[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
The purpose of this article is to recognize the function of
signs in the Town, to provide for their inclusion under the zoning
ordinance, and this article shall serve to regulate and control all
matters relating to such signs, including location, size and purpose.
Signs are accessory uses and are permitted only in conjunction with
permitted uses. Such signs are intended to advertise goods, services,
facilities, events or attractions available on the premises where
located, to identify the owner or occupant or to direct traffic on
the premises. It is the further purpose of this article to:
(a)
Preserve locally recognized values of community appearance;
(b)
Safeguard and enhance property values in residential, commercial
and industrial areas;
(c)
Protect public investment in and the existing character of public
thoroughfares;
(d)
Reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians traveling on the public
way, and thereby to promote the public health, safety and welfare;
(e)
Promote a good business climate; and
(f)
Enhance all property values, be they business or residential properties.
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These purposes will be accomplished by regulation of the construction,
display and maintenance of signs. The use of signs is regulated according
to zoning district. The placement and physical dimensions of signs
are regulated primarily by type and length of building frontage.
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[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
No sign will be permitted as a main or accessory use except
in accordance with these provisions of this article.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
To achieve the purposes of this article, the following general
sign standards shall be applied to signs in the Town of Cumberland:
(a)
Context. A sign shall have good scale and proportion in its design,
and be compatible with the surrounding built environment and streetscape.
Every sign shall be designed as an integral architectural element
of the building and the site to which it principally relates.
(b)
Design. Each sign's message shall be designed with easily recognized
symbols and lettering, with the number of graphic elements held to
a minimum. Colors and lighting of every sign shall be restrained and
harmonious with the area in which it is located.
(c)
Materials. Sign materials shall be consistent with or complement
the construction material and architectural style of the building.
(d)
Common signage. Signs on adjacent storefronts should be coordinated
in height and proportion. Signs on a building that contains more than
one business, or on a building in a multi-building commercial center
under one ownership, shall be designed so as to be consistent and
harmonious in size, design, materials and color, including on a building
that contains more than one business, or in multi-building commercial
centers under one ownership.
(e)
Sign permit required. Prior to the installation, relocation or alteration
of any sign, a permit shall be obtained from the Building Official
and for all signs shall be limited in area by the provisions below
not included in the calculation of maximum sign area provided in §§ 13-4,
13-6 and 13-7.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
The following signs are permitted in all zoning districts in
the Town:
(a)
On-premises commercial signs. Signs identifying the development name,
business name and/or any on-premises sales, where the sign structure
is constructed of permanent materials, and where on-premises sales
copy may change from time to time as permitted by this article.
(b)
Government signs. Signs of every kind and nature installed by or
on behalf of any federal, state or local government agency, including
official traffic control or informational signs, hazard warning signs,
legal notices, railroad crossing signs or other similar signs required
by law:
(c)
Nameplates. One nameplate for each dwelling unit, not internally
illuminated, and not exceeding 1 1/2 square feet in area, indicating
the name of the occupant or any permitted use of the premises.
(d)
Building identification signs. Wall signs, which may not be internally
illuminated, and which are permanently affixed to buildings for the
purpose of identifying the name of building, date of construction
or other historical information, provided that such signs are composed
of similar materials as the building, or bronze or brass, and are
affixed flat against the building.
(e)
Hours of operation. A list of hours by days of the week limited to
one square foot.
(f)
Credit card signs. Credit card signs, non-illuminated, limited to
a total area of one square foot per business entrance.
(g)
Bulletin boards. Signs used as a bulletin or notice board to announce
activities and events for institutional and governmental services
only. Such signs shall be located upon the premises of said institutions
and shall not exceed 10 square feet in area, nor be closer than four
feet from the property line, except in all agricultural and residence
districts, where such signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet
from any property line abutting a residential use.
(h)
Farm retail signs. One non-illuminated sign, freestanding or affixed
to any farm retail sales building and/or farm stand, according to
the provisions of Article 7. One such sign is permitted per farm and
shall not exceed 12 square feet in area (see § 7-7).
(i)
Temporary signs. A sign that: (a) is used in connection with a circumstance,
situation, or event that is designed, intended or expected to take
place or to be completed within a reasonably short or definite period
after the installation of such sign; or (b) is intended to remain
on the location where it is installed or placed for a period of not
more than 15 days. If a sign display area is permanent but the message
displayed is subject to periodic changes, that sign shall not be regarded
as temporary. Advertisements of sales for commercial establishments
are not to be considered temporary. No sign may be attached to trees
within any public right-of-way or any public property, traffic signs
or utility poles. Temporary signs shall not require a permit.
The following temporary signs, whether fixed or portable, are
permitted in all zoning districts:
(1)
Event signs, which shall not be internally illuminated, for
events by nonprofit or charitable organizations, including exterior
messages for national and state holidays; provided, however, that
no such temporary sign may be installed for a period of more than
15 consecutive days, nor more than 12 days prior to the event and
no more than three days after the event, with a total of 30 cumulative
days throughout the year. Such signs shall be limited to 12 square
feet in area and set back a minimum of eight feet from the street
line, in all districts, unless a greater minimum is required by the
zoning official to protect the safety of pedestrians and/or drivers.
Signs may be located on another's property with permission of the
owner.
(2)
Rental or sale signs, freestanding or attached to the premises,
pertaining to the prospective rental or sale of the property on which
they are located; provided that such signs shall not be illuminated,
nor extend over the sidewalk, and further provided that:
a.
Within all agricultural and residential districts; such signs
shall not exceed a total area of six square feet and shall be removed
within 14 days of the real estate closing or lease transaction.
b.
Within all commercial districts, such signs shall not exceed
a total area of 12 square feet, and shall be removed within 30 days
of the real estate closing or lease transaction.
c.
Within all industrial districts, such signs shall not exceed
a total area of 32 square feet, and shall be removed within 30 days
of the real estate closing or lease transaction.
(3)
Construction signs and "grand opening" signs, non-illuminated,
customary and necessary in connection with the construction of buildings
or other construction work or signs for business where road construction
obscures the existing sign or signs for such business, limited to
one sign per street frontage for each construction project. Such sign
may be freestanding or attached to the premises, but shall not exceed
32 square feet in area, and shall be removed within 30 days of the
completion of construction or the opening of the business. In all
agricultural and residential districts, such signs shall not exceed
12 square feet in area, and shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet
from any property line.
(4)
Political signs, non-illuminated, incidental to a Town, state,
or federal election or referendum, or signs, which are political in
nature. Such signs shall be constructed of durable material. Such
signs shall be installed not more than 90 days prior to such election
or referendum, and in any event, no premises shall have a sign installed
for more than 120 days in any calendar year. Political signs relating
to any election or referendum shall be removed within seven days after
said election or referendum.
(5)
Replacement sign, which may not be internally illuminated, solely
for the purpose of identification when a property owner's sign has
been damaged or destroyed by circumstances beyond the owner's control,
provided however, that no such temporary sign may be installed for
a period of more than 60 consecutive days. Such signs shall be limited
to 25 square feet in area and set back a minimum of 10 feet from any
property line.
(6)
Yard sale signs, advertising a yard, garage, tag sale or the
like, which may not be internally illuminated, and which may be installed
on another's property with the permission of the owner, and does not
exceed six square feet, and which may be installed no longer than
one day prior to the yard sale and removed not more than one day after
the yard sale.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
The following signs shall be prohibited in all zoning districts
in the Town:
(a)
Traffic or safety hazards. Signs determined by the Chief of Police
to constitute a traffic or other safety hazard by reason of size,
location, or type of illumination.
(b)
Animated and moving signs. A sign which contains an intermittent
or sequential flashing light source (other than that described as
a static electronic message sign herein), used primarily to attract
attention, or a sign depicting action, motion, light or color changes
through electrical or mechanical means, which may include video, text,
graphics and artistic display. A sign that moves, including commercial
message flags, whirligigs, inflatable signs, spinning signs, and banner
flags.
(c)
Billboards and off-premises signs. Freestanding and roof-mounted
billboards, or any sign advertising or promoting products or services
not on the premises displaying the sign. A sign advertising products,
services, facilities, events or attractions not made, sold, used,
served or available on the premises displaying such sign. A sign that
draws attention to or communicates information about a business, service,
commodity, accommodation, attraction or other activity that is conducted,
sold, or offered at a location other than the premises on which the
sign is located.
(d)
Roof signs. A sign that is mounted upon, or projects above, the roof,
parapet or ridgeline of a building.
(e)
Signs on utility poles, trees or fences. Signs or messages placed
on utility poles owned by any governmental agency or utility company
other than those specifically installed by such governmental agency
or utility company. Additionally, signs may not be installed on trees
or fences.
(f)
Abandoned signs. An unused sign, or a sign advertising an activity
or product no longer conducted or produced on the premises upon which
the sign is located, for a period of 90 days or more.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
The following sign types, if permanently mounted (not portable),
are permitted in the Town in accordance with the requirements of this
article:
(a)
Directional sign. A sign identifying onpremises traffic, parking
or other functional activity bearing commercial identification of
on-premises establishments. Such signs are permitted in all zoning
districts except in agricultural and residence districts, and shall
be limited to four square feet in area per sign.
(b)
Freestanding sign. A sign that is attached to, constructed on, or
supported by some permanent structure (such as a pole, mast, frame,
or other structure, but not any kind of antenna) that is not itself
an integral part of or attached to a building. Such sign shall not
exceed eight feet in height from the ground level to the top of the
sign or its supporting structure, whichever is highest, nor be located
closer than four feet from any street right-of-way or property line.
All installed freestanding signs shall be protected from vehicular
circulation and parking areas.
(c)
Projecting sign. A sign that is perpendicular to the plane of the
building to which it is affixed, or which projects more than 15 inches
beyond said exterior wall, in no event shall such sign or part thereof
be constructed closer than two feet to the curb line. Such sign shall
not project above the cornice line of the building, more than four
feet outward from the building facade. The bottom of a projecting
sign shall be at least 10 feet above ground level to prevent any hazard
to pedestrians. Any projecting sign that projects into the public
right-of-way shall be approved by the director of the department of
public works.
(d)
Awning sign. A sign painted on or attached to a hood, awning or roof-like
canopy. A sign consisting of individual letters, words or symbols
may be affixed or applied to the surface of an awning. Any awning
sign that projects into the public right-of-way shall be approved
by the director of the department of public works.
(e)
Wall sign. A sign that is affixed or painted on the face of any exterior
wall or door of a building, is parallel or approximately parallel
to the plane of the building to which it is affixed; and does not
project more than 15 inches beyond said exterior wall, nor project
more than two feet above the roof, parapet or ridge line of the building,
whichever is higher. Such sign shall not extend beyond the wall upon
which it is mounted nor project more than eight inches outward from
the wall.
(f)
Canopy signs. A sign placed on or affixed to an open-air structure
which is separate from the principal building and provides cover or
protection from the elements, including, but not limited to, gasoline
service station canopies.
(g)
Window sign. A sign that is attached to the inside or outside surface
of any window, or situated within a building, so that the sign is
visible from the public right-of-way.
(h)
Static electronic message signs. As a part of an on-premises commercial
sign that includes an electronic message component, which messages
do not change for at least 30 seconds, and which electronic component
is not more than half of the total sign area or 24 square feet, whichever
is less, and which messages may not contain graphics or images. The
message shall not move, or appear to move, at any time. Time and temperature
displays need not be limited to change every 30 seconds.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
(a)
Defined. A portable sign is any sign or advertising device that rests
on the ground and is not designed to be permanently attached to a
building or permanently anchored to the ground. This includes A-frame
or sandwich board signs, but does not include temporary signs prohibited
in subsection 13-5(b).
(b)
Permitted use of portable sign. Any business located in a commercial
or industrial zoning district is permitted to construct one portable
sign within five feet of its business entrance. The business entrance
means the point of entry to the business operation and not to the
entire development or lot. Every such portable sign must be removed
from the outdoors during non-business hours. Portable signs shall
not be included in the calculation for permitted total sign area in
§ 13-8 herein. Portable signs are prohibited any more than
five feet from a business entrance.
(c)
Portable signs are to be maintained in a neat, orderly fashion so
as not to constitute an unsightly appearance or a public nuisance.
Signs shall be constructed of durable, weather-resistant materials
and be professional in appearance. If such signs are not maintained,
the property owner or business owner shall remove them immediately
upon notice by the zoning official.
(d)
Advertisement of on-site products or services only. Portable signs
shall not advertise products or services not available at the location
of the sign.
(e)
Maximum sign area. Portable signs may have a maximum sign area of
10 square feet.
(f)
Maximum sign height and width. The maximum height shall be five feet
and the maximum width shall be two feet.
(g)
Location and accessibility. Portable signs shall not interfere with
pedestrian movement or wheelchair access. A minimum access width of
four feet shall be maintained along all sidewalks and building entrances
accessible to the public.
(h)
Illumination prohibited. Portable signs shall not be illuminated.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
All permitted signs shall be measured as follows:
(a)
Determination of sign area. The size or area of a sign face shall
be measured in square feet, the entire area within a square, rectangle,
circle, triangle or any other polygon enclosing the extreme limits
of graphic, writing or similar representation, emblem or any fixture
of similar character, together with any frame or other material or
color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate
the sign from the background against which it is placed; excluding
the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed. Where
a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included
in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces
are placed back to back and are at no point more than two feet from
one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of the
one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the
larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.
(b)
Height. Measured in feet, the overall height of a sign is measured
from the grade directly below the sign to the highest point of the
sign or any of its supports.
(c)
Setback. Measured in feet from the outermost edge of the sign to
the public right-of-way.
(d)
Projection over public right-of-way. Measurement in feet, perpendicular
to the property line, from the property line to the outermost edge
of the sign, over any public right-of-way. Any projection over the
public right-of-way shall be reviewed by the director of the department
of public works.
(e)
Maximum total sign areas. In commercial and industrial zones, the
maximum permitted area for signs on a building shall be based on the
building frontage. Where a building fronts on two or more streets,
the total area for signs shall be based on the longer(est) building
frontage.
(1)
Agricultural and residential districts. One wall or window sign
to identify each permitted home occupation use shall be allowed. Such
signs may not be internally illuminated. The total area of all such
signs shall not exceed four square feet on any lot.
(2)
Commercial and industrial districts. Canopy, awning, freestanding,
projecting, and wall signs that identify on-site permitted uses. The
maximum total area of all signs on any premises shall not exceed 1 1/2
square feet per one foot of building frontage. Each individual business
or activity shall be allowed a projecting or wall-mounted sign meeting
the requirements of this article with regard to placement and size,
and may be either externally illuminated, except however:
a.
An additional wall-mounted sign, no more than 16 square feet
in area, is allowed for a second public entrance on the side or rear
of the building.
b.
Separate freestanding signs shall not be allowed for individual
businesses in a multi-tenant building or on a parcel used by more
than one business or activity.
c.
One freestanding directory sign shall be allowed for a multitenant
building or parcel used for more than one business or activity (such
as a shopping plaza) in addition to individual business signs (projecting
or wall-mounted).
d.
In addition to the principal signage, window signs, meeting
the requirements of subsection 13-7(f), are allowed.
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Individual businesses in a multitenant building should all have
either projecting or wall signs, and shall be of uniform size, shape,
and placement on the building. Whenever a new development is proposed
which consists of a building with multiple businesses, and/or buildings
as part of multi-business commercial center, the applicant shall submit
a common signage plan to the Planning Board which provides standards
for the design, style and placement of all proposed tenant signage.
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(f)
Maximum permitted sign dimensions by sign type.
(1)
Freestanding sign: May not be greater than eight feet in height,
measure from the ground to the top of the sign or its supporting structure
and not located closer than four feet from any street right-of-way
or property line.
(2)
Directional sign: Four square feet in area per sign; and a maximum
of 25 square feet for all directional signs.
(3)
Projecting sign: Twenty-four square feet.
(4)
Awning or canopy sign: Twenty-four square feet in area, regardless
of the length of the awning.
(5)
Wall sign. Fifty square feet per building occupied by a single
business or activity or 18 square feet for each entrance facade of
a single business or activity in a multi-tenant building.
(6)
Window signs may not be greater than one-third of each total
window area.
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In a new development requiring Planning Board review, a waiver
exceeding the foregoing dimensional requirements may be granted by
the Planning Board, only if it is demonstrated that the proposed signs
will promote the safety of drivers and pedestrians.
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[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
(a)
Externally illuminated signs are signs that are illuminated by a
light that reflects off the surface of the sign from an external source.
External illumination shall only be by a stationary light of white
or off-white color. Such light shall be so shaded, shielded or directed,
or maintained at a sufficiently low intensity and brightness, that
it will not adversely affect neighboring properties, nor the safe
vision of operators of motor vehicles on public streets or rights-of-way.
Such light shall not reflect or shine on or into residential buildings
so as to adversely affect the residents therein. Externally illuminated
signs are permitted in all areas of the Town.
(b)
Internally illuminated signs are signs that include artificial illumination
from a light source located behind the sign face and which transmits
light through the sign face or portions of the sign face to the viewer.
Exposed neon tubing and similar lighting shall be considered internal
illumination. Internally illuminated signs are permitted on Diamond
Hill Road, High Street, Mendon Road, Broad Street, and Dexter Street
except for on Diamond Hill Road, from Industrial Road and Broadview
Avenue north to Pine Swamp Road to the Woonsocket boundary.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
Any sign, which lawfully existed and was maintained at the time
this article, as amended, became effective, may be continued. Maintenance,
repairs and changing of sign faces are permitted, provided that there
is no change in area, height, setback, projection or lighting of the
existing sign.
[Ord. No. 13-23-A, § 2, 2-19-2014]
(a)
Signs in historic districts. All signs, including window signs, except
political signs, in a historic district shall be subject to approval
by the historic district commission and its regulations.
(b)
Signs in overlay and special districts. Signs in overlay and special
districts shall conform to the corresponding requirements of such
district. If there are no sign regulations for such district, then
the requirements for the underlying zoning district shall be followed.
