frontage is less than 100 feet, the sign area shall not exceed 20 square feet and the top of the sign shall be not more than 10 feet above the ground surface.
2. 
If the lot frontage is between 100 feet and 200 feet, the sign area shall not exceed 1/5 square feet per foot of frontage and the top of the sign shall be not more than 1/10 feet above the ground surface per foot of frontage.
3. 
If the lot frontage is over 200 feet, the sign area shall not exceed 40 square feet and the top of the sign shall be not more than 20 feet above the ground surface.
4. 
In the event that locating said sign in accordance with Subsection I above is not possible due to the location of an approved parking area or driveway, the Sign Committee may permit said sign to be located in the front half of the front yard setback required for the principal building, but in no event closer than 10 feet to any property line.
j. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a sign may include a symbol depicting a registered trademark (logo) identifiable with a specific business or institution provided said symbol is within the permitted height and width of the sign itself, and further provided that the width of the symbol is no greater than the permitted height of the sign. The total area of said symbol shall be included in the calculation for total allowable sign area, and shall not be in addition to said allowable area. A symbol depicting a registered trademark need not conform with the color standards for signs set forth herein.
k. 
To maintain the attractive uniformity of signage of Township shopping centers, as designated by the Planning Board, wall-mounted identification signs affixed to business establishments within such centers shall comply with the following conditions, and as such conditions may be codified by the Planning Board, upon the recommendation of the Sign Committee pursuant to Subsection 18A-8.1 of the Land Use Procedures Chapter:
1. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 20-24.4b, all such signs shall have substantially the same rectangular configuration and color scheme; shall be substantially the same height, not exceeding three feet; and shall have a sign width not exceeding 85% of the width of the business's storefront portion of the building facade on which it is affixed or 30 feet, whichever is less, and
2. 
Each such sign shall be located so that it is centered horizontally, within that portion of the business's storefront facade on which the sign is affixed; each such sign shall be substantially in line, vertically, with identification signs affixed to contiguous business establishments; and, in the event the roof line is irregular in shape or other special circumstances exist, the location of the sign shall be as specified by the Sign Committee, and
3. 
The exposed molding, trim or casing of the sign and the sign face shall be plastic, aluminum or other metal, and
4. 
The conditions set forth in Subsections 1, 2 and 3 hereof shall only be applicable to building storefronts less than 60 feet in width and then only if there are at least four such storefronts in the principal building, unless the Sign Committee determines that the implementation of the conditions, in any specific instance, would be impractical, unreasonable or unnecessary.
5. 
Buildings in shopping centers, as designated by the Planning Board, with business storefronts equal to or greater than 60 feet in width may have one wall-mounted identification sign and one logo identifying each approved business use (which shall be clearly distinct from the ordinary and customary operations of the principal use; for example, within a supermarket, a pharmacy, a bank, a liquor store or a catering operation may each be considered a separate approved business use; a deli, a bakery, household goods, produce, for example, would not constitute a separate approved business use) within said storefront, all of which shall comply with the following conditions;
(a) 
Sign/logo height shall not be less than 24 inches nor greater than 70% of the height of the sign mounting surface facade.
(b) 
Each individual sign shall not be greater than 10 feet in height nor greater than 50 feet in width. Each individual logo shall not be greater than 10 feet in height nor greater than 10 feet in width.
(c) 
The total width of all signs and logos combined shall not be greater than 75% of the width of the sign mounting surface facade.
(d) 
No color restrictions shall apply to logos.
(e) 
For the purpose of this section, "Sign Mounting Surface Facade" shall mean a flat vertical portion of the building wall which is unbroken by any vertical or horizontal elements, whether or not said elements are structural or architectural in nature, and whether or not said elements protrude or do not protrude from the wall surface. Expansion joints, construction joints, and seams which are the same color as the facade shall not be considered vertical or horizontal elements.
6. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 20-24.2i4, contiguous retail businesses which are located exclusively on the second floor of a building may be permitted to attach an identification sign of the front wall of each such establishment if, in specific cases, the Sign Committee or Planning Board determines that alternate permitted locations would not provide adequate identification of such uses or occupancies. Such signs shall otherwise fully conform with the provisions of this section.
l. 
Where one or more business establishments on the same or contiguous properties in any B-3 Zone District contain minimum aggregate floor areas of 20,000 square feet; common parking areas; minimum front yard setbacks to all principal buildings of 50 feet; and where such establishments are determined by the Planning Board to constitute an integrated retail shopping area, one free-standing directory sign may be permitted which shall comply with all of the following conditions:
1. 
Such sign shall be permitted in lieu of any other free-standing signs permitted pursuant to Subsection i., and
2. 
Such sign may identify all existing, approved uses or occupancies located within such area, subject to the provisions of Subsection 20-24.2c., and
3. 
Such sign shall not exceed 2.25 square feet in area per foot of sign setback from the nearest property line or a total sign area of 150 square feet, whichever is the lesser, and
4. 
The top of such sign shall not be more than one foot above the ground surface per foot of sign setback from the front property line, but in no event more than 25 feet above the ground surface nor required to be less than 10 feet above the same; and
5. 
Such sign shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any property line, and
6. 
Where the shopping area has frontage on two arterial streets, pursuant to Subsection 19-9.1d of the Subdivision of Land Ordinance, one such sign may be permitted along each such street.
m. 
(Reserved)
[Ord. No. 1797-2017 § 11]