Wilkinsburg City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Signs
§ 260-701 Purpose.
The intent of this article is to encourage the use of various types of signs as a means of identification in Wilkinsburg Borough while maintaining and enhancing the aesthetic and physical environment, community character and public safety. The purpose of this article is:
§ 260-702 Applicability.
The regulations contained in this section shall apply to all signs in all zoning districts. No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, altered or maintained except in conformance with the standards, procedures, regulations and requirements contained herein.
A.
Method of sign authorization and approval. For the purposes of this chapter, signs shall be authorized for approval pursuant to the following:
(1)
Authorized signs are those for which a zoning approval has been issued by the Zoning Officer following a review of an application if the application indicates compliance with this chapter.
(2)
Exempt signs are signs that are authorized but that are exempt from regulation under this chapter and do not require zoning approval.
(3)
Prohibited signs are those not authorized by this chapter nor exempt from regulation.
B.
Accessory uses. Signs shall be considered accessory uses (other than outdoor advertising signs) on the lot or site they are located and subordinate to the principal use of the lot. Signs shall be subject to the requirements of Article III, "accessory uses," of this chapter in addition to the requirements of this chapter.
C.
Principal uses. Outdoor advertising signs (billboards) are considered the principal use of a lot or site on which they are located and shall comply with all the requirements of this chapter.
D.
Alteration of sign face. The physical alteration of a sign face or supporting structure shall be considered the same as construction of a new sign, which shall require zoning approval and conformity to all the requirements of this article.
E.
Signs on public property. Any sign installed or placed on public property or within a public right-of-way, except in conformance with the requirements of this article, shall be forfeited and is subject to confiscation in addition to other remedies the Zoning Officer shall have pursuant to this chapter.
§ 260-703 Types of signs.
For the purposes of this section, all signs shall be classified by the following definitions:
A name, identification, description, display, illustration or device which is affixed or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or land and which functions as an accessory use by directing attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution, or business. The following terms and definitions are associated with the sign regulations contained in this chapter:
A-FRAME — A portable sign comprised of two separate panels or faces joined at the top and spread apart at the bottom to form the base on which the sign stands. | |
ADDRESS — The number or other designation assigned to a housing unit, business establishment, or other structure for all purposes of location, mail delivery, and emergency services | |
ANIMATED OR MOVING — Any sign or part of a sign that changes physical position or light intensity by any movement or rotation or that gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation. Changeable copy signs as defined herein are not considered animated or moving signs. | |
ANIMATION — The movement or the optical illusion of movement of any part of the sign structure, design or pictorial segment, including the movement of any illumination or the flashing, scintillating or varying of light intensity. Also included in this definition are signs having "chasing action" which is the action of a row of lights commonly used to create the appearance of motion. | |
AWNING, CANOPY — Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy. | |
BANNER — A sign or outside advertising display having the character, letters, illustrations, ornamentations, symbol, color or visual representation applied to cloth, paper, vinyl, fabric, plastic, or like kind of malleable material with or without frame. National, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business, shall not be considered banners. | |
BUILDING IDENTIFICATION — A small pedestrian-oriented sign attached to a building which bears only the name, number(s) and/or logo of the building but not the tenant and which is intended to be legible only from the pedestrianways immediately adjacent to the sign. | |
CHANGEABLE COPY — A sign that is designed so that characters, letters, or illustrations can be changed or rearranged manually to change the message on the sign without altering the face or surface of the sign. | |
CHANGEABLE COPY, REMOTE — A sign that is designed so that characters, letters, or illustrations can be changed or rearranged remotely by electronic or other means to change the message or sign without altering the face or surface of the sign. | |
COMBINED DEVELOPMENT — Two or more establishments or businesses occupying a common building or adjoining or adjacent buildings or buildings on adjoining parcels which are designed and developed in a coordinated manner and which may share parking, driveways and other common facilities. | |
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE — Any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity. | |
CONSTRUCTION — A temporary sign announcing the name of contractors, mechanics, or artisans engaged in performing work on the premises and only during active construction activities. | |
DEVELOPMENT — A temporary sign erected during the period of construction and/or development of a property by the contractor and developer or their agent. | |
DIRECTIONAL, INCIDENTAL — A sign generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the lot or site on which it is located, such as "No Parking," "Entrance," "Exit," "One Way," "Loading Only," "Telephone," and other similar directives, and provided that such sign does not exceed five square feet. Directional, incidental signs shall be located only in conjunction with site drive entrances and/or internal traffic drive aisles. | |
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD — A sign which displays messages, such as time and temperature, in alternating light cycles. | |
FLAG — Any fabric containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, used as a symbol of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or the local municipality. A flag is not a sign. | |
FLASHING — A sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source or has a light source which is not stationary, varies in illumination intensity, or contains elements which give the appearance of any of the aforementioned. | |
FREESTANDING — Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure. | |
GOVERNMENTAL — A sign, which is owned, installed, and maintained by the Borough of Wilkinsburg, County of Allegheny, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or other governmental agency. | |
GROUND/MONUMENT — A freestanding sign, which is completely self-supporting, has its sign face or base on the ground and has no air space, columns, or supports visible between the ground and the bottom of the sign. It shall not be attached to a pole or pylon, nor raised by mounting on a man-made berm, wall, or similar structure. Pole/pylon signs that have pole covers which extend from the base of the sign face to the ground shall not be considered ground/monument signs. | |
HOME OCCUPATION IDENTIFICATION — A sign containing only the name and address of the occupant of the premises and his or her occupation. No logos or other advertising shall be permitted. | |
ILLUMINATED SIGN, EXTERNAL — A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed toward the sign. | |
ILLUMINATED SIGN, INTERNAL — A sign containing a source of light contained within the sign structure or sign cabinet. | |
INFLATABLE — A three-dimensional object, filled with air or gas, and located in such a manner as to attract attention. | |
MARQUEE — An integral part of the building consisting of a roof which is supported by the building and may also be supported by columns or piers, and which includes porches, porticos and porte cocheres, but does not include canopies or awnings. | |
MARQUEE SIGN — A wall sign attached to a marquee. | |
MENU BOARD SIGN — A sign that lists for consumers the various options of products, goods, or services provided by a business. | |
OFF-PREMISES — A sign identifying/advertising and/or directing the public to a business, merchandise, service, institution, residential area, or entertainment which is located, sold, rented, leased, produced, manufactured and/or furnished at a place other than the real property on which said sign is located. However, outdoor advertising or billboard signs shall not be considered to be off-premises signs. | |
ON-PREMISES — A sign or display that identifies or communicates a message related to the activity conducted, the service offered, or the commodity sold on the premises where the sign is located. | |
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING (BILLBOARD) — A permanently installed sign identifying/advertising and/or directing the public to a business, merchandise, service, institution, residential area, or entertainment which is located, sold, rented, leased, produced, manufactured and/or furnished at a place other than the real property on which said sign is located. | |
PANEL — The primary surface of a sign that carries the identifying/advertising message. | |
PENNANT — 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. | |
POLE/PYLON SIGN — A freestanding sign erected on a pole, poles, pylon, or pylons, or other supporting structure where the bottom edge of a sign face is installed above the ground. Pole/pylon signs that have pole covers which extend from the base of the sign face to the ground shall not be considered ground/monument signs. | |
POLITICAL — A sign which indicates the name, cause or affiliation of a person seeking public or elected office or on which reference is made to an issue for which a public election or referendum is scheduled to be held. | |
PORTABLE — Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless a vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business. | |
PROJECTION — A sign which reproduces a remote image, by optical or any other means, on any surface. | |
PUBLIC UTILITY — Signs in connection with the identification, operation or protection of any public utility, on the same lot therewith, provided that the total sign area on any one street frontage does not exceed eight square feet. | |
REAL ESTATE SIGN — A temporary sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease, or sale. | |
RESIDENTIAL — 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. | |
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFICATION — Any sign used to identify the name of a residential development containing no commercial message and located at the principal entrances of such development. | |
ROOF SIGN — A sign erected on or attached to a roof or a sign attached to a building that projects above the highest point on a wall that supports the roofline. | |
SAFETY CONTROL — Public safety sign pursuant to federal, state, or local public safety regulations. | |
SIGN BASE — The support on which a sign face stands. | |
SIGN FACE — The area or display surface, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim, or molding, used for the message on a single plane. | |
SIGN or SIGNBOARD — Any writing, printing, painting, display, emblem, drawing, graphic, electronic display, computerized display or other device designed to be viewed by the public, designed and intended for advertising, and the structure supporting the display. | |
SITE DEVELOPMENT SIGN — A sign indicating that the premises is in the process of being subdivided and/or developed for the future construction of dwellings or other buildings before any actual construction activity has begun. | |
STREAMER — A string or strip of miniature or full-size pennants or flags which may or may not be suspended between two points. | |
SUSPENDED — A sign which is suspended from a structure above into a vehicular or pedestrian accessway, more than one foot from the surface on which it is mounted, and is mounted usually, but not always, at right angles to the building. | |
TEMPORARY SIGN, GENERAL — Any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other light material, with or without frame, displayed for a period not exceeding 31 days. Temporary signs shall be permitted to advertise grand openings, distress sales, change in ownership, or temporary businesses which have been approved by the Planning Commission, Borough Council or Zoning Hearing Board. | |
TIME-AND-TEMPERATURE SIGN — A sign which indicates changing time and/or temperature. | |
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN — A sign regulating traffic. | |
WALL SIGN — Any sign painted on, attached to, or affixed to a building or structure, attached flat against the wall surface, in such a way that only one face of a sign is visible. | |
WINDOW SIGN — Any sign, picture, symbol, or combination thereof designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale, or service that is temporarily affixed inside a window or upon the windowpanes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window. |
§ 260-704 Prohibited and exempt signs.
A.
The following signs shall be exempt from these regulations:
(1)
Holiday decorations displayed for recognized state and federal holidays.
(2)
Official notices authorized by a court, public body or public safety official.
(3)
Memorial/historical plaques.
(4)
Memorial signs and tablets when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other sculptured materials.
(5)
Flags of a government organization or corporate entity.
(6)
Signs authorized by the Borough such as street signs, safety control signs and traffic control signs.
(7)
Public notice/public warning signs.
(8)
Auction or garage sale signs that are temporary.
(9)
Address numbering.
(10)
Construction sign (temporary).
(11)
Signs of any type placed on public or parks property by authorization of Wilkinsburg Borough.
(12)
Real estate signs which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which the said sign is located when less than six square feet.
(13)
A-frame (sandwich board) signs shall be permitted on sidewalks, provided that only one such sign per premises shall be permitted. Such sign shall not obstruct pedestrian travel and shall be removed each evening upon closing. The A-frame sign shall not exceed six square feet per side.
(14)
Signs announcing candidacy for public office. Such signs shall not be installed on utility poles, shall not be installed more than 60 days before the election to which they are relevant and shall be removed within seven calendar days immediately following the relevant election day.
B.
Prohibited signs. The following signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district:
(1)
Flashing, blinking, animated or moving signs.
(2)
Pennants, flags or streamers.
(3)
Signs advertising a property for sale or rent that lists an improper use of the property.
(4)
Signs that resemble traffic signals or any sort of traffic device.
(5)
Signs that contain obscene or pornographic material.
(6)
Off-premises sign (other than outdoor advertising).
(7)
Projection sign.
(8)
Roof sign.
(9)
Signs on trees, utility poles, and traffic devices.
(10)
Signs that are hazardous to public safety.
§ 260-705 Determining sign area and height.
The following shall control the computation of sign area and height:
A.
Computation of area of single-faced signs. The area of a sign face shall be computed by means of the smallest square or rectangle 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 of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets Zoning Ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
B.
Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
C.
Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of 1) existing grade prior to construction or 2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the zone lot, whichever is lower.
§ 260-706 Permitted signs in residential districts; conditions.
In the R-1, R-1S, R-2 and R-3 Residential Districts, only the following exterior signs shall be permitted. No ground or pole signs shall be permitted, except as provided for in Subsections B and H below.
A.
A nameplate not exceeding two square feet in area containing only the name of the resident, the title of the person practicing a profession, the name of the building and the name of agents, or any combination of the foregoing and placed directly against a building wall.
B.
A bulletin board sign (instructional or directional) not exceeding 12 square feet in area erected upon the premises of an educational, philanthropic or religious institution, including a church, hospital or similar institution, for the purpose of displaying the name of the institution and its activities or services, which shall be limited to one such sign. Such sign shall be freestanding and located at least 15 feet back from the sidewalk which the sign faces or back from the street right-of-way if no sidewalk is present.
C.
A temporary sign not exceeding six square feet in area, relating only to the rental or lease of the property on which it is displayed. No more than two such signs may be placed upon any property in single and separate ownership and not more than one such sign facing any one street. Such sign shall be removed from the lot or premises within 15 days after the last sale or completion of business. Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
D.
No sign shall be erected upon or applied to any roof. The term "sign" here shall not apply to a religious symbol, unaccompanied by lettering, when applied to the cornice, tower or spire of a place of worship.
E.
Permitted illumination of a sign, nameplate or bulletin board shall be of a nonflashing, nonmoving, indirect type.
F.
Pole signs shall be located at least 15 feet back from the street line of the premises on which same are erected or maintained, unless attached on the building.
G.
Signs shall be kept in good condition and maintained so as not to create hazardous or threatening conditions to the health or safety of persons in the vicinity of said sign or cause a public nuisance. The Borough may take all lawful and proper actions necessary to revoke all permits and licenses issued for such sign and may order said sign removed or brought into compliance with the Borough ordinances and regulations within 30 days of the date of issuance of such notice and order, in writing, by the Zoning Officer.
H.
In the R-3 Residential District only, the following exterior signs shall be permitted: a sign for each street frontage not exceeding 12 square feet in area in connection with a multiple-family dwelling, an institutional home or a funeral home used to identify only the name of the structure. Such sign shall be freestanding and located at least 15 feet back from the street right-of-way.
I.
Directional signs as specified elsewhere in this chapter.
§ 260-707 Permitted signs in all nonresidential districts; conditions.
In the CBD, MU, INST, IND, TOD and C-1 Districts, only the following signs shall be permitted:
A.
Any sign permitted in any residential district and subject to any stated condition for said residential district sign.
B.
Wall sign. A wall sign attached to or on a front or a side wall of a building and with face projecting not more than 12 inches therefrom, so erected that no portion of the sign is less than nine feet above the entrance grade. The sign shall not extend beyond the side edges of any wall in either direction, nor shall the sign extend above the roofline of buildings having flat roofs, the deckline of buildings having mansard roofs or the gutter line of buildings having gable, hipped or gambrel roofs. If the sign does not project from and is flush with the wall of the building, it shall not be required to conform to said nine-foot height above entrance grade. The sign shall identify the owner of or enterprise conducting the business, the business engaged in or upon the premises or products or services sold or any combination thereof. It may be an illuminated sign, provided that it is nonflashing and nonmoving. No wall sign shall cover wholly or partially any wall opening. The size of business or identification wall signs permitted immediately above shall be limited as follows:
(1)
A permitted wall sign (or signs) shall not exceed the greater of one square foot multiplied by the width in feet of the principal building frontage or a maximum of 50 square feet per principal use. Where a building has frontage on more than one public road, the owner, occupant or agent may erect a sign on each wall with frontage with each sign meeting the square footage requirements of this section, provided that all other provisions of this section are observed.
C.
Ground/pole sign.
(1)
Ground/pole signs are not permitted in the public right-of-way.
(2)
The building setback line shall be the location standard for ground/pole signs. In no case shall a setback of fewer than 15 feet from the street right-of-way line be permitted. Ground/pole signs shall also be located a minimum of five feet from any building and 10 feet from any side property line.
(3)
For signs over 10 square feet in area, an additional one foot of separation from adjacent side property lines shall be required for every 10 square feet of sign area.
(4)
The square foot area of ground/pole signs shall be limited to one square foot of sign area for every one linear foot of property frontage on a public right-of-way, but no ground sign shall be permitted to exceed an area of 60 square feet for each side.
(5)
The maximum height of a ground/pole sign shall be 30 feet. The minimum height of the bottom edge of any ground/pole sign shall be 10 feet except when it is erected as a monument sign.
D.
When property is occupied by a business without a building, one permanent identification sign not exceeding 40 square feet. Such sign shall be located at least 15 feet back from the street right-of-way.
E.
Wall plaques. Wall plaques shall be all signs extending no more than 1 1/2 inches from the walls to which they are attached. The edges of wall plaques shall be rounded, tapered or treated in any other manner, satisfactory to the Zoning Officer, that will render them harmless to pedestrians.
F.
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surface (including those over the public right-of-way).
(1)
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surface to which they are affixed shall have their bottom edge at sufficient height above the ground or other supporting surface as to assure no interference with pedestrian or vehicular traffic under or around the sign and in any event at a height not fewer than 10 feet.
(2)
When extending over a vehicular cartway, the minimum height above the ground or cartway shall be 15 feet.
(3)
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surfaces shall not protrude more than eight feet beyond the wall surface to which they are attached.
(4)
Signs mounted perpendicular to the wall surface shall be limited to a maximum area of 32 square feet.
G.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs shall be located a minimum of 15 feet from any property or right-of-way lines and shall comply with all other height and location requirements of the category of permanent signs which they emulate. Temporary signs must be located on the same lot as the use which they advertise.
(2)
All temporary signs shall be attached to a building or the ground in a manner satisfactory to the Zoning Officer, in protecting the public health, safety and welfare.
(3)
Temporary signs shall be a maximum of 32 square feet in area.
(4)
The sign permit shall be attached to temporary signs for the duration of the permitted use and easily visible from the street.
H.
Window signs.
(1)
Window signs shall be permitted to be installed on the inside of the window of nonresidential structures only.
(2)
Window signs shall not cover more than 25% of the glazing of any window.
(3)
The copy of a window sign shall be designed to communicate information about an activity, business, community event or a sale or service offered.
(4)
Window signs shall not be permanently affixed to a window or windowpanes.
I.
Advertising on awnings and canopies.
(1)
Shall be limited in size to a maximum of 50% of the allowable size of the wall sign permitted on the same structure. Such signage shall only include the name and/or logo of the business, industry or pursuit conducted therein.
(2)
Canopies shall comply with the height requirements of projecting signs as identified in this article.
J.
Marquee signs. Marquee signs may be attached only to the front and sides of marquees and shall not project beyond the edges or the bottom of the marquee nor extend more than 10 inches horizontally from the surface of the marquee.
K.
Directional signs as specified elsewhere in this chapter.
§ 260-708 General regulations.
A.
All applications for permits for construction, installation, maintenance, repair and/or modification of signs of any type or nature shall be submitted for review and approval or denial by the Borough Zoning Officer, prior to commencement of any activity or work by the applicant or the applicant's representative or delegate concerning installation, construction or modification of such sign. The provisions of this section and all of its subsections shall apply to but are not limited to all replacement signs, new signs, changes or alterations to existing signs or signs which must be relocated for any reason.
B.
A site plan or sketch, drawn to scale, shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer and shall depict the lot and building upon which the proposed sign will be located and shall show all other buildings and structures located on said lot and their relationship to said sign. Information submitted to the Zoning Officer shall also include an application for a sign permit, a written description of the materials and manner of construction and mounting of the sign, a description of the information and visual material to be included on all surfaces of the sign, a description of the illumination, if any, of the sign and one or more photographs of the proposed sign location from each approach from which the sign will be visible.
C.
Permit required. A permit shall be obtained from the Borough Zoning Officer, subject to filing the permit application and supporting information described above in this section and subject to payment of the required established fee, prior to the construction, alteration, modification or moving of any exterior sign. No exterior sign established before the effective date of this chapter shall be (except when ordered by an authorized public officer as a safety measure) altered in any respect, or moved, unless it be made to conform with the provisions of this chapter.
D.
Signs not to constitute traffic hazard. No sign or other advertising structure as regulated by this chapter shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device; or which makes use of the words "Stop," "Look," "Drive-In," "Danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
E.
Material and construction. All signs shall be securely built, constructed and erected in compliance with all regulations and requirements of the relevant building codes, and in addition:
(1)
The Zoning Officer may require calculations by an architect or engineer certifying the stability of a sign, with reference to dead load and wind stress capabilities when a sign is over 25 square feet in area or in the case of a ground sign whose height is greater than 10 feet or a sign which weighs in excess of 100 pounds.
(2)
Any sign damaged by inclement weather shall have proven itself unsafe and may not be restored in kind without engineering data as required above.
F.
Illumination and animation.
(1)
All illuminated signs shall be inspected by the authorized electrical inspection agency of the Borough of Wilkinsburg during construction to verify compliance with the adopted electrical code of the Borough of Wilkinsburg.
(2)
Illuminated signs shall be nonflashing and nonglaring and shall be illuminated in a manner to prevent glare and reflection to a public street or adjacent properties.
(3)
All signs shall be nonanimated with no exterior moving parts.
G.
Maintenance.
(1)
Any sign regulated by this chapter shall be maintained in the proper structural and aesthetic condition by the owner or tenant.
(2)
If a sign no longer advertises a bona fide business or other activity conducted on the premises, it shall be taken down and removed by the owner, by the tenant or by the entity having the beneficial use of the sign and the building within 30 days of the termination of such business or other activity.
I.
Liability insurance (applicant). Any sign which projects or hangs over the public right-of-way (ROW) shall be required to carry liability insurance in accordance with the following:
(1)
All applicants for permits to install and maintain signs in the Borough and the owners of all such signs now installed and maintained in the Borough where such sign projects over the public ROW are hereby required and directed to procure a public liability insurance policy, providing complete third-party coverage for the benefit of the Borough of Wilkinsburg with a reputable insurance company approved by the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner. Said policy shall provide coverage for not less than $500,000 for injury to one person and not less than $1,000,000 for injury to more than one person and not less than $100,000 for damage to property against any loss, injury or damage that may hereafter be caused, directly or indirectly, by and in the installation or maintenance of any overhanging sign. Such public liability insurance policy shall be continued in force for the life of the sign.
(2)
A copy of each such policy or a certificate of such insurance shall be kept in the office of the Borough Secretary. Certificates of renewal of such certificates shall be delivered to the Borough Secretary not fewer than 10 days prior to the renewal date. Where such renewal certificates have not been so delivered, the Building Inspector is directed to order the sign removed immediately. No permit shall be issued for such sign until compliant with this section.
§ 260-709 Outdoor advertising signs.
Outdoor advertising signs may be authorized by the Council as a conditional use only in the IND and C-1 Zoning Districts upon a finding that compliance with the requirements of this chapter, as well as the following specific criteria, have been met by the applicant:
B.
The portion of any lot upon which the outdoor advertising is to be located shall contain a minimum of 5,000 square feet in area.
C.
All outdoor advertising signs shall contain only one face for the display of lettered, written, printed, pictorial, or sculpted matter on only one side of its structure, and such face shall be oriented to be viewed from only one direction of travel from the nearest adjacent roadway (cross roadway viewing shall not be permitted).
D.
The display area upon the face of an outdoor advertising sign shall be a maximum of 300 square feet (12 feet by 25 feet), and all portions of any display shall fit within such area with no extensions beyond the edge of the outdoor advertising sign's framework.
E.
All utility lines serving the outdoor advertising sign, or those extended to provide such service, must be installed completely underground. Such requirement may be waived if the outdoor advertising sign is powered by nontraditional alternative energy sources (for example, solar power).
F.
All outdoor advertising signs shall be set back from the below-described items as follows:
(1)
From a roadway intersection: 300 feet.
(2)
From any other outdoor advertising sign (whether such is located in the Borough of Wilkinsburg or otherwise) on the same side of the roadway: 1,200 feet.
(3)
From any other outdoor advertising sign (whether such is located in the Borough of Wilkinsburg or otherwise) on the opposite side of the roadway: 600 feet.
G.
The maximum height of outdoor advertising signs shall not exceed 30 feet, as measured from the grade of the roadway from which the advertising message is principally visible, and the bottom edge of the outdoor advertising sign shall be no more than eight feet above the elevation of the adjacent roadway, which height shall be sufficient to prevent unauthorized access upon the outdoor advertising sign.
H.
A buffer yard shall be required between outdoor advertising signs and any adjacent lot(s). For the purposed of establishing the required buffer yard, outdoor advertising signs shall be considered a commercial use.
I.
Outdoor advertising signs are considered as the principal use of a lot or site, and as such the land area utilized for an outdoor advertising sign shall not be otherwise required to support another use upon such lot, including, but not limited to, buffer yard, parking area or setback necessary to any preexisting use upon such lot.
J.
All displays on the face of outdoor advertising signs shall be stationary, and no animated, sequential, flashing, moving, or oscillating signs or displays shall be permitted.
K.
Illumination of the display shall be designed so that it shall be focused on the face of the display itself so as to prevent glare upon the surrounding area. All sources of illumination shall be external and equipped with shields to prevent spillage of light off the display.
L.
Except as otherwise may be specified herein, all development of outdoor advertising signs shall comply with the provisions of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance and this chapter.
M.
All outdoor advertising signs (including any and all supporting structures thereof) shall be dismantled and removed from the premises upon which they are located within 180 days of their cessation of use.
N.
All outdoor advertising signs shall be constructed to all applicable structural standards for such devices, and all applications for the conditional use approval shall verify compliance with such standards as documented and sealed by a registered engineer.
O.
All outdoor advertising signs shall be maintained by their owners in a state of repair so that they are as safe and as functional as when originally installed.
P.
No outdoor advertising sign shall be constructed or erected until an applicant thereof has made an application for same (which shall include a copy of a written lease for use of the land if the applicant is not the owner thereof) and paid the applicable fee thereof (as set by separate ordinance or resolution of the Council) and received a permit thereof from the Borough of Wilkinsburg.
Q.
Outdoor advertising shall be required to obtain any necessary permit from and to conform, in all respects, to any regulation thereof promulgated by an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including, but not limited to, its Department of Transportation.
R.
When changeable light-emitting diode (LED) lighting is utilized to create the sign face, such lighting shall automatically adjust the LED light levels of the sign face to account for the ambient lighting so as not to create significant glare or a measurable footcandle level of 0.5 or greater, as such level is measured at the road right-of-way line or adjacent property line.