[Amended effective 8-17-2009]
The purpose of these sign regulations is to:
(a)
Provide identification of commercial enterprises, places of
worship, organizations, and government establishments for customers,
clients, residents, members, employees, and/or visitors;
(b)
Establish criteria based both on the zone and the use of the
lot in which the sign is located;
(c)
Ensure compatibility of signs with surrounding land usage.
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The intent of these sign regulations is to:
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(a)
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Provide a basic, coordinated design theme for all signs within
the site;
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(b)
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Establish consistency within zones;
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(c)
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Provide an orderly relationship with site access and development;
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(d)
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Preserve the Town's character; and
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(e)
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Enhance property values in all zones.
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All signs, including signs which are inside windows that are
visible from outside the building that are hereafter erected or maintained,
except official traffic and street signs, shall conform to the provisions
of this section. A sign permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Enforcement
Officer or the Commission as applicable before the placement of any
sign.
8.01.210
Relationship to streets.
8.01.211
Distance from street line.
Except as allowed in the design districts of these regulations no
sign shall be located closer than 25 feet from a street line in any
zone, except names and addresses attached to mailboxes or signs placed
flush against the front wall of a building in existence prior to August
25, 1958, the front wall of which has not been moved closer to the
street since said date.
8.01.212
Interference with motorist's line of
sight. Signs shall not confuse, distract, mislead or obstruct vision
necessary for traffic and pedestrian safety.
(a)
Notwithstanding Section 595-8.01.211, no sign shall
be located so close to a street line or driveway as to obstruct to
any extent the required lines of sight indicated below. Where the
paved or traveled portion of such street or driveway is widened, then
any sign obstructing the new lines of sight shall be set further back
to conform to these requirements. The required lines of sight are:
(b)
Local residential streets and unclassified streets:
150 feet.
(c)
Arterial streets: 250 feet.
(d)
Minor and major collector streets: 200 feet.
8.01.213
Temporary signs' location. Notwithstanding
Section 595-8.01.211, if any temporary sign allowed pursuant to Sections
595-8.01.613 or 595-8.01.619 cannot be seen as setback, the temporary
sign may be placed closer than 25 feet from a street line; provided,
however, said temporary sign shall not be located so close to a street
line as to obstruct to any extent the lines of sight indicated in
Section 595-8.01.212. Such temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
8.01.214
Access from more than one street. Where a
lot has vehicular access to more than one street, the permitted sign
may be put in the yard adjacent to whichever street the owner chooses
and an additional single-facing or double-facing sign not to exceed
eight square feet (12 square feet for a shopping center) may be placed
in each yard adjacent to the other streets providing such vehicular
access. Any illumination of such signs shall be consistent with the
regulations that pertain to the particular land use and zone in which
the sign is located.
Any application submitted for approval by the Commission shall
include a complete and detailed signage plan for the entire lot. Such
plan shall be submitted to the Commission upon application for a site
development plan or special exception approval. The site plan shall
include the locations, style, sizes, dimensions and lighting for all
site signage. Building elevations shall illustrate sign placement,
size and style for all wall signs. All proposed signs shall be a part
of the application for site approval. Any such signs shall comply
with the overall sign regulations as set forth herein. No signs shall
be erected upon such sites until approved by the Commission.
The following types of signs and limits are the only ones permitted:
8.01.510
Computation of sign area.
(a)
All framing shall be included in computing the
area of the sign, and where the sign is not contained within the outer
dimensions of a frame, then the area of the sign shall be computed
as the area of the smallest quadrilateral capable of, including all
lettering or other items comprising the sign.
(b)
Where a double-facing sign is allowed, the permitted
area shall apply to each face (side).
(c)
Both faces (sides) of a double-facing sign shall
be the same.
8.01.520
Sign supports.
8.01.521
Wall sign. Except for signs
that are mounted perpendicular to a wall, a wall sign mounted flush
with the wall shall not extend more than 12 inches from said wall,
or project above the eave of the roof line or beyond the side of any
building.
8.01.522
Freestanding ground sign. If a sign is supported
independently of the building or other structure on the premises,
the top of said sign or its support shall not be higher than 14 feet
(eight feet for EH-10 zones) from the average ground level in the
area of the lot where the sign is located.
8.01.523
Directory signs. Where directory signs are
permitted the spaces for individual listings shall be located beneath
the part of the sign, if any, generally describing the building, shopping
center, etc., and such spaces shall be uniform as to size, shape,
color and materials used.
8.01.530
Lighting.
8.01.531
Lighting of signs, where permitted
shall be from an indirect source. No internally illuminated signs
or neon signs positioned inside a window which makes it visible outside
of the building shall be allowed except that a shopping center may
have internally illuminated signs when such signs are approved by
the Commission and are located more than 200 feet from the road. One
internally illuminated window sign with the word "OPEN" for a retail
shop located in a business or industrial zone and a "gas station or
filling station" may have internally illumined signs for gas pricing
and logo signs, provided they are approved by the Zoning/Land Use
Enforcement Officer. No variances are permitted.
[Amended effective 4-22-2015]
8.01.532
Wall or attached signs shall have the light
source incorporated into the sign structure or concealed by an architectural
feature.
8.01.533
Freestanding ground signs shall either have
the light source incorporated into the sign structure or concealed
by landscaping.
8.01.534
The light shall be soft lighting directed
toward the sign with little or no spillover. The light source shall
be shielded from any road and adjacent property.
8.01.535
Lighting type shall be consistent intensity
for each sign throughout the site.
8.01.536
Lighting shall be consistent with "dark sky"
objectives.
8.01.537
Lighting shall be directed such that it will
not in any manner impair the vision of a motorist or pedestrian.
8.01.540
Sign materials and maintenance. All signs shall be:
(a)
Constructed of strong material which will not warp
or distort with weather or age;
(b)
Firmly supported so as to withstand wind conditions
normally expected throughout the year in the Town;
(c)
Kept freshly painted and otherwise maintained in
good and safe condition and repair;
(d)
Made of materials that are consistent and complimentary
to the general architecture of the site; and
(e)
Consistent between the individual tenants throughout
the site.
8.01.550
Information. Signs may be
established for the identification and promotion of the development
and individual tenants within the site.
8.01.560
Signs off the lot.
8.01.561
Where the primary vehicular
access to a lot is through a strip of land, whether or not said lot
has frontage on a street, then the signs permitted by these regulations
may be placed within said strip of land or on a lot adjacent to said
strip of land, provided that the general provisions of the sign regulations
are met.
8.01.562
Where a street has been constructed to serve
an industrial subdivision, one double-facing directory sign may be
maintained on a corner lot formed by the intersection of said street
with a highway maintained by the State. Such sign may be externally
illuminated.
Size: eight square feet for the name of said subdivision and
two square feet for the name of each actively conducted business or
industry, not to exceed a total of 60 square feet.
8.01.563
Any application for a permit for a sign off
the lot to which the sign applies shall be made by the owner of the
lot on which the sign is to be located.
8.01.570
Design standards for signs.
8.01.571
Signage shall be consistent
with and complementary to the architectural style and general design
scheme for the buildings within the site. A uniform sign plan shall
be created for all permitted signs located upon a lot. Such plan shall
provide for some consistency between all signs upon the lot and upon
the building or buildings in terms of standardized location, lighting,
generalized design features, etc.
8.01.572
Excessively bright, glaring, or vibrating
color hues and schemes are discouraged.
8.01.580
Mailboxes. Names and addresses
required to be placed on mailboxes by the United States Post Office
may be in addition to the permitted signs.
8.01.590
Restrictions. The following
restrictions apply to signs in all zones.
8.01.591
Signs which rotate, vibrate,
move or swing or which have rotating, vibrating, moving or swinging
parts, except for clocks, are prohibited.
8.01.592
(Reserved)
8.01.593
The number and area of all existing signs
on a lot shall be counted toward the number and maximum sign area,
respectively, allowable on that lot.
8.01.594
Directional signs shall contain no advertising.
8.01.595
Unless otherwise specified by these regulations,
all permitted signs must be located on the same lot as the building
or use to which said signs apply.
8.01.596
If any lot lies in more than one zone, the
sign regulations for the more restrictive zone shall apply to the
lot unless the Commission determines the sign regulations for the
less restrictive zone are more appropriate.
8.01.597
No internally illuminated signs or neon signs
visible from outside of the building shall be allowed except as provided
herein for a shopping center and one window sign with the letters
"OPEN" for a retail shop located in a business or industrial zone.
No variances are permitted.
8.01.598
No signs shall be erected upon the roof or
above the eave of the roof.
The following signs are permitted for the uses indicated. Sizes
indicated are the maximum area.
8.01.610
All Zones. The following signs
and size limits are permitted in all zones and shall not be illuminated.
8.01.611
Signs marking civic, charitable,
religious, patriotic, fraternal or similar organization: one double-facing
sign, including any flag, badge or insignia, identifying any civic,
charitable, religious, patriotic, fraternal or similar organization
and their meeting hours, located on the lot where regular meetings
are held.
Size: eight square feet.
8.01.612
Traffic or other direction signs.
(a)
Traffic or other direction signs erected by the
State, Town or Borough, including, without limitation, direction signs
to schools, libraries, parks or governmental buildings. Said signs
may include the flag, badge or insignia of any government agency.
(b)
Agricultural businesses may erect up to four directional
signs for any agricultural business site.
8.01.613
Temporary realtor signs.
(a)
One single-faced or double-faced temporary realtor
sign advertising the sale or lease of the premises upon which it is
located.
Size: eight square feet for residential zones; 20 square feet
for business zones, industrial zones and residential subdivisions
(b)
One additional sign may be erected for each 200
feet of lot frontage on the street on which said sign is located provided
said 200 feet of frontage is in addition to the minimum frontages
required in the zone in which the lot lies.
(c)
The number of signs for a single premises shall
not exceed four.
(d)
Such a sign or signs shall be removed as soon as
the sale or lease of said property is completed or when the listing
agent no longer represents the property owner or when such sign is
no longer maintained in good order.
8.01.614
Control of traffic and parking signs.
(a)
Signs may be erected solely for the control of
traffic and parking upon the premises.
(b)
Such signs shall only be erected at the intersection
of driveways with streets, other driveways and parking areas or, where
the parking area is not served by a driveway, at the entrances and
exits of any parking area. Size: one square foot each.
8.01.615
Driveways and parking area markings. In addition
to any other signs, driveways and parking areas may be painted and
maintained with directional arrows to control the flow of traffic,
and with lines or words to define the parking spaces, crosswalks,
stop lines and areas where no parking is to take place.
8.01.616
Signs prohibiting trespassing, hunting or
fishing.
(a)
Single-facing signs prohibiting trespassing, hunting
or fishing are permitted on all land actually being or likely to be
used for hunting, trapping, fishing, picnicking or as a passageway
by unauthorized persons.
(b)
As many such signs may be erected as desired.
(c)
Such signs may also be posted on lots with unoccupied
dwellings at the rate of not more than four per acre.
(d)
Said signs need not conform to specified setbacks
provided that they are placed within the boundaries of the lot and
are attached to a tree, wall or fence. Size: one square foot each.
8.01.617
Signs marking open space, conservation areas,
trails and public access areas. Size: 16 square feet.
8.01.618
Roadside stands. One double-facing sign or
two single-facing signs. Size: eight square feet.
8.01.619
The following signs are allowed with a special
temporary sign permit;
[Amended effective 7-18-2011]
(a)
Special event temporary signs are allowed with
a special permit. A maximum of two temporary signs at location of
event, including pennants, valances, flags, streamers, inflatables,
or A-frame signs are allowed provided that:
1.
A temporary sign permit has been issued by the Zoning
Enforcement Officer.
2.
The permit shall be valid for a period not to exceed
seven days.
3.
Grand opening sign permits are valid for 45 days
maximum.
4.
The signs shall be removed within 48 hours after
the valid permit period.
5.
Such signs are not illuminated.
6.
Temporary signs shall not exceed 16 square feet.
7.
Up to six temporary sign permits may be obtained
in any one calendar year relating to a single location.
8.
For-profit businesses are allowed signs only at
the business location.
9.
Nonprofit permanent organizations within the Town
can place one temporary sign (maximum size: three square feet) per
lot with the permission of the property owner. One event sign allowed
per lot with a maximum of 20 signs per event.
8.01.620
Farming and residential zones.
The signs permitted herein may be externally illuminated signs.
8.01.621
Residential use only. One
single or double-facing sign containing name and address only. Size:
one square foot.
8.01.622
Residential use plus permitted accessory use
other than a roadside stand one single or double-facing sign. Size:
two square feet.
8.01.623
Town buildings or uses and the uses permitted
by special exception when not otherwise indicated herein. Size: 16
square feet.
8.01.624
Active farming. One double-facing sign or
two single-facing signs. If two single-facing signs are used, each
one shall be located within 200 feet of the principal driveway or
largest building on the farm. Size: 20 square feet each.
8.01.625
Actively operated legally nonconforming industrial
use. One single-facing or double-facing sign. Size: 20 square feet.
8.01.626
Affordable housing developments and dwelling
units for elderly families: one single-facing or double-facing sign.
Size: 20 square feet.
8.01.630
Business and Professional
Office (BPO) Zone: The signs permitted herein may be externally illuminated
signs.
8.01.631
Single-family home plus professional
office: one single-facing or double-facing sign. Size: two square
feet.
8.01.632
Single-tenant professional office building:
one single-facing or double-facing sign per lot.
Size: < 10,000 square foot building: 15 square feet.
Size: > 10,000 square foot building: 20 square feet.
8.01.633
Multiple tenant professional office building
or buildings: Where more than one professional office tenant or more
than one building is located upon a lot, each professional building
may have one wall sign provided that the total area of each wall sign
shall not exceed 15% of the area of the first floor wall facing the
street, including doors and windows, but excluding facades or false
fronts extending above the actual roof of said premises plus:
One single- or double-facing directory sign per lot.
Size: < 10,000 square foot building: 15 square feet.
Size: > 10,000 square foot building: 20 square feet.
8.01.634
Window sign: one internally lit "OPEN" sign
is permitted inside a window for a retail shop. Size: < 1 1/2
square feet.
8.01.640
Business and design district
zones: The signs permitted herein may be externally illuminated signs.
8.01.641
Permitted business uses and
buildings: one wall sign per store, shop, office or business located
at each business entrance, provided that the total area of all such
signs shall not exceed 15% of the area of the first floor wall facing
the street, including doors and windows, but excluding facades or
false fronts extending above the actual roof of said premises, plus:
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One single-facing or double-facing sign per lot or:
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Size: < 10,000 square foot building: 15 square
feet.
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Size: > 10,000 square foot building: 20 square feet.
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One single-facing or double-facing directory type sign per lot.
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Size: 10 square feet for name and address of building
plus three square feet for each store, shop, office or business located
therein.
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8.01.642
Window sign: one internally lit "OPEN" sign
is permitted inside a window for a retail shop. Size: < 1 1/2
square feet.
8.01.650
Industrial zones: The signs
permitted herein may be externally illuminated signs.
8.01.651
Permitted industrial uses
and buildings.
(a)
One wall sign for a single tenant building or one
wall sign per tenant entrance where such single or multiple tenant
signs provided that the total area of all such signs shall not exceed
10% of the area of the wall supporting it excluding any facades or
false fronts extending above the actual roof of the building, plus:
(b)
One double-facing sign to be erected in the front
yard. Size: 20 square feet.
8.01.652
Yard sign in lieu of wall sign: one single-facing
sign may be erected and maintained in any yard in lieu of the wall
signs permitted for an industrial zone, provided that:
(a)
It is no less than 50 feet from any lot line;
(b)
The size of said sign is no greater than half the
size of the sign that would be permitted on the wall of said building;
(c)
The bottom of said sign shall not be more than
one foot and the top not more than 10 feet above average ground level
of the lot where the sign is located; and
(d)
Any landscaping surrounding the sign shall not
be included in computing the area of the sign.
8.01.653
Natural signs.
(a)
In lieu of the wall or yard signs, consisting of
living plants and the spaces between them may be planted and maintained
without regard to size.
(b)
Plants forming part of such signs shall be rooted
in the ground and not in earth which is supported above the ground
level by structures or buildings.
8.01.654
Window sign: One internally lit "OPEN" sign
is permitted inside a window for a retail shop. Size: < 1 1/2
square feet.
8.01.660
Elderly housing zone: The
signs permitted herein may be externally illuminated signs.
8.01.661
One single-facing or double-facing
sign placed near the primary accessway with no part of it more than
six feet above grade level. Size: eight square feet.
8.01.670
Fairfield Hills adaptive reuse
zone. The signs permitted herein may be externally illuminated signs.
8.01.671
A uniform sign plan shall
be utilized to address all permitted signs located upon the campus.
Such plan shall provide for a consistent design theme for all of the
signs located upon the lot and upon the buildings in terms of standardized
location, lighting, generalized design features, etc. The signage
plan shall be tasteful, complementary to the architecture of the buildings
and shall have consistent details that tie the various elements of
the campus together to complement the overall design of the campus.
Only the following signs shall be permitted. The size is the maximum
area.
(a)
One directory sign for the main access road to
the campus. Size: 32 square feet.
(b)
Plus one directory sign for the secondary access
road to the campus. Size: 25 square feet.
(c)
Plus each shared parking area may include one additional
central directory sign to assist visitors in finding the buildings
or fields upon the campus. Size: 20 square feet.
(d)
Plus banner signs for the decorative lighting poles.
Such banners may include a sponsor's name, trademark or logo.
(e)
Plus traffic or other direction signs as needed.
(f)
Plus pedestrian walkway signs to facilitate the
flow of pedestrian traffic.
(g)
For each building of 10,000 square feet or more
of gross floor area, one wall sign for each main public entrance to
identify the name or number of the building. Size: 12 square feet.
(h)
For each building (such as the duplexes) of less
than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area, one wall sign for each
main public entrance to identify the tenant, size: six square feet,
or one wall sign for the building, Size: 12 square feet.
1.
Plus one double-facing directory sign or one single-facing
sign for the name of the tenant(s) or the group of buildings (duplexes).
Size: 30 square feet.
[Added 8-2-2018]
(i)
Banner Signs, Each occupant of a building at Fairfield
Hills can have a banner sign on the building for six special events
per calendar year provided they file a temporary sign permit with
the land use agency. Size: 44 square feet.
[Added 8-2-2018]
(j)
Or for each building (such as the duplexes) of
less than 10,000 square feet of gross floor area one wall sign for
each main public entrance to identify the tenant. Size: six square
feet.
(k)
Plus one double-facing directory sign or one single-facing
sign for the name of the tenant(s) or the group of buildings (duplexes).
Size: 30 square feet.
(l)
Educational or interpretive signs. Signs shall
have a mounting height of 24 inches to 30 inches with a 30° to
45° angle toward the viewers. The front edge of low profile signs
shall be a maximum of 32 inches. Maximum size: eight square feet.
[Added effective 5-8-2021]
8.01.672
All signs shall be shown as part of the application
for a zoning permit, site development plan or special exception and
no other signs shall be erected or maintained, except as permitted
herein.
The signs permitted herein may be internally illuminated signs.
A uniform sign plan shall be created for the shopping center to address
all permitted signs located within the shopping center. Such plan
shall provide for some consistency between all signs upon the lot
and upon the buildings in terms of standardized location, lighting,
generalized design features, etc. The signage plan shall be tasteful,
complementary to the architectural design of the buildings within
the shopping center and shall have consistent details that tie the
various shops and businesses within the center together as a single
project thereby complementing the shopper's experience.
(a)
One wall sign per tenant at each business entrance may be installed
provided that the total area of all such signs shall not exceed 15%
of the area of the first floor wall facing the street, including doors
and windows, but excluding facades or false fronts extending above
the actual roof of said premises, plus:
(b)
One double-facing directory sign or one single-facing sign for
the name of the center may be erected per lot however, if the lot
has more than one main driveway serving the shopping center, an additional
single-facing or double-facing sign not to exceed 12 square feet may
be placed in each yard adjacent to any secondary driveways. Size:
12 square feet for name and address of building plus four square feet
for each store, shop, office or business located therein plus.
(c)
One additional perpendicular sign per tenant at the main business
entrance may be installed under the covered pedestrian walkway if
the shopping center has a covered pedestrian walkway. Size: two square
feet for name of each business.
The signs permitted herein shall not be illuminated signs.
(a)
One single-facing or double-facing sign located at the intersection
of a new roadway with an existing street may be erected and maintained
by the developer of the subdivision provided such sign is located
upon private property within the subdivision, it is 50 feet from all
lot lines and contains only the name of the subdivision as approved
by the Commission. Size: eight square feet.
