A.
It is determined that the number of signs in Coventry is excessive
and is unduly distracting to motorists and pedestrians, creates a
traffic hazard, and in some places reduces the effectiveness of signs
needed to direct the public; that the appearance of Coventry is marred
by the excessive number of signs; that the number of distracting signs
ought to be reduced in order to minimize the aforementioned effects.
B.
The purpose of this article is to minimize traffic hazards,
protect property values, create a more attractive economic and business
climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community
and preserve the scenic and natural beauty of designated areas.
A.
The following signs are allowed without permits provided they
conform to all applicable regulations, and are not illuminated:
(1)
Name and address of resident. One per residence not to exceed
1 1/2 square feet in area.
(2)
No trespassing signs.
(3)
Bulletin boards. Not to exceed 12 square feet for public or
religious institutions when located on the property thereof, provided
there is no commercial advertising.
(4)
For sale signs. Not to exceed six square feet in a residential
zone and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial zone.
(5)
Instructional or directional signs. Identifying on-premises
traffic, parking or other functional activity bearing no commercial
advertising.
(6)
Signs erected by the Town of Coventry, the State of Rhode Island
or by the United States of America.
(7)
Memorial signs or tablets. Denoting the date of erection of
buildings.
(8)
Identification signs. Places of worship or certified nonprofit
educational institutions when located on the property thereof and
not to exceed 15 square feet in area.
(9)
Election signs and/or political signs. Shall not be attached
to any tree or utility pole within the public right-of-way and shall
be removed within 10 days after the election.
(10)
Accessory signs denoting as hours of operation, credit cards,
business affiliations, and the like.
(11)
The following signs customary and necessary to the operation
of gasoline filling stations:
(a)
One wall-mounted sign over each garage, not larger
than 10 inches in height consisting of words like "washing," "lubrication,"
and "repair."
(b)
Signs and insignias on gas pumps such as brand
name, lead warning sign and one price sign per pump not exceeding
2 1/2 square feet per side which is attached to the pump.
(c)
One price per gallon sign not larger than 12 square
feet per side, using numbers no larger than 18 inches in height. This
sign shall be freestanding and shall have a clearance of at least
seven feet from the ground.
(12)
Time and temperature devices. Which contain no advertising and
do not exceed 20 square feet.
(13)
Awning signs. Less than 10 square feet in area, not to exceed
one such awning sign per use.
(14)
Sale of produce raised on land signs, the total of which shall
not exceed 12 square feet in area.
B.
The following signs shall not be permitted:
(1)
Signs which have any visible moving parts, whether mobile, revolving
or animated, which motion or animation is achieved by wind, motors
or flashing lights, unless permitted by another section of this chapter.
(2)
Flashing or animated signs.
(3)
Any sign or sign support, which for any reasons constitutes
a hazard by obstructing the vision of a driver; detracting from the
vision of a driver; detracting from the visibility or effectiveness
of any traffic sign or device; obstructing free ingress or egress
from a fire escape, door, window or other required exit; or make use
of words such as "stop," "look," "one way," "danger," "yield," or
any similar words or characters, so as to interfere with, mislead
or confuse traffic.
(4)
String lights. Strung light bulbs, searchlights, streamers,
pennants, banners, spinners, or other devices strung across, upon,
over or along any structure or building in conjunction with a commercial
or industrial use. A temporary sign permit may be issued for 30 days
to allow such uses in conjunction with special events, but no more
than three temporary sign permits may be issued for every twelve-month
period to the same person, as defined in § 255-200A.
(5)
Projecting signs. Erected so as to project approximately perpendicular
from the exterior of any building or wall and which exceed 16 square
feet in area, unless otherwise stated in this chapter, or which project
more than four feet from the exterior of said building or wall or
are less than 10 feet above sidewalk grade. Nothing herein shall be
construed to permit the erection of any projecting sign over a public
way without the approval of the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement
Officer.
(6)
Roof-mounted signs. Any sign that projects more than two feet
above the roof parapet of a building or mounted upon any roof, parapet
or ridge line of a building.
(7)
Billboards. Or other off-premises signs.
(8)
Portable signs. Defined as a metal or plastic framed, freestanding
portable sign with or without changeable lettering, with or without
illumination shall be prohibited. However, a portable A-frame sign
with no interchangeable lettering, up to six square feet, shall be
permitted as a temporary sign with the appropriate permit.
C.
Signs: area, height, setback and number:
(1)
The area of a sign is the total area within a line drawn around
all surfaces or structures of the sign including spaces between or
within letters and/or pictorial matter, slates, panels, and major
supports or frames if designed as a integral part of the sign, but
specifically excluding the spaces between major supports required
for clearance between sign and the ground.
(2)
The height of a sign shall be the vertical distance measured
from the ground at the base of the sign to the highest point of any
portion of the sign or supporting structure.
(3)
Permitted signs shall be placed five feet back from front, side
and rear lot lines except when the sign is located on the building.
Such signs shall be located 50 feet away from any residential district
boundary. The setback for a freestanding sign shall be measured from
the lot line to the outermost edge of the sign or supporting structure,
whichever is closer to the lot line.
D.
Sign permits:
(1)
A sign permit, issued by the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement
Officer, shall be required for all permanent and temporary signs hereafter
erected, installed or replaced, unless specifically exempted by this
chapter. Any sign erected without a sign permit may be removed by
the Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Officer or a designated
representative. The Town, Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Officer
or representative shall not be held liable for any damage to the sign
as a result of such sign's removal or storage. The owner may claim
the sign after paying any fees that result from the sign's storage
and/or removal.
(2)
Application for a sign permit.
(a)
The following information shall be provided with
the application for a sign permit:
[1]
The size of the proposed sign, area, height, width,
thickness, illumination and material of which it is to be constructed.
[2]
A detailed drawing showing the construction details
of the sign, position of lighting or other extraneous devices, and
support structures.
[3]
A plot plan showing the location of the sign in
relation to the building and all property lines and streets.
(b)
The Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer
may require additional information or specify the location of the
sign on the lot for safety purposes.
E.
Temporary sign permits. The following temporary signs are permitted
provided that they are not illuminated and a sign permit has been
obtained.
(1)
Signs in connection with construction work. One sign per project
not to exceed 32 square feet.
(2)
Signs advertising auctions and special events conducted by nonprofit
organizations. Not to exceed 20 square feet and not to be in place
for more than 30 days. No more than three signs advertising any such
event shall be erected at any one time.
(3)
Supplemental commercial advertising sign. Not to be in place
for more than 30 days and no more than one sign per commercial establishment.
There shall be no more than three temporary sign permits for every
twelve-month period per establishment. Such signs shall be placed
10 feet back from property lines and shall not be located in any required
parking space or access road. Where an existing building is located
on the property line, such sign may be located on the sidewalk adjacent
to the building.
F.
A temporary permit shall be valid for no more than six months,
unless otherwise specified in this chapter, and shall not be extended.
The sign must be removed at the expiration of the permit period or
within 10 days after the completion of the advertised activity, whichever
is sooner. A cash bond of $25 shall be posted with the Building Inspector
for each temporary sign. This sum will be returned upon removal of
the temporary sign. If the sign is not removed when the permit expires,
the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall cause the
sign to be removed and the cash bond shall be forfeited to the Town's
General Fund to help defray the cost of removal.
All signs in residential zoning districts shall be at least
five feet from the front lot line, except when the sign is located
on the building; shall be placed no closer than 15 feet to a side
or rear lot line; shall not extend over the public right-of-way; shall
not extend more than six feet above the ground; and shall conform
to the following regulations:
A.
There shall be no more than one sign for a residential lot which
may identify the premises and/or identify a permitted customary home
occupation. Such sign shall not exceed 1 1/2 square feet.
B.
The sign shall not be illuminated.
C.
Permanent signs identifying residential developments at major
entrances are permitted but shall bear no commercial advertising,
and shall not exceed 15 square feet in area per side.
A.
Signs in commercial and industrial districts.
(1)
Signs in commercial and industrial districts may be either wall-mounted,
freestanding or projecting and may be illuminated, except as provided
for elsewhere in this chapter.
(2)
In commercial and industrial districts, except shopping centers
[§ 1530A(2)], there may be one wall-mounted sign for each
main building or use as follows:
|
Table 15-1
| |
|---|---|
|
Distance of Sign from Nearest Public Street Line
|
Maximum Permitted Area of Wall Mounted Sign
|
|
Less than 200 feet
|
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 60 square feet
|
|
200 to 299 feet
|
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 100 square feet
|
|
300 to 399 feet
|
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 150 square feet
|
|
400 to 499 feet
|
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 200 square feet
|
|
500+ feet
|
1 square feet per lineal foot of building frontage.
Maximum area: 250 square feet
|
(3)
Additionally, one freestanding sign for each main building not
to exceed 48 square feet per side may be allowed. The sign shall not
exceed 20 feet in height above the finished grade and shall be erected
so that it does not impede vision or obstruct access to any street,
sidewalk, driveway, off-street parking or loading facility or any
other required access. Where two or more structures are located on
the same or contiguous lots, owned and operated as a unit, or where
a number of commercial or industrial uses share the same entrance,
a sign plaza in conformance with § 255-1530B(2) may be required.
In place of any allowable wall-mounted or freestanding sign, a projecting
sign in accordance with § 255-1510B(5) is permitted.
B.
Signs in shopping centers.
(1)
There may be one wall-mounted sign for each use or establishment,
not to exceed one square foot for each lineal foot of the portion
of the building's wall containing the use or establishment. Such sign
shall be located in accordance with Table 15-1. The measurement shall
be taken along the building frontage.
(2)
In addition to such wall-mounted signs, there shall be permitted
in shopping centers one common freestanding sign identifying all uses.
Such freestanding signs shall conform to the following:
|
Table 15-2 Freestanding Signage
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Zoning District
|
Maximum Area of Freestanding Sign
(square feet)
|
Maximum Height of Freestanding Sign
(feet from ground level)
|
|
Village Commercial Zones
|
12
|
6
|
|
GB and I
|
2.5 per 1,000 G.F.A (Maximum 150)
|
20
|
(3)
Signs in shopping centers may be illuminated.
(4)
A freestanding sign shall not be erected so as to impede the
vision or obstruct access to or from any street, sidewalk, driveway,
off-street parking or loading facility, or any other access required.
A.
Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 255-1520
through 255-1530, there shall be established village commercial sign
regulations. The purposes of these regulations are to preserve the
integrity of the village and rural neighborhoods that contain commercial
buildings and structures. All signs erected within the zone shall
conform to the regulations set forth in this section of the Ordinance.
B.
The boundaries of the zone shall include all lots as delineated
on the Coventry Zoning Map.
C.
In addition to the prohibited signs delineated in § 255-1510B,
the following signs shall be prohibited in the zone:
(1)
Any interior illuminated sign or awning.
D.
It is the intent that structural signs shall include incidental
decorative trim and framework in addition to the message and lettering.
E.
The following signs shall be permitted providing they meet the
standards set forth in this section of the Ordinance.
(1)
Wall-mounted or painted signs.
(a)
Limited to one primary identification sign per
business.
(b)
The sign shall be affixed to the front facade of
the building, and shall project outward from the wall to which it
is attached no more than four inches.
(c)
The area of the sign board shall not exceed 24
square feet.
(d)
The wall sign shall not extend above the base of
the second floor window sill, parapet, eave, or building facade.
(e)
The height of the lettering and numbers shall not
exceed 10 inches.
(f)
Businesses located in corner buildings are permitted
one sign for each street frontage.
(2)
One wall-mounted sign, not exceeding six square feet in area,
shall be permitted on any side or rear building facade. Such wall
signs may only be lighted during the operating hours of the business.
(3)
Wall-mounted building directory signs identifying the occupants
of a commercial building, including upper story business uses.
(4)
Applied letters may substitute for wall-mounted signs, if constructed
of painted wood, painted cast metal, bronze, brass or black anodized
aluminum. Applied plastic letters shall not be permitted. The height
of applied letters shall not exceed eight inches.
(5)
Projecting signs, including graphic or icon signs, mounted perpendicular
to the building wall.
(a)
Limited to one sign per business.
(b)
The signboard shall not exceed an area of six square
feet.
(c)
The distance from the ground to the lower edge
of the signboard shall be 10 feet or greater.
(d)
The height of the top edge of the sign board shall
not exceed the height of the wall from which the sign projects, if
attached to a single-story building, or the height of the sill or
bottom of any second-story window, if attached to a multistory building.
(e)
The width of the signboard shall not exceed three
feet.
(f)
The height of the lettering, numbers, shall not
exceed eight inches.
(6)
Painted or applied letter signs on window.
(7)
Awning signs.
(a)
Shall be permitted for ground-floor level uses
only.
(b)
Limited to two such signs per business.
(c)
Lettering or graphics shall not exceed 10 square
feet in area, and the height of the lettering, numbers, or graphics
shall not exceed eight inches.
(d)
Shall not be in addition to a wall-mounted sign.
(8)
Freestanding signs.
(a)
Limited to one freestanding sign per building.
(b)
The sign shall be set back a minimum of five feet
from the street line.
(c)
The area of the sign board shall not exceed 12
square feet.
(d)
The height of the lettering and numbers shall not
exceed six inches.
(e)
The height of the top of the sign board shall not
exceed six feet from the ground.
(f)
The sign boards shall be architecturally compatible
with the style, composition, materials, colors, and details of the
building where applicable.
(g)
No plastic signs shall be permitted.
(h)
The sign board shall be exterior lit only.
(i)
The sign shall not interfere with pedestrian or
vehicular circulation.
(j)
The area around the sign shall have a minimum landscaped
area equal to twice the square footage of the sign.
(9)
Directional signs. Limited to one directional sign, facing a
rear parking lot. This sign may be either wall-mounted or freestanding
on the rear facade, but shall be limited to three square feet in area.
(10)
In addition to other signage, restaurants and cafes shall be
permitted the following, limited to one sign per business:
(a)
A wall-mounted display featuring the actual menu
as used at the dining table, to be contained within a shallow wood
or metal case, and clearly visible through a glass front. The display
case shall be attached to the building wall, next to the main entrance,
at a height of approximately five feet, shall not exceed a total area
of two square feet, and may be lighted.
(b)
A portable A-frame board sign, as follows:
[1]
The area of the sign board shall not exceed five
square feet per side.
[2]
The sign board shall be constructed of wood, chalkboard,
and/or finished metal.
[3]
Letters can be painted or handwritten.
[4]
The sign shall be located within four feet of the
main entrance to the business and its location shall not interfere
with pedestrian or vehicular circulation.
[5]
The information displayed shall be limited to daily
specials and hours of operation.
[6]
The sign shall be removed at the end of the business
day.
[7]
The sign shall not have plastic interchangeable
letters.
(11)
Each business shall identify the number of its address within
the sign board with a minimum of one sign facing each street or parking
lot.
No sign shall be erected or altered except in conformance with
this article. All signs must be kept clean, neatly maintained and
free from all hazards and must be maintained in a safe condition.
No sign shall be maintained which advertises a product or use of activity
no longer available or in existence. Such obsolete signs shall be
removed within 30 days after the date they become obsolete. If a sign
is hazardous or obsolete, the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement
Officer shall give written notice to the owner of the sign and to
the owner of the land upon which the sign is erected directing that
the sign be brought into conformance or removed within 30 days from
the date of said notice.
Upon failure to comply with the notice specified in § 255-1550,
the Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer shall notify
the Town Solicitor of such violation and request appropriate legal
action. When a sign is considered to be an immediate hazard and peril
to the public safety or to property, the Building Inspector or Zoning
Enforcement Officer is authorized to cause such sign to be removed
without notice.
The following exemptions may be granted by the Board in accordance with the appropriate provisions of Article IV of this chapter, provided that they do not impair the intent and purpose of this chapter.
A.
Off-street directional signs where the location of a use requires
such signs in order to avoid confusion, traffic congestion or similar
inconveniences, and to facilitate travel to such location. The Zoning
Board may permit up to two signs for each establishment. Such sign
shall be no greater than four square feet and may be illuminated.
A.
Any sign legally existing at the time of the passage of this
chapter which violates any provision thereof shall be deemed a nonconforming
use and may be continued as may be permitted by law and may continued
onto in accordance with this chapter.
B.
Repairs to nonconforming signs. Reasonable repairs and alterations
may be made to nonconforming signs. However, in the event any nonconforming
sign is damaged after the effective date of this article and the cost
of repair exceeds 50% of the cost to replace it, such cost to be determined
by a competent appraiser, or in the event such sign is removed by
any means, including an act of God, the nonconforming sign may be
restored, reconstructed, altered or repaired only with the provisions
of this chapter.
