Haddam is a Town with an essentially residential
and rural character. It is a Town with a rich history of agriculture,
industry and commerce. It contains many areas of historical and aesthetic
importance. The purpose of this article is to permit such signs that
will not, by their quantity, size, height, location, construction
or manner of display, endanger public health and safety; and to permit
objectives set forth in these zoning regulations.
No sign, as defined by this regulation, shall
be erected or maintained within the limits of the Town of Haddam except
those specifically permitted by these regulations, for which a registration
in accordance with the regulation has been received by the Zoning
Enforcement Officer or the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Anything to the contrary in this regulation
notwithstanding, the following signs are permitted of right and do
not require a registration unless they vary from the allowable standards
set herein:
A.
Flags. National flags, flags of political entitles
and subdivisions and state, Town or local flags. Flags indicating
weather conditions and flags which are emblems of religious, charitable,
public or nonprofit organizations are included.
B.
Identification signs (on premises). One sign, painted
upon or applied to a building or freestanding, either fixed or changeable,
setting forth or denoting the name of any subdivision, group, housing
project, school, college, park, church, charitable service, religious,
governmental, educational or nonprofit organization or other public
facility when located on the premises of such institution, provided
such sign face shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.
C.
Identification signs (off premises). Public, charitable,
fraternal, religious or other nonprofit institutions may erect permanent
off-premises signs not more than three in number and not more than
four square feet in area per sign, listing the name of the organization,
the time and place of meeting and other pertinent information. Such
signs may contain a logo or distinguishing mark or character associated
with the organization.
D.
Address signs. Occupants of a residence may display
their names, the names of their residence and/or its street address
on a single sign per parcel of land, not exceeding six square feet
in area.
E.
Newspaper boxes. Boxes, tubes or receptacles for the
delivery and receipt of newspapers may be placed along roadways or
on buildings or premises and may contain the name of the newspaper
or other publication, provided that the total area of signage of any
such item shall not exceed one square foot in size.
F.
Plaques. Commemorative or informational plaques placed
by public interest organizations or agencies recognized by the Town
of Haddam, State of Connecticut or United States government. Such
plaques shall not exceed six square feet in size.
G.
Public signs. Signs of a public or noncommercial nature,
which shall include community service information signs, public bulletin
boards, public transit service signs, public utility information signs,
safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic
or historical points of interest and all signs erected by a public
officer in the performance of a public duty, including state and Town
traffic, locational and directional signs.
I.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Construction signs: one sign per building which
is under construction or structural alteration or repair announcing
the character of the building enterprise or the purposes for which
the building is intended, including the names of architects, engineers,
contractors, developers and lending institutions responsible for the
construction on the site, provided the area of such sign shall not
exceed six square feet in residential districts or 32 square feet
in other districts. Such signs shall be removed within 30 days of
the completion of construction.
(2)
Real estate signs: one sign per street frontage
not exceeding six square feet in residential districts or any 32 square
feet in other districts, advertising the sale, rental or lease of
the premises on which displayed.
(3)
Special event displays: A sign or signs may
be erected on the premises of any establishment having a grand opening
or special event, provided that such signs shall not exceed 32 square
feet in aggregate area and all such signs for any business shall be
displayed for a period not to exceed 90 calendar days within any twelve-month
period.
(4)
Auction signs: One temporary sign not more than
12 square feet in area, advertising a public auction of property located
in a residential district, may be displayed on the premises on which
the property is located, provided that the duration of the display
shall not exceed 30 days in any one calendar year.
(5)
Tag, yard, barn or similar sale signs: One temporary
sign not more than six square feet in area, advertising the sale of
items of personal property owned by a person residing on the premises,
may be displayed on the premises, provided that such sign shall not
be erected more than 12 days in advance of the sale date and shall
be removed with two days after the sale. In addition, each tag sale
is permitted two off-premises directional signs not to exceed one
square foot each. Such signs shall be displayed only in the areas
in which their display is not prohibited by state or local law or
regulation and, if placed in front of property owned by another, the
signs may be displayed only with written permission of the property
owner (subject to limitations in Article XXIII of these regulations).
(7)
Temporary business signs: In addition to all
other permitted signage, each business shall be allowed one on-premises
sign per street frontage for the purposes of advertising help wanted
or other similar special needs. Each sign shall not exceed six square
feet in area.
(8)
Political signs: any political campaign sign
or sign concerning a matter of public interest or controversy, including
any poster, banner, writing, picture, painting, light, model, display,
emblem, notice, illustration, insignia, symbol and any other advertising
device, the purpose of which is to announce the candidacy of any person
or persons seeking public office of offices or to state a position
or opinion on a matter of public interest or controversy. Each sign
shall not exceed 32 square feet and may only be displayed 90 days
before an event (if applicable) and must be removed within two days
of the event. Such signs shall be displayed only in areas in which
their display is not prohibited by state or local law or regulation.
(9)
Street banners (off premises): Public, charitable,
fraternal, religious or other nonprofit institutions may erect a single
special event sign, either on or off premises, not more than 32 square
feet per side, to be displayed not more than 30 days before the event
being advertised and to be removed within two days after the event.
Every business permitted under the provisions
of §§ 270-21, 270-22 and 270-23 (except home occupations
as defined and regulated under Article XXVI) of these regulations
may have on the property on which the business is conducted one plain
or indirectly illuminated, nonflashing, nonrotating sign, not more
than six square feet in area, indicating the name of the owner or
proprietor, the character of the business and/or the products or services
made, sold or delivered on the premises.
In nonresidential zones, every business may
erect upon the property on which the business is conducted plain or
directly or indirectly illuminated, nonflashing, nonrotating business
signs indicating the name of the owner or proprietor, the character
of the business, the name of the business and/or the products or services
made, sold or delivered on the premises. These signs may be either
painted on, applied, or attached to a building or a combination of
said sign types. All such signs shall be subject to the following
requirements and limitations:
A.
Business signs, when painted on, applied or attached
to a building, either flat or hanging therefrom, may not exceed 5%
of each wall area or 32 square feet (whichever is larger) in aggregate
sign face area per side.
B.
No sign shall protrude above the highest portion of
the roof ridge line.
C.
Signs affixed either flat or parallel to the building
shall not project more than 12 inches from the front of the building
and shall not project beyond the side of the building.
D.
Signs which hang perpendicular to the building shall
provide a clearance of at least eight feet from the grade to the sign.
This shall not apply to flags or banners.
E.
In the case of multiple businesses in the same location
or shopping malls, there may be a freestanding directory consisting
of a header with the name of the building or mall, not to exceed one
square foot per 200 square feet of business floor area, with a minimum
allowable size of 18 square feet and additional individual business
identification signs of not more than six square feet each, with an
overall height not to exceed 22 feet. Such sign shall be placed such
that it meets all Town, state or federal regulations associated with
setbacks from existing roadways.
F.
In addition to the signs permitted by Subsections
A and E, each parcel may have one freestanding sign detached from
any building per each 200 feet of road frontage. Such signs shall
be not more than 32 square feet in sign face area per side. No freestanding
sign shall have a height greater than 20 feet. In any instance where
a parcel has road frontage in excess of 200 feet, and there is more
than one freestanding sign, no such additional freestanding sign shall
be within 150 feet of any other freestanding or directory sign. Such
signs shall be placed such that they meet all Town, state or federal
regulations associated with setbacks from existing roadways.
G.
In determining the total permitted sign area, only
one side of a two-sided freestanding or hanging sign will be considered.
H.
Traffic signs approved with a site plan shall not
be included in the total allowable sign face area under this regulation.
I.
Traffic, rate or informational signs mandated by federal,
state or local regulation shall not be included in the total allowable
sign face unless they exceed legally required minimum sizes and then
only by the amount by which such sign(s) exceeds such minimum sizes.
J.
In addition to the business signs allowed above, each
business shall be allowed one "inverted T" or "A-frame" non-fixed-type
sign per street frontage, not to exceed eight square feet per side.
Such sign shall displayed only in areas in which their display is
not prohibited by state or local law or regulation.
K.
In addition to all other signage, each business shall
be allowed one "open" or other advertising flag per street frontage,
not to exceed 15 square feet in size, to be displayed on the business
premises. No flag shall be placed in any areas where such display
is prohibited by state or local law or regulation.
L.
Each business may place not more than two off-premises
directional signs, each sign not more than four square feet per side
in size, with written permission of the property owner, in any commercial
zone, except that no directional signs may be located in the Gateway
Zone or in any location where its display will be a hazard.
M.
In addition to all elements of signage and display
allowed by this regulation, any business located in a nonresidential
zone may display merchandise or wares of the business outside of the
premises of the business. All such displays shall be in accordance
with an approved site plan submitted in accordance with Article XVIII
of these zoning regulations.
It shall be unlawful to erect or maintain:
A.
Any sign which is not included under the types of
signs permitted in this regulation.
B.
Any sign or billboard which advertises or publicizes
an activity not conducted on the premises upon which such sign is
maintained.
C.
Any portable or changeable sign, except as otherwise
permitted by this regulation.
D.
Any sign placed above the highest portion of the roof
of any structure or building.
E.
Any temporary sign unless otherwise permitted by this
regulation.
Signs in nonresidential areas which predate
and do not conform to the provisions of this regulation shall be subject
to the following restrictions and limitations: If said signs existed
prior to January 1, 1992, and are registered by September 1, 1992,
such signs may continue; except if said sign or billboard shall need
repair or renovation which involves the rebuilding of more than 50%
of the structure, such structure shall be removed or brought into
compliance. Nothing herein shall prevent the routine repair, maintenance,
repainting, relettering or reapplication of advertising materials
to any validly existing sign or nonconforming sign or billboard.
A.
No sign for which a registration is required under
these regulations shall be erected unless and until a registration
has been received by the Haddam Zoning Enforcement Officer. All applicants
for a registration shall submit a registration to the Zoning Enforcement
Officer on a form designated by the Commission. Such registration
shall be kept on file for each business by the Zoning Enforcement
Officer.
B.
All signs existing prior to January 1, 1992, shall
be registered prior to September 1, 1992. No fee will be charged for
registrations.
