The provisions of this article shall apply to all exterior improvements
to existing properties within the Area. It is required that all exterior
improvements shall be made in accordance with the provisions and objectives
of this chapter. Over and above the codes and ordinances of the City
of Bangor, the provisions contained in this article shall be applied
to all properties within the Area, whether occupied or vacant.
All work performed in compliance with this chapter shall be
done in a workmanlike manner and according to accepted standards of
the building trades. Materials used in making repairs shall be of
a quality suitable for the purpose and of a kind normally used to
accomplish the required repairs. All structures and lots must meet
the minimum property standards. In addition to the mandatory minimum
property standards, any application for repairs, replacements or reconstruction
of the exterior of any buildings or structures within the Area, other
than for maintenance of the existing exteriors, shall conform to the
minimum design standards.
[Amended 9-9-2019 by Ord.
No. 19-329; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch.
1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
All signs other than those allowed in §
231-8 of Chapter
231, Public Parks, must comply with this section and with the regulations contained in Chapter
260, Signs.
A. Minimum property standards.
(1) No sign, billboard, advertising display or structure, poster or device
shall be erected, hung, affixed, moved, altered, enlarged, reconstructed,
replaced or displayed in the Area except as expressly permitted herein.
(2) Signs shall be maintained in good repair.
(3) Temporary sale signs may be displayed within storefront windows,
provided that these signs shall not cover more than 25% of the area
of the windows in which they are displayed and are on display not
more than 45 consecutive days.
(4) No signs other than those identifying the property where they are
installed or identifying the use conducted therein shall be permitted.
Advertising by materials or product manufacturers and suppliers shall
not be permitted. A logo, decorative initial, trademark, symbol, etc.,
may also be used as part of the sign.
(5) Rooftop signs, signs above the parapet of a building, billboards
and other outdoor advertising signs painted or mounted on structures
other than billboards, except as otherwise herein provided, shall
not be permitted. All existing rooftop and facade-mounted sign brackets
and hardware shall be removed.
(6) Flashing or moving signs other than barber poles and time and/or
temperature signs shall not be permitted.
(7) Painted signs on building surfaces are prohibited, except as may
otherwise be provided herein.
(8) Flags or banners may be displayed as long as the poles are maintained
in good condition. Materials of the flags or banners shall not be
faded, torn or frayed.
B. Minimum design standards.
(1) Size, shape, letter style(s), design, type illumination and/or method
of installation of all new and existing signs shall be compatible
with the architecture of the building. Design of signs by graphic
designers is encouraged.
(2) Materials employed for construction of signs shall be durable and
weather-resistant. Use of plastics or similar materials is discouraged.
(3) Signs shall be designed in a manner so that they do not interfere
with important architectural details (e.g., cornices, carved friezes
or arches) of the building.
(4) Placement entirely on a flat portion of the facade or on an area
entirely within the confines of an opening and lined up with architectural
details or elements is required.
(5) Signs identifying the occupant shall be permitted at rear entrance
and delivery doors but shall not exceed two square feet in area and
may be illuminated.
(6) No new marquees shall be allowed on buildings other than operating
theaters or hotels or when marquees are customary and incidental to
the operation of the activity being housed in the building. When rehabilitated,
an existing marquee shall be redesigned so that it is compatible with
the architecture of the building.
(7) Signs in the form of letters, symbols or other graphics may be incorporated
in the design of any awning included in the design of a storefront,
provided that such signs are compatible with the architecture of the
building and the awning.
(8) Signs may be painted on the inside surface of the show window, and
permanent sign panels may be hung inside the show window but must
be designed to be compatible with the architecture of the facade and
the text related to the business. Signs painted on the inside glass
and sign panels shall be limited to lettering no greater than six
inches in height. When these signs are the only identifying sign for
the property, they can use twelve-inch lettering.
(10)
Signs which are an integral part of the building structure and
compatible with the original architecture of the building are permitted.
(11)
Flat signs shall be incorporated in the design of the storefront.
If the storefront design includes a cornice, the sign may be incorporated
in the cornice design.
(12)
Neon tube signs are permitted in the form of a neon graphic where a light symbol is supplied by neon tube which is bent to form letters, symbols and other shapes, permitted only as single tubes on flat signs above a show window and on the inside of and behind show windows as provided for herein and as provided for in §
71-23B(4)(f) of this chapter.
(13)
Perpendicular signs and their hanging hardware shall be compatible
with the architecture of the building to which attached and coordinated
with neighboring structures.
(14)
Flags and banners shall be compatible with the architecture
of the building to which attached and neighboring structures. Banners
should be displayed only from buildings at least two stories high
and shall not be less than 10 feet above the sidewalk.
(15)
Super graphics or murals are a special form of outdoor art,
and the Design Committee may permit their application on wall surfaces
that are predominantly blank, except where it would detract from the
architectural significance or historic value of the building or adjacent
properties, upon submission and approval of full-color drawings of
the intended super graphic or mural.