This article recognizes that signs perform an important function
by identifying residences and businesses and that some control of
signs is necessary to promote the community's safety and general
welfare by lessening safety hazards to pedestrian and vehicular traffic,
by conserving property values, by preventing unsightly and detrimental
development which has a blighting influence upon residential, business
and industrial uses, by preventing signs from reaching such excessive
size that they obscure one another to the detriment of all concerned,
and by securing certain fundamentals of design to protect the scenic
qualities which form an essential basis for part of the Town's
economic well-being.
A.
No sign shall be erected, hung, placed or painted in any district
except as provided in this chapter.
B.
For the purpose of this chapter, any of the following words relating
to signs are intended to include any tense or to read with the prefix
"re-": affix, alter, attach, display, erect, hang, move, paint, paper,
paste, place, post, and repair.
C.
No sign erected before the enactment of these regulations shall be
altered in any respect or moved, except in compliance with the provisions
of this chapter, and except that any sign may be removed completely.
D.
Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the proper erection and maintenance
of official signs by federal, state, county or municipal agencies
for traffic control, directional or informational purposes, or by
a private person or agency solely for the protection of the public
health, safety and welfare.
E.
Where the flag, name, emblem, or insignia of a nation, governmental
unit, or nonprofit educational, charitable, or religious group is
used as a sign within the meaning of this chapter, such use shall
comply with the provisions hereof, except that no fee shall be charged
for issuing a permit for such use.
F.
For the purpose of this chapter, windows and those areas inside such
windows that are visible from the exterior of a business premises
shall be excluded from these regulations.
G.
For the purpose of this chapter, cornerstones built into or attached
to a wall or a building are not deemed signs.
A.
No on-premises sign over six square feet in area and no off-premises
sign (except governmental sign) of any size shall be erected, affixed,
painted, hung, or otherwise displayed, altered or repaired unless
a permit therefor has been issued, except those exempted hereafter.
B.
All signs of any size must comply with all the regulations contained
herein, regardless of whether a permit is required.
C.
No permit shall be required for the repainting or repapering of a
sign which conforms to the provisions of this chapter. Signs on theaters
advertising changes in program shall not require permits except for
the initial installation thereof.
D.
A fee shall be collected for each sign permit at the time of application.
E.
The Zoning Administrator shall receive all sign permit applications
and shall act upon such applications within 10 days after receipt
thereof.
A.
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering, wording,
and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background,
whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including
any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself.
B.
The area of a sign painted upon or applied to a building shall be
construed to include all lettering, wording, and accompanying designs
or symbols, together with any backing associated with the sign.
C.
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached
to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window, the area shall
be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other shape
which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
D.
In computing square-foot area of a double-faced sign, only one side
shall be considered, provided both faces are identical.
E.
For the purpose of this chapter, the area of a sign shall be construed
to mean the aggregate area of all signs located on the premises.
A.
No sign shall project more than three feet above the roof nor more
than 14 inches out from the wall to which it is attached. Signs not
exceeding four square feet in area may be placed perpendicular to
a building face if attached to and below a canopy projection from
said building.
B.
Signs shall not exceed the height limit permitted for structures
in the zoning district in which they are located, except that the
Board of Zoning Appeals may authorize a variance to such use, provided
that:
(1)
The variance shall be granted only for on-premises signs accessory
to retail commercial uses such as gasoline service stations, restaurants,
motels and the like offering services intended primarily or substantially
for highway travelers and other transient users;
(2)
Said uses are or will be located at or near an interchange of a limited-access
highway;
(3)
The sign shall contain only the name or the name and symbol or emblem
of the use to which it is accessory;
(4)
The area of the sign shall not exceed 100 square feet; and
(5)
Not more than one structure for such sign shall be permitted on a
single property, but said structure may be authorized to contain the
sign of more than one permitted use if such use is on the same or
contiguous property.
C.
All signs except temporary signs shall be constructed of durable
material and kept in good condition and repair. Whenever a sign becomes
structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises
or the public safety, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator,
he shall order that such sign be made safe or removed. Such order
shall be complied with within five days of receipt thereof by the
person, firm or corporation owning or using the sign or the owner
of the building or premises on which such unsafe sign is affixed or
erected.
D.
Lighting devices shall be shielded so that they do not create a nuisance
by shining directly into a public street or highway or into a residential
district. No flashing or rotating flashing illumination of a sign
shall be permitted except for official traffic signs.
E.
Except for official traffic signs, no sign with an area larger than
six square feet shall be placed nearer than 20 feet to the right-of-way
line of a street or 50 feet to the center line of said street, whichever
distance is greater.
A.
No sign shall constitute a public safety or traffic hazard, such
as by obstructing traffic signals, traffic signs, road warning signs,
street name signs, or the full view of the traffic in all directions
at driveways, entranceways or any other public road intersection.
B.
No signs except official traffic signs shall be located within the
right-of-way of any street or road or on any slope or drainage easement
for a street or road.
C.
No sign shall be permitted which is an imitation of or which resembles
an official traffic control device, railroad sign or signal.
D.
Tacking, painting, posting or otherwise affixing of signs or posters
on the walls of buildings, barns, sheds, trees, posts, poles, fences,
walls or other structures is prohibited, except as hereinafter provided.
E.
Signs shall not obstruct any door, fire escape, stairway or other
opening intended to provide ingress or egress for any building or
structure.
A.
Nonconforming signs, once removed, shall be replaced only with conforming
signs; however, nonconforming signs may be repaired or repainted,
provided that such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the
dimensions of the existing sign, and provided no change is made in
the general wording or content of the sign.
B.
Every sign, billboard and other outdoor advertising medium erected
in the Town prior to the adoption of this chapter may continue to
be maintained despite lack of conformity with all the provisions of
this chapter, for an indefinite period after adoption hereof, provided
it is maintained in a safe condition or until such time as the information
included thereon is altered in content, except that the information
on a billboard may be periodically changed.
A sign as specified hereinafter shall be permitted, as authorized in Article III, as an accessory use in conjunction with a permitted principal use when located on the same premises as the permitted use:
A.
Identification signs.
(1)
A sign indicating the name or number of the building or premises
or the accessory use of a dwelling for a home occupation, provided
that such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area, and provided
that not more than one such sign shall be erected on a property unless
such property fronts on more than one street, in which case one such
sign may be erected on each street frontage. Such sign, if illuminated,
shall be of an enclosed lamp design.
(2)
A sign indicating the name of an active farm, provided that such
sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in area, and provided that not
more than one such sign shall be erected along any road adjoining
the farm.[1]
(3)
Bulletin or announcement board or identification signs for schools,
churches, hospitals, and other principal uses and buildings other
than dwellings, provided that the area of any such sign shall not
exceed 20 square feet and not more than one such sign shall be placed
on a property, unless such property fronts on more than one street,
in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.[2]
(4)
Nongovernmental traffic control and directional signs not exceeding
two square feet in area. Such signs shall not be illuminated but may
be of the beaded reflector type. No advertising matter whatsoever
shall be contained on signs of this type.
(5)
Any signs used upon a property warning the public against hunting,
fishing or trespassing thereon or indicating the private nature of
a road, driveway or premises, provided that no individual such sign
shall exceed two square feet in area.
B.
Advertising signs.
(1)
A sign advertising the sale of agricultural products grown or produced
on the premises, provided that the area of any such sign shall not
exceed 20 square feet and not more than one such sign shall be placed
on a property unless such property fronts on more than one street,
in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage.
(2)
Accessory signs identifying permitted nonresidential uses, which signs may include business advertising signs as defined in Article II, provided that:
(a)
The aggregate area of all signs attached to or painted on a
building shall not exceed 10% of the area of the building face to
which they are attached or painted or 100 square feet, whichever is
less.
(b)
Freestanding signs identifying a single building or other principal use shall be permitted in accordance with the following schedule. For shopping center signage, see § 405-30.
|
Total Street Frontage
|
Number of Signs Permitted
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1 to 1,000 feet
|
1
| |
|
Each full additional 1,000 feet
|
1
|
(c)
The area of any freestanding accessory sign shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of street frontage of the property occupied by the principal use, and in no case shall the area of a sign exceed 200 square feet. For shopping center signage, see § 405-30.
(d)
No exterior sign or signs pertaining to the use conducted on
the premises and which are either integral with or attached to the
principal use shall be attached to the side of the building that faces
an adjoining residential use or district. No freestanding sign to
be located on the side of the business lot shall face an adjoining
residential use or district.
C.
Temporary signs.
(1)
A temporary sign advertising sale or lease of the land or building
upon which such sign is displayed, provided that the area of any such
sign shall not exceed six square feet and not more than one such sign
shall be placed on a property, unless such property fronts on more
than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each
street frontage. Such signs shall be removed immediately upon final
settlement or renting of the property. A sign permit is not required.
(2)
A temporary sign advertising the development of the property upon
which it stands or the opening of a new subdivision, provided that
the area of any such sign shall not exceed 100 square feet and not
more than one such sign may be placed on a property, unless such property
fronts on more than one street, in which case one sign may be erected
on each street frontage. Such signs shall be removed immediately upon
completion of the development.
(3)
Temporary contractors', architects' or builders' signs,
provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square
feet. Such signs shall be removed immediately upon completion of the
work or 18 months after erection of the signs, whichever shall occur
first.
(4)
Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive, or event of a civic,
philanthropic, education, or religious organization. Such signs shall
not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be removed not more than
five days after the event. A sign permit is not required.
(5)
A temporary business sign/sandwich board sign shall not exceed 12
square feet. Said signs shall be placed within the business structure
at the close of the business day. The sign shall be placed on the
premises of the business but shall not be located within the pedestrian
walkways.
Signs directing attention to a person, business, profession, product, home occupation, service or activity not conducted or sold on the same property, herein designated "off-premises" signs, shall be permitted as authorized in Article III and as specified hereinafter:
A.
Directional signs.
(1)
Signs for directing patrons, members, or audiences to service clubs,
churches, or other nonprofit organizations, provided that signs shall
indicate only the name, emblem, meeting hours, address and direction
of the facility and shall not exceed four square feet in area.
(2)
Directional signs relating to a place, which includes without being
limited to commercial and industrial establishments, intended to direct
or point the way at street intersections toward said place which obviously
could not easily be located without such sign or device, provided
that such signs shall contain only the name, symbol or emblem of said
place, and provided that no such sign shall be larger than 12 square
feet in area.
B.
Advertising signs. Off-premises business and commercial advertising signs as defined in Article II shall not be permitted.
C.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs for political campaigns, or directing patrons, members
or audiences to exhibits, shows, or events, subject to the following
requirements:
(a)
No such sign shall exceed 12 square feet in area.
(b)
Signs shall be removed within five days after the date of the
election, exhibit, show or event; otherwise, the Town may cause such
sign to be removed, with the cost of said removal to be borne by the
person or organization responsible for posting the temporary signs.
(d)
A sign permit is not required.
(2)
Temporary directional signs relating to a land division or to a construction
project, intended to direct or point the way at street intersections
toward such subdivision or project, subject to the following requirements:
A.
No more than two permanent identification signs may be placed at
the primary residential roadway entrance. No more than one sign may
be placed at secondary entrances.
B.
The sign must be designed so as not to obstruct full sight distance
and shall be a minimum of 10 feet from the road right-of-way.
C.
The size of the identification signs shall not exceed 35 square feet
in area or seven feet in height. The monument portion of all permanent
residential signs must be constructed of a masonry material.[1]
D.
Sign maintenance is the sole responsibility of the developer and/or
assigns.
