1.
Purpose
The purpose of regulating signs is to
promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare by regulating
existing and proposed outdoor advertising, outdoor advertising signs, and
outdoor signs of all types; to serve as a way of appropriately locating
businesses; to protect property values; enhance and protect the physical
appearance of the community; preserve the scenic and natural beauty and provide
a more enjoyable and pleasing community; to reduce sign or advertising
distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents; reduce
hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights
of way; provide more open space, and curb the deterioration of natural beauty
and community environment.
2.
Definitions
1.
Area: The area of one (1) side of a NOT MORE
2.
Development
Project:
Any residential (3 units or more), commercial, industrial or mixed use
development plan which is submitted to the Town for approval.
3.
Direct
Illumination: Illumination resulting from light emitted directly from a
lamp or luminaire, not light diffused through translucent signs or reflected
from other surfaces such as the ground or building faces.
4.
Directory Board: A wall sign
erected on a building wall at the ground floor level, or free standing and
containing name identification for more than one activity or business located
on a single building or a group of buildings.
Each listing shall be no larger than one (1) square foot. A directory board shall be considered to be
one wall sign.
5.
Foot-candle: A unit of measure
of the intensity of light falling on a surface, equal to one lumen per square
foot and originally defined with reference to a standardized candle burning at
one foot from a given surface.
6.
Free Standing Sign: Unattached to any
building. Sandwich boards and similar
installations shall be considered free standing signs for purpose of this
regulation. Also a sign supported by one
or more uprights or braces permanently affixed into the ground is a
free-standing sign.
7.
Identification
Kiosk:
A free standing structure erected on a suitable foundation and designed to
provide advertising space for a building or a group of buildings containing
three or more businesses on a single premises or group of contiguous
premises. The Identification kiosk may
be an integrated part of a permitted free-standing sign or an additional
free-standing sign.
8.
Identification
Sign:
A sign indicating the location of or direction to, a separate function
performed within one portion of that building.
Examples of identification signs are: "entrance",
"exit", "auditorium", etc.
Identification signs do not name or advertise the activity conducted
within or without the premises.
9.
Installed Lighting: Attached, or fixed
in place, whether or not connected to a power source.
10.
Lumen: The unit used to
measure the actual amount of light which is produced by a lamp.
11.
Non-Conforming
Sign: A sign lawfully existing at the time of
adoption of this regulation or any subsequent amendment which does not conform
to one (1) or more provisions of this regulation.
12.
Opaque: Opaque means that
material must not transmit light from an internal illumination source.
13.
Outdoor Light
Fixtures:
Outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices, outdoor lighting or
reflective surfaces, lamps and similar devices, either permanently installed or
portable, which are used for illumination or advertisement. Such devices shall
include, but are not limited to, search, spot and flood lights.
14.
Portable Sign: A sign not
designed or intended to be permanently affixed into the ground or to a
structure. Portable signs are not
permitted. Movable directional signs are
not considered to be portable signs.
15.
Projecting Sign: An outdoor sign
which is attached to a wall at an angle.
16.
Roof Sign: A sign located
upon or over a roof of a building.
17. Sandwich
Board Sign: A moveable sign
not secured or attached to the ground or surface upon which it is located, but
supported by its own frame and most often forming the cross-sectional shape of
an A.
18.
Sign: A sign is a name, identification description,
display or illustration or any other visual display which is affixed to,
painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or
piece of land and which directs attention to an object, product, place,
activity, person, institution, organization or business. However, a sign shall
not include any display of official court or public office notices or any
official traffic control device, nor shall it include the flag, emblem or
insignia of a nation, state, county, municipality, or public school.
19.
Sign Area: The area of one
(1) side of a NOT MORE
20.
Sign, external
lighting:
Any sign the facing of which reflects light from a source intentionally
directed upon it.
21.
Sign Face: The surface of a
sign visible from the public way. Each sign face counts as one sign. Each sign
face counts as one sign except that a sign with two sign faces shall be counted
as one sign.
22.
Sign, Internal
lighting:
Any sign which has the source of light entirely enclosed within the sign and
not directly visible to the eye.
23.
Temporary Sign: Any sign intended to be displayed for no more
than thirty (30) days and without permanent frost resistant anchoring to the
ground.
24.
Wall Sign: An outdoor sign
which is attached flat to, painted on, or pinned away from a building wall or part
thereof, and does not project more than 18 inches from the wall.
25.
Wall Sign Area: The area of the
facade of a building up to the roof line.
The façade includes the gable areas for pitched roofed buildings.
26.
Window Sign: A sign that is
affixed to a window or hanging inside a window that is visible from outside of
a building. A window sign shall be
considered and regulated as a sign that is affixed to a building.
27.
Visible: Capable of being
seen without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity.
A.
General Provisions
1.
Sign Approval Required – Except as otherwise herein provided,
no person shall erect, modify or move any signs visible from the public way
without first applying for and obtaining a sign approval. In the case of a new commercial or industrial
activity, or in the case of a change of or expansion of an existing commercial
or industrial activity that falls within the site plan review authority of the
Planning Board, sign permits will be included within the site plan review
process. In the case where a sign permit
is requested for a business not subject to the Planning Board’s site plan
review authority, the permit will be applied through and granted by the
building inspector within the office of the Board of Selectmen. If the
sign is located in the Historic Districts section 4.10.5 of the
·
Industrial
·
Commercial CI
·
Commercial CII
·
Commercial CIII
·
Rural Residential
·
Single family residential
·
Single family residential agricultural
·
Elderly Housing
·
Historic Districts I & II
Changes in sign
lighting shall require review.
Reductions in sign area shall not require review or approval. Changes in language or fascia shall not
require review unless the change also increases the signage, changes the
lighting, or represents a new signage area not previously approved.
2. Maintenance and
Conformance of Signs - No sign shall be erected or altered except in conformity
with the provisions herein. The sign
must be kept clean, neatly painted and free from all hazards such as, but not
limited to, faulty wiring and loose fastenings, and must be maintained at all
times in such safe condition so as not to be detrimental to the public health
or safety or constitute a distraction or obstruction that may contribute to
traffic accidents.
3. General Safety
Standards for Signs - No sign, whether new or existing, shall be permitted that
causes a sight, traffic, health or welfare hazard or results in a nuisance due
to illumination, placement, display, or manner of construction.
4. Street Numbers – All signs proposed in the
commercial and Industrial zones shall incorporate the businesses street number
in the sign design. The street number
must be prominent in the design and sized appropriately for the speed of the
road upon which the business and sign are located.
5. Exceptions - For
the purpose of this regulation, the term "sign" does not include
signs erected and maintained for public safety and welfare or pursuant to and
in discharge of any governmental function, or required by law, regulation or
governmental regulation.
B. Temporary Signs
The following temporary
signs are permitted:
1. Temporary Signs
Giving Notice. Signs of a temporary nature such as advertisements and other
commercial signs of a similar nature are permitted for a period not to exceed thirty
(30) days and shall be removed by the person(s) who posted the signs within
forty-eight (48) hours after fulfilling its function. Temporary signs specified in this section
shall not be attached or painted to fences, trees, or other natural features,
utility poles, or the like and shall not be placed in a position that will
obstruct or impair vision or traffic or in any manner create a hazard or
disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public.
2.
Residential Real Estate Developments. Signs located at the entrance for residential
developments may be installed until the roadway is accepted by the Town or the
last lot is developed, whichever is earlier.
3. All temporary
signs shall conform to the specific standards in Section D.
C.
Provisions.
The following
provisions relating to signs are applicable in all districts.
1. One sign
identifying the name, address and profession of a permitted home occupation or
a lawfully existing nonconforming home occupation is allowed provided such sign
does not exceed one (1) sq. ft. in area.
2. A bulletin board
or similar sign in connection with any church, museum, library, school or
similar public structure not exceeding 12 sq. ft. is allowed. The sign may only be externally lit.
3. No sign shall
have visible moving parts, blinking, moving or glaring illumination, or any
part consisting of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other
similar devices. No sign shall be of the
computer animation type. This regulation does not prohibit a wall name sign
consisting solely of a rectangular banner made of a flexible cloth-type
material, attached at all corners either perpendicular or flat, and conforming
to all of these regulations. In
addition, one “Open” flag is permitted per business.
4. A string of
lights shall not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention
unless as an integral part of a permitted sign.
5. Illuminating
signs whose specific purpose is outlining any part of a building, such as a
gable, roof, sidewalk or corner, are prohibited.
6. Illumination of building
signs shall be permitted from the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., except that
this time restriction shall not apply to the illuminated signs of emergency
facilities and retail, commercial and industrial establishments during such hours
as the establishments are lawfully open to the public or work hours are
regularly in effect. Free standing signs
may be lit twenty-four (24) hours a day provided they meet the standards of the
Town’s lighting ordinance.
7. All businesses
shall be limited to one free-standing sign on the lot where the business is
located. No signs shall be permitted for any businesses not conducted in
8. In addition to
the maximum number and size of signs permitted, directional signs placed at
driveway locations, containing no advertising material, having a display area
not exceeding five (5) square feet, and not extending higher than seven (7)
feet above ground level, are permitted.
9. Legally existing
non-conforming signs may continue but may not be altered, or relocated on the
same premises unless they are brought into conformance with these regulations.
Normal maintenance and repairs are permitted.
10. In addition to
the maximum number and size of permitted signs, identification signs may be
erected over or by the doorway or entrance to such portion of the
building. The sign area shall not exceed
ten percent (10%) of the area of such doorway or entrance to such portion of
the building.
11. Portable signs are not permitted.
D.
Specific Standards
1. The following
signs are not regulated by this section:
a.
Signs displayed internally within the border of a window of a building if the sign or
grouping of signs does not occupy more than 30 percent of the surface area of
such window and if illuminated shall only be illuminated during hours of
operation.
b.
Directional signs as described in Section C.8.
c.
Identification signs as described in Section C.10.
2. Free Standing
Signs.
Free standing signs
shall conform to the following table:
|
Free Standing Signage |
|||
|
District |
Height |
Size |
Setback Front/Side property line |
|
Industrial |
25 feet |
80 sq ft |
10 ft / 25 ft |
|
Commercial (CI, II, |
25 feet |
80 sq ft |
10 ft / 25 ft |
|
Rural Residential |
12 feet |
24 sq ft |
10 ft / 20 ft |
|
Historic I & II |
12 feet |
24 sq ft |
10 ft / 25 ft |
|
Elderly Housing |
8 feet |
15 sq ft |
10 ft/25 ft |
|
Single Family Residential |
Not |
Allowed |
|
|
Single Family Residential Agricultural |
8 feet |
15 sq ft |
10 ft / 25 ft |
Note: Residential Home
Occupations allow a sign not more than two square feet in area.
* - Including Rural Residential lots
abutting Route 125.
3.
Multi-tenant Developments.
The standards of this section
for maximum number and maximum square footage of signage are limits which
cannot be exceeded, but which do not create any right or entitlement to the
maximums.
The standards of this section
apply on a per building basis. In
calculating allowable signage, each principal building together with its
accessory buildings or structures, if any, shall count as one building.
Facilities or developments that have
3 or more separate tenants or businesses may provide for additional signage in
accordance with the following table:
|
Multi-tenant Developments |
|||
|
District |
Identification Kiosk |
Height |
Size / Sign |
|
Industrial |
Yes |
12 feet |
6 inches X 4 feet per
unit |
|
Commercial (CI, II, |
Yes |
12 feet |
6 inches X 4 feet per
unit |
|
Rural Residential |
Yes |
12 feet |
6 inches X 4 feet per
unit |
|
Historic I & II |
Yes |
12 feet |
6 inches X 4 feet per
unit |
|
Elderly Housing |
Not Allowed |
Not allowed |
Not Allowed |
|
Single Family Residential |
Not Allowed |
Not allowed |
Not Allowed |
|
Single Family Residential Agricultural |
Not Allowed |
Not Allowed |
Not allowed |
4. Building
Signage.
Signage on a
building is permitted provided that it is placed on a building in conformance
with the following table. Signs in
windows that exceed 30 % of the individual window area shall be considered
building signage.
Building Signage
|
District |
Sign, Area/Sign |
% Wall Area |
Total Area (not to exceed) |
|
Industrial |
N/A |
10% |
500 sq ft |
|
Commercial (I, II, |
N/A |
10% |
500 sq ft |
|
Rural Residential |
24 sq ft |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Historic I & II |
24 sq ft |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Elderly Housing |
2 sq ft |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Single Family Residential |
2 sq ft |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Single Family Residential Agricultural |
2 sq ft |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A means not applicable
* - Including Rural
Residential lots abutting Route 125.
5. Sign Lighting.
a. Building
signs that use lighting as text are permitted provided such text is stationary.
b.
Changeable face and text signs are permitted, provided the text changes are
limited to one change per 12 hour period.
c.
Sign lighting shall utilize high-efficiency fluorescent, CFL, or other energy
efficient fixtures. LEDs can be utilized
for internal lighting or external lighting of the sign face.
d.
External sign lighting shall meet the Town of
|
Sign Lighting |
||
|
District |
Internal |
External |
|
Industrial |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Commercial (I, II, |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rural Residential |
No |
Yes |
|
Historic I & II |
No |
Yes |
|
Elderly Housing |
No |
Yes |
|
Single Family Residential |
No |
Yes |
|
Single Family Residential Agricultural |
No |
Yes |
*-
Including Rural Residential lots abutting Route 125.
E. Validity
and Severability
Should any
provision of this regulation be declared by the courts to be invalid, the
decision shall not invalidate any other provision of this regulation which can
be given effect without the invalid provision, and to this end the provisions
of these regulations are severable.
F. Variance
Provision
The Board of Adjustment shall have authority to allow
slight variances from the specific terms of this Ordinance in accordance with
Article IX, section 9.10.
And
Amend Section 7.90.3.b of the Residential
Home Occupation Ordinance to change the section so that it reads “two square
feet” instead of “one square foot”.