The following standards shall apply to the regulation of a sign
in the respective zoning districts enumerated below.
[8-16-2016]
a.
No sign may exceed 48 square feet in size.
b.
Limit of two signs per business.
c.
Maximum square footage of all signs for a business shall not exceed
96 square feet.
d.
A sign shall not be internally illuminated.
e.
A multiple business sign shall not exceed 96 square feet in size.
If a business is advertised on a multiple business sign, said sign
shall be considered one of the two signs that is permitted for said
business.
[8-16-2016]
a.
No sign may exceed 15 square feet.
b.
Limit of two signs per business. Notwithstanding this limitation,
when a business fronts on two or more public streets or a public street
and a municipal parking lot with entrances on each of the two public
streets or entrances on the public street and the municipal parking
lot, the business may have three signs provided there are no more
then two signs for that business on any street or municipal parking
lot.
c.
Internally illuminated signs are prohibited.
d.
A multiple business sign shall not exceed 48 square feet in size.
If a business is advertised on a multiple business sign, said sign
shall be considered one of the two signs that is permitted for said
business.
e.
In the Downtown Commercial, Waterfront Mixed Use 1 and Waterfront
Mixed Use 2 zoning districts, a qualifying nonresidential use is permitted
to display a sandwich board sign, provided said sign complies with
requirements of Sec. 86-124.
f.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection a above, The First Church,
which is located at Map 11, Lot 168, shall have the right to display
a sign that is no greater than 25 square feet in size (rather than
15 square feet) on both the Church Street and Spring Street sides
of the property.
[8-16-2016]
a.
No sign may exceed 96 square feet.
b.
Limit of two signs per business.
c.
A multiple business sign shall be permitted, provided that the total
size of the sign does not exceed 128 square feet. Notwithstanding
this provision, the City of Belfast may choose to erect a multiple
business identification sign at the entrance to the Business Park
or Airport at any or all of the following locations that exceeds this
size standard; Airport Road, Wright Brothers Lane or Little River
Drive.
[8-16-2016]
a.
A nonresidential use, including a bed-and-breakfast (which is considered a home occupation) established after July 1, 1991, the date of enactment of this chapter, shall be limited to one sign up to 15 square feet in area. A home occupation is considered a residential use, and the amount of signage permitted for a home occupation is established in Article IV of this chapter.
b.
A nonresidential use in existence as of July 1, 1991, the date of
the enactment of this chapter that has a greater amount of signage
than permitted pursuant to Subsection a above, may maintain or replace
any nonconforming signs that existed prior to July 1, 1991, provided
the applicant for a sign permit can provide evidence to the satisfaction
of the Code Enforcement Officer that the sign existed prior to July
1, 1991, and that the sign has been in continuous use since 1991.
c.
A nonresidential use legally in existence as of July 1, 1991, the
date of the enactment of this chapter, shall be allowed up to two
signs which may not exceed 30 square feet in size, provided said signs
are not combined into a single sign.
d.
The gasoline retailers located at Map 11, Lot 188, Map 14, Lot 18
and Map 36, Lot 82, shall be permitted to display one dealer sign
that advertises the brand of gasoline for sale that is larger than
the maximum size of sign permitted in Subsection a above, provided
the size of said sign does not exceed 50 square feet. The sign may
be internally illuminated, provided the internal illumination occurs
only during the hours which the retailer is open for business. The
retailer may display a maximum of four additional signs on the premises,
provided none of the other signs are greater than 15 square feet in
size and none are internally illuminated.
e.
Except as stipulated in Subsection d above, no sign shall be internally
illuminated.
[8-16-2016]
a.
Single use on single property sign plan. The owner of a use which
requests a sign permit shall submit a master sign plan that identifies
the amount, size, location and type of all signs proposed to be erected
and shall comply with all standards stipulated in this section.
b.
Master common sign plan for multiple uses on one property or multiple
properties (multiple business sign). A single property (lot) on which
more than one use or building is located, or two or more adjacent
properties (lots) may submit a common sign plan. A common sign plan
that complies with the requirements of this section shall be eligible
for a 25% increase in the total amount of permitted signage for each
lot, and this increase may be allocated as the owner(s) elect. The
common sign plan shall specify how the signs are consistent with regard
to the following considerations: color scheme, lettering or graphic
style, lighting, location of signs on the building or property, material
and sign proportions.
c.
Freestanding signs.
1.
A property shall have a maximum of one freestanding sign on any street
(public or private right-of-way). A property with frontage on more
than one street may have a freestanding sign on each street, subject
to the exceptions identified in Subsection c2 below. A freestanding
sign shall comply with the following standards:
(a)
A freestanding sign that is mounted on a pole/pylon for one
use shall be a maximum of 48 square feet in size, and shall be a maximum
of 25 feet in height. A freestanding sign that is mounted on a pole/pylon
for two or more uses shall be a maximum of 48 square feet in size
for the first use, and shall be increased by a maximum of 24 square
feet for each additional use, and shall be a maximum of 25 feet in
height. The maximum size (multiple user) of any pole/pylon sign shall
be 144 square feet, subject to the exception identified in Subsection
c2 below.
(b)
A freestanding sign that is located on the ground (a monument
sign), shall be a maximum of 96 square feet in size and shall be a
maximum of 10 feet in height. A monument sign for two or more uses
shall be a maximum of 96 square feet in size for the first use, and
shall be increased by a maximum of 36 square feet for each additional
use, and shall be a maximum of 10 feet in height. The maximum size
(multiple user) of any monument sign shall be 240 square feet, subject
to the exception identified in Subsection c2 below.
(c)
The City prefers that all freestanding signs be externally,
not internally, illuminated. An externally illuminated sign may exceed
the maximum sign size requirements identified in Subsections a and
b above by 20%. External illumination shall occur by a steady, stationary,
shielded light source directed solely at the sign and shall be the
minimum light needed to allow illumination of the sign without causing
glare on the adjacent street or neighboring properties, and without
causing unnecessary reflection of light. An internally illuminated
sign must use light-colored letters and symbols on a dark-colored
background. The source of the internal illumination shall not be exposed
to view, and the sign shall be erected in a manner that deflects light
away from residential properties and public roads.
(d)
Message boards and similar advertising signs shall be included
within the sign size limitations identified in Subsections a, b and
c above.
(e)
All freestanding signs shall be setback a minimum of five feet
from the right-of-way, and the location of the sign shall not interfere
with sight distance for vehicles entering or exiting the site. The
City may consider the location of freestanding signs on adjacent properties
in permitting the location of sign on any property.
2.
The following exceptions shall apply to the limitations on the number
and location of freestanding signs identified in Subsection c1 above.
(a)
A property with frontage on the Route One bypass (area on Route
One from the jug-handle at the intersection of Route 1 and Northport
Avenue to the westerly entrance of the Passagassawaukaeg Bridge) or
any entrance/exit ramp to the Route One bypass shall be prohibited
from erecting a freestanding sign along the property's frontage
on the bypass or entrance/exit ramp, except in the following circumstances:
(1)
The sign is the only freestanding sign that is erected or displayed
on the property;
(2)
The access road to the property is not readily discernible to
the traveling public, as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer;
or
(3)
If one or more businesses located on the property are subject
to a franchise agreement that restricts the use of a master sign plan,
reference sign standard in Sec. 86-154b, for the display of a sign
or signs for any business not associated with the franchise, a maximum
of one freestanding sign or one freestanding master sign (in addition
to any conforming or nonconforming freestanding signs on the property
for a business subject to the franchise agreement) shall be permitted
on the property for any and all businesses not associated with the
business or businesses subject to the franchise agreement. To qualify
for this exception, a property must have a minimum of 500 feet of
frontage on either the Route One bypass or an entrance/exit ramp to
the Route One bypass.
(b)
A nonresidential use located in the Searsport Avenue Commercial,
Searsport Avenue Waterfront, or Route 141 and Mill Lane Commercial
zoning districts that has road frontage on Searsport Avenue (Route
1) shall be permitted a maximum of two freestanding signs along the
property's Searsport Avenue frontage, provided the use complies
with all of the following requirements, and the signs that are displayed
comply with the following requirements:
(1)
The property must have at least 300 feet of frontage on Searsport
Avenue.
(2)
The property must have two or more curb cuts.
(3)
There shall be a minimum separation of 150 feet between the
curb cuts located on the property.
(4)
The businesses for which signs are requested must be separate
and distinct businesses.
(5)
A maximum of two freestanding signs shall be permitted on any
property.
(6)
The total amount of signage permitted on a property that uses
two freestanding signs shall be as follows: 132 square feet for two
businesses, 168 square feet for three businesses, 204 square feet
for four businesses, and 240 square feet for five or more businesses.
This size requirement shall allow any type of freestanding sign permitted
by this chapter; internally lighted, externally lighted, pylon or
monument sign, and any message or reader board sign shall be included
within this square footage sign requirement.
(7)
The minimum amount of distance between the two freestanding
signs must be at least 150 feet.
d.
On-building signs. The amount of on-building signage that is permitted
shall be managed by the size of the building. The total amount of
on-building wall signage shall not exceed 10% of the total wall area
on which the sign is located if externally illuminated or non-illuminated
signage is used. Internally lighted signage shall not exceed 5% of
the total wall area. The style of signage that is used shall be compatible
with both the building and the other signage on the building.
e.
Window signage. Window signage shall not exceed 20% of the total
amount of window area.
