Definitions. As used in this Article
XVI, the following words and terms shall have the following respective meanings. Whenever there may arise an ambiguity or dispute with respect to the meaning of any of the following words and terms, such ambiguity or dispute shall be resolved in a manner that results in a more restrictive interpretation consistent with the stated purposes of this Article
XVI.
ABANDONMENT
The cessation of a use of a sign as indicated by the visible
or otherwise apparent intention of an owner or occupant to discontinue
the use of a sign, structure or lot; or the removal of the characteristic
equipment or furnishings used in the performance of the use.
ALTERATION
Any construction, reconstruction or other similar action
resulting in a change in structural parts, height, dimensions, size,
use or location.
AWNING
A nonrigid covering over a fixed or retractable frame attached
to a building's facade that projects over an area adjacent to the
building.
(1)
FIXED AWNINGA nonrigid covering over a fixed frame attached to a building's facade that projects over an area adjacent to the building.
(2)
OPERABLE AWNINGA nonrigid covering over a retractable frame attached to a building's facade that projects over an area adjacent to the building.
AWNING SIGN
Any and every sign displayed on an awning, which may include
the entire awning.
BEACON
Any light source with one or more beams directed at one or
more points not on the same lot as the light source.
BILLBOARD
Any sign, regardless of size, which advertises, calls attention
to or promotes for commercial purposes any product, service or activity
other than one manufactured, sold or engaged in on the lot at which
the sign is located.
BUILDING DIRECTORY SIGN
Any sign, other than a building marker, that contains the
name of a building and/or its tenants.
BUILDING MARKER
Any sign indicating the name of a building, date of construction
or significant fact about the building or its site that is cut into
a masonry surface or flat-mounted on a building's facade.
CANOPY
An architectural projection, including a marquee, that provides
weather protection, identity or decoration and is supported by the
building to which it is attached, whether or not supported by one
or more structural posts anchored to the ground or sidewalk. Typically,
a canopy is a rigid structure to which a rigid covering is attached.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign on which message content or copy is changed manually
or electronically, including through the utilization of attachable
or digitally changeable letters, numbers, symbols, and other similar
characters.
CHANGING IMAGE SIGN
Any sign that, through the use of electronic light-emitting
diodes (LEDs), flat-screen panels, moving structural elements, flashing
or sequential lights, lighting elements, or other method, results
in movement, the appearance of movement or change of sign image or
message. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic
or mechanical indication of time and/or temperature shall be considered
a changing image sign for purposes of this bylaw.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE
Any sign, wording, logo, trademark, "trade dress," identifying
color regime or other representation that directly or indirectly names,
advertises or calls attention to a business, product, service, organization
or other commercial activity.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign limited solely to directing vehicular or pedestrian
traffic to, or setting out use restrictions within, parking areas.
A directional sign shall not include a commercial message.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors,
patterns, or symbols, used as a symbol of a government or political
entity.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign or grouping of signs supported by structures or
supports that are on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent
from any building or other structures.
HAZARDOUS SIGN
A sign constituting a hazard to the public safety because
it does not meet the lateral and/or vertical loads as specified in
the Building Code, or does not meet the wiring and installation standards
of the Electrical Code.
HISTORICAL MARKER or PLAQUE
An historical plaque approved by the Wakefield Historical
Commission, the State Department of Archives and History or the National
Register of Historic Places.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign that is illuminated in any manner by electrical or
other devices, including the following:
(4)
LUMINOUS TUBINGA light source formed by glass tubes filled with gas, including neon lighting.
IMAGE PROJECTIONS
Light images created by a projection device that may be still,
changeable or moving, that are shown on building walls, sidewalks
or other surfaces.
MENU BOARD
Any sign that provides information to patrons while using
a drive-through facility or walk-up machine such as an automated teller
machine.
MENU BOXES
A sign affixed to a building that is capable of being read
only at close range, such as on the sidewalk, by restaurant patrons
that displays the restaurant's menu, hours or the like. Said sign
shall not attract attention from off the premises, and its contents
should not be discernible from a public street.
MONUMENT SIGN
Any freestanding sign flush with the ground, the base of
which is at least 75% as wide as the widest part of the whole sign.
"Base" shall mean that portion of the sign that is flush with the
ground.
MOVING SIGN or ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign or any part of a sign that mechanically moves, spins
by the wind, flashes, or uses traveling lights, changeable copy, or
changing images.
NONCONFORMING SIGNS
Any sign that does not conform to the provisions of this
article that was lawfully erected.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether
or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire,
or string, usually in a series, but excluding flags.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including,
but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels;
signs on A- or T-frames; sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs;
umbrellas used for advertising; signs attached to or painted on a
vehicle parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said
vehicle is used in the normal, day-to-day operations of the business.
PROJECTING BRACKET SIGN
Any sign that is suspended from a metal bracket and that
extends more than six inches beyond the surface of the building to
which it is attached.
PROJECTING FIXED-BANNER SIGN
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is
held in place between upper and lower brackets or armatures that are
permanently fixed to a building's facade in such a manner that it
extends more than six inches beyond the surface of such building.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign that is affixed to a building and that extends more
than six inches beyond the surface of such building. A mansard wall
sign shall not be deemed a projecting sign.
REPAIR
With respect to a building, structure or sign, any construction
that replaces the materials and does not change the dimensions, size,
use or location thereof.
ROOF SIGN
Any and every sign located above, or projecting above, the
lowest point of the eave or the top parapet wall of any building,
or which is painted on or otherwise attached or affixed to a roof.
A mansard wall sign shall not be deemed a roof sign.
SIGN
Any display, including its structure, consisting of any letter,
figure, character, mark, point, plane, design, poster, pictorial,
picture, video display, cartoon, stroke, stripe, line, trademark,
reading matter or illuminated device, which is constructed, attached,
erected, fastened or manufactured in any manner so that the same shall
be used to convey any message whatsoever to the public.
SIGN AREA
The area defined by the smallest rectangle that will encompass
the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other
display, together with any material or color forming the background
of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop
or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting
framework or supporting structure. Only one side of a flat, identical,
back-to-back sign shall be included in calculating the sign area.
SIGNBAND or FRIEZE
A continuous horizontal segment of a building's facade, located
above any ground-level storefront display windows and clerestory windows
and below the second-story windows or building cornice. In many storefronts
this area is designated by a distinct band of pre-cast concrete, plaster,
wood or other material and is the typical location for business signs.
SIGN HEIGHT
The maximum vertical distance measured from the finished
grade to the highest point of the sign or its supporting structure,
whichever is higher.
STOREFRONT OF A BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENT
That portion of the first floor building wall comprised of
the business establishment's public entrance and display windows that
is adjacent to and corresponds to the height and width of the interior
space rented or owned by the business establishment.
STREET ADDRESS SIGN
A sign indicating only the street address for a particular
building or lot.
STREETSCAPE DRAWING
An architectural drawing of building facades that shows the
outline of adjacent buildings, the height of parapets, rooflines,
second-floor levels, and the size and location of window openings.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any and every sign, but not including window signs, which
by its design and/or use is temporary in nature, frequently composed
of paper, poster-board and/or cardboard, typically containing messages
relative to sale, lease, rental or construction of property, garage
or yard sales and similar occasional uses, special sales, bazaars,
dinners or other events. Temporary signs include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(1)
ARTISAN'S SIGNAny sign of a mechanic, painter, or other artisan performing work on the lot.
(2)
LAWN SIGNAny freestanding sign made of lightweight materials such as cardboard or vinyl that is supported by a frame, pole, or other support structure placed directly in the ground without foundation or other anchor.
(3)
POLITICAL SIGNAny sign that refers only to the issues or candidates involved in a political election.
(4)
SALES OR RENTAL SIGNAny sign advertising the sale or rental of the whole or any portion of the lot upon which it is located.
(5)
BANNERAny sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a pole or building at one or more edges. Any such sign that meets the definition of a wall sign, projecting bracket sign, projecting fixed-banner sign, or projecting sign shall not be deemed a banner. Flags shall not be considered banners. All banners are temporary signs.
WALL MURAL
A directly applied wall sign that exceeds the maximum allowed
sign area.
WALL SIGN
Any sign securely fixed parallel to the face of a building
wall. Four types of wall signs specifically identified in this article
are:
(2)
RAISED PANEL WALL SIGNAny sign of painted, incised, or three-dimensional material applied to a panel that is less than two inches in thickness affixed directly to a building surface.
(3)
SIGN BOX WALL SIGNAny sign of painted, incised or three-dimensional material affixed to a signboard or in a frame attached and parallel to a wall surface extending more than two inches, but less than six inches, from the wall surface.
WINDOW SIGN
Any and every sign of any material affixed directly to the
surface of the window and/or any sign inside a building, the purpose
of which is to be viewed or visible from the outside, including, without
limitation, every such sign within three feet of the window or door.
A window sign does not include any item of merchandise normally displayed
within a merchant's display window.