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1. Permanent Freestanding Signs. Permanent freestanding signs indicating the name and nature of a business on the same lot therewith, subject to the following:
A. Number. One such sign for each lot, except on
(1) Corner lots where a freestanding sign may be erected on each street frontage; and
(2) On a lot having a frontage which exceeds the minimum requirement of that district, additional permanent freestanding signs for each 100 feet of excess frontage, but no single business shall be permitted more than one such sign on any one lot or contiguous lots.
B. Height. Such signs shall not exceed a height of 15 feet. Properties abutting arterial roads as classified in the Dover Township Comprehensive plan shall not exceed a height of 18 feet.
C. Area. Maximum area for a freestanding sign is 50 square feet. Properties abutting arterial roads as classified in the Dover Township Comprehensive plan shall not exceed 80 square feet.
D. Setback. All signs shall be setback in accordance with the setbacks contained in § 27-801.
E. Internally lit illuminated signs shall have the brightness reduced at night to not create an objectionable glare.
2. Banner Signs. Banner signs are permitted only as wall signs or located entirely beneath a permitted permanent building canopy.
3. Wall Signs. There is no maximum number of wall signs. No single flat wall sign exceeding 32 square feet shall be internally lit. The maximum area of any wall sign shall not exceed 5% of the building wall on which it is placed. Total wall signage shall not exceed 240 square feet or 5% of the face of the building wall parallel to the road frontage, or whichever is greater. In the case of a double-frontage lot, the maximum shall be based on the largest building face parallel to one of the road frontages.
4. Roof Signs. No roof sign shall extend beyond the eve of a structure or exceed the height of the principal building's roof line. No roof sign shall be larger than 32 square feet. There shall only be one roof sign permitted per lot.
5. Home Occupation Sign. Only one sign permitted per approved Home Occupation and shall not exceed two square feet.
6. Permanent signs identifying a residential development of five lots or more, or an apartment or condominium development. Sign may be located on the property or at the entrance of such development, provided that such sign shall be not more than 32 square feet in area, and not more than six feet in height, and shall comply with the applicable setbacks set forth in § 27-801. For each development, there shall be no more than one such sign per entrance or street frontage.
7. Aggregate total. No lot shall exceed total signage of 240 square feet or 5% of the building face parallel to the road frontage, whichever is greater. For multiple uses within a singular building, the frontage or face of the building shall be calculated by the frontage of each individual use.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
Signs shall be permitted along Principal Arterial Roads consistent with the Dover Borough/Dover Township Joint Comprehensive Plan subject to the provisions of this Part and § 27-1101.1 and the following criteria:
A. Signs are permitted a minimum of 1,000 linear feet, measured from the roadway centerline, from another off-premises advertising signs/billboard signs.
B. No sign shall exceed 700 square feet.
C. Signs shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from a Principal Arterial Road right-of-way line.
D. No sign shall obstruct the vision of motorists or adjoining commercial or industrial use which depend upon visibility for identification.
E. An off-premises advertising sign/billboard sign shall have adequate site distance in accordance with the Dover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance Chapter 22, § 22-709.
F. Permit approval is contingent upon a certified lease agreement between the landowner and sign company (lessee). Such lease shall be provided to the Township. The applicant shall provide a sketch plan that includes the sign lease area. The lease area topographical boundaries shall be shown on the sketch plan.
G. The maximum height from natural grade to the highest point of the sign shall be 35 feet.
H. Signs containing digital displays (changeable message technology) must be readily available for timely public service announcements.
I. Digital display signs must have static messages and are not permitted to contain content that flashes, or intermittent/moving lights. Digital display billboard signs shall not contain animation or full-motion videos.
J. Digital display signs must maintain their images for a minimum of 30 seconds. The sign shall be static between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
K. All signs shall be in strict compliance with the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and corresponding state laws.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
1. Must be readily available for timely public service announcements.
2. Digital display signs must have static messages and are not permitted to contain content that clashes or intermittent/moving lights. Display only.
3. Digital display signs must maintain their images for a minimum of 15 seconds.
4. All signs shall be in strict compliance with the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and Corresponding State Laws.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
Part 9
Nonconformities
Nonconformities
1. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the lawful use of land or buildings existing at the date of the adoption of this Chapter may be continued, although such use of land or building does not conform to the use regulations specified by this Chapter for the zone in which such land or building is located.
2. Any nonconforming lot or structure existing at the date of the adoption of this Chapter may also be continued.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
1. Nonconforming Use. Any nonconforming use may be expanded or altered through the obtainment of a special exception and subject to the following criteria:
A. Expansion or alteration of the nonconforming use shall not exceed 35% of the existing buildings, structures, parcels, lots or tracts of land devoted to the nonconforming use. The expansion (or alteration shall be applied to buildings and lots individually and separately. Thus, a building or buildings containing a pre-existing, nonconforming use may be expanded no more than 35% regardless of the size of the lot area devoted to the use. Lot area is also to be calculated separately and individually. Such approved expansion or alteration of a nonconforming use shall not create new dimensional nonconformities or further increase existing dimensional nonconformities.
B. With the expansion or alteration of a nonconforming use, access, off-street parking and loading requirements shall be in compliance with Part 7.
C. A nonconforming use may not replace a conforming use.
D. All yard and building requirements shall be in compliance with the standards of the zoning district in which the nonconformity in question is located.
2. Nonconforming Structure. A nonconforming structure may be altered or expanded. If such alteration or expansion is no greater than 25% of the existing nonconforming area as of date the structure became nonconforming (calculated on the ground floor area only), a permit for the expansion/alteration may be issued by the Zoning Officer. If the expansion/alteration is between 25% and 40% greater in area, a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board is required, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
3. No extension or enlargement of a dimensional nonconformity shall be permitted.
4. Any expansion that will reduce the extent of any nonconformity is allowed by permitted use.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
If any nonconformity other than a single family dwelling is destroyed by reason of windstorm, fire, explosion, or other act of God or a public enemy, to an extent of more than 75% of the market value of the structure, then such destruction shall be deemed complete destruction and the nonconformity may not be rebuilt, restored or repaired. Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition any wall, floor or roof which has been declared unsafe.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
1. A nonconforming use shall be presumed as abandoned when there occurs a cessation of any such use or activity by an apparent act or failure to act on the part of the tenant or owner to reinstate such use within a period of one year from the date of cessation or discontinuance. Such use shall not thereafter be reinstated and the structure shall not be reoccupied except in conformance with this Chapter.
2. In the case of an agricultural use in an non-agricultural zone, the use may continue indefinitely until such time as the use becomes non-agricultural.
(Ord. 2024-01, 5/13/2024)
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