[Amended 5-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-3; 8-4-1997 by Ord. No. 97-9; 11-3-1997 by Ord. No. 97-10; 10-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-9; 5-7-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-5; 2-6-2012 by Ord. No.
2012-1; 7-31-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-10]
The intent of this article shall be to regulate, restrict and
place such limitations on the size, location, alteration, type and
illumination of all signs as will assure that they will be appropriate
to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant, and to
achieve the following general purposes:
A.
To protect and enhance commercial and residential property values
by creating a visually harmonious environment.
B.
To promote the general business interests of the Town by maintaining
and improving the visual quality of commercial areas.
C.
To provide for the general safety of the public.
D.
To enhance the traditional qualities and characteristics of the Town
of Barrington, and to further the objectives of the Comprehensive
Plan.
[Amended 12-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-12]
To achieve the purposes of this article, the following general
standards shall be applied to signs in the Town of Barrington:
A.
Every sign shall have appropriate scale and proportion in its design
and in its visual relationship to buildings and surroundings.
B.
Every sign shall be designed as an integral architectural element
of the building and site to which it principally relates.
C.
The colors, materials and lighting of every sign shall be restrained
and harmonious with the building and site to which it principally
relates.
D.
The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the minimum
needed to convey the sign's major message and shall be composed in
proportion to the area of the sign face.
E.
Identification signs of a prototype design and corporation logos
shall conform to the criteria for all other signs.
A.
For individual shopping centers on one or more zoning lots or where
a zoning lot otherwise contains more than one principal use or establishment,
the provisions of this article shall apply to the shopping center
or zoning lot as a whole.
B.
The property owner(s) shall be responsible for allocating permitted
signs and display surface areas among the individual uses or establishments.
C.
The common signage plan submitted for such zoning lot or shopping
center shall show all business, directory and directional signs located
or proposed thereon and shall be designed so that all signs are harmonious
with each other in terms of number, type, size and location.
D.
For applicable new development, as part of the development plan review
or land development process, the property owner(s) shall submit a
common signage plan for review by the Technical Review Committee and
Planning Board, as applicable, in accordance with current Town standards
to which all signs on the building or within the shopping center will
conform. The plan must be approved by and on file with the Planning
Board prior to or in concert with review and approval of individual
signage for each establishment or activity on the building or within
the shopping center.
E.
The common signage plan shall display harmony and consistency with
regard to placement of signs, materials, and type of lighting.
F.
It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to inform its
tenants of this requirement and to furnish each tenant with a copy
of the approved signage plan for their center.
G.
Signage proposed for individual commercial units on sites subject to the common signage plan requirements that lack a required common signage plan, per § 185-90A, shall be reviewed by the Technical Review Committee, with approval subject to a positive finding that the proposed signage is consistent in terms of placement, materials and type of illumination with existing business signs at the site.
All new and replacement signs subject to this chapter shall also conform to such sign design standards as may be adopted from time to time by the Barrington Town Council under Article XXIV of this chapter relating to design review of commercial and industrial signage. These standards may vary according to the zoning district in which the proposed sign is located. In the absence of such specific standards, the general standards of § 185-89 shall apply.
A.
Signs may be illuminated externally by a stationary light of white
or off-white color. The light illuminating any sign shall be so shaded,
shielded or directed, or shall be so maintained at a sufficiently
low level of intensity and brightness, that it will not adversely
affect neighboring premises, nor the safe vision of operators of vehicles
moving on public roads and highways. Such light shall be so shaded,
shielded or directed that it does not reflect or shine on or into
residential structures to an extent that would adversely affect the
residents therein.
B.
Signs consisting of individually mounted opaque lettering and logos
may be back-lit, subject to approval by the Technical Review Committee.
C.
No awning may be internally illuminated.
Any person desiring and intending to erect, relocate or alter any sign within the Town of Barrington, except permanent and temporary window signs (§ 185-97E and F) and those exempted under § 185-100 hereof, shall first apply for and obtain a sign permit from the Building Official. The application for a sign permit shall be made upon forms provided by the Building Official and shall contain or have attached the following information:
A.
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
B.
The location of premises on which or to which the sign is proposed
to be erected or attached.
C.
The position of the sign, indicating its relation to its premises
and adjoining premises.
D.
Sign details which include the following:
(1)
A scaled drawing of each face of the proposed sign with all sign
specifications, including size, material, color, lettering type and
size, logo and type of mounting and building placement; a description
of the materials to be used for the sign and frame; and wall anchorage
details for all wall-mounted signs. (Note: Anchorage must be interior
to the sign and camouflaged.)
(2)
An elevation drawn to scale of the entire wall of the building to
which the sign is to be fixed correctly locating the sign, for all
wall-mounted signs.
(3)
An eight-inch-by-ten-inch color photograph (or color copy) of the
existing building and/or site where the sign is to be located.
E.
The name of the person performing the work.
F.
Written consent of the owner and lessor of the premises.
G.
The electrical permit, if required.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Administrative Officer, upon the filing
of a completed application for a sign permit, to examine such plans
and specifications and other data and the premises upon which the
sign is to be located.
B.
Except for those applications described in § 185-94D, when the sign permit application relates to the installation of new signage or the replacement of existing signage and is in compliance with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, the Administrative Officer shall approve the application and notify the Building Official of the approval within 10 business days of receipt of a complete sign application.
C.
Signs that are found by the Administrative Officer to be consistent with an approved common signage plan (§ 185-90) shall not require TRC review. Copies of all submitted supporting material shall be retained by the Administrative Officer as Town records. The denial of a sign permit application by the Administrative Officer may be appealed to the Zoning Board in accordance with § 185-58.
D.
The Administrative Officer shall refer the following applications
for review by the TRC:
F.
If an application does not require relief from the Zoning Board, the TRC shall either approve the application, with or without conditions, or deny the application. The TRC's decision on the application shall be binding on the applicant; provided, however, that the denial of a sign permit application by the TRC may be appealed to the Zoning Board in accordance with § 185-58. Upon approval by the TRC the Building Official shall issue the sign permit.
G.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, when an application for
a sign permit also requires relief from the Zoning Board of Review,
a decision of the TRC shall be required prior to consideration by
the Zoning Board and shall be advisory only to the Zoning Board. Relief
from the Zoning Board of Review, when applicable, is required prior
to the issuance of any sign permit by the Building Official.
H.
A sign permit shall expire 12 months from the date of issue unless
the applicant exercises the permission granted, commences substantial
construction and diligently completes same. The TRC or the Zoning
Board, as applicable, may, upon written request and for good cause
shown, grant one additional six-month extension.
Each application for each sign permit shall be accompanied by
a filing fee, and such other fees, as shall from time to time be established
by the Town Council.[1]
Within the Open Space-Passive Recreation (OS-P) and the Open
Space-Active Recreation (OS-A) Districts, within the Residence (R-40,
R-25 and R-10) Districts, and within the Recreation and Education
(RE) District, except as otherwise provided herein, only the following
signs shall be permitted:
A.
On premises used for residential purposes, a sign or signs identifying
the resident or the street address, or both, provided that no such
sign shall have an area of more than two square feet, nor shall the
total area of two or more such signs exceed three square feet.
B.
On premises used for residential purposes which also contain a professional
home office, in addition to the sign or signs permitted for residential
purposes, one professional announcement sign, the area of said sign
not to exceed two square feet.
C.
On premises used for church, school, day care center, hospital, library,
museum or other charitable purposes allowed by this chapter, in addition
to the sign or signs permitted for residential purposes, one sign
referring to the premises upon which it is located or displayed, or
to the activities carried on therein, not to exceed 25 square feet
in area, whether affixed to a structure or freestanding.
D.
On premises used for club, fraternal, recreation, athletic or social
purposes and maintained by a membership organization, one sign indicating
only the name or occupancy or use, or any of the foregoing, not to
exceed six square feet in area.
Within the Neighborhood Business (NB), Residence-Business Flex
(RBF), Business (B), Waterfront Business (WB) and Limited Manufacturing
(LM) Districts, only the following signs shall be permitted:
A.
Flush wall sign.
(1)
Building or structure occupied by a single business establishment
or activity.
(a)
One flush wall sign with a sign area of up to 3% of the building
facade area (BFA) or 20 square feet, whichever is greater, not to
exceed 32 square feet.
(b)
The sign shall be located on the entrance facade of the business
establishment or activity.
(c)
The content of such signs should be limited to only the address,
the name of the business, a business logo and/or product or service
information.
(2)
Building housing more than a single business establishment or activity.
(a)
One flush wall sign with a sign area of up to 3% of the building
facade area (BFA) or 20 square feet, whichever is greater, not to
exceed 32 square feet, for the entrance facade of each business establishment
or activity.
(b)
All such signs shall be of harmony and consistency with regard
to placement of signs, materials, and type of lighting.
(c)
Businesses are strongly encouraged to limit the content of their
signs to the address, the name of the business, a business logo and/or
product or service information.
(d)
Whenever possible, such signs shall be located above the doorway
but below the building cornice or roofline. When there is insufficient
space over the doorway for such signs, the signs may be located at
the side of the doorway, preferably on the left.
(3)
Buildings with a public entrance and parking in the rear, as well
as the front facade of the building.
(a)
A second sign not exceeding 15 square feet may be placed over
the rear entrance to the building.
(b)
Whenever possible, all such signs shall be located above the
doorway but below the building cornice or roofline. When there is
insufficient space above the doorway for such signs, the signs may
be located to the side of the doorway, preferably on the left.
(c)
Businesses are strongly encouraged to limit the content of their
signs to only the address, the name of the business, a business logo
and/or product or service information.
(4)
For single-occupant buildings with frontage on two or more public
streets.
(a)
One wall sign per street frontage is permitted, not to exceed
two wall signs. The maximum sign area of the wall sign on the main
entrance facade is limited to 3% of the building facade area (BFA)
or 20 square feet, whichever is greater, not to exceed 32 square feet.
The second wall sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in sign area.
(5)
Stores located in a shopping center that are more than 500 feet from
a state highway and located parallel to a state highway.
(a)
There may be one flush wall sign for each use, not to exceed
one square foot for each linear foot of the front wall of the portion
of the building containing the use, and on which the sign is located,
not to exceed 75 square feet.
(6)
For establishments that also have a projecting sign or freestanding
sign, the maximum flush-wall sign area shall be 20 square feet.
(7)
One flush wall sign not exceeding four square feet in area identifying
the location of parking for the business establishment or activity
is permitted.
(8)
All such flush wall signs shall not extend beyond the wall upon which
they are mounted nor project more than one foot outward from the mounting
wall. Where more than one sign is placed on a structure, such signs
shall be of uniform shape and shall be affixed to the building in
the same manner and at the same height above ground level.
B.
Projecting sign.
(1)
One projecting sign not exceeding 16 square feet per side in area
under the following conditions:
(a)
The facade of the building to which the sign is attached shall
be no more than 10 feet from the paved portion of any street or right-of-way
used for travel purposes.
(b)
The sign shall not project above the cornice line of the building.
Projecting signs shall clear sidewalks and pedestrian and bicycle
paths by a height of at least eight feet above finished grade and
shall project no more than four feet from the building to which they
are attached. The bottom of the sign shall not be more than 10 feet
above ground level. In no case shall the sign present a hazard to
pedestrian travel.
(c)
Businesses shall limit the content of their signs to only the
building's street number, the name of the business, a business logo
and/or product or service information.
(d)
There is no equivalent flush wall-mounted sign for the business
establishment or activity larger than 20 square feet in sign area.
(e)
No projecting sign shall be permitted on the same zoning lot
street frontage along which there is a freestanding sign.
(f)
Projecting signs shall not be located at the intersection of
building corners except at right angles to a building facade.
(g)
Projecting signs shall be centered over or located near the
principal doorway to the building.
(h)
Projecting signs shall not overhang into any roadway.
(2)
One such projecting sign may be permitted for each business establishment
or activity in a building or structure housing more than a single
business establishment or activity. All such signs shall be of harmony
and consistency with regard to placement of signs, materials, and
type of lighting.
(3)
Businesses shall limit the content of their signs to only the street
number, the name of the business, a business logo and/or product or
service information.
(4)
For businesses providing hair-cutting services, one striped red and
white pole (customarily referred to as a "barber pole") shall be permitted.
In no case shall the pole present a hazard to pedestrian travel. It
shall be located to the side of the doorway, preferably on the left,
and shall protrude less than one foot from the building and be no
more than eight feet from the ground to the top.
C.
Freestanding sign.
(1)
The zoning lot on which a freestanding sign is located shall be accessible
by automobile and contain off-street parking for the principal use(s).
(2)
One freestanding sign for an individual business establishment or activity subject to the prohibitions in § 185-98, provided that the buildings or structures housing the principal use(s) on a zoning lot on which a freestanding sign is located are set back at least 10 feet from the abutting street right-of-way. Such sign shall be in compliance with the following additional conditions:
(a)
The total area shall not exceed 25 square feet, except that
when the total gross floor area (GFA) of the individual business use
associated with the sign exceeds 5,000 square feet, the total area
of the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(b)
No such sign shall exceed seven feet in height from ground level
to the top of the sign.
(c)
No such sign shall be located closer than four feet to any street
right-of-way, which, absent a survey, is assumed to be the back edge
of a sidewalk along a public street, within four feet of any side
property line or within 50 feet of any dwelling on an adjacent lot,
nor shall it obstruct driver visibility.
(d)
Businesses shall limit the content of their signs to only the
building's street number, the name of the business, a business logo,
the name of the building and/or product or service information.
(e)
There is no equivalent projecting sign for the business establishment
or activity.
(3)
Whenever possible and without obstructing driver visibility, freestanding
signs shall be incorporated in a hedge or landscaping feature.
(4)
No freestanding sign shall be permitted for an individual business located in a multitenant building or in a multibusiness shopping center, provided that one such sign may be permitted for the building or shopping center to provide joint identification of the occupant business enterprises and the name of the center. (See Subsection D below.)
D.
Directory sign.
(1)
One flush wall-mounted or freestanding directory sign for any building
or structure housing more than one business establishment or activity
having a common public access, under the following conditions:
(a)
The total area of the directory sign shall not exceed 25 square feet, except under the provisions of Subsection D(2) below.
(b)
Each sign panel for individual businesses shall contain only
the address, the name of the tenant businesses and/or business logos;
the color of the panel and text shall be consistent for the individual
panels in the directory sign
(2)
For shopping centers or for parcels used for more than one business
or manufacturing activity, directory signs shall conform to the following
regulations:
[Amended 9-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-13]
|
Zoning District
|
GFA of Shopping Center (square feet)
|
Maximum Area of Directory Sign (square feet)
|
Maximum Height of Freestanding Sign (feet)*
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
NB, RBF
|
All GFA
|
25
|
7
|
|
B, WB, LM
|
Less than 7,000
|
25
|
7
|
|
B, WB, LM
|
7,000 or more
|
32
|
8
|
|
*NOTE: Directory signs not exceeding four feet in height are
preferred.
|
(3)
No such sign shall be located closer than four feet to any street
right-of-way or back edge of a sidewalk or within 50 feet of any dwelling
located on an adjacent lot, nor shall it obstruct driver visibility.
(4)
Whenever possible and without obstructing driver visibility, freestanding
directory signs shall be located to the left of the entrance to parking
for the building or structure and incorporated in any hedge or landscaping
feature.
E.
Window sign. Permanent window signs indicating the name and/or logo
of the business, the nature of the business, the hours and days of
business, the credit cards honored and/or other information related
to the business establishment or activity may be painted on or affixed
to the inside of windows located on the entrance facade of the business.
Temporary window signs may be affixed to the inside of the windows
of a business establishment or activity to advertise specific goods,
services or sales. Window signs shall not cover more than 40% of the
total area of any one window.
[Amended 2-6-2023 by Ord. No. 2022-23]
G.
Awnings shall be of traditional angular, rather than rounded, design
and shall be constructed of canvas or canvas-like material only. Awning
signs shall include only the address, the name of the business and/or
a business logo, not to exceed 15 square feet of the awning area.
Any sign not specifically permitted or exempted under this article
is prohibited. In addition, the following are specific prohibited
signs and actions:
A.
Any sign relating to a use, commodity or service not located or offered
on the premises, including billboards.
B.
Any sign affixed to or forming part of a roof of any building or
structure, or affixed to or forming any part of any cupola, tower,
spire, chimney or other object or structure located on or above the
roof of any building.
C.
Any sign erected at or near the intersection of any two streets,
or of any street and driveway, in such a manner as to obstruct free
and clear vision; or erected at any location where, by reason of position,
shape, color, illumination or wording, it may interfere with, obstruct
the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic control sign,
signal or device; or otherwise constitute a hazard to pedestrian or
vehicular traffic because of intensity or direction of illumination.
D.
Any exposed or neon tube sign on the outside of a building or visible
through a window is prohibited.
E.
The use of flashing or moving light or fluorescent print on any sign.
This includes lights designed to attract attention by a change in
light intensity or repeated motion, and includes, without limitation,
time-temperature indicators.
F.
All mechanical moving or rotating signs, including those with streamers,
pennants, banners, spinners, ribbons and strings of light bulbs, and
other similar signs.
G.
Any sign not repaired or properly maintained within 60 days after
the notice to that effect has been given by the Building Official;
such sign shall be removed forthwith by the owner.
H.
Mobile or portable signs mounted on a trailer or other portable base.
I.
Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no
longer produced or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is
located. No such sign shall remain in place in or on vacated premises
for more than 90 days from the date the vacancy commenced.
J.
Signs illuminated externally by other than a stationary white or
off-white steady light. No sign shall be illuminated after 11:00 p.m.
local time or after the closing time of the identified business or
activity, whichever is later.
K.
Signs which are pasted on or attached to utility poles, trees, fences
or structures such as overpasses and bridges.
L.
Signs posted or attached to other signs, unless such subsidiary portions
are an integral part of the total sign design.
M.
Inflatable devices, such as, but not limited to, inflatable animals,
characters, or large balloons, shall not be allowed in the Business,
Neighborhood Business or Residence-Business Flex zone.
[Amended 9-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-13[
N.
Licensed vehicles used on a daily basis as part of a business operation
for the transport of goods or the delivery of services may display
signs which relate to that business. Parked vehicles are prohibited
from being used as signs (i.e., placement of the vehicles so as to
draw attention to the business) or from being used to support signs.
O.
Internally illuminated signs.
A.
The provisions and regulations of this article requiring a sign permit shall not apply to the following signs; provided, however, that said signs remain subject to the provisions of § 185-100:
(1)
A bulletin board for public, charitable or religious institutions
when located upon the premises of said institutions, not to exceed
10 square feet in area.
(2)
A memorial sign or tablet, or a sign indicating the name of a building
or the date of its erection, when cut into any masonry surface or
when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
(3)
The following signs, customary and necessary to the operation of
filling and service stations:
(a)
Lettering on buildings displayed over individual entrance doors
consisting of the words "repairing," "lubrication," "washing" or words
of similar import, provided that there shall be not more than one
such sign over each entrance, and that the letters not exceed 10 inches
in height.
(b)
Lettering or other insignia which are a structural part of a
gasoline pump, consisting only of a brand name, lead warning sign
and other signs as required by law.
(c)
A credit card sign affixed to the building or permanent sign
structure of the sign next referred to, not to exceed two square feet
in area.
(d)
One sign bearing the brand or trade name of the station of a
design specified by the manufacturer, permanently affixed to the building
or freestanding, not to exceed 25 square feet in area and five feet
in height overall and incorporated in any hedge or landscaping feature
whenever possible. Such signs shall be constructed of wood or metal
and shall be externally illuminated with white or off-white lighting.
(e)
A sign attached to each gas pump with the price of the product,
as required by law.
(4)
Holiday decorations and lights in season.
(5)
Signs of every kind and nature erected by or on behalf of the United
States of America, the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Barrington,
relating to governmental regulatory activities or governmental activities
conducted on the premises on which such sign is located, and including
traffic controls, railroad crossing signs and legal notices and other
such signs required by law.
(6)
Signs customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for
sale or lease by the owner thereof, or their real estate agent or
broker, in residence and open space districts, not to exceed six square
feet in area.
(7)
Signs customary and necessary in the offering of real estate for
sale or lease by the owner thereof, or their real estate agent or
broker, in business and manufacturing districts, not to exceed 20
square feet in area.
(8)
Signs customarily used to indicate that real estate offered for sale
or lease has been sold or leased by the real estate agent or broker
concerned, in residence and open space districts, not to exceed three
square feet in area and not to be maintained more than two weeks after
the initial erection thereof.
(9)
Signs customarily used to indicate that real estate offered for sale
or lease has been sold or leased by the real estate agent or broker
concerned, in business and manufacturing districts, not to exceed
20 square feet in area and not to be maintained more than two weeks
after the initial erection.
(10)
Signs identifying the contractor, builder, painter, architect
or other person currently performing work on a structure, such sign
to be removed by such person upon completion of the services being
performed with respect to such structure, not to exceed six square
feet in area.
(11)
The interior contents of lawfully permitted signs specifically
designed to be changed from time to time, such as church announcement
boards, theater marquees, restaurant menus, the Booster Board and
the like.
(12)
All flags.
(13)
The Barrington Booster Club Board.
(14)
Directional signs that provide driving directions for vehicular,
bicycle and pedestrian circulation; however, only one entrance/exit
sign is allowed per legal driveway and a directional sign may not
exceed four square feet nor block the sight lines of drivers entering
or exiting the property. Directional signs shall not include commercial
logos; however, the background of these signs may be of a color that
is consistent with the logo of the business on the site.
A.
The following restrictions on temporary event signs shall apply:
(1)
No temporary sign in excess of the maximum size limitations set forth
below shall be permitted. All such signs must be at least eight feet
from the inner sidewalk line and, if there is no sidewalk, at least
20 feet from the street line. The maximum size limitations of temporary
signs are as follows:
(a)
On premises in all residence and open space districts used for
residential purposes: six square feet.
(b)
On premises in all residence and open space districts used for
club, fraternal, recreation, athletic or social purposes, and maintained
by a membership organization: 15 square feet.
(c)
On premises in all residence and open space districts used for
church, hospital, library, museum or other charitable purposes allowed
by this chapter: 15 square feet.
(2)
No temporary sign shall extend into, over or across any public roadway
or in any way obstruct access or visibility of roadway traffic unless
an exemption is obtained from the Town Council. Such exemption shall
state the duration and any other restrictions imposed by the Town
Council.
(3)
No temporary sign shall be erected more than six weeks before the
work, event, sale or occurrence to which it refers is scheduled to
take place.
(4)
No temporary sign shall remain posted more than four days after the
work, event, sale or occurrence to which it refers has taken place.
B.
The Building Official for the Town of Barrington is authorized to
request the removal of any temporary sign in violation of the provisions
of this chapter and has the authority to enforce such request for
removal.
A.
A-Frame signs may be placed on sidewalks in the public right-of-way
and on sidewalks on private property in front of commercial establishments
in B, NB, RBF and WB zones, subject to the issuance of a temporary
permit from the Building Official and compliance with the following
requirements:
(2)
Content. Content shall be limited to information/advertising
for business; no endorsement or logos for any other business are permitted.
(3)
Locking arm shall be required for stabilization.
(4)
The sign shall meet wind/safety standards.
(5)
Display of such signs shall be limited to only during operating
hours of business.
(6)
Materials. Unadorned wood-frame A-frame signs with chalkboard
or slate sign panels, with handwritten messaging in chalk, are permitted.
Signs constructed of other materials, including but not limited to
plastic or metal, are not permitted.
(7)
Signs shall not be adorned with balloons, pennants, decorative
bulbs, or any other feature that is not part of a frame authorized
through the approval process.
(8)
Location:
(a)
Located in front of the business and within 15 feet of the main
entrance to the establishment.
(b)
A minimum sidewalk clearance of four feet between the sign and
the curb or sidewalk edge at the street or parking lot shall be maintained
at all times.
(c)
Businesses with street-level public access: place sign within
tenant frontage of business.
(d)
Multitenant developments: a limit of one A-frame sign per each
common exterior public business entrance.
(e)
Minimum of 15 feet linear feet of spacing from other A-frame
signs.
(9)
No internal illumination.
(10)
Temporary permit shall be valid for 6 months; renewal valid
for an additional six months, for a total of one year, whereby application
for a new temporary permit shall be required.
(11)
Sign permit stick shall be affixed to the sign (on the inside
of the sign, not visible from the outside).
(12)
The Town may require temporary removal during special events.
(13)
For signs located on sidewalks in the public right-of-way, the
applicant shall submit to the Building Official proof of a minimum
of $1,000,000 in liability insurance naming the Town of Barrington
as additional insured.
A.
No sign, whether previously constructed by virtue of a sign permit or considered a legal nonconforming use, shall be altered in any manner or include changes in graphics, lettering, color, brackets or posts without obtaining a sign permit as outlined in § 185-93. Directory sign alterations may be made without application, provided that these changes are in keeping with the directory design and graphics.
The Zoning Board of Review may hear and grant relief from the provisions of this article by way of a dimensional variance as provided in Article XIII.
A.
Any sign in existence on the effective date of this chapter which
was constructed in accordance with the applicable regulations in effect
on the date of its construction, but which by reason of its size,
height, location, design, construction or other factors is not in
conformance with the provisions of this article, shall be considered
to be a lawful nonconforming sign. The following regulations regarding
nonconforming signs shall apply:
(1)
Each nonconforming sign and sign structure shall be allowed
to be displayed for a period of time that provides a reasonable opportunity
for the owner to benefit from the investment made in the sign. This
period shall be seven years from the effective date of this chapter.
After this time has expired, nonconforming signs and sign structures
shall be removed or otherwise brought into conformance with the provisions
of this article. Any nonconforming signs not removed or brought into
compliance within this period shall be deemed a public nuisance, and
may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Official at the
expense of the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of
the premises upon which such sign may be erected.
(2)
If any existing nonconforming sign is abandoned, demolished
or replaced in any manner by the voluntary action of the owner or
other authorized parties or governmental agency within this seven-year
period, such sign shall not be rebuilt or replaced except in a manner
conforming to all applicable provisions of this article.
(3)
A nonconforming sign which is destroyed or damaged by any casualty
within this seven-year period may be restored within six months after
such destruction or damage only after the owner has demonstrated that
the damage does not exceed 50% of the appraised value of the sign.
If such sign is destroyed or damaged to an extent exceeding 50%, it
shall be removed and not be rebuilt or replaced except in a manner
conforming to all applicable provisions of this article.
B.
The provisions of this article shall not apply to signs granted relief from the standards of this article through the issuance of a special use permit, under the provisions of Article XIV as provided in § 185-102 above, provided that such special use permit is issued after the effective date of this chapter.
A.
If the Building Official shall find that any sign is unsafe or insecure,
is a menace to the public or has been abandoned, they shall give written
notice to the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of
the premises upon which such sign may be erected. A sign shall be
considered to be abandoned if it contains information that is no longer
descriptive of the business or use of the building or land to which
it is associated, or is unused, and has met either of these conditions
for a period of 90 days or more.
B.
If such owner, agent or person fails to remove or alter the sign
so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within 10 days
after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be
removed or altered to comply by the Building Official at the expense
of the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the premises
upon which such sign may be erected. The Building Official may cause
any sign or advertising structure which is an immediate peril to persons
or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
This article shall be administered and enforced by the Building Official of the Town of Barrington, with § 185-44 of this chapter being fully applicable to all penalties for violations.
