This chapter may be cited as the "Sign Ordinance of the Borough of Alpine "

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated

GROUND SIGN -- Any sign self-supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground independent of any other structure

ILLUMINATING SIGN -- Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign proper

PERSON -- Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind

SIGN -- Every sign, billboard, ground sign, wall sign, roof sign, sign painted on the exterior of a building or structure, illuminated sign, projecting sign, temporary sign, and sign on awnings and canopies, and shall include any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any person, firm or corporation when the same is placed out-of-doors in view of the general public or when of a permanent nature and placed within the window of a commercial or other structure so as to be visible to persons from the outside for the purposes aforesaid

SIGN AREA -- The total area of the entire sign, including border and embellishments, but excluding supports on which there is displayed neither advertising matter nor lighting For signs which are not rectangular in shape, the area shall be calculated by the smallest trapezoidal shape, four-sided, which completely encloses the sign

TEMPORARY SIGN -- Any sign which is intended to be displayed for a short period of time not in excess of 180 days, and shall include any sign, banner, pennant, flag or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard display, wallboard or other light material with or without frames

A. Permitted signs Upon receipt of a duly issued permit as provided herein, the following signs may be erected

(1) In the R-4 Zone One ground sign for an existing, nonconforming nonresidential use, provided the sign shall not exceed nine square feet or three feet on a side In the event there are two existing, nonconforming nonresidential uses on the premises, one general directory ground sign shall be permitted Much shall not exceed 12 square feet or four feet on a side The sign shall only identify the nonresidential occupants of the premises The bottom height of a sign shall not exceed three feet six inches above ground surface No sign shall be illuminated from within nor by illumination affixed to the sign or structure from which the sign is suspended No sign shall be illuminated between the hours of 10 00 p in local time each day and 6 00 a in local time the following day No sign shall be erected closer than 10 feet to any property line

(2) In the R-R Zone Two identification or directional signs, provided that each sign does not exceed six square feet in area and does not exceed a height of eight feet above ground level The sign or signs shall be affixed to the entrance gate or wall and shall not project more than six inches from the gate or wall

(3) In any zone One temporary nonilluminated ground sign identifying owners or general contractors working on a principal structure in the process of completion Such sign shall not exceed four square feet or two feet on a side The maximum height shall be four feet Such sign shall be removed within two weeks after issuance of a certificate of occupancy

B.

[Amended by Ord No 468, Ord No 483] Permitted signs not requiring permits or fees The provisions and regulations of this chapter concerning permits and fees shall not apply to the following signs

(1) Political signs In any zone, one nonilluminated temporary political ground sign erected on private property in connection with a political cause or a general, primary or special election or referendum In residential zones, a political sign shall not exceed eight square feet or four feet on a side The maximum height shall not exceed six feet from the ground level No such sign shall be erected within 15 feet of the edge of the pavement of an improved street abutting the property or if there is a curb on an improved street abutting the property then within 15 feet of the property side of the curb or if the property does not abut an improved street then within 15 feet of the edge of an unimproved street abutting the property Such signs shall be removed within seven days following the date of the political event, the election or referendum

(2) Real estate signs In any zone, one nonilluminated temporary real estate ground sign, identifying the property upon which it is located as being for rent or for sale Such sign shall not exceed four square feet or two feet on a side The maximum height shall be four feet No such sign shall be erected within 10 feet of the property line Such sign shall be removed by the owner or the person erecting the same within two days after the sale, lease or other withdrawal of the property from the market

(3) Signs for name and address of owner

(a) In any residence zone One sign which shall have an area of not more than two square feet, identifying the name and/or address of the house, or owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located, and provided such sign has an area of not more than two square feet and is attached to the dwelling or to a post or other supporting device at a bottom height not to exceed six feet from the ground level

(b) In an R-4 Zone If there are two residences on the premises, one sign, which shall have an area of not more than three square feet, identifying the names and/or addresses of the house, or owners or lessees of the premises

(c) No sign shall be illuminated, except that illumination primarily serving some purpose other than the illumination of the sign shall not be deemed illumination of the sign

(4) Other signs

(a) Municipal signs, traffic signs, legal notices, danger and such temporary emergency or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the Borough Council

(b) Official signs erected by the county, state or federal government

(c) Bulletin boards or signs not over 16 square feet or four feet on a side for public, charitable or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises of such institution

(d) Memorial signs or tablets, name of buildings and dates of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials

(e) Directional ground signs located on the premises of a permitted use not exceeding one square foot in area may be used for a driveway entrance or exit or direction to parking areas Not more than two such signs shall be permitted

(f) Professional nameplates not exceeding six inches in height nor 18 inches in length for lawful occupants of the premises under Chapter 220, Zoning

(g) Garage sale signs or personal property sale signs not to exceed four square feet or two feet on a side The maximum height shall be four feet No such sign shall be erected within 10 feet of the property line Such sign shall be removed within two days after the sale

(5) Flags Flags of the United States, the State of New Jersey or other governmental or quasi-public agencies

C. Prohibited signs The following signs shall be prohibited in the borough

(1) Signs using the colors red, amber or green either in direct illumination or in high reflection by the use of special preparation such as fluorescent paint or glass

(2) Any sign visible from a public right-of-way which uses an arrow or the word "Stop," excepting highway directional signs erected by public agencies

(3)Any sign of which all or any part thereof is in motion

(4)Any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights

(5) Any sign that interferes with or obscures a sign erected by a public agency, traffic instructions or directions or other public information

(6) Signs with more than two display surfaces, sides or faces such as hinged, triangular or box signs

(7) Signs which are attached to or within 24 inches of a window, and contain an area greater than 20% of such window area

(8) Signs posted on poles, posts, trees, sidewalks or curbs or on any borough property in any fashion

D. Annual inspection All signs may be inspected annually by the Building Inspector for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same are secure or in need of removal, repair or repainting

E. Unsafe and illegal signs If the Building Inspector shall find that any sign is unsafe, insecure, in need of repair or violates any of the provisions of this chapter or of a permit granted for the erection thereof, (s)he shall give written notice to the permittee, owner or lessee thereof or the person having the beneficial use of the premises, building or structure upon which such sign may be found If such person fails to remove, alter or repair it within 24 hours after such notice, such sign may be removed, altered or repaired by the Building Inspector at the expense of such person [Amended by Ord No 468]

F. Removal of signs Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business being conducted shall be taken down and removed by the permittee, owner or lessee thereof or person having the beneficial use of the building, premises or structure upon which such sign may be found within 10 days after written notification from the Building Inspector and, upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by such person

A. Required Except as otherwise set forth herein, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter, relocate or maintain within the borough any sign as defined in this chapter without first making application for, and obtaining, a sign permit from the Building Inspector

B. Permits and applications

(1) Fee, information required An application for sign permits shall be made by the owner of the premises and the person responsible for the erection of the sign and both shall be responsible for compliance with this section The application, accompanied by a fee of $100 for a permanent sign or $10 for a temporary sign, shall be made to the Building Inspector and shall contain the following information

(a) Name, address and telephone number of the owner or the occupant of the premises and the name of the person, firm, corporation or association erecting the sign, and both shall be considered applicants

(b) Location of building, structure or lot to which, or upon which, the sign is to be attached or erected

(c) Position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings or structures, sidewalks and streets

(d) Such other information as the Building Inspector shall require to show full compliance with the section

(2) Examination by Building Inspector, issuance The Building Inspector shall examine the application and the premises upon which the sign is to be erected, and, if it shall appear that the proposed structure is in compliance with all the requirements of thus section and all other laws and ordinances of the borough, the Building Inspector shall then issue the sign permit The sign permit shall be issued or denied within 45 days of the date of application If the Building Inspector shall not act within 45 days, the sign permit shall be deemed to have been granted

(3) Time limit on work If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within 180 days after the date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void

C. Permits revocable The Building Inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to revoke any permit issued by him/her upon failure of the holder thereof to comply with any provisions of this chapter, and all permits shall contain a provision to this effect

Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Building Inspector in conjunction with the enforcement of this chapter may appeal to the Mayor and Council by filing an appeal, in writing, with the Borough Clerk within 30 days, at which time the Mayor and Council will provide the appellant with an opportunity to be heard The Mayor and Council will hear such appeal within 30 days of the filing thereof and shall decide such appeal within 60 days of the hearing If no decision is made within such period the appeal shall be considered denied