[Amended 11-6-1978 ATM by Art. 12, approved 2-6-1979; 10-17-1991 ATM by Art.
21, approved 2-4-1992; 4-4-1994 ATM by Art. 18, approved 7-26-1994; 10-3-1994 ATM by Art. 22, approved 1-18-1995]
The sign regulation section is designed to provide
standards for the installation of signs so as to further the objectives
of the Master Plan; promote the general welfare of the community;
protect public health, safety and welfare; reduce traffic hazards;
protect property values; and promote economic development. This is
accomplished by encouraging the creation of an aesthetic appearance
throughout the Town, through the use of attractive and appropriate
signing.
Unless otherwise specifically provided, or unless
clearly required by the context, the words and phrases defined in
this section shall have the meaning indicated when used in this article.
A sign consisting of numerals and letters identifying a property
address.
Copy that includes, but is not limited to phone numbers,
prices, announcements of sales, business hours, meeting times, individual
or specific products or merchandise, and directional information.
A business name and street address are not considered advertising
copy.
A sign which includes advertising copy and/or graphics relating
to any service, product, person, business, place, activity or organization
in addition to simple identification.
A sign which is printed, painted, or affixed to an awning
or canopy.
A sign which is painted or displayed upon cloth or other
flexible material.
An off-premises sign owned by a person, corporation, or other
entity that engages in the business of selling the advertising space
on that sign and that is subject to the provisions of Massachusetts
General Laws Chapter 93, Sections 29-33 or Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 93D.
A sign which is permanently affixed to the horizontal piece
covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves
of the roof.
A sign which projects from the roof or wall of a building
perpendicular to a wall surface.
A sign that is attached to, erected on, or supported by some
structure (such as a pole, mast, frame, or other structure) that is
not itself an integral part of or attached to a building or other
structure whose principal function is something other than the support
of a sign. A sign that stands without supporting elements, such as
"sandwich sign," is also a freestanding sign. If the message is removed
from a structure that was originally designed and used as a freestanding
sign, this structure shall still be considered a sign.
A sign that includes as copy only the name of the business,
place, organization, building, or person it identifies.
Sign where the source of the illumination is outside the
sign and light is reflected off the surface of the sign.
Signs where the source of the illumination is inside the
sign and light emanates through the message of the sign, rather than
being reflected off the surface of the sign from an external source.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, signs that consist
of or contain tubes that:
Are filled with neon or some other gas that
glows when an electric current passes through it; and
Are intended to form or constitute all or part
of the message of the sign, rather than merely providing illumination
to other parts of the sign that contain the message, shall also be
considered internally illuminated signs.
A sign whose surface is lighted, internally or externally,
and which identifies, advertises or attracts attention to a use or
activity on the premises.
A detailed description, including, but not limited to number,
type, size, color, and location of all signage.
A sign that includes as copy, only the names of two (2) or
more businesses, places, organizations, buildings or persons it identifies.
A sign lawfully erected prior to July 28, 1994 which does
not conform to all of the requirements of this bylaw.
A sign that is not located on the premises that it advertises
or identifies.
A sign that draws attention to or communicates information
about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or
other enterprise or activity that exists or is conducted, sold, offered,
maintained, or provided on the premises where the sign is located.
Election campaign signs.
A permanent sign where the lettering is designed to be changed.
A sign which projects above the highest point of the roofline,
parapet or fascia of a building.
Any permanent or temporary structure or device
providing identification, advertising or directional information,
or which is designed to attract the eye by intermittent repeated motion
or illumination, for a specific business, service, product, person,
organization, place or building.
Included in this definition of signs are graphic
devices such as logos, attention attracting media such as logo sculpture
and obtrusive colored fascia or architectural elements, banners, balloons,
streamers, search lights, strobe lights, flags, inflatable structures,
merchandise displays, accessory lights and other attention attracting
media and devices.
A sign which is suspended from the underside of a lintel,
arch or other overhead spanning member and is hung perpendicular to
a vertical wall surface.
Any outdoor sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising
display constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, fabric, cardboard, wallboard
or other light material with or without frames not permanently affixed
to any structure on a site or permanently ground mounted.
A sign which is permanently affixed to any vertical portion
of a building for which the sign is intended to identify or advertise.
A sign or signage placed in windows so as to attract the
attention of persons outside of the building where such sign or signage
is placed.
A.
Sign height.
(1)
Freestanding sign. Height shall be measured as the
distance from the top of the sign structure to the top of curb, or
crown of road if no curb exists. The height of any structure erected
to support or ornament the sign shall be measured as part of the sign
height.
(2)
Wall or fascia mounted sign. Height shall be measured
as the distance from the top of the sign structure to the top of the
curb, or crown of road if no curb exists.
B.
Sign area.
(1)
For a sign, either freestanding or attached, the area
shall be considered to include all lettering, wording, and accompanying
designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or
closed, on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting
framework and bracing which are incidental to the display itself.
(2)
For a sign consisting of individual letters, designs
and symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or
window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest quadrangle
or circle which encompasses all of the letters, design and symbols.
(3)
For a sign painted on or applied to a building, the
area shall be considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying
designs or symbols, together with any backing different in color or
material from the finish material of the building face.
(4)
Where there are a number of sign faces on a sign:
(a)
One (1): Area of the single face only.
(b)
Two (2): If the interior angle between the two
(2) faces is forty-five (45) degrees or less, the area will be the
area of one (1) face only; if the angle between the two (2) sign faces
is greater than forty-five (45) degrees, the sign area will be the
sum of the areas of the two (2) faces.
(c)
Three (3) or more sides: The sign area will
be the sum of the areas of each of the faces.
(5)
Spherical, free-form, sculptural, other non-planar
signs. Sign area will be the sum of the areas using only the four
(4) vertical sides of the smallest cube that will encompass the sign.
A.
Sign permit required. Except as provided in Subsection B, no sign shall be erected unless a sign permit has been issued by the Building Inspector. No sign permit shall be issued unless the Building Inspector has first determined that the applicant has obtained all applicable special permits and/or site plan approvals for the development and use of the property for which the sign is intended.
B.
Signs not requiring a permit. The following types
of signs shall be authorized by right without the necessity of a permit:
(1)
Signs bearing the name of the occupant of a dwelling,
not to exceed two (2) square feet in area;
(2)
Real estate signs, located on-site, not to exceed
six (6) square feet in area in a residential district or twenty (20)
square feet in a business or industrial district. Such signs shall
be removed forthwith upon sale or rental of the premises advertised;
(3)
Signs accessory to the use of the premises by a religious,
non-profit or educational institution, or by a governmental authority,
not to exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area;
(4)
Street name signs and signs erected by the Town, County
or Commonwealth for the direction and control of traffic;
(5)
Signs on or adjacent to the entry of a multiple occupancy
building listing the occupants thereof, provided that the size of
such sign shall not exceed one (1) square foot for each occupant or
a total of twenty (20) square feet, whichever is smaller and provided
further that there shall be only one (1) such sign per building;
(6)
Signs designating historical places or points of interest,
erected by governmental authority or by a duly chartered historical
association, or the like, not to exceed (6) square feet in area;
(7)
Signs indicating "Entrance," "Exit," "Parking" or
the like, erected on a premises for the direction of persons or vehicles
not to exceed two (2) square feet in area. Such signs shall not carry
the name of the business or any product;
(8)
One (1) contractor's sign not exceeding twelve (12)
square feet in area maintained on the premises while construction
is in progress and containing information relative to the project.
Such signs shall be set back at least (15) feet from the street lot
line and shall be removed promptly after the completion of construction;
(9)
One (1) identification sign not exceeding twelve (12)
square feet at any public entrance to a subdivision or multi-family
development;
(10)
Political signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square
feet provided that such signs are placed on private property and do
not create a safety hazard. Such signs shall be removed not later
than seven (7) days after the election;
(11)
One (1) sign not to exceed six (6) square feet
in area designating an official motor vehicle inspection station and
located at the Building Inspector's discretion so as not to create
a safety hazard.
(12)
Temporary yard sale signs and real estate "open
house" signs for a period of time not to exceed forty-eight (48) hours.
(13)
Temporary "grand opening" signs not to exceed
forty (40) square feet and for a period of time not to exceed fourteen
(14) days.
Except as provided in § 200-81, signs that are not specifically authorized are expressly prohibited. These prohibited signs include, but are not limited to the following:
A.
Moving or flashing signs; signs illuminated by or
including any flashing or oscillating light; electronic billboards
and reader boards; strings of pennants or so-called "whirlygigs" and
the like. A sign which is designed, for structural reasons, to align
itself with the direction of the wind shall not be considered a moving
sign. Flashing or animated signs of any color shall not be permitted;
B.
All portable signs, except as otherwise provided.
Portable signs shall include, but are not limited to, signs which
are mounted, attached, or painted on trailers, boats or vehicles when
used as additional signage on or near the business premises. Business
vehicles displaying signage or advertising shall be parked in an assigned
parking space which is not immediately adjacent to a street frontage;
D.
More than two (2) exterior permanent signs for any
one (1) business or industrial establishment or residential premises;
E.
More than one (1) freestanding sign;
F.
All signs mounted on, or applied to trees, utility
poles, rocks, or town owned property, except as otherwise provided;
G.
All banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, flags,
search lights, strobe lights, beacons, inflatable signs, except as
otherwise provided;
H.
Service or bay door mounted sign banners or advertising;
I.
Any sign imitating or obscuring an official traffic
control sign or signal;
J.
Any sign placed on private property without the property
owner's written approval;
K.
Any non-public signs in a public right-of-way or on
public property, except approved banner signs installed pursuant to
the North Reading Banner Program Guidelines. Further, the Town may
install signs on its own property to identify public buildings and
uses, and to provide necessary traffic control. Any non-public sign
installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with
the requirements of this section, shall be forfeited to the public
and subject to confiscation.
L.
Billboards or other off-premises signs;
M.
Roof signs;
N.
Neon signs, or other direct-lighted signs are not
permitted in residential districts and the local business and general
business zoning districts.
[Amended 4-7-2008 ATM by Art. 25, approved 6-27-2008]
O.
Internally and externally illuminated signs wherein
such sign shall have any animation, flashing or intermittent image
or illumination that includes an electronic, video, fixed, floating
or moving text and/or picture that includes, but is not limited to
the use of television, plasma, digital screens and/or light emitting
diodes, liquid crystal displays, fiber optics, holograph or hologram
displays; other than those erected by a public entity for public safety
and/or traffic control purposes.
[Added 4-7-2008 ATM by Art. 24, approved 6-27-2008]
A.
The following signs shall be permitted in business and industrial districts provided a permit is obtained from the Building Inspector pursuant to § 200-79A.
(1)
Wall sign. Each sign shall be attached in its entirety
and parallel to any wall of a building. No such sign shall project
horizontally more than fifteen (15) inches from said wall or beyond
the roof or sidewall lines. The surface area of the sign shall not
aggregate more than ten (10) percent of the area of the wall on which
it is displayed, or one-hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever
is the lesser;
(2)
Projecting signs. Each sign shall be attached to any
wall of the building. Such sign shall be set back a minimum of fifteen
(15) feet from the street lot line. Projecting signs shall not exceed
forty (40) square feet; and
(3)
Freestanding signs. No freestanding sign shall exceed
forty (40) square feet in surface area. No portion of such sign shall
be set back less than twenty (20) feet from any street curbline or
fifteen (15) feet from any front property line where no curb exists.
The top of the sign shall not be more than twenty-five (25) feet in
height.
B.
Shopping or business centers. For the purposes of
this section, this shall mean any number of businesses greater than
one (1) which share the same lot using common points of ingress and
egress, and/or common parking facilities. Such centers shall be bound
by the following restrictions on signs:
(1)
Master signage plan.
(a)
For any center in which the business owner proposes
to erect one (1) or more signs requiring a permit, the property owner
at his/her option, may submit for special permit approval by the Community
Planning Commission, a master signage plan specifying the standards
for consistency among all signs in the center subject to and containing
the following:
[1]
An accurate plot plan of the lot(s) at such
scale as the Community Planning Commission may reasonably require;
[2]
Location of buildings, parking lots, driveways,
and landscaped areas;
[3]
Computation of the maximum total sign area,
the maximum area for individual signs, the height of signs and the
number of freestanding signs allowed on the lot(s) included in the
plan under this bylaw;
[4]
An accurate indication on the plot plan of the
proposed location of each present and future sign of any type, whether
requiring a permit or not;
[5]
Signage details to include: color scheme, lettering
or graphic style, lighting, location of each sign on the buildings,
material and sign proportions;
[6]
Other provisions: The master signage plan may
contain such other restrictions as the owners of the lots may reasonably
determine.
(b)
Any center with an approved master signage plan conforming with the provisions of this section may be permitted up to a twenty-five-percent increase in the maximum total sign area. This bonus may be allocated within the center as the owner elects. This bonus is subject to a special permit pursuant to § 200-84.
(c)
Amendment. A master signage plan may be amended
by filing a new master signage plan that conforms with all requirements
of the ordinance then in effect.
(d)
Existing signs not conforming to master signage
plan. If any new or amended signage plan is filed for a property on
which existing signs are located, it shall include a schedule for
bringing into conformance within three (3) years all signs not conforming
to the proposed amended plan or to the requirements of this bylaw
in effect on the date of submission.
(e)
Binding effect. After approval of a master signage
plan, no sign shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except
in conformance with such plan, and such plan may be enforced in the
same way as any provision of this bylaw. In case of any conflict between
the provisions of such a plan and any other provision of this bylaw,
the bylaw shall control.
(2)
There may be one (1) wall or freestanding multi-tenant
sign facing each street on which the premises have frontage, identifying
the plaza or center name and the names of individual businesses, such
signs having a maximum size of forty (40) square feet.
(3)
In addition, each individual business within the plaza
or shopping center shall be allowed a wall sign having a total sign
area not to exceed fifteen (15) percent of the wall area assigned
to that business or one hundred fifty (150) square feet, whichever
is less. Each sign shall be attached in its entirety and shall be
parallel to the wall of the building. No such sign shall project horizontally
more than fifteen (15) inches from said wall or beyond the roof or
sidewall lines.
In addition to the signs permitted pursuant to § 200-79, signs accessory to nonconforming business or commercial uses and not exceeding ten (10) square feet shall be permitted in residential districts provided a permit is obtained from the Building Inspector.
A.
Any nonconforming sign, except a billboard, legally
erected prior to the adoption of this section, or any amendment thereof,
may continue to be maintained, provided that no such sign shall be
redesigned, replaced or altered in any way or manner whatsoever unless
in conformity with all the provisions of this Zoning Bylaw.
B.
Any nonconforming sign shall be removed if the sign:
(1)
Advertises or calls attention to any product, business
or activity which has not been traded, carried on, sold or dealt with
at the particular premises for at least sixty (60) days; and
(2)
Has not been repaired or properly maintained within
sixty (60) days after notice of disrepair has been given by the Building
Inspector.
C.
Any nonconforming sign which is destroyed, damaged
or otherwise made unusable, shall be repaired, rebuilt or altered
only in conformity with this article.
All applications for special permits shall be
subject to site plan review.
A.
In reviewing applications for special permits pursuant
to this article, the Community Planning Commission shall apply the
following standards:
(1)
The sign(s) will not cause visual confusion, glare
or offensive lighting in the neighborhood;
(2)
The sign(s) will not be a detriment to the surrounding
area;
(3)
The sign(s) will not significantly alter the character
of the zoning district;
(4)
The sign(s) will not interfere with traffic safety
in the area;
(5)
Each sign shall be considered on its own merits and
shall not be considered a precedent;
(6)
The sign(s) conform to the provisions of any valid
master signage plan;
(7)
All zoning nonconformities and general bylaw violations
must be removed or corrected.
B.
The CPC may impose any reasonable conditions on any
special permit issued pursuant to this article.
A.
Protection of First Amendment rights. Any sign permitted
under this article may, in lieu of any specified copy, contain any
otherwise lawful, noncommercial message that does not direct attention
to a business or to a service or commodity for sale.
B.
Maintenance. Every permanent sign, including any sign
exempted from the permit requirements of this article shall be maintained
in good structural condition and shall be kept painted and/or clean
at all times. The Building Inspector shall have the authority to order
the repair or removal of signs which have become dilapidated or which,
in his opinion, constitute a physical hazard to public safety.
In business and industrial districts, for lots
having frontage of not less than three hundred (300) feet, having
area of not less than six (6) acres, the following provisions may
be varied by special permit of the Community Planning Commission,
provided that the sign in question will be used in connection with
one (1) or more commercial buildings on the premises having a total
of not less than twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet of floor
space:
A.
Setback requirements;
B.
Number of signs. The number of signs allowed in business
and industrial districts may be increased provided that the total
area of the signs does not exceed the following:
C.
Size of sign. The area of freestanding and wall signs
in business and industrial districts may be increased as follows:
D.
Roof signs. Roof signs may be allowed by special permit,
provided that:
(1)
No such sign shall exceed one hundred (100) square
feet or ten (10) percent of the area of the wall facing the direction
of the sign, whichever is smaller; and
(2)
No such sign shall project above the roof ridge except
in the case of a flat roof, in which case the top of the sign shall
not extend more than four (4) feet above the building.
