The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height.
(A) Computation of area of individual sign. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof 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 of the 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 the zoning part regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
(B) Computation of area of multi-faced 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 are 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, including any supporting structure, at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of existing grade prior to construction or the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filing, 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 lot, whichever is lower.
(D) Computation of maximum total permitted sign area per lot. The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs per lot shall be computed by applying the formula contained in § 150.59 to the lot frontage, building frontage, or wall area, as appropriate, for the zoning district in which the lot is located. Lots fronting on two or more streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each street frontage. However, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular street may not exceed the portion of the lot’s total sign area allocation that is derived from the lot, building, or wall area frontage on that street.
(E) Signs allowed on private property with and without permits. Signs shall be allowed on private property in the borough in accordance with, and only in accordance with, § 150.58. If the letter “A” appears for a sign type in a column, such sign is allowed without prior permit approval in the zoning districts represented by that column. If the letter “S” appears for a sign type in a column, such sign is allowed only with prior permit approval in the zoning districts represented by that column. Special conditions may apply in some cases. If the letter “N” appears for sign type in a column, such a sign is not allowed in the zoning districts represented by that column under any circumstances. A sign designated by an “S” or an “A” in § 150.58 shall be allowed only if:
(1) The sum of the area of all building and freestanding signs on the lot conforms with the maximum permitted sign area as determined by the formula for the zoning district in which the lot is located as specified in § 150.59;
(2) The size, location, and number of signs on the lot conform to the requirements of Tables C and D, which establish permitted sign dimensions by sign type, and with any additional limitations listed in § 150.58; and
(3) The characteristics of the sign conform to the limitations of Table D, Permitted Sign Characteristics, and with any additional limitations on characteristics listed in § 150.58.
(Ord. 04-2004, passed 12-6-2004)