In order that the legitimate demands for signage are met without
the unsightly intrusion of an unlimited type and quantity of signs
in Stockertown Borough, any sign erected or maintained after the effective
date of this chapter shall conform to the following regulations.
The following regulations shall be observed in all districts:
A.
No sign shall be erected within a street line, except traffic signs
and similar regulatory notices of a duly constituted governmental
body.
B.
No moving or flashing signs which may distract motorists on adjacent
streets shall be permitted, also flashing, blinking, mechanically
moving, twinkling or animated signs of any type are prohibited. Signs
which indicate the time, temperature, date or other similar information
shall not be considered flashing signs.
C.
No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor
shall be permitted.
D.
No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as a part
of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for
attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
E.
Floodlighting shall be arranged so that the source of light is not
visible from any point off the lot and that only the sign is directly
illuminated.
F.
No sign shall be erected containing information on it which states
or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted
in the zoning district in which the property is located.
G.
Every sign shall be constructed of a durable material kept in good
condition, repair, and safe from collapse. Whenever a sign becomes
structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises,
or the general public, written notice shall be given to the owner
of the sign or the owner of the premises on which such sign is located,
that such sign shall be made safe or removed within five days.
H.
All distances provided for in this article shall be measured along
straight lines between signs, and from the near edge of a sign or
sign structure. This subsection shall apply in all cases, including
locating new signs in relationship to current existing nonconforming
signs.
I.
No sign, other than official street signs, shall be erected or maintained
nearer to a street line than a distance equaling the height of the
sign, unless attached flatly to a building.
J.
No sign shall be erected in any district without a permit, unless
so stated in § 250-82.
K.
No sign shall be spaced closer to another sign than the distance
equal to 10 times the largest dimension (height or width) of the sign
having the largest dimension.
L.
The gross sign area shall be the entire area within a single continuous
perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of such sign, and in no case
passing through or between adjacent elements of the same. Such perimeter
shall not include any structural elements lying outside the limits
of such sign and not forming an integral part of the display. In the
case of an open sign, made up of individual letters, figures or designs,
the space between such letters, figures or designs shall be included.
In computing the area of a double-face sign, only one side shall be
considered provided that both faces are identical. In V-type structures,
the interior angle of which exceeds 45°, both sides shall be considered
in computing the sign area.
M.
No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress
or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No signs shall be
attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
N.
Any sign existing prior to the effective date of this chapter and
which does not conform to these provisions shall not be altered or
changed in overall dimensions, except in conformance to the provisions
contained in § 250-84 of this chapter.
No permit shall be required for the following signs. These signs
shall conform to all other regulations set forth in §§ 250-94 and 250-96.
A.
Directional, information or public services signs such as those advertising
the availability of rest rooms, telephone or similar public conveniences,
and signs advertising meeting times and places of nonprofit service
or charitable clubs and organizations, provided that such signs do
not advertise any commercial establishment, activity, organization,
product, goods, or service, excepting public utilities.
E.
Signs advertising the sale of farm products grown or produced on
the premises.
Signs shall be classified, regulated, and permitted as follows:
A.
Real estate signs. Signs which advertise the sale, rental, or lease
of the property on which they are placed.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements. Not to exceed six square feet.
B.
Traffic signs. Signs regulating traffic, naming streets, or describing
conditions, which are officially erected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
or the Borough of Stockertown.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: As deemed appropriate by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or the Borough of Stockertown.
C.
Identification signs. Signs which display the name of a particular
noncommercial or nonindustrial building or use, such as a church or
school or development.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed nine square feet.
D.
Noncommercial directional signs, as part of § 250-82A.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed two square feet.
E.
Trespassing signs. Any sign indicating the private nature of property,
a street, or driveway, or a sign restricting or prohibiting some particular
activity.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed two square feet.
F.
Agricultural signs. Signs advertising the sale of farm products grown
on the premises.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed five square feet.
G.
Temporary professional signs. Signs of contractors, architects, mechanics,
or artisans displayed on a temporary basis on the premises at which
the services are being performed.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed 12 square feet.
H.
Temporary nonprofessional signs. Signs noting a special event such
as a fair, circus, yard sale, bingo party, or political activity,
or a seasonal activity such as the sale of Christmas trees.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed 12 square feet.
I.
Home occupation and professional signs. Signs used to indicate a
home occupation or a profession such as a dentist, lawyer, mason,
contractor, plumber, doctor or veterinarian.
(1)
Permitted in all districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed two square feet.
J.
Business, commercial, or industrial signs. Signs used to attract
attention to a permitted use on the same premises. Such signs normally
include the identifying name, type of business, and trademark of the
establishment.
(1)
Signs permitted in the I Industrial and O/I Office/Industrial District
only.
(2)
Dimensional requirements:
(a)
Mounted signs. Signs mounted on a building shall not exceed
50 square feet and shall in no case exceed 10 feet in width or five
feet in height. Mounted signs shall be installed parallel to the supporting
wall and project not more than 12 inches from the face of such wall.
(b)
Projecting signs. Signs projected from the face of a building
shall extend no more than 42 inches; with a minimum height of 10 feet
from ground level, and have a maximum area of 12 square feet.
(c)
Freestanding signs shall be erected only within the limits of
the front yard of the property to which they pertain.
(3)
Signs permitted in the MU Mixed Use District:
(a)
The maximum area for any sign shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(b)
All freestanding signs shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
(c)
Projecting signs shall not exceed six square feet in area with
a maximum projection from a building wall of six feet.
K.
Commercial or industrial directional signs. Signs which advertise
directions to a particular business or commercial or industrial activity.
(1)
Permitted in MU Mixed Use, I Industrial and O/I Office/Industrial
Districts.
(2)
Dimensional requirements: not to exceed 12 square feet.
Temporary signs noted in § 250-83G and H shall be
subject to the following:
A.
Permits shall run for a period of up to six months, as is the choice
of the applicant.
B.
Any freestanding sign shall be located at least five feet from any
lot line.
C.
Signs shall be removed immediately upon expiration of the permit.
D.
The site or building on which the sign was erected shall be restored
to its original condition upon removal of the sign.
E.
A permit may be reissued for not more than one successive six-month
period.
A.
Applications for sign permits shall be filed in duplicate and on
forms furnished by the Borough and shall be accompanied by detailed
plans and specifications and other such information deemed necessary
by the Zoning Officer to determine the location and details of sign
construction.
B.
Permit fees shall be collected prior to the issuance of a permit.
Permit fees shall be as designated by the Borough Council.
C.
No permit shall be issued until a license and a bond or liability
insurance policy as herein provided, and the owners consent and signature
have been filed.
D.
Before any permit will be issued for any sign requiring a permit
or any sign projecting over public property, a liability insurance
policy or an indemnity bond in the amount set by resolution and payable
to the Borough, in a form satisfactory to the Borough Solicitor, shall
be posted and maintained for the life of the sign. Only one such bond
or liability policy need be posted for the sign erector regardless
of the number of signs he may erect within the Borough during the
year.
A.
Off-premises signs are controlled by this chapter to serve the following
purposes:
(1)
To ensure that a physical environment is maintained that is attractive
to desirable types of development, especially light industrial and
office parks.
(2)
To prevent visual pollution in the Borough and protect property values,
especially in consideration of the fact that most commercial areas
of the Borough are within close proximity to existing residences.
(3)
To prevent glare on adjacent property and streets.
(4)
To protect the open space and natural character of areas of the Borough
planned to remain agricultural or as conservation areas.
(5)
To avoid the creation of additional visual distractions to motorists,
especially along the high-speed Route 33, which is defined as an expressway,
and along busy arterial streets that involve complex turning movements,
congestion and numerous traffic hazards.
(6)
To recognize the numerous alternative forms of free speech available
in the Borough, including existing nonconforming off-premises signs,
on-premises signs and temporary signs and printed and electronic media.
(7)
To recognize that this chapter allows every landowner a reasonable
use for their land.
(8)
To avoid off-premises signs that would have an unfair advantage over
on-premises signs in the competition for attention, because off-premises
signs typically are higher and larger than on-premises signs.
B.
Nonconforming off-premises signs. This chapter is not intended to
require the removal of an existing lawfully placed off-premises sign that is in structurally
sound condition.
C.
Commercial and noncommercial. This section applies to both commercial
and noncommercial off-premises signs except as may be specifically
provided for elsewhere in this chapter.
D.
State sign. Signs erected and maintained by the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation are permitted by right in all districts. Such signs
that identify business services available at an interchange are specifically
encouraged as an appropriate and orderly means of providing information
without causing visual pollution or traffic hazards.
E.
Permitted off-premises signs. Based directly on the intent statements
within this chapter, only the following off-premises signs are permitted,
except for exempt signs under § 250-82.
(1)
District. An off-premises sign is only permitted in the O/I Office
Industrial District.
(2)
Location. An off-premises sign is only permitted within 500 feet
of existing right-of-way of an expressway, and setback requirements
of the O/I Office Industrial District shall not apply, but instead
signs permitted herein shall observe a front yard setback of 25 feet,
side yards of 50 feet each and a rear yard of 100 feet.
(3)
Size. No off-premises sign may have a sign area greater than 672
square feet.
(4)
Spacing. Any off-premises sign shall be separated by a minimum of
1,500 feet from any other off-premises sign, including signs on either
side of an expressway. No lot shall include more than one off-premises
sign.
(5)
Maximum height: 80 feet. Height of sign shall be the vertical distance
measured from the average ground level surrounding a sign to the highest
point of the sign and its supporting structure.
(6)
Attached. No off-premises sign or sign face shall be attached in
any way to any other off-premises sign. Off-premises signs shall have
a maximum of two sign faces.
(7)
Lighting and glare. See standards in § 250-70.
(8)
Residences. No off-premises sign shall be located within 1,000 feet
of an existing dwelling or land zoned residential by the Borough of
Stockertown if such dwelling or residentially zoned land is located
on the same side of Route 33 as the sign.
F.
Allowance for peculiar circumstances.
(1)
This section recognizes that peculiar and exceptional circumstances
may cause a need for an off-premises sign other than those that are
permitted.
(2)
The Zoning Hearing Board may as a special exception allow one off-premises
sign related toward one individual use. Such a sign shall be limited
to 10 square feet in sign area on one face and with a maximum height
of 10 feet.
(3)
No approval shall be granted for such a sign unless the applicant
proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Hearing Board that peculiar
and exceptional characteristics of both the individual use and the
site overwhelmingly require a need for such a sign in order for that
use to exist. The applicant shall also provide that the location of
such a sign would be completely compatible with adjacent uses.
|
