§ 153.299 COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.

   On-site signs may be permitted in the commercial and industrial districts as follows.

   (A)   No on-site sign shall be permitted or allowed to display any goods or services that are not accessory to the business or businesses conducted on the property.

   (B)   No on-site sign shall be lighted by means of an external flashing or intermittent illumination source.

   (C)   Floodlights used for the illumination of any sign thereon, whether or not the floodlights are attached to or separate from the structures on which the sign is attached, shall not be directed in a manner so as to adversely affect adjoining or nearby residential properties or traffic;

   (D)   Signs may be erected on exterior wall areas, windows and or canopies, providing all of the following requirements are met:

      (1)   The area of a sign to be located on a building shall not exceed 15% of the area of the face of the wall upon which the sign or signs are attached, or 50% of the surface area of a canopy upon which the sign or signs are attached. The total area of all wall, window and or canopy signs shall not exceed 150 square feet. A single wall area calculation shall include the area of all windows and doors;

      (2)   All signs shall be flat, attached and parallel to the face of any building wall or canopy face complying with the following requirements:

         (a)   No wall or canopy sign shall extend farther than 14 inches from the face of the building or canopy upon which it is attached; provided, however, that where a sign extends more than 3 inches from the face of a wall, the bottom of the sign shall not be closer than 8 feet from the ground level below the sign; and

         (b)   The maximum height of a wall sign shall not exceed 12 feet, and the maximum width shall not exceed 60% of the width of the wall to which the sign is attached.

         (c)   Wall and canopy signs, as permitted, shall not extend or project above the highest elevation of the wall or canopy to which it is attached; provided, however, such signs may project above the wall when they are an integral part of the wall.

   (E)   Freestanding signs may be permitted with the following requirements:

      (1)   Each business location (1 per lot of record) or shopping center complex may be permitted 1 freestanding sign advertising the name and the establishment or shopping center complex, including any special company or brand name, insignia or emblem and special announcement of services.

      (2)   Freestanding signs shall be limited to 0.60 square feet per lineal foot of frontage of the occupied lot, up to a maximum of 75 square feet.

      (3)   Freestanding signs that include sign area for changeable and or animated displays may be increased by 24 square feet, subject to the following conditions

         (a)   The subject site shall have a minimum frontage of at least 100 feet;

         (b)   The minimum setback from any adjoining non-residential use district shall be not less than 25 feet;

         (c)   The minimum setback from any adjoining residential use district shall be not less than 49 feet;

         (d)   All freestanding signs that include animation or changeable copy shall be reviewed and approved by both the Building Official and the Planning Commission. Sign animation may be limited to display content pertaining to the business or businesses located on the property, and for civic or charitable event notifications.

      (4)   All supporting columns or posts for any freestanding sign shall not be greater than 8 inches in width, unless required by an architect or engineer in the design of the freestanding sign.

         (a)   Decorative features such as stone or brick are allowed and are excluded from the 8-inch-width requirement.

         (b)   No advertising shall be allowed on the supporting material, except that the property's address (6-inch numbers/letters maximum height) may be located on the supporting columns or post, so as to be visible to the public.

      (5)   Freestanding signs located less than 5 feet and greater than 1 foot from the front property line shall have an under-clearance of 8 feet from the natural grade.

      (6)   Freestanding signs located less than 10 feet and greater than 5 feet from the front property line shall not be greater than 3 feet in height, or have an under-clearance of less than 8 feet from the natural grade.

      (7)   Freestanding signs located greater than 10 feet from the front property line are not required to have an under-clearance from the natural grade, and are limited to the maximum sign height of 25 feet.

      (8)   Freestanding signs shall be located in a way so that no part of the structure extends over the public right-of-way, except those signs approved by the Planning Commission, as allowed by § 153.297(C), and shall be construed so as not to obscure vision and contribute to hazardous conditions.

      (9)   No freestanding sign shall be placed within a clear vision zone for a corner lot. The clear vision zone for a corner lot shall consist of a triangular area defined by the point of intersection of the right-of-way lines, and the 2 points extended along such lines a distance of 25 feet.

      (10)   The maximum height of all freestanding signs shall be limited to 25 feet.

   (F)   Customary lettering or other insignia that are a structural part of the dispensing of petroleum products, consisting only of the brand name of gasoline sold, leaded warning sign, a price indicator, and any other sign required by law, and not exceeding a total of 4 square feet on each pump; and if illuminated, the signs shall not be the flashing or intermittent-type, and shall not in any manner constitute a traffic hazard with respect to adjacent streets or intersections.

(Ord. 99, passed 11-18-1996, §20.05; Am. Ord. 138, passed 11-24-2003; Am. Ord. 173, passed 11-10-2008; Am. Ord. 09-177, passed 3-18-2009)

§ 153.300 PERMITTED SIGNS IN ALL DISTRICTS.

   The following signs are permitted in all districts:

   (A)   Highway signs erected by the United States government, State of Michigan, Genesee County, or Charter Township of Montrose.

   (B)   Governmental use signs erected by governmental agencies to designate hours of activity or conditions of use for parks, parking lots, recreational areas, other public space, or for governmental buildings.

   (C)    Directional signs in conjunction with drives or off-street parking areas, provided any such sign does not exceed 4 square feet in area, is limited to traffic control functions, and does not obstruct traffic vision.

   (D)   Historic markers or signs designating sites recognized by federal, state, or local historical commissions and/or organizations, as centennial farms, historic sites, or historical landmarks.

   (E)   Placards posted to control or prohibit hunting and/or trespassing within the township.

   (F)   Essential service signs denoting utility lines, railroad lines, hazards, and precautions.

   (G)   Memorial signs or tablets that are either:

      (1)   Cut into the face of a masonry surface; or

      (2)   Constructed of bronze or other incombustible material, when located flat on the face of a building.

   (H)   Temporary signs, not exceeding 4 square feet, may be placed for no more than 2 weeks, advertising noncommercial rummage sales, garage sales, or other similar used merchandise sales, as long as the sign is placed on private property with the owner's permission. No such sign shall be placed within the road right-of-way areas and within a clear vision zone as described in § 153.299(E)(9) above.

   (I)   Political signs promoting political parties, candidates or millage issues, not exceeding 32 square feet, may be placed on private property with the owners permission for no more than 45 days prior to an election, with such signs being removed within 3 days after the completion of the election. No such sign shall be placed within the road right-of-way areas and within a clear vision zone as described in § 153.299(E)(9) above.

   (J)    Special decorative displays or signs used for holidays, public demonstrations or promotion of civic welfare or charitable purposes, when authorized by the Planning Commission. In considering the authorization, the Planning Commission shall consider the following standards:

      (1)   The size, character, and nature of the display or sign;

      (2)   The duration or time period during which the display or sign will be utilized;

      (3)   The purpose(s) for which the sign display is to be erected;

      (4)   The arrangements made for the removal of the sign or display after the termination of its usefulness;

      (5)    The effect of the proposed sign or display on light and air circulation for lots that are both adjoining and in the surrounding neighborhood of the proposed sign or display; and

      (6)   Whether or not the sign or display will constitute a traffic hazard.

   (K)    Construction signs showing names of building contractors, professional firms, and lending institutions on sites under construction, not to exceed 24 square feet in area. The sign shall be confined to the site of the construction, construction shed or trailer, and shall be removed prior to the project receiving final approval or an occupancy permit by the Building Official.

   (L)    Portable signs, pennants, spinners and streamers, for a period of not more than 30 days for a total of 3 special events per year, provided the following conditions are met:

      (1)   They do not exceed 15 square feet in area on any side;

      (2)   They are not located closer than 10 feet to a street right-of-way;

      (3)    They may be illuminated, provided the lights are not flashing or intermittent, are not placed or designed so that they can be confused with, or appear similar to, a highway sign or traffic safety device, and are connected to an electrical outlet approved by state code;

      (4)   No portable sign shall exceed 10 feet in height; and

      (5)   No portable sign shall be located in a manner so as to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic flow, visibility, or safety.

   (M)   Temporary signs (up no more than 30 days) announcing a community event.

   (N)   Flags and banners, up to a maximum of 10 on a zoning lot. Requests for more than 10 require Planning Commission approval.

   (O)   Building markers.

   (P)   Incidental signs.

(Ord. 99, passed 11-18-1996, § 20.06; Am. Ord. 173, passed 11-10-2008; Am. Ord. 09-177, passed 3-18-2009)

§ 153.301 PROHIBITED SIGNS.

   The following signs are prohibited:

   (A)   Permanent inflatable signs and beacons.

   (B)    Signs that incorporate, in any manner or are illuminated by, any flashing or moving lights other than for the conveyance of noncommercial information requiring periodic change, such as temperature or stock averages, unless approval has been granted for the sign as allowed in § 153.299.

   (C)   Permanent exterior banners, pennants, spinners and streamers, other than a sign as permitted by § 153.300 above.

   (D)   Permanent signs painted directly on structures, or signs painted on, attached, or affixed to any tree, rock, or similar organic or inorganic natural matter or feature.

   (E)   Exterior string lights used in the connection with a commercial premise, other than holiday decorations.

   (F)    Any sign that is structurally or electrically unsafe.

   (G)   Any business sign or sign structure, now or hereafter existing, that no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold.

   (H)    Any sign on a trailer or unlicensed motor vehicle parked in front of a business for the purpose of advertising a business, product or service of a business located on the premises where the vehicle or trailer is parked.

   (I)   Any sign structure or frame no longer containing a sign.

   (J)   Marquee and roof signs.

   (K)   Off-site and billboard.

(Ord. 99, passed 11-18-1996, § 20.07; Am. Ord. 173, passed 11-10-2008; Am. Ord. 09-177, passed 3-18-2009)

§ 153.302 NONCONFORMING SIGNS.

   Nonconforming signs shall not:

   (A)   Be re-established after the activity, business, or usage to which it relates has been discontinued for 90 days or longer;

   (B)    Be structurally altered so as to prolong the life of the sign or so as to change its shape, size, type, or design; or

   (C)   Be re-established after damage or destruction, if the estimated expense of reconstruction exceeds 50% of the replacement cost as determined by the administrative official.

(Ord. 99, passed 11-18-1996, § 20.08 ; Am. Ord. 173, passed 11-10-2008; Am. Ord. 09-177, passed 3-18-2009)

LANDSCAPING STANDARDS