The following sign regulations shall apply to
all districts:
A. Purpose. The purpose of this article is to promote
and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing
and proposed on-premises signs and signs of all types within the Town
of Kent. This section is intended to 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 the Town. It is further intended to reduce distractions
and obstructions that may adversely affect traffic safety, reduce
hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over
public rights-of-way, provide more visual open space and maintain
the generally high level of the community's appearance and attractiveness.
This section is intended to promote attractive signs that clearly
present the visual message in a manner that is compatible with their
surroundings and to ensure that signs aid orientation and adequately
identify uses and activities to the public. The appearance, character
and quality of a community are affected by the location, size, construction
and graphic design of its signs. Therefore, such signs should convey
their messages clearly and simply to be compatible with their surroundings.
B. General regulations.
(1) No person, firm or corporation shall hereafter erect,
re-erect, construct or structurally alter a sign or sign structure
without first receiving the approval of the Town Planning Board and
obtaining a permit issued by the Building Inspector.
(2) Every application for a sign permit shall be accompanied
by plans to scale showing the dimensions and area of the sign; the
location of the sign on the building, structure or lot upon which
the sign is to be attached or erected; the colors, materials, lettering,
artwork and other attributes of the sign; the proposed method of illumination,
if any; and statements indicating compliance with applicable building
construction standards.
(3) No sign shall be erected which, in the opinion of
the Building Inspector, may cause hazardous or unsafe conditions.
If such signs exist, they shall be removed upon direction of the Building
Inspector following written notification to the owner by U.S. certified
mail. Failure to remove a sign(s) after notice by the Building Inspector
shall result in enforcement of these provisions and an order to remove
such sign in accordance with this chapter
(4) No sign, other than an official traffic sign, shall
be erected within the right-of-way of any public street or highway.
(5) Unless otherwise provided for in this section, no
sign shall have more than two sides. The calculation of maximum allowable
square footage of a two-sided sign shall be the size of the smallest
face of one side, unless otherwise specified.
(6) All illuminated signs shall bear the Underwriters
Laboratories, Inc., seal or be inspected and certified by a Putnam
County authorized electrical inspection company.
(7) All freestanding signs shall be designed and constructed
to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square
foot of surface area.
(8) All signs, including wall signs and projecting signs,
shall be securely anchored and shall not swing or move in any manner.
(9) All signs shall be constructed of durable materials
and shall be maintained in a good condition. The use of cardboard,
paper, canvas or similar impermanent material is prohibited.
(10)
Except for the Commercial District and IOC District,
no sign shall project over public sidewalk areas.
(11)
Where permitted, projecting signs shall have
no more than two faces. The exterior edge of a projecting sign shall
extend not more than five feet from the building face or 1/3 the width
of the sidewalk over which it is suspended, whichever is less. No
part of a projecting sign shall extend into a vehicular traffic area.
A projecting sign suspended over a sidewalk or pedestrian traffic
area shall have a clearance of not less than seven feet, six inches.
No sign shall project from an awning.
(12)
On multistory buildings, projecting signs shall
be attached to the building above first-story windows and below second-story
windowsills. On one-story buildings, projecting signs shall be attached
above first-story windows and below the roofline. The size and location
of a projecting sign shall complement neighboring signs.
(13)
No wall sign shall be higher than the height
of the wall to which it is attached.
(14)
Illumination of any sign shall not produce a
direct glare beyond the limits of the boundary of the lot on which
it is located. Ground-mounted spotlights used to illuminate a sign
shall be fully shielded.
(15)
All wiring to a freestanding sign shall be underground
and/or concealed within the sign structure.
(16)
Any sign that is destroyed or has deteriorated
such that it is damaged beyond repair, as determined by the Building
Inspector, shall be promptly removed.
C. Nonconforming signs. Wall and freestanding signs in
existence on the date of enactment of this chapter that do not conform
to the dimensions or placement described in this section may continue
to be used as legal nonconforming signs. A legal nonconforming sign
shall not be enlarged, or altered, and if it is removed from its location
for other than routine cleaning, maintenance or repainting, it shall
be made to conform to this chapter. Any increase in size or change
in the design, style, location, materials, shape, height or location
of a nonconforming sign shall not be permitted. Any nonconforming
sign that is damaged or destroyed, for a loss of 50% or more of its
value, as determined by the Building Inspector, by fire or other casualty
shall not be restored, reconstructed or replaced except by a sign
that conforms to this requirements of this chapter.
D. Prohibitions.
(1) No off-premises signs shall be allowed other than
as permitted for agricultural premises and as stated in the exempt
signs provisions of this section.
(2) No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing,
intermittent, rotating or moving lights except to show time, date
and/or temperature.
(3) No sign shall contain any moving parts.
(4) No sign shall be erected which, in the opinion of
the Zoning Administrator, may cause hazardous or unsafe conditions.
If such signs exist, they shall be removed upon direction of the Zoning
Administrator following notification to the owner. Failure to remove
a sign(s) after notice by the Zoning Administrator shall result in
enforcement of these provisions and the order in accordance with this
chapter.
(5) No sign shall be mounted on the roof of any building
or structure.
(6) Portable signs are prohibited except as provided herein.
E. Exempt signs.
(1) The following signs are exempt from this article:
(a)
Decorative banners, flags, posters, placards
and streamers on residential premises.
(b)
Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial
signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection when cut
into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless
steel or similar material; and emblems installed by governmental agencies,
religious or nonprofit organizations, not exceeding six square feet.
(c)
Flags and insignia of any government.
(d)
Notification signs on communication facilities
required by law.
(e)
On-premises directional signs for the convenience
of the general public, identifying public parking areas, fire zone,
entrances and exits not exceeding four square feet per face and six
feet in height. Business names and personal names shall be allowed
for directional purposes only.
(f)
Number and name plates identifying residences
mounted on the house, building, apartment or mailbox, not exceeding
two square foot in area.
(g)
Lawn signs identifying residences, not exceeding
one square foot. Such signs are to be non-illuminated except by a
light that is an integral part of a lamppost if used as a support.
(h)
Private owner merchandise sale signs for garage
sales and auctions located on the premises, not exceeding four square
feet.
(i)
On-premises "No Trespassing" or "Private Property"
or similar signs.
(j)
Temporary nonilluminated "For Sale," "Open House,"
"For Rent," "For Lease," "Opening Soon", "Coming Soon" real estate
signs and signs of a similar nature concerning the sale, rental, and
general availability of vacant or improved real property; provided
such signs do not exceed four square feet per side in a residential
district, and 16 square feet per side in a nonresidential district.
Such signs shall be removed immediately upon the sale, rental, lease,
or termination of the open house event regarding the premises so advertised,
or not later than 14 days of the date of the opening of the premises.
Failure to promptly remove said signs in accordance with this section
may result in the removal by the Code Enforcement Officer or Building
Inspector.
(k)
Temporary, nonilluminated window signs and posters
not exceeding 35% of the total window surface of a building.
[Amended 8-21-2012 by L.L. No. 4-2012]
(l)
Temporary informational and directional signs
for noncommercial events, meetings, conventions and other assemblies
displayed not more than one week prior to the event. Such signs shall
be removed upon the termination of the event. Failure to promptly
remove said signs in accordance with this section may result in the
removal by the Code Enforcement Officer or Building Inspector.
(m)
One sign, not exceeding four square feet in
a residential district or 16 square feet in a nonresidential district,
listing the architect, engineer, contractor and/or owner on premises
where construction, renovation or repair is in progress. Said sign
shall be removed upon completion of construction, renovation or repair
as determined by the Building Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer.
(n)
Political posters, noncommercial, and similar
signs as long as they are not placed within the right-of-way of any
street or highway.
F. Substitution clause. Any sign authorized pursuant
to this article may contain a noncommercial message in lieu of other
copy.