[Amended February 1972 STM by Art. 6, approved 5-8-1972; October 1975 STM by Art. 19, approved 1-26-1976; May 1980 ATM by Art. 53, approved 8-27-1980; October 1982 STM by Art. 3,
approved 1-11-1983; May 1983 ATM
by Art. 48, approved 8-26-1983; October 1985 STM by Art. 22, approved 1-27-1986]
No billboard, sign or other advertising matter of any kind shall
be erected on any premises or maintained within public view or facing
an adjoining residential lot in any residential district, except as
hereinafter provided:
A.
One sign not exceeding two square feet in area and pertaining to
the use of the premises or bearing the name and/or occupation of the
occupant. The sign may be attached to the building or may be on a
rod or post not more than six feet high and at least three feet from
the street line.
B.
A lot containing 10 or more residential dwelling units may have either
one wall sign or one freestanding sign for identification purposes
which may contain any of the following: property name, address, property
owner/manager and telephone number; and, further, subject to all size,
height and lighting criteria applicable to these districts.
(1)
Wall signs shall not exceed 12 square feet, nor shall any such
sign project beyond the face of any other wall nor project more than
18 inches from said wall, and further provided that in no case shall
the uppermost edge of such sign exceed 20 feet above grade.
(2)
Freestanding signs shall not exceed 12 square feet per side
with a total surface area of all sides not exceeding 24 feet, and
further provided that such sign shall comply with height and setback
criteria as specified for business districts.
C.
One "for sale" or "for rent" sign not exceeding six square feet in
area and advertising only the premises on which the sign is located
and, in any case, to remain no longer than a four-month period in
any calendar year, after which period a permit may be given by the
Inspector of Buildings for an additional four-month period upon written
application, if need is shown.
D.
One building contractor's sign not to exceed 12 square feet in area
may be temporarily maintained on the premises while the same are actually
under construction.
E.
A permitted nonresidential or nonconforming use may have either one
wall sign up to a maximum area of six square feet; or one freestanding
sign up to a maximum area of six square feet per side, with a total
surface area of all sides not exceeding 12 square feet.
F.
All signs may be illuminated by continuous reflected illumination
only.
G.
No sign shall exceed 20 feet in height above grade.
H.
Political signs. Political signs shall be those signs pertaining
to a candidate for election or ballot questions. Each sign shall not
exceed six square feet in size. Signs shall be erected no earlier
than 35 days prior to an election and shall be removed within three
days after the election.
[Added May 1992 ATM by Art. 47, approved 10-1-1992]
[Amended May 1990 STM by Art. 1, approved 8-29-1990]
Signs in a Resident R-2 District and Neighborhood Center District
advertising conforming uses shall be subject to the following conditions:
A.
Each place of business shall be allowed one permanent wall sign parallel
to the exterior building facade, projecting not more than 12 inches
from said wall and having an aggregate area of two square feet for
each horizontal foot of building frontage of said business, provided
that the area of said sign shall not exceed 20 square feet, and further
provided that the uppermost edge of said sign shall not exceed 20
feet above grade or above the roofline, whichever is lower in height.
B.
Each lot shall be allowed one freestanding sign, provided that the
foremost building on the lot is set back from the front lot line a
minimum of 10 feet, subject to the following criteria:
(1)
The sign area shall not exceed 15 square feet per side, with
a total surface area of all sides not exceeding 30 square feet.
(2)
Signs within 25 feet of a street or way line shall have either
the uppermost edge of the sign no more than three feet above grade
or the lowermost edge of the sign no less than eight feet above grade
and the uppermost edge not to exceed 20 feet above grade.
C.
Signs shall be set back from any adjoining residential district lot
line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential
district.
D.
Any lights used for illumination shall be so arranged as to reflect
light away from an adjoining residential district.
[Amended May 1990 STM by Art. 2, approved 8-29-1990; May 1990 STM by Art. 3, approved 8-29-1990]
Signs advertising conforming uses located on the premises are
allowed with the following conditions:
A.
Wall signs parallel to an exterior wall of a building for each place
of business shall be permitted, provided that the same shall not project
beyond the face of any other wall, nor project above the roofline
of said wall, nor project more than 18 inches from said wall, and
provided further that the aggregate area of said signs shall not exceed
one square foot for each horizontal foot of building frontage of each
said business, and further provided that the area of said signs for
each business shall not exceed 75 square feet.
B.
One freestanding sign only for each lot, provided that the foremost
building on the lot is set back from the front lot line a minimum
of 10 feet, shall be permitted, subject to the following criteria:
(1)
Sign area may be one square foot for each five feet of lot line
front, provided that the total area of each surface shall not exceed
60 square feet and a total of all surfaces shall not exceed 120 square
feet.
(2)
The frontmost edge of the sign shall be set back from the front
lot line a minimum of three feet in a B-1 District only.
(3)
Signs within 25 feet of a street or way line shall have either
the uppermost edge of the sign no more than three feet above grade
or the lowermost edge of the sign no less than eight feet above grade
and the uppermost edge not to exceed 25 feet above grade.
C.
Wall or freestanding signs may use a portion of the permitted sign
area for interchangeable characters, provided that such area shall
not exceed three square feet plus an additional 10% of the sign face
area.
D.
Signs shall be set back from any adjoining residential district lot
line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential
district.
E.
Any lights used for illumination shall be so arranged as to reflect
light away from an adjoining residential district.
[Amended May 1987 ATM by Art. 50, approved 8-27-1987; May 1990 STM by Art. 2, approved 8-29-1990]
Signs identifying and/or advertising conforming uses located
on the premises are allowed with the following conditions:
A.
Wall signs parallel to an exterior wall of a building for each place
of business shall be permitted, provided that the same shall not project
beyond the face of any other wall nor project above the roofline of
said wall nor project more than 18 inches from said wall, shall not
exceed one square foot for each horizontal foot of building frontage
of each said business, and further provided that the area of said
signs for each business shall not exceed 75 square feet.
B.
One freestanding sign only for each lot shall be permitted, subject
to the following criteria:
(1)
Signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any street,
way, driveway, parking area and loading area.
(2)
Sign area shall not exceed 20 square feet per side, with a total
surface area of all sides not to exceed 40 square feet.
(3)
The uppermost edge of said sign shall not exceed six feet above
grade.
C.
One freestanding directory sign is permitted, provided that there
is no other freestanding sign on the lot, at the principal entrance
to a group of buildings or building in which various businesses are
conducted, listing only the name and location of said building, and
provided further that said listing shall be no larger than three square
feet; and in addition to said sign listings there shall be permitted,
and as part of the freestanding sign, a sign identifying the name
of the industrial park or building, not to exceed 30 square feet.
The total sign area of each surface shall not exceed 100 square feet,
and the total area of all surfaces shall not exceed 200 square feet.
The height of said sign shall not exceed 25 feet above grade, and
the lower edge of the sign shall be no less than eight feet above
grade if said sign is within 25 feet of a street or way line.
D.
Signs shall be set back from any adjoining residential district lot
line at least the front yard distance required in the adjoining residential
district.
E.
Any lights used for illumination shall be so arranged as to reflect
light away from adjoining residential districts.
The following provisions shall apply in all districts:
A.
Churches and nonprofit institutions may be permitted either a maximum
of two wall signs, any portion of which may be used as an announcement
or bulletin board, provided that the total area of all signs shall
not exceed 20 square feet, or one freestanding sign, for which the
area of each surface shall not exceed 40 square feet and the total
of all surfaces shall not exceed 40 square feet.
B.
A permitted business use may use any portion of its permitted sign
area for a clock, thermometer and/or calendar, which changes on a
synchronized basis.
In the interest of public safety, the following are not permitted:
A.
Any sign or advertising device with visible moving or movable parts
(except as provided in this bylaw) or with flashing, animated or intermittent
illumination or which is noise-making. Exempted from this section
is any automated, illuminated barber pole, used in advertising the
licensed profession of barbering, which does not exceed 39 inches
in height and 10 1/2 inches in width and is attached to the building.
[Amended September 1996 STM by Art. 22, approved 1-2-1997]
B.
Any colored sign so located as to attract attention from or obscure
a traffic control light so as to reduce its visibility and effect.
C.
Any sign within 25 feet of an intersection of two streets so placed
in any way as to obstruct clear vision in any direction.
D.
Any device illuminating a sign which directs light toward a public
way in such a manner as to cast its beam in the eyes of oncoming motorists
or pedestrians.
E.
Any sign which contains a registered trademark or portrays a specific
commodity for sale, unless said trademark or commodity is the principal
activity conducted therein.
Billboards of any kind are prohibited.
[1]
Editor's Note: This order was adopted by Town Council 2-22-2022
and vetoed by the Mayor 3-11-2022. Town Council voted to override
the veto 4-4-2022.
[Added 4-2-2018 by Ord.
No. 17-127; amended 1-4-2021 by Ord. No. 20-100[1]; 1-19-2021 by Ord. No. 20-117[2]; 4-4-2022 by Order No. 22-001[3]]
A.
(Reserved)
B.
(Reserved)
C.
(Reserved)
D.
(Reserved)
E.
Construction of billboards and related facilities and structures
within the Billboard Relocation Overlay District shall be subject
to a special permitting process by the Board of Zoning Appeals. A
decision shall not be rendered on an application for a special permit
until the Board of Zoning Appeals has made its findings. Said finding
shall include but not limited to the following:
(1)
Demonstrate compliance with the regulations of the Office of Outdoor
Advertising.
(2)
Demonstrate that no residentially zoned property or preexisting nonconforming
property or other property used for residential purposes, excluding
hotels or motels, is within a 1,000-foot radius of the proposed location.
(3)
Demonstrate that the proposed location does not adversely interfere
with the use of adjacent properties, including, but not limited to,
increasing noise or vibration, casting a shadow on, or causing a flicker
on adjacent properties.
(4)
Demonstrate that the proposed billboard is in harmony with or suitable
for the surrounding area and would not do significant damage to the
visual environment. In making the determination, the special permit
granting authority may consider, among other factors, health, safety,
general welfare of the public, the scenic beauty of the area, the
physical, environmental, cultural, historical or architectural characteristics
of the location and area, proximity of the proposed billboard to schools,
or places of worship or open space, architectural characteristics
of the location and area, the total maximum height of electronic billboard
must not exceed 35 feet from existing ground elevation, with the board
maximum dimensions not to exceed 10.5 inches tall by 36 inches wide,
and the number of signs on the premises and in the area where the
billboard is to be located.
(5)
No flashing lighting shall be allowed. Flashing shall be defined
as changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means
except as may occur when panels or messages change on electronic/digital
billboards.
(6)
Content displayed on billboards cannot be sexually graphic, tobacco,
alcohol or marijuana related, including paraphernalia.
(7)
The Board of Zoning Appeals shall determine the number of annual
hours the billboard shall devote to public service announcements during
a calendar year.
(8)
Hours of operation cannot occur outside of the hours of 7:00 a.m.
to 10:00 p.m.
(9)
Financial or other compensation to the Town, including but not limited
to removal of existing nonconforming billboards, to mitigate the impact
of the proposed billboard(s) on the Town, in a form and/or amount
identified in an agreement approved by the Mayor and the Town Solicitor.
(10)
All electronic billboards must have light blocking/Siteline technology
installed as approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(11)
Proponent must provide property owners located within 2,000 feet
of proposed billboard structures regarding a public hearing for any
new installation and/or modifications to existing billboards. This
notification will be sent via certified mail and will specify the
address of the proposed/modified billboard with a GIS map of the location.
F.
A
moratorium shall be on effect for the duration of one year regarding
all electronic billboard issuances of new permits. This moratorium
may be lifted only if Cove Outdoor, LLC, or its successor, fulfills
all obligations included in the "Remediation Agreement for the Neighbors
Near the 611 Pleasant Street Digital Billboard" dated December 18,
2019.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was adopted by Town Council
12-7-2020 and vetoed by the Mayor 12-17-2020. Town Council voted to
override the veto 1-4-2021.
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was adopted by Town Council
12-21-2020 and vetoed by the Mayor 1-4-2021. Town Council voted to
override the veto 1-19-2021.
[3]
Editor's Note: This order was adopted by Town Council 2-22-2022
and vetoed by the Mayor 3-11-2022. Town Council voted to override
the veto 4-4-2022.
Signs or other advertising devices legally erected may continue to be maintained; provided, however, that no such sign or other advertising device shall be permitted if it is enlarged, reworded (other than in the case of permitted signs with changing messages), redesigned or altered in any way, including repainting in a different color, except to conform to the requirements of this bylaw, and provided further that any such sign or other advertising device which has deteriorated to such an extent that the cost of restoration would exceed 35% of the replacement cost of the sign or other advertising device at the time of the restoration shall not be repaired or rebuilt or altered except to conform to the requirements of this bylaw. Any exemption provided in Article XVI shall terminate with respect to any sign or other advertising device which:
A.
Shall have been abandoned;
B.
Advertises or calls attention to any products, businesses or activities
which are no longer sold or carried on at the particular premises;
or
C.
Shall not have been repaired or properly maintained within 30 days
after notice to that effect has been given by the Inspector of Buildings.
A.
Any signs permitted by the zoning laws shall be erected to the satisfaction
of the Inspector of Buildings.
B.
In addition to signs otherwise permitted, directional signs for the
purpose of maintaining traffic control for public safety are permitted
to be erected or placed at designated locations with the approval
of the Inspector of Buildings. The size of such signs shall not exceed
4 1/2 square feet each.
