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Planning commission narrows sign-size rules; agrees to 42 sq. ft. cap for churches, schools and nonprofits
Summary
At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Red Lion Borough Planning Commission approved prior minutes and agreed by committee consensus to a 42-square-foot limit for church, school and nonprofit identification signs across borough zones; the commission also reviewed proposed maximums for residential, borough-center and commercial/industrial signage.
Red Lion Borough Planning Commission members reviewed and advanced several proposed changes to the borough's zoning ordinance on signs at their Sept. 16, 2024, meeting, including a committee agreement to set identification signs for churches, schools and other nonprofits at 42 square feet and to require permits for those signs in any zoning district.
The meeting opened at 7:05 p.m. and began with routine business. Member Cindy Barley moved to approve the July 15, 2024 meeting minutes; Justin Heim seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
The commission resumed discussion of the "Signs" section of the Red Lion Borough Zoning Ordinance and reviewed draft maximum sizes and permit requirements by zoning district. Assistant Borough Manager Michelle Poole reported she had measured several church signs around town; the commission "agreed that the size of this particular sign should be 42 sq. ft. in any of the 4 zones," and the minutes record that a permit will be required in any zone.
Draft tables discussed by the commission differentiate requirements by zone. For Residential Outlying (RO) and Residential Town (RT) zones the draft lists temporary contractor/architect signs at 12 sq. ft. (no permit), street name and dwelling-address signs at 4 sq. ft. (no permit), sponsorship signs at municipal or school recreation facilities at 32 sq. ft. per sign with aggregate limits and fees (permit required), apartment-house identification at 20 sq. ft. (permit required), No Trespassing signs at 2 sq. ft. (no permit), and electronic message signs at 32 sq. ft. (permit required).
In the Borough Center the draft again shows temporary contractor signs at 12 sq. ft. (no permit) and apartment-house identification at 20 sq. ft. (permit required). Business signage in the Borough Center was listed as "TBD" with a permit required; No Trespassing signs of up to 6 sq. ft. were allowed in that zone, and electronic-message signage was listed at 32 sq. ft. with a note that size will be reviewed for this zone.
For Commercial and Industrial zones the commission reviewed a draft that allows temporary contractor signs up to 32 sq. ft. (no permit), apartment-house identification at 20 sq. ft. (permit required), and business signage up to 160 sq. ft. or 3 sq. ft. per linear foot of building frontage (whichever is greater; permit required). The draft also notes billboards are allowable in the Industrial zone up to 300 sq. ft. (permit required) and that electronic message signs would be limited to 32 sq. ft.
Commission members also discussed definitions and permit details, including whether to add or refine an "Apartment Complex" definition and a subsection permitting identification of individual buildings within a multi-building complex at the time a sign permit is sought. The minutes note that owners would determine how to allocate per-sign and total square footage when applying for permits.
No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period. With no further business, Ms. Nidam adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
