BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP – ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT – COMMERCIAL DISTRICT – SIGNAGE

BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
Ordinance #118-2019
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE; TO AMEND: CHAPTERS 2, ZONING DEFINITIONS; 12, COMMERCIAL/SERVICE DISTRICT; 18, GENERAL PROVISIONS; 21, SIGNAGE.
BUCHANAN TOWNSHIP HEREBY ORDAINS:
Section 1. Amendment of Chapter 2, Zoning Definitions. Section 2.02, Definitions C., add:
CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE FACILITY: An enclosed building consisting of individual, self-contained rooms that are leased to individuals, organizations or businesses for climate-controlled storage regulating both temperature and humidity.
Section 2. Amendment of Chapter 2, Zoning Definitions. Section 2.02, Definitions S., delete:
Sign, Construction
Section 3. Amendment of Chapter 2, Zoning Definitions. Section 2.02 Definitions S. amended:
SIGN, YARD: A sign of relatively impermanent construction manually placed on a yard or lawn.
Section 4. Amendment of Chapter 12, Commercial/Service District. Section 12.03 Uses Permitted by Special Use Permit, D. Climate Controlled Storage Facility
Section 5. Amendment of Chapter 18, General Provisions. Section 18.09 Climate Controlled Storage Facility. A climate-controlled storage facility may be permitted by the Township as a special use in the Commercial District in accordance with Chapter 24. An application for a climate-controlled storage facility shall include a site plan in accordance with Chapter 23. In addition, the application shall include a complete written description of the proposed use, the services to be provided, the maximum number of patrons anticipated on site at any time, hours of operation, activities to be conducted and any other information necessary to properly convey the nature of the facility proposed. Such written description shall be considered a part of the special use permit application to be relied upon by the Township in granting any approval.
A. Climate controlled self-service storage uses shall provide separate storage areas for individual or business uses.
B. Accessory uses such as security facilities and related office may be permitted provided that such accessory uses do not occupy more than 20% of the facility.
C. Storage areas shall not be used for sales, service, repair or any other commercial business venture at this facility.
D. A climate-controlled storage facility shall be located on a parcel with an area of at least three (3) acres.
E. The storage of combustible or flammable liquids or fibers, explosive or toxic materials, or illegal substances or items shall not be permitted.
F. All self-storage activities shall be contained within a single building and conducted exclusively indoors. Individual storage units may be accessed from inside the building only.
Section 6. Amendment of Chapter 21, Signage. Section 21.03 Exempt Signs, amended:
D. Holiday lights and decorations.
E. Works of art.
F. Directional signs including; Stop, Yield, One Way, and similar signs, provided the following standards are met:
G. Flags up to 24 square feet in area.
H. All yard signs, as defined herein, provided such yard signs shall be limited to one (1) sign per frontage, not greater than twelve (12) square feet in area. If the subject lot or parcel has more than one hundred (100) feet of frontage, one (1) additional sign shall be permitted per frontage.
I. One temporary sign or portable sign, limited to a maximum of 15 days, provided that the sign shall not exceed thirtytwo (32) square feet in sign area per frontage and not exceed six (6) feet in height.
Section 7. Amendment of Chapter 21, Signage. Section 21.04, Prohibited Signs, amended:
The following signs shall not be allowed in any District:
A. Signs which are illegal under State laws or regulations and applicable local ordinances or regulations, and which are not consistent with the standards in this Ordinance.
B. Signs affixed to public utility poles within the right-of-way, which are not public notices, or traffic control or warnings required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
C. Animated or moving signs, as defined herein.
D. Signs that are not clean and in good repair, and signs that are out of compliance with applicable building and electrical codes.
E. Signs not securely affixed to a supporting structure.
F. Signs that are not official traffic signs which interfere with any official traffic sign, signal, or device, and which may obstruct a motorist’s vision.
G. Pole signs, bench signs and roof signs, as defined herein.
H. No sign shall be painted on or be attached to a motor vehicle used primarily for the display of such sign, including, but not limited to a billboard truck.
Section 8. Amendment of Chapter 21, Signage. Section 21.05, Permitted Signs, amended by removing specific land uses. Regulations in each table apply to every use in each district.
Section 9. Severability. If any section, clause, or provision of this Ordinance be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, said declaration shall not affect the remainder of the Ordinance. The Township Board hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each part, section, subsection, phrase, sentence and clause irrespective of the fact that any one or more parts, sections, subsections, phrases, sentences or clauses be declared invalid.
Section 10. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective eight (8) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation within Buchanan Township.
Section 11. Publication. Within fifteen (15) days of its adoption, this Ordinance or a summary thereof, as required by law, shall be published by the Township Clerk in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township.
Approved this 19th day of December, 2019.