ord-04-2025-centreville_zoning_text_amendment.pdf

Exactly as extracted, unformatted — for checking against the original. The readable version is easier to read.

TOWN COUNCIL OF CENTREVILLE
ORDINANCE NO. 04-2025
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CENTREVILLE AMENDING
THE TOWN OF CENTREVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE CODIFIED AS CHAPTER
170 OF THE TOWN CODE TO CLARIFY THE PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA BY
WHICH SIGNAGE MAY BE APPROVED
WHEREAS, the Town Council of Centreville (“Town”) is authorized by the Maryland
Annotated Code (“Code”), Land Use Article, Section 4-102 et seq. to enact and administer a zoning
ordinance, which ordinance is Chapter 170 of the Centerville Town Code;
WHEREAS, Section 4-102(6) of the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland
authorizes the Town Council of Centreville to regulate the location and use of buildings, signs and
structures on land; and
WHEREAS, Section 170-62 of the Code of the Town of Centreville (“Town Code”)
provides for amendments to the regulations, restrictions, and boundaries set forth in Chapter 170
of the Town Code;
WHEREAS, the Town Council wishes to amend Section 170-38(B)(1) of the Town Code
to define “Monument Signs” and authorize Monument Signs in the Planned Business District
(“PBD”);
WHEREAS, the Centreville Planning and Zoning Commission considered this matter at
its _________ 2025 meeting and recommended that the Town Council approve this Ordinance;
and
WHEREAS, the Town Council held a public hearing on this Ordinance on ___________,
2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of Centreville:
Section 1. The recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated herein by reference and
made part of this Ordinance.
Section 2. Article IX, Chapter 170 of the Town Code, Section 170-70 Definitions is
hereby amended to add the definition of a Shopping Center and General Signage Plan as provided
below. The provisions shown as bold-underlined are added to the Town Code, and those shown
as bold-strike through are deleted:
COMPREHENSIVE SIGNAGE PLAN. A scaled drawing or diagram that
indicates the location, size, and type of signs that will be used within a Shopping
Center.
…

SHOPPING CENTER. A group of three (3) or more architecturally unified
commercial establishments with a total gross floor area of more than 10,000 square
feet which are planned, constructed, and managed as a total entity with customer and
employee parking provided on-site.
…
SIGN….
L. MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign, not more than ten feet in
height, that is supported by a monument which: (i) does not have any exposed pole or
pylon, (ii) may include the names and logos of the Shopping Center and the businesses
located on or adjacent to the premises, and (iii) may be dual-sided.
ML. PLACARD/EASEL SIGN …[advancing L. through Q.]
Section 3. Article IX, Chapter 170 of the Town Code, Section 170-38(B)(1) is hereby
amended as follows:
B. General Regulations.
1. Signs requiring permits. Other than temporary signs provided for in Subsection
D herein and exempt signs as provided herein, no sign shall be erected,
enlarged, or altered without a permit from the Zoning Administrator.
Applications for permits shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator. Each
application shall be accompanied by drawings and written material showing the
area and general appearance of the sign, the method of illumination, the exact
location of the proposed sign, and the method of construction and/or attachment
of such sign to the building or structure. Signs that do not extend over seven
feet above existing grade and are completely screened from view, inclusive of
light, from public roadways and other parcels by on-site buildings, structures,
evergreen landscaping, and/or grade differences are exempt from the sign
provisions of this chapter including the requirement to obtain a permit. Signage
within Shopping Centers shall be developed in accordance with an
approved Comprehensive Signage Plan.
Section 4. Article IX, Chapter 170 of the Town Code, Section 170-38 is amended as
follows to include a new subsection (G) to establish the procedure for approval of a Comprehensive
Signage Plan for a Shopping Center:
G. Shopping Center Comprehensive Signage Plans.
1. In the Planned Business District, signage within a Shopping Center shall
be subject to the signage standards of Attachment 9:2 (Table 3), unless a

Comprehensive Signage Plan is approved for the Shopping Center (See
Note 5).
2. The Planning Commission may approve a Comprehensive Signage Plan
depicting the location, size, materials, and lighting (but not content) for all
signs desired within a Shopping Center. In its review, the Commission
shall consider the request in the context of the site, the compatibility and
consistency of the signs with themselves and with respect to the unit(s) or
building they are identifying, safety/visibility concerns, lighting, and other
neighborhood compatibility issues. Signage for Shopping Centers shall be
reasonably consistent throughout the Shopping Center and appropriate
for the architectural design of the building(s). Directional and information
signs shall be adequately provided and design coordinated. The periodic
replacement of individual signs as tenants change shall not require
modification of the Comprehensive Signage Plan, unless the Zoning
Administrator determines the proposed signage materially deviates from
the approved Comprehensive Signage Plan.
Section 4. Article IX, Chapter 170 of the Town Code, Section 170-38(F)(4) is
amended as follows:
4. Off-premises signs. Any sign advertising or identifying a business or
organization which is not located on that premises, other than temporary
signs or monument signs for a Shopping Center, which may include
signage for businesses or organizations located on parcels that are
within 1,000 feet of the monument sign. Existing off-premises signs for
which a valid permit has been issued will be permitted to remain for a period
of one year from the date of the adoption of this ordinance.
Section 4. Article IX, Chapter 170 of the Town Code, 170 Attachment 9:2 (Table 3) is
amended as follows:
Zoning Sign Types Number Signage Area Maximum Maximum Illumination Other
District Permitted of Signs Determination Signage Height Permitted Provisions
Allowed Area for (feet)
Each Sign
Type
(sq.ft.)
Planned Monument 1 per Limited by 260 10 Internal
Business street maximum (130 per or
District frontage signage area side) External
(PBD)
NOTES:
1. Excepting Monument Signs, within a Shopping Center, the quantity and signage area limitations set
forth above may apply on a per tenant or per unit basis upon the Planning Commission’s approval of
a Comprehensive Signage Plan for the Shopping Center.

Section 5. If any section, clause, paragraph, sentence, or phrase of the Ordinance or
application thereof to any person, property, or circumstance is held invalid or unconstitutional by
a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity or unconstitutionality shall in no way affect other
provisions or any other application of this Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid
or unconstitutional provision or application, and for this purpose the provisions of this Ordinance
are declared severable.
ATTEST: THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CENTRVILLE
_______________________________ ____________________________________
R. Gaye Adams Ashley H. Kaiser, Esq., President
____________________________________
First Reading: ______________ Jeffrey D. Kiel, Vice President
Second Reading: ____________
Enacted: ___________________
Effective: __________________
____________________________________
Daniel B. Worth, Member
____________________________________
Sandy L. Huffner, Member
____________________________________
Jim A. Beauchamp, Member