CHOP Sign Variance Approval

Fox recently represented the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) on an application seeking variances for facade signage. Variance requests for façade signage can be tricky as sign ordinances typically operate on a "one size fits all" basis that rarely coincides with the building occupant's needs. Here, the zoning ordinance permitted a single sign on each façade with a maximum size for each sign of 20 sq. ft. CHOP proposed six façade signs on one side of the building that totaled nearly 100 square feet -- 79.68 sq. ft. for the main sign and 20 sq. ft. for the five smaller signs -- a nearly five-fold increase over the allowable area. Also, the design for each of the five smaller signs incorporated three colors, but Gibbsboro Township's ordinance only allowed a maximum of two colors per sign.