The purpose of these sign standards is to regulate
the potentially objectional aspects of sign uses by stating specific
standards consistent with the promotion of public health, safety,
morals and the general welfare of the Town of Maine.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A sign which directs attention to a business, industry, profession,
commodity, service or entertainment not sold or offered upon the same
premises where the sign is located.
A sign which directs attention to a business, industry, profession,
commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the same
premises where the sign is located.
A sign which is nonilluminated and which may be used for
the purpose of stating the name or location of the Town and its public
buildings, hospital, community center, church or school, or the name
or place of meetings of an official or civic organization. No advertising
or business matter shall be contained on signs of this type. No directional
or information sign shall be illuminated.
A sign, sign screen, billboard, advertising device or any
other kind of structure intended or used for advertisement, announcement
or direction.
Any two-faced sign utilizing both faces or surfaces for display
purposes.
The surface of the sign upon, against, or through which,
the message of the sign is exhibited.
Any sign not attached to any building or other structure.
A sign pertaining to a permitted home occupation as defined in § 450-6 hereof.
A sign which is intended to be displayed for an unlimited
period of time.
Any temporary sign which displays the name and/or picture
of any individual seeking election or appointment to a public office,
or pertaining to a forthcoming public election or referendum, or pertaining
to or advocating political views or policies.
A sign pertaining to a professional office which is permitted
under any of the provisions of this chapter.
A sign which is attached to any building or structure and
which extends beyond the surface of such wall a distance greater than
12 inches. The term "projecting sign" shall include a marquee. (See
also "wall sign.")
A sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of the real
estate upon which the sign is located.
A sign constructed or supported upon the roof of any building
or structure.
A tract or parcel of land containing five or more acres or
a grouping of five or more stores or shops that provide a variety
of goods and services and which are within the same building or in
contiguous units that are using integrated parking facilities and
have a common access to the public way.
A sign pertaining to a shopping center as defined herein.
A sign pertaining to a shopping plaza as defined herein.
Any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof,
situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify,
display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution,
organization, business, product, service, event or location by any
means, including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures,
colors, illumination or project images. "Sign" does not include the
flag of any nation, organization of nations, state or city, or fraternal,
religious or civic organizations. "Sign" does not include merchandise,
pictures or models of products or services incorporated in a window
display; works of art which in no way identify a product; or scoreboards
located on athletic fields.
Any outside sign used to convey information, such as, but
not limited to, special events or sales or political campaigns, and
any sign of a similar nature, and which is constructed in such a way
as to be portable and made of material completely resistant to the
elements.
A sign which is attached to the wall of any building or structure
and which does not extend beyond the surface of such wall a distance
greater than 12 inches. (See also "projecting sign.")
A sign which is applied or attached to the exterior or interior
surface of a window. No window sign shall exceed 50% of the glazed
area of the window.
No sign shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, expanded, altered or relocated unless a sign permit evidencing the compliance of such work with the provisions of this chapter shall have first been issued in compliance with § 450-67 of this chapter. No advertising sign and no roof sign shall be located within the Town of Maine.
A.
No part of any sign permitted herein shall be located
less than 10 feet from any lot line or highway right-of-way, nor exceed
a height of eight feet.
B.
The following signs are permitted on a parcel in the
R-R Rural Residential District, R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential
District, PMHD Planned Mobile Home District, PMFD Planned Multifamily
District, or PRD Planned Recreational District:
(1)
One professional office sign or one home occupation
sign, not to exceed three square feet in area.
(2)
One temporary real estate sign, not to exceed six
square feet in area.
(3)
One sign for a farm, farm use, farm occupancy, agricultural
pursuit, church, school, community center, public building or hospital,
not to exceed 16 square feet in area and located not closer than 15
feet from any street or highway right-of-way.
(4)
One temporary real estate sign, not to exceed 24 square
feet in area, directing attention to the opening of a new subdivision,
and located not closer than 15 feet from any street or highway right-of-way.
The permit issued for such a sign shall be issued for a period of
12 months, but any such permit may be renewed upon application therefor.
(5)
Two directional signs, each not to exceed three square
feet in area.
(6)
No flashing or illuminated signs are allowed in the
R-R Rural Residential District, R-1 Residential District or the R-2
Residential District.
Business signs are permitted on a parcel in
the B-1 Business District, B-2 Business District or ID Industrial
District as follows:
A.
One ground sign identifying the name and character
of the business or industry, not to exceed 50 square feet in area
and located not closer than 15 feet from any street or highway right-of-way,
located at least three feet from any interior property line, and not
exceeding 25 feet in height.
B.
One wall sign identifying the name and character of
the business or industry, not to exceed two square feet in word area
for each linear foot of building frontage, and affixed to the front
of the building only.
C.
The total combined sign area for both the ground sign
and the wall sign shall not exceed 300 square feet in area.
A.
Shopping plaza signs or shopping center signs are
permitted on a parcel in the B-1 Business District or B-2 Business
District as follows:
(1)
One wall sign for each business, not to exceed one
square foot of area for each linear foot of individual store frontage,
and in no event exceeding 300 square feet in area. Such a sign may
be affixed to the front of the building only.
(2)
One ground sign for each shopping center or shopping
plaza, not to exceed 20 square feet in area for each business in the
center or plaza and in no event exceeding 300 square feet in area.
B.
The maximum height of all parts of such a sign shall
not exceed 25 feet. Such a sign shall not be located closer than 20
feet from any street or highway right-of-way or 15 feet from any interior
property line.
C.
Such a sign shall be located in such a manner as to
be in the same line of vision as traffic control signs. If for some
reason this alignment is not possible, no red, green or amber illumination
or reflection shall be permitted. Such a sign shall have illumination
which is indirect, diffused and nonflashing and so arranged that the
direct rays of light do not shine or reflect into any adjacent residences.
A.
On double-faced signs and/or V-type signs, the angle
at the vertex of the sign shall not exceed 5°.
B.
Computation of sign area:
(1)
When determining total permissible sign area for any
lot, the area of any existing sign and/or signs shall be included
in the computation. The total area of existing and/or new signs shall
not exceed that requirement as set forth in this chapter.
(2)
When determining the total permissible display area
of double-faced or V-type signs, only the dimensions of one face or
surface shall be used in computing the area. The dimensions of the
larger surface shall be used in computing the area. The dimensions
of the larger surface shall be used for said purpose.
(3)
Accessory uses shall not be included in computing
the total sign area.
C.
All signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand
a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot, shall
conform to the provisions of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention
and Building Code, and shall conform to any applicable provisions
of the National Electrical Code, Chapter 6, Special Equipment, Article
600-4(a), Electric Signs and Outline Lighting. To the extent that
said code requires testing by Underwriters Laboratories, testing by
an equivalent testing organization shall be sufficient for purposes
of this provision.[1]
D.
Temporary signs. Upon application, the erection of
temporary signs, advertising special events or sales, may be permitted
by the Town Board or by the Building and Code Inspector of the Town
of Maine for a period not to exceed 30 days in any district in any
twelve-month period, provided that the following requirements are
met:
(1)
The sign(s) to be erected shall be of a temporary
nature, be constructed of a material so as to withstand the elements
and shall not exceed 36 square feet in area.
(2)
The temporary sign(s) shall be placed in a location
so as not to be a nuisance to the public nor endanger the health,
safety or general well-being of the community.
(3)
The applicant shall provide to the Town Board or Building
and Code Inspector satisfactory security so as to guarantee that the
said sign will be removed after the specified period. No permit shall
be required for a temporary sign placed entirely within the interior
of a structure.
E.
Political signs are permitted in any district for
a period not to exceed 90 days, provided that the standards specified
below are complied with:
(1)
The sign(s) permitted hereby shall be of a temporary
nature, be constructed of a material so as to withstand the elements
and shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.
(2)
The temporary sign(s) shall be placed in a location
so as not to be a nuisance to the public nor endanger the health,
safety or general welfare of the community.
(3)
Political signs in excess of three square feet in
area shall be subject to the following setback and height restrictions:
No part of any such sign shall be located closer than 10 feet from
any street or highway right-of-way or any lot line nor exceed a height
of eight feet.
F.
In any district, a window sign shall be counted as
part of the allowable signage.
All applicants for sign permits shall submit
the following information in connection with an application for a
sign permit:
A.
Name, address and telephone number of the applicant
and of the owner of the parcel where the sign is to be located.
B.
Street location and Tax Map parcel number of the building,
structure or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be attached
or erected.
C.
The zoning district in which the subject parcel of
land is located.
D.
The type, size, height, location, and proposed setbacks
of the sign.
E.
One drawing of the plans and specifications and method
of construction and attachment to the building or the ground.
F.
A copy of stress sheets and calculations showing that
the structure is designed for load and wind pressure in any direction
in the amount required by this chapter.
G.
The name and address of any person, firm, corporation
or association who will erect sign.
H.
Any electrical permit required and issued for said
sign.
I.
Such other information as the Town Building and Code
Inspector shall require to show full compliance with this chapter
or any other applicable local laws or ordinances of the Town.
The Town Board shall, by resolution, set and
establish the fee for a permit for the erection, construction, enlargement,
expansion, alteration or relocation of signs.
Any sign lawfully existing on the effective
date of this chapter which does not comply with all the applicable
standards and regulations of this chapter or any amendment thereto
may continue although not in conformity with the applicable standards
and regulations herein. However, such a nonconforming sign shall only
be reconstructed, enlarged, expanded, altered or relocated in compliance
with the applicable standards and regulations of this chapter or any
amendment thereto.
