[Amended 7-27-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017]
Signs may be erected and maintained in the Town
of Stillwater only when in compliance with the following, except as
provided for in the Route 4 Corridor Form-Based Code.
The Town of Stillwater finds that signs are
a necessary means of communication that can benefit and detract from
the community and neighborhood character and should conform with the
following provisions. At no time shall these provisions be interpreted
to regulate any aspect of the content of the sign.
The following types of signs are allowable without
any municipal approval, except that the sign shall not exceed the
maximum dimensional, height or area requirements of this article.
A.
Election signs. All signs advertising a candidate
for public office or any other public ballot initiative are exempt
from these regulations. Such signs must be displayed only on private
property and may be displayed no sooner than 30 days prior to the
relevant election and no later than 10 days after said election.
B.
Temporary or on-premises signs. Any property owner
is permitted to erect a single, temporary, nonilluminated sign on
said property advertising the sale or lease of merchandise or a special
event. Such sign shall be removed within three days after the sale,
lease or event.
C.
Locational, street address and public safety signs.
Any property owner is permitted to erect one nonilluminated sign identifying
the property name or residents of the property and the official street
address. Other signs offering information necessary for public safety,
including, by example, customary posted or no-trespassing signs, private
drive, parking, or exit/entrance signs, along with other signs required
pursuant to any government function, law or regulation, are also exempt.
D.
Other. When not associated with a commercial activity,
all historical or memorial markers, as well as flags, insignia or
emblems of any government or religious organization and any religious
holiday, are also exempt.
E.
Landmark signs. Any older sign of artistic or historic
merit or of uniqueness to the Town, each of which must be recognized
by the Stillwater Town Board, is entirely exempt from this article,
including all dimensional, height and area requirements.
F.
Nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign lawfully
existing at the effective date of this article may continue, with
the exception of signs exceeding three times the allowable sign area.
Such signs, commonly referred to as “billboards,” must
conform to this article within 10 years of the effective date of this
article.
G.
Government or school signs. Any signs erected by the
federal, state, county, school, or municipal government or any department
or agency thereof are exempt from this article, including all dimensional,
height and area requirements.
[Added 7-27-2017 by L.L. No. 2-2017]
Sign measurement shall be based upon the entire
area of the sign, with a single continuous perimeter enclosing the
extreme limits of the sign surface. For a sign painted or applied
on a building, the area shall be considered to include the smallest
rectangle or other shape which encompasses all lettering, numbering,
designs, logos or lights, together with any background of a different
color than the finish material of the building. The area of supporting
framework, such as brackets or posts, shall not be included in the
area if such framework is incidental to the display. When a sign has
two or more faces or is composed of multiple signs each with a face,
the sum of the areas of all the faces shall be included in determining
the area, except where two faces are placed back-to-back and are at
no point more than two feet from each other. In this latter case,
the sign area shall be taken as the area of either face; and if the
faces are unequal, the larger shall determine the area.
The height of any sign shall be measured from
the highest point of the sign to the surface of the ground prior to
construction of the sign or to the surface of the nearest public road,
whichever is lower.
Signs displaying information on uses, events,
goods, products, services or facilities offered at locations other
than the tax lot where the sign is located are prohibited, with the
exception of general directory or directional signs. General directory
or directional signs shall be no larger in area than 24 square feet
and shall include only the name(s) of the establishment and basic
directional information, in lettering no more than five inches high.
No more than one directional sign shall be allowed at an intersection
or along a roadway between any two intersections.
[Amended 1-19-2012 by L.L. No. 2-2012]
One nonilluminated sign per home occupation,
no larger in area than two square feet, indicating the name, address,
phone number or principal purpose of the home occupation, is permitted.
Such sign should be placed out of the road right-of-way and as close
as possible to the intersection of the driveway and the public road.
No more than two nonilluminated signs advertising
the sale or rental of a property may be erected and maintained on
said property by the owner or broker or any person with legal interest
in the sale or rental of such property, provided that:
A.
All signs, except landmark signs, general directory and directional signs, home occupation signs, and for sale/for rent signs, as provided for in §§ 210-86, 210-89, 210-90 and 210-91 of this article, shall conform to the following standards:
[Amended 1-19-2012 by L.L. No. 2-2012]
|
Speed Limit on Road Nearest Sign
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
45+ mph
|
35-45 mph
|
Less Than 35 mph
| ||
|
Maximum sign height, in feet
|
20
|
16
|
12
| |
|
Total maximum sign area, in square feet
|
40
|
32
|
24
| |
B.
Construction and maintenance. Any sign must be constructed
of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed
to become dilapidated. Signs painted or attached to buildings are
preferred to freestanding signs.
C.
Obstruction of public right-of way. Signs attached
to a structure shall not project more than three feet from the structure.
No sign shall extend over a public right-of-way or public sidewalk,
and no sign shall obstruct views from any public right-of-way to another
public right-of way.
D.
Illumination. Signs designed with internal illumination
are discouraged. Internally illuminated signs with moveable letters
are strictly prohibited. Sign illumination shall be only with a steady,
stationary, shielded light source directed onto the sign without causing
glare onto adjoining properties or onto any public right-of-way. Flashing
signs or signs with moving lights are prohibited. No sign shall be
illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless
the premises are open for general business during such hours.
A commercial business shall be limited to one freestanding sign and one wall-mounted sign, except that the signs listed in § 210-86 shall not be counted against this limit.
