ordinance_06-2025_electronic_signs_for_schools_updated.pdf

TOWN COUNCIL OF CENTREVILLE

ORDINANCE NO 06-2025

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CENTREVILLE AMENDING THE TOWN

OF CENTREVILLE ZONING ORDINANCE, WHICH IS CHAPTER 170 OF THE CODE OF

THE TOWN OF CENTREVILLE, TO ALLOW ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTERS AS A

PERMITTED USE FOR SCHOOLS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES AND SUBJECT TO

ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR SUCH SIGNS

WHEREAS, the Town Council of Centreville has the authority under Section 5-213 of the Local Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, to adopt regulations;

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 the land;

WHEREAS, by Ordinance 01-2018, the Town Council previously prohibited all new EMCs and made the four existing EMCs at the time non-conforming signs subject to operational standards for the EMCs;

WHEREAS, by Ordinance 04-2023, the Town Council amended the prohibition on EMCs to allow an exception for governmental and institutional uses in specified non-residential zones where the same or more intense zoning exists across the street;

WHEREAS, the Town desires to amend Chapter 170 of the Code of the Town of Centreville to create another exception on the prohibition to allow Electronic Message Centers (EMCs) for schools in residential zones where non-residential zoning exists across the street subject to compliance with the additional standards contained herein;

WHEREAS, the Town also desires to add annual permitting and renewal provisions that apply to all existing and future EMCs.

WHEREAS, the Town of Centreville Development Design Standards which are included as Attachment 6 to the Centreville Zoning Provisions contained in Chapter 170 of the Town of Centreville Code are also amended accordingly;

WHEREAS, the Town Council received a favorable recommendation on the zoning amendment from the Centreville Planning and Zoning Commission; and WHERAS, the Town Council held a public hearing on the zoning amendment on September 18, 2025.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of Centreville:

Section 1.

The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Ordinance.

P ag e | 1

Section 2. Section

170-38.F of the Centreville Town Code, SUPPLEMENTAL ZONING REGULATIONS, Signs, Prohibited signs is hereby amended so EMCs may be allowed for schools in residential zones subject to the provisions contained herein:

F. Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited:

1. Pennants, streamers, and spinning or similar type signs, except feather signs.

2. Any sign that flashes or rotates.

3. Any sign fastened to, and supported by, or on the roof of a building, and no projecting sign

shall extend over or above the roof (including mansard roofs) of a parapet wall of a building.

4. Off-premises signs. Any sign advertising or identifying a business or organization which is

not located on that premises, other than temporary signs. 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.

5. Signs in the public right-of-way, except easel/placard signs placed on the sidewalk in front

of a business, provided that the sign doesn't impede pedestrian traffic.

6. Signs that are obscene, illegal, hazardous to traffic, imitative of official government signs

(i.e., Stop, Danger, Caution, etc.) or obstructive to public visibility so as to create a hazard to the public.

7. New electronic message centers (EMCs) and digital electronic signs of any kind, are

prohibited, except for governmental and institutional signs in non-residential zoning districts (excluding the Central Business District) and for public school signs in residential zoning districts and subject to the supplemental standards contained in § 170-38.E(3) and Table 4 (Attachment 10 to the Zoning Ordinance).

(Language to be deleted from the existing Ordinance is indicated in strikethrough format and language to added is indicated by bold italics text)

Section 3. Section

170-38.E of the Centreville Town Code, SUPPLEMENTAL ZONING REGULATIONS, Signs, Supplemental standards for sign types is hereby amended so EMCs may be allowed in certain residential and non-residential zones.

E. Supplemental standards for sign types. The following supplemental standards apply to specific sign types:

1. Awning signs. All drop awnings attached to buildings shall not, when let down to the

full extent, be less than seven feet above the sidewalks of the Town at all points. The lowest portion of all display signs fastened to, suspended from, or supported by a building or structure so as to project therefrom at an angle shall be not less than seven feet vertically above the surface of the sidewalks of the Town at all points.

2. Directional signs. Directional signs are permitted in all zoning districts. Directional

signs shall not exceed two square feet in area, shall not exceed three feet in height, and shall not contain any advertising material.

3. Electronic Message Centers. New electronic message centers (EMCs) are permitted for

governmental and institutional uses as a freestanding sign in non-residential zones along State roads, excluding the Central Business District (CBD), where the same or more intense zoning (excluding the Central Business District) exists across the State road as more particularly shown on Table 4 (Attachment 10 to the Zoning Ordinance). EMCs are also permitted for public schools as a freestanding monument sign in residential

zones along State roads, where non-residential zoning exists across the State road as P ag e | 2 more particularly shown on Table 4(Attachment 10 to the Zoning Ordinance). The four existing EMCs are grandfathered and considered nonconforming signs for the purpose of § 170-38. The following provisions shall apply to new and existing EMCs including nonconforming EMCs:

a. Duration of message change interval. Each message on an EMC can be changed no more frequently than once every five minutes, and the actual change process is accomplished in two seconds or less with no fade in or fade out.

b. Transitions/flashing/animation. The EMC shall display only static messages that remain constant in illumination intensity and do not have movement or the appearance or optical illusion of movement (no revolving, flashing, moving, scrolling, or rotating). Also, the EMC shall consist only of alphabetic or numeric characters on a plain black background and may not include graphic, pictorial, or photographic images.

c. Dimming. The EMC shall be equipped with a fully operational light sensor that automatically adjusts the intensity of the billboard according to the amount of ambient light.

d. Brightness levels. EMCs shall not exceed a maximum illumination of 0.3 footcandle above the ambient light as seen at a distance of 150 feet for the time period between sunset and sunrise. The applicant shall provide written certification from the sign manufacturer that the light intensity has been preset not to exceed the levels specified above, and the intensity level is protected from end-user adjustment.

e. Colors. EMCs shall be a single color on any given message or display (i.e., they shall be mono color signs) and shall always use only one color.

f. Time restrictions. EMCs located on a lot adjacent (includes across a street) to any residentially zoned or residentially used parcel shall be turned off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

g. Audio speakers. Audio speakers are prohibited.

h. Malfunctions. EMCs shall be designed to either freeze the display in one static position, display a full blank screen, or turn off in the event of a malfunction.

i. Annual Permit Requirement.

(1) All existing and future EMCs permitted under this section shall require

a permit from the Zoning Administrator which shall be reviewed and renewed annually.

(2) Annual renewal applications shall be submitted no later than thirty

(30) days prior to the permit’s expiration.

(3) As part of the annual permit review, the Zoning Administrator shall

confirm compliance with:

(a) All operational and display standards of this section;

(b) Applicable safety, brightness, and timing requirements; and

(c) Any conditions imposed at the time of permit issuance.

(4) Failure to demonstrate continued compliance may result in

suspension, non-renewal, or revocation of the EMC permit, or fines.

(5) Renewal fees, if applicable, shall be established by the Town Council

by resolution.

(Language to be deleted from the existing Ordinance is indicated in strikethrough format and language to added is indicated by bold italics text) P ag e | 3

Section 4. Table 4

(Governmental and Institutional Uses in All Zoning Districts Sign Types and Dimensional Regulations – Attachment 10 to Chapter 170 Zoning) are hereby amended to read as shown on the attached Exhibit A.

(New language is highlighted)

Section 5. Section

5.A.6 of the Town of Centreville Development Design Standards which are Attachment 6 to the Centreville Zoning Provisions which are Chapter 170 of the Centreville Town Code are hereby amended as follows:

6. Prohibited

• Including, but not limited to: portable signs, inflatable signs, kites or other unattended flying

device which are meant to advertise or identify a specific business, product, or event.

• Temporary or portable signs with changeable letters and numbers and portable trailer signs with

changeable text panels, unless otherwise permitted.

• Digital electronic signs of any kind, except for governmental and institutional uses in nonresidential zoning districts and public school uses in residential zoning districts and subject to

operational and other supplemental standards as contained in the Zoning Ordinance.

• Revolving signs

• Pole mounted signs

• Roof signs

(Language to be deleted from the existing Ordinance is indicated in strikethrough format and language to added is indicated by bold italics text)

Section 6.

If any section, clause, paragraph, sentence or phrase of the Ordinance or the application thereof to any person, or circumstances is held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity or unconstitutionality shall in no way effect 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.

Section 7. This

Ordinance shall become effective twenty days after its enactment.

ATTEST: THE TOWN COUNCIL OF CENTREVILLE

____________________________________

R. Gaye Adams Ashley Heffernan Kaiser, Esq., President Town Clerk _____________________________________

P ag e | 4 First Reading: Jeffrey D. Kiel, Vice President Second Reading:

Enacted:

Effective: _____________________________________

Daniel B. Worth, Member _____________________________________

Jim A. Beauchamp, Member ______________________________________

Sandra Lee Huffer, Member P ag e | 5