[HISTORY: Adopted by the Planning Board of the Town of Dover 7-13-2009. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 185.
These regulations are adopted pursuant to the Zoning Bylaw, § 185-35.
A sign is defined as an identification, description, emblem
or display which is affixed to, printed on, or represented directly
or indirectly upon the exterior of a building or structure, or upon
a parcel of land, which is visible and intended to be visible from
public places and which directs or calls attention to a person, place,
product, institution, business, organization, activity or service.
Mailboxes, occupant name plates, house and apartment numbers, historical
markers and holiday decorations are excluded from this definition.
The Dover Planning Board has adopted this chapter with the following
objectives:
A.
In general, each commercial establishment shall be limited to a maximum
of 2 permanent signs, unless the Planning Board determines that additional
signs are needed due to unusual circumstances.
B.
Temporary signs.
(1)
No more than 1 temporary sign shall be permitted to announce the
pending opening of a new establishment, or a scheduled event. Such
temporary sign shall be displayed for a limited duration of no more
than 30 days or the duration of the special event, whichever is less,
unless the Planning Board determines that an additional duration of
time is needed due to unusual circumstances.
(2)
Temporary signs in residential districts advertising a company performing
landscape, construction or maintenance work on the premises shall
require a permit from the Planning Board if their use will exceed
either the duration of work or a maximum of 30 days within any 60-day
period, whichever is less. A maximum of 4 such signs may be displayed
at any one time.
C.
Signs identifying and/or promoting a residential subdivision, whether
temporary or permanent, shall be considered a commercial sign for
the purposes of this bylaw.
A.
There shall be no more than one permanent noncommercial sign on the premises, other than warning or instructional signs as provided for in Subsection C below.
B.
Temporary noncommercial signs in residential districts expressing
personal, religious and other noncommercial messages containing no
advertising matter are subject to the following condition:
(1)
The placement of such signs shall be such that they do not interfere
with sight distance for operators of vehicles passing or entering
or exiting the premises.
C.
Warning or instructional signs, such as those advising passers-by
or visitors not to hunt or trespass, to beware of a dog or other hazard
on the property, to park in a certain location or enter the house
via a particular entrance, and similar signs, are subject to the following
conditions:
D.
Signs in residential districts shall not be lighted.
A.
Freestanding signs shall be compatible in style with the architecture
and/or the inherent character of the building and surrounding landscape.
B.
Wall signs shall be positioned to respect the design of the building
and not cover up important architectural details. Typically, the sign
should be centered horizontally on the vertical surface to which it
is attached.
C.
Signs should be proportional in size to the area where they are located.
D.
Sign colors and finishes should be compatible with the color of the
building.
A.
Submission of request for sign permit. Any person or organization seeking consent of the Planning Board under § 185-35 of the Zoning Bylaw for installation of a sign requiring a permit shall apply to the Planning Board by filing a written request that includes the following:
(1)
An application form provided by the Planning Board. The form shall include contact information of the applicant and owner of the premises, a statement indicating the purpose of the sign, a statement documenting that the sign complies with § 185-35 of the Zoning Bylaw and these regulations, and a nonrefundable filing fee of $250.
(2)
A design to scale of the sign, including dimensions, colors and materials,
including supporting structures.
(3)
A plan illustrating the location of the sign on the building, or
in the case of a freestanding sign, the location on the property.
(4)
A detail of any proposed lighting for a commercial sign.
(5)
Details of any proposed landscaping associated with a freestanding
sign.
(6)
The Planning Board reserves the right to request a photo simulation
of the proposed sign in its proposed location.
B.
Timing. The Planning Board shall consider the application at a meeting
held within 45 days of submittal.
C.
Decision. The Planning Board shall make a decision within 60 days
from the date of submittal unless a longer time is agreed to by the
applicant. The Board may approve the sign application as submitted,
approve it with conditions, or disapprove the application. The decision
shall be in writing. Failure of the Board to make a decision within
60 days shall be deemed to be approval of the sign.
D.
Exemptions. Permanent noncommercial signs and temporary signs (displayed
for a maximum of 30 days within any 60-day period) in compliance with
these regulations shall not require a permit.
A.
Filing requirement. Failure to file an application for a sign, when Planning Board permission is required under § 185-35 of the Zoning Bylaw, shall be grounds for an order by the Building Inspector to remove any such sign that was not authorized by a permit from the Planning Board under these regulations.
B.
Compliance. Signs shall be subject to an order by the Building Inspector for their removal for failure to comply with the conditions of the sign permit duly issued by the Planning Board, or the sign owner subject to a fine as authorized by the Zoning Bylaw and by Chapter 20 of the Code of the Town of Dover or other remedial measures as the Planning Board deems necessary. Any sign permit not used within two years of its issuance shall be void and require application for a new permit.
C.
The Building Inspector shall have the authority to enforce the provisions
of this chapter.
