These sign standards apply to uses that are permitted in each respective zoning district by right, special exception, or use variance. The intent of these sign standards is to accomplish the goals of the Comprehensive Plan; to regulate time, place and manner characteristics of signs; to avoid the proliferation of signs; to provide businesses with appropriate identification; to create a consistent streetscape; to maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment of the town; to eliminate potential hazards to motorists and pedestrians resulting from sign clutter; and, to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Paoli.
(A) Sign types. The different types of signs addressed in this chapter are defined in § 155.220 General Definitions.
(1) Permitted signs. The types of signs specifically permitted in each in each zoning district and their respective regulations are listed in this article.
(2) Prohibited signs. Type types of signs specifically prohibited in each zoning district are listed in this article. In addition, the following types of signs are prohibited in all districts:
(a) Animated signs. Signs that gain attention through animation, including:
1. Signs that utilize any motion picture, laser, or visual projection of images or copy.
2. Signs that emit audible sound, odor or visible matter.
3. Signs that have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color, or give such illusion.
(b) Misleading signs. Signs that are misleading, including:
1. Signs that purport to be or are in imitation of, or resemble an official traffic sign or signal or which bear the words "stop", "slow", "caution", "danger", "warning", or similar words.
2. Signs that may be construed as or have on it a light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle.
(c) Roof signs. Signs to be placed on the roofs of structures and signs that extend above the roof line or parapet of a building.
(d) Vehicle signs. Vehicle signs are prohibited when the vehicle is parked on public or private property for the primary purpose of displaying the sign. Prohibited vehicle signs are not to be construed as vehicles with signs on them that:
1. Are lawfully parked overnight or during nonbusiness hours for that operation, on public or private property;
2. Are making deliveries, sales calls, or customary practices relating to doing business;
3. Are making trips to transport persons or property; or
4. Are in conjunction with customary construction operations on a construction site.
(e) Other prohibited signs.
1. Trailblazer or point of destination signs;
2. Search lights;
3. Pennants, streamers, and/or spinners;
4. Bench signs;
5. Signs with moving or movable parts; and
6. Obscene signs that contain profane language, male genitalia and/or female genitalia are prohibited.
(3) Signs exempt from these regulations. Signs that are specifically exempt from these regulations and their respective limitations include:
(a) Building addresses. Every building is required to post its numerical street address, and is exempt from needing a permit if installed as follows:
1. Single-family residential structure addresses. Street addresses for single-family residential structures shall consist of Arabic numerals (i.e, 1, 2, 3...) no less than four inches in height and no more than eight inches in height on its mailbox and/or at its main entrance door, whichever is more visible.
2. Apartment complex addresses. Street addresses for apartment complexes shall consist of Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3...) no less than five inches in height and no more than ten inches in height. Each apartment complex is required to have each building's address displayed in an obvious location if the entrance into each apartment unit is not clearly labeled with a street address.
3. Non-residential use addresses. The minimum and maximum height for address numbers varies according to front setback as follows:
a. If the address is posted 100 feet or less from the road right-of-way, the numbers shall be between five and 12 inches in height.
b. If the address is posted between 100 and 200 feet from the road right-of-way, the numbers shall be between eight and 16 inches in height.
c. If the address is posted over 200 feet from the road right-of-way, the numbers shall be between 12 and 20 inches in height.
4. Legibility. All street addresses shall contrast to the color of the surface on which they are mounted and shall be clearly visible and identifiable from the street.
(b) Directional devices. Directional devices if installed as follows:
1. Use. Directional devices shall be used to indicate points of entry or exit for a business, public amenity, or off-street parking area.
2. Area. Directional devices are limited to a maximum of four square feet in area per entrance.
3. Height. Directional devices are limited to a maximum of 42 inches in height above the ground.
4. Placement.
a. Directional devices shall not interfere with safe vehicular or pedestrian traffic circulations.
b. Directional devices shall not obstruct tile view of drivers entering or exiting the lot.
c. Directional devices shall not be placed within a public right-of-way.
d. Directional devices shall be on the property to which it refers.
5. Quantity. No more than two directional devices shall be used per street frontage, with a maximum of four per parcel.
6. Message. Directional devices without a logo may contain information such as "in", "enter", "entrance", "out", "exit", "do not enter" or directional arrows indicating desired traffic movement.
(c) Flags. The flag, pennant, or insignia of any nation, state, city or other political unit are exempt, but shall not be mounted more than 35 feet in height and be more than 40 square feet in area (e.g. a five-foot by eight-foot flag).
1. Residential: maximum area of a flag shall be 25 square feet.
2. Non-residential: maximum area of a flag shall be 35 square feet.
(d) Holiday decorations. Holiday decorations are exempt and may include window painting, trees, wreaths, decorative lighting, and similar seasonal displays that do not contain the name or logo of an establishment or any type of advertising.
(e) Informational signs. Informational signs are exempt.
(f) Murals. Murals are exempt provided that the mural does not contain the name or logo of an establishment or any type of advertising. Murals with non-commercial messages.
(g) Residential private property. Informational signs are permitted on residential private property provided that they do not exceed one square foot in area.
(h) Religious symbols. Religious symbols that are incorporated into the architecture on places of worship or structures owned and operated by religious organizations that are not accompanied with text.
(i) Scoreboards. Scoreboards are exempt from needing a permit as follows: (1) when used in conjunction with a legally established sport field; and (2) when not containing any commercial messages; and (3) when the scoreboard does not exceed 20 feet in height above the ground; and (4) when the total scoreboard area does not exceed 100 square feet; and (5) when the scoreboards are single sided.
(j) Wayfinding signs. Wayfinding signs erected by the municipality.
(B) Sign permits.
(1) Signs requiring permits. A sign permit is required for all signs located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, and altered unless otherwise stated in the in this subchapter.
(2) Signs exempt from permits. See division (A)(3) signs exempt from these regulations.
(C) Installation. The ground shall not be raised or lowered to artificially change the point at which a sign height is measured.
(D) Location and placement. Signs may not be installed at any of the following locations:
(1) In any public right-of-way, unless specifically authorized by the Town Council or their designee.
(2) In any utility easement unless authorized by the Town Council or their designee.
(3) In any no-build or no-disturb zone.
(4) In any public park or other public property, with the exception of those signs specifically permitted in this chapter.
(5) On any traffic control signs, highway construction signs, fences, utility poles, street signs, trees or other natural objects.
(6) Obstructing any door, fire escape, stairway, or any opening intended to provide entrance or exit for any building or structure.
(7) In a manner that obstructs or interferes with safe movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
(E) Materials. Pole signs shall not have poles or support structures that are wooden.
(F) Computations.
(1) Computation of area of individual signs. 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 rectangle that will encompass the extreme limits of the sign, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets the regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
(2) Computation of area of multifaceted signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces.
(3) 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 or structure supporting 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.
(4) Computation of maximum total permitted sign area for a lot. The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs on a lot shall be computed by applying the regulations for the road frontage, building frontage or wall area for each respective sign and 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.
(G) Maintenance. All signs and components thereof shall be kept in good repair and in safe, neat, clean and working condition. A sign that is not properly maintained shall be classified as an "abandoned sign" and shall be regulated accordingly.
(H) Abandoned signs. All on-site signs, their mounting, and related components shall be removed within six months of the day the business which it identifies is no longer conducted. When a permanent sign exists that allows a "face-out/face-in" change to identify a new business, said sign may be left standing, but must be covered with a durable and attractive material. Under no circumstances shall any permanent sign be left in place for more than three months. The owner of the premise upon which the sign is located is responsible for its removal or covering.
(1) Conforming. The sign meets the new regulations;
(2) Legally non-conforming. The sign met the old regulations and is now grandfathered; or
(3) Illegal. The sign didn't meet the old regulations and doesn't meet the new regulations.
(J) Violations and penalties.
(2) Repeat violation. A repeat violation means a violation of a specific provision of this section by a person who has been previously found to have violated the same provision within a period of five years prior to a subsequent violation. If a repeat violation is found, the Administrator shall document the violation, but is not required to notify the violator of the repeat violation or required to give the violator time to correct the violation before proceeding with enforcement measures and penalties.
(Am. Res. 2017-04, passed 8-1-17)