The sign regulation section is designed to provide
standards for the installation of signs so as to further the objectives
of the Master Plan; promote the general welfare of the community;
protect public health, safety and welfare; reduce traffic hazards;
protect property values; and promote economic development. This is
accomplished by encouraging the creation of an aesthetic appearance
throughout the Town, through the use of attractive and appropriate
signing.
Unless otherwise specifically provided, or unless
clearly required by the context, the words and phrases defined in
this section shall have the meaning indicated when used in this article.
ADDRESS SIGN
A sign consisting of numerals and letters identifying a property
address.
ADVERTISING COPY
Copy that includes, but is not limited to phone numbers,
prices, announcements of sales, business hours, meeting times, individual
or specific products or merchandise, and directional information.
A business name and street address are not considered advertising
copy.
ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign which includes advertising copy and/or graphics relating
to any service, product, person, business, place, activity or organization
in addition to simple identification.
BANNER SIGN
A sign which is painted or displayed upon cloth or other
flexible material.
BILLBOARD
An off-premises sign owned by a person, corporation, or other
entity that engages in the business of selling the advertising space
on that sign and that is subject to the provisions of Massachusetts
General Laws Chapter 93, Sections 29-33 or Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 93D.
FASCIA SIGN
A sign which is permanently affixed to the horizontal piece
covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves
of the roof.
FLAG-MOUNTED SIGN
A sign which projects from the roof or wall of a building
perpendicular to a wall surface.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign that is attached to, erected on, or supported by some
structure (such as a pole, mast, frame, or other structure) that is
not itself an integral part of or attached to a building or other
structure whose principal function is something other than the support
of a sign. A sign that stands without supporting elements, such as
"sandwich sign," is also a freestanding sign. If the message is removed
from a structure that was originally designed and used as a freestanding
sign, this structure shall still be considered a sign.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign that includes as copy only the name of the business,
place, organization, building, or person it identifies.
ILLUMINATED EXTERNALLY SIGN
Sign where the source of the illumination is outside the
sign and light is reflected off the surface of the sign.
ILLUMINATED INTERNALLY SIGN
Signs where the source of the illumination is inside the
sign and light emanates through the message of the sign, rather than
being reflected off the surface of the sign from an external source.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, signs that consist
of or contain tubes that:
A.
Are filled with neon or some other gas that
glows when an electric current passes through it; and
B.
Are intended to form or constitute all or part
of the message of the sign, rather than merely providing illumination
to other parts of the sign that contain the message, shall also be
considered internally illuminated signs.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign whose surface is lighted, internally or externally,
and which identifies, advertises or attracts attention to a use or
activity on the premises.
MASTER SIGNAGE PLAN
A detailed description, including, but not limited to number,
type, size, color, and location of all signage.
MULTI-TENANT SIGN
A sign that includes as copy, only the names of two (2) or
more businesses, places, organizations, buildings or persons it identifies.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign lawfully erected prior to July 28, 1994 which does
not conform to all of the requirements of this bylaw.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign that is not located on the premises that it advertises
or identifies.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
A sign that draws attention to or communicates information
about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction, or
other enterprise or activity that exists or is conducted, sold, offered,
maintained, or provided on the premises where the sign is located.
ROOF-MOUNTED SIGN
A sign which projects above the highest point of the roofline,
parapet or fascia of a building.
SIGN
A.
Any permanent or temporary structure or device
providing identification, advertising or directional information,
or which is designed to attract the eye by intermittent repeated motion
or illumination, for a specific business, service, product, person,
organization, place or building.
B.
Included in this definition of signs are graphic
devices such as logos, attention attracting media such as logo sculpture
and obtrusive colored fascia or architectural elements, banners, balloons,
streamers, search lights, strobe lights, flags, inflatable structures,
merchandise displays, accessory lights and other attention attracting
media and devices.
SOFFITT SIGN
A sign which is suspended from the underside of a lintel,
arch or other overhead spanning member and is hung perpendicular to
a vertical wall surface.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any outdoor sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising
display constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, fabric, cardboard, wallboard
or other light material with or without frames not permanently affixed
to any structure on a site or permanently ground mounted.
WALL MOUNTED SIGN
A sign which is permanently affixed to any vertical portion
of a building for which the sign is intended to identify or advertise.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign or signage placed in windows so as to attract the
attention of persons outside of the building where such sign or signage
is placed.
Except as provided in §
200-81, signs that are not specifically authorized are expressly prohibited. These prohibited signs include, but are not limited to the following:
A. Moving or flashing signs; signs illuminated by or
including any flashing or oscillating light; electronic billboards
and reader boards; strings of pennants or so-called "whirlygigs" and
the like. A sign which is designed, for structural reasons, to align
itself with the direction of the wind shall not be considered a moving
sign. Flashing or animated signs of any color shall not be permitted;
B. All portable signs, except as otherwise provided.
Portable signs shall include, but are not limited to, signs which
are mounted, attached, or painted on trailers, boats or vehicles when
used as additional signage on or near the business premises. Business
vehicles displaying signage or advertising shall be parked in an assigned
parking space which is not immediately adjacent to a street frontage;
C. Temporary signs except as provided in §
200-79B;
D. More than two (2) exterior permanent signs for any
one (1) business or industrial establishment or residential premises;
E. More than one (1) freestanding sign;
F. All signs mounted on, or applied to trees, utility
poles, rocks, or town owned property, except as otherwise provided;
G. All banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, flags,
search lights, strobe lights, beacons, inflatable signs, except as
otherwise provided;
H. Service or bay door mounted sign banners or advertising;
I. Any sign imitating or obscuring an official traffic
control sign or signal;
J. Any sign placed on private property without the property
owner's written approval;
K. Any non-public signs in a public right-of-way or on
public property, except approved banner signs installed pursuant to
the North Reading Banner Program Guidelines. Further, the Town may
install signs on its own property to identify public buildings and
uses, and to provide necessary traffic control. Any non-public sign
installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with
the requirements of this section, shall be forfeited to the public
and subject to confiscation.
L. Billboards or other off-premises signs;
N. Neon signs, or other direct-lighted signs are not
permitted in residential districts and the local business and general
business zoning districts.
[Amended 4-7-2008 ATM by Art. 25, approved 6-27-2008]
O. Internally and externally illuminated signs wherein
such sign shall have any animation, flashing or intermittent image
or illumination that includes an electronic, video, fixed, floating
or moving text and/or picture that includes, but is not limited to
the use of television, plasma, digital screens and/or light emitting
diodes, liquid crystal displays, fiber optics, holograph or hologram
displays; other than those erected by a public entity for public safety
and/or traffic control purposes.
[Added 4-7-2008 ATM by Art. 24, approved 6-27-2008]
In addition to the signs permitted pursuant to §
200-79, signs accessory to nonconforming business or commercial uses and not exceeding ten (10) square feet shall be permitted in residential districts provided a permit is obtained from the Building Inspector.
All applications for special permits shall be
subject to site plan review.
A. In reviewing applications for special permits pursuant
to this article, the Community Planning Commission shall apply the
following standards:
(1) The sign(s) will not cause visual confusion, glare
or offensive lighting in the neighborhood;
(2) The sign(s) will not be a detriment to the surrounding
area;
(3) The sign(s) will not significantly alter the character
of the zoning district;
(4) The sign(s) will not interfere with traffic safety
in the area;
(5) Each sign shall be considered on its own merits and
shall not be considered a precedent;
(6) The sign(s) conform to the provisions of any valid
master signage plan;
(7) All zoning nonconformities and general bylaw violations
must be removed or corrected.
B. The CPC may impose any reasonable conditions on any
special permit issued pursuant to this article.
C. Where a sign in a Priority Development Site requires a special permit under this article, the sign application shall be incorporated within the special permit application submitted to the Community Planning Commission under §
200-28B.
[Added 4-7-2008 ATM by Art. 23, approved 6-27-2008]
In business and industrial districts, for lots
having frontage of not less than three hundred (300) feet, having
area of not less than six (6) acres, the following provisions may
be varied by special permit of the Community Planning Commission,
provided that the sign in question will be used in connection with
one (1) or more commercial buildings on the premises having a total
of not less than twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet of floor
space:
B. Number of signs. The number of signs allowed in business
and industrial districts may be increased provided that the total
area of the signs does not exceed the following:
(1) Freestanding signs may not exceed a total of one-half
(1/2) square foot per foot of lot frontage; and
(2) Wall and roof signs may not exceed twenty (20) percent
of front wall area.
C. Size of sign. The area of freestanding and wall signs
in business and industrial districts may be increased as follows:
(1) The area of wall signs may be increased to a maximum
of twenty (20) percent of the area of the wall on which they are displayed;
and
(2) The area of freestanding signs may be increased to
a maximum of one-half (1/2) square foot per foot of lot frontage.
D. Roof signs. Roof signs may be allowed by special permit,
provided that:
(1) No such sign shall exceed one hundred (100) square
feet or ten (10) percent of the area of the wall facing the direction
of the sign, whichever is smaller; and
(2) No such sign shall project above the roof ridge except
in the case of a flat roof, in which case the top of the sign shall
not extend more than four (4) feet above the building.