Approvals and/or Permit Required.
1. Each application for development shall include a sign plan showing a description of the message, trademark, symbol, or insignia and the specific design, location, size, dimensions, colors, materials, height above ground, construction, and illumination of proposed signs in accordance with the following regulations.
2. An application for an illuminated sign must include a lighting fixture catalogue cut or manufacturer's product description sheet with isolux or lumens specifications and mounting information. It shall indicate the lighting intensity (lumens) that would be generated by any lighting devices shining onto the sign and the rest of the property and neighboring properties and the lumens that would be projecting from any illuminated signs as part of the sign plan. (This information is part of the manufacturer's data sheet.) Externally illuminated signs consisting of three or fewer one-hundred-watt incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent lights or LEDs or similar of comparable wattage shall be exempt from submitting a lumens plan.
3. Any sign hereafter erected in Medford, which is exposed to public view, shall conform to the provisions of this section and any other ordinance or regulation of Medford and the county, state or federal government relating to the erection and maintenance of signs. In the event of conflicting regulations, the most-restrictive regulation shall prevail.
4. Existing Signs in the Pinelands Area.
a. Existing lawful off-site commercial advertising signs, in existence as of January 14, 1981, shall be permitted in the Pinelands, except in the ROD-2, RS-2, FD, PD, APA and SAPA Districts and in those portions of the CC and PPE Districts located outside the Regional Growth Area.
b. Any existing sign which does not conform to the provisions of § 526.L or 526.M shall not be permitted to continue beyond December 5, 1996.
5. No existing sign shall be enlarged, rebuilt, structurally altered, or relocated except in accordance with the provisions of this section. Furthermore, the failure to issue a permit for any sign shall not relieve the owner or lessee of the premises from the duty of safely maintaining any such structures.
6. All development applications shall include all signs to be approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment.
7. In applications where only sign modification is sought and no other site modifications are proposed, any sign exceeding the maximum area, height, or otherwise not in conformance with the requirements of this section shall require application and approval for minor site plan with waiver(s).
8. No sign, other than exempt signs, shall be erected without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Office.
Application Requirements. An applicant for a permit to erect a sign shall submit the following information to the Administrative Officer:
1. Applicant's name and address.
2. Owner's name and address if the applicant is not the owner.
3. Block and lot number of the property on which the sign is to be erected.
4. Sketch or survey, drawn to scale or dimensioned, of the property showing the location of the proposed sign if freestanding and/or sketch or drawing of the building face showing the sign.
5. A plan, drawn to scale or dimensioned, including a description of the sign, including size, height, location, type of illumination, types of materials, colors, and construction material. If the sign is to be lighted either internally or externally, details of the proposed lighting shall be supplied (see above § 526.F.2).
6. Permit Fee. The fee for a sign permit shall be as set forth in § 900 of this ordinance and shall be submitted with the application.
Action on Application.
1. The Administrative Officer shall review each application to determine whether the proposed sign meets the requirements of this section.
2. If the proposed sign is found to meet section requirements, the permit shall be issued. If the permit is denied, the reasons for denial shall be set forth in writing. The Administrative Officer may refer any sign permit application to the Planning Board for advice and comment. All permit applications shall be acted upon within 10 days after submission, or within 10 days after the first Planning Board meeting following a referral thereto, as the case may be.
Developer Signs.
1. Applicability: All Zoning Districts. One on-site temporary developer sign for projects that have received final site plan or subdivision approval from the board of jurisdiction shall be permitted. The sign shall identify the project and shall be shown on the final site plan or subdivision map. The sign area shall not exceed 20 square feet, and the sign height shall not exceed eight feet above the adjacent ground level. The sign shall be located outside of sight triangles and shall be located behind the street line by a minimum of five feet. Once construction is completed, prior to the release of sureties, or when the project is dormant for over three months, the on-site temporary sign shall be removed.
2. Applicability: All Zoning Districts Located Outside of the Pinelands Area and the Historic Commercial or Residential Districts. Off-premises developer signs directing traffic to a development site, sales office, model homes or similar development shall require a change of use application or site plan exemption and approval by the Planning Board pursuant the Medford Township Land Use Code. Prior to submission of the application, the applicant shall obtain outside agency approvals or a letter of no interest from a jurisdictional agency such as the New Jersey Department of Transportation, County of Burlington, Pinelands Commission, or Department of Environmental Protection. Developer signs located along a street with two lanes shall not exceed four square feet in area, and the sign height shall not exceed five feet in height measured from the adjacent ground level. The sign shall be located outside of sight triangles and shall be located behind the street line by a minimum of five feet.
Abandonment. Abandoned signs and their supporting structures shall be removed within 30 days. The Township may thereafter take such actions as are permitted pursuant to this section.
Enforcement.
1. If the Zoning Officer shall find that any sign regulated herein is in violation of this section, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the owner thereof or to his/her attorney. If the owner fails to remove, alter or repair the sign within 30 days after such notice, the Zoning Officer may initiate further action as provided in this section in order to abate or remedy the violation.
2. Upon failing to comply with the violation notice from the Zoning Officer within the time specified, the Zoning Officer is authorized to cause the removal of the sign, and any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the permittee or owner of the property upon which the sign is located.
Violations and Remedies.
1. Penalties. Any violation of any provision of this section shall be punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not less than $50 and not to exceed $500. In addition to any fine imposed for a violation of this section, the sign shall be brought to conformity at the owner's sole expense. The following individuals shall be subject to potential punishment:
a. The owner, tenant or occupant of a building, premises, or part thereof where such a violation has been committed or does exist; and
b. Any agent, contractor, corporation or other person who commits, takes part or assists in the violation.
2. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense, punishable as such in accordance with the following:
a. A minimum penalty of $100 per day shall be imposed; and
b. Any person or entity who is convicted of violating any provision of this section within one year of the date of a previous violation of the same provision of this section, and who was fined for the previous violation, shall be sentenced by the municipal court to an additional fine as a repeat offender. The additional fine imposed by the court upon such person or entity for a repeat offense shall not be less than the minimum fine fixed for a violation of the section but shall be calculated separately and in addition to the fine imposed for the violation of this section.
c. The imposition of penalties herein shall not preclude the Township of Medford or any other person from instituting an action to prevent the unlawful construction, reconstruction, installation, alteration, repair, conversion or use of a sign, or to restrain, correct or abate a violation.
3. Injunctive and Other Relief. In addition to the foregoing, the Township of Medford may institute and maintain a civil action for injunctive or other relief as provided in the Municipal Land Use Law and other applicable laws.
