The following words shall be defined as follows for purposes of this
section:
AWNING
Any structure attached to a building and projecting over
a thoroughfare, when the same is so erected as to permit its being
raised to a position flat against the building when not in use.
BACKLIGHTING
A method of lighting signs whereby the letters or images
are raised or protrude from the structure and the cavity behind the
letters or image is lit typically with low-voltage LED lights that
"wash" lighting over the mounting wall and illuminate the letters
or images.
BANNER
Any sign constructed of cloth, canvas, plastic, fabric or
other flexible material.
BILLBOARD SIGN
Any sign erected or maintained for the purpose of displaying
outdoor advertising by means of posters, pictures, pictorial and reading
matter, supported by uprights placed in the ground and not attached
to any part of a building.
BUSINESS
The location at which a person makes or offers goods for
sale at that or another location, and/or the location at which services
are performed for sale at that or another location.
CANOPY
Any structure other than an awning attached to a building,
projecting over a thoroughfare, and carried by a frame supported by
the ground, sidewalk or building (e.g., a freestanding structure over
gasoline pumps).
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix,
including the painting of wall signs.
ESTABLISHMENT
Land or premises occupying a separate, physical space (e.g.,
room, building, floor of a building, suite, tax map parcel) and with
its own separate entrance, which is occupied by one or more "persons"
as defined herein (e.g., a business or single-family home).
FACADE
The face or elevation of a building facing any street or
road.
FACING or SURFACE
The surface of the sign upon, against or through which the
message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
FLAG
A piece of cloth or similar material, typically oblong or
square, attachable by one edge to a pole or rope.
FOOTCANDLE (fc)
A unit of measure of the intensity of light falling on a
surface, equal to one lumen per square foot.
ILLUMINANCE
The intensity or degree to which something is illuminated
measured in lumens; therefore not the amount of light produced by
the light source.
LIGHT POLLUTION
Also known as "obtrusive light" and "stray light"; a term
used to broadly describe light that is either too bright for its intended
purpose or that shines where it is not needed or wanted. There are
three forms or components of light pollution that may pertain to sign
illumination. These are sky glow (sky brightness caused by artificial
light reflecting off the atmosphere), light trespass (light spilling
out of the intended area), and glare (light shining in the eyes causing
discomfort or disability in distinguishing nearby objects.)
MAINTENANCE (OF SIGNS)
Replacement, without substantial change of any parts or supports,
of any sign, and the repair or repainting of a sign without change
of text, design, color, or size of any sign, without removal of the
sign from the wall or its supporting structure.
PERSON
Any human being, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
PREMISES
Synonym for "establishment," defined above.
SIGN
Every physical object displayed on real property, including
land and structures thereon, to the general public containing words
or symbols, whether temporary or permanent, and every marquee, awning,
canopy, and shall include any announcement, declaration, demonstration,
display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the
interests of any person when the same is placed out-of-doors in view
of the general public or affixed to or clearly visible through a window
from a public way (e.g., road, sidewalk, path). Holiday decorations
are not considered signs.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The supports, uprights, bracing and framework for a sign.
In the case of a sign structure consisting of two or more sides where
the angle formed between any two of the sides or the projections thereof
exceeds 30°, each side shall be considered a separate sign structure.
SIGN SURFACE AREA
The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter enclosing
all elements which form an integral part of the sign. The structure
supporting a sign shall be excluded unless the structure is designed
in a way to form an integral background for the display. Sign area
maximum applies to one face of the sign.
SIGN, AREA
The area included within the frame or border of the sign.
Where the sign has no frame or border, the area shall be the minimum
area which can be defined by and enclosed by a four-sided (straight
sides) geometric shape which most closely outlines said sign.
SIGN, DOUBLE COLUMN
A freestanding sign where two vertical columns of a dimension
of at least eight inches by eight inches square or eight-inch diameter
are placed with a sign panel affixed between the columns. The maximum
dimension from the bottom of the sign panel to the ground plane is
three feet. See Figure 1.D for a graphic depiction.
SIGN, DOUBLE POST
A freestanding sign where two posts are affixed behind or
under the sign panel and support the sign. Where the posts are visible,
they must have a decorative finish. The maximum dimension from the
bottom of the sign panel to the ground plane is three feet. See Figure
1.E for a graphic depiction.
SIGN, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER
A sign capable of displaying words, symbols, figures or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means. See Town Code §
167-27.2.1 for requirements.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
A sign supported by one or more poles, columns, or supports
placed in or on the ground and not attached to any building or structure.
Refer to Figure 1 for visual examples for allowed freestanding styles.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
Any sign illuminated by electricity, gas or other artificial
light, either from the interior or exterior of the sign, and which
includes reflective and phosphorescent light.
SIGN, MONOLITH
A freestanding sign, strongly vertical in nature, where the
support and sign area are or appear to be made entirely of one piece.
See Figure 1.C for a graphic depiction.
SIGN, MONUMENT
A sign built as a structure on the ground using brick, decorative
stone or other solid materials and incorporating decorative elements
into a minimum of 25% of the square feet of the structure and sign
area. These structures may be single-sided or double-sided based on
positioning on the site. The Planning Board may allow one or two per
entranceway depending on the site plan review process. See Figure
1.F for a graphic depiction.
SIGN, NONCONFORMING
All signs erected prior to the effective date of this section
which do not conform to the provisions and standards contained herein
are nonconforming signs.
SIGN, POLE
A sign supported entirely by a single pole affixed to the
ground. This sign type is prohibited in all zones.
SIGN, PORTABLE
A sign or poster board of any material capable of being moved
from one location to another and not structurally attached to the
ground or a building, whether on its own trailer or wheels or otherwise
designed to be movable.
SIGN, PROJECTING
Any sign which is attached to a building and extends beyond
the line of said building or beyond the surface of that portion of
the building to which it is attached.
SIGN, PYLON
A freestanding sign made up of a vertical decorative support
structure onto which the sign area is affixed. The support structure
width must be at least 25% of the width of the widest sign panel area.
Multiple sign panels may be affixed onto the support structure. See
Figure 1.A and 1.B for a graphic depiction.
SIGN, ROOF
Any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon
or over the roof of any building, with its principal support on the
roof structure.
SIGN, SANDWICH BOARD
A sign designed to be movable, not structurally attached
to the ground, a building, a structure, or another sign, with a maximum
of two sides, which shall be a maximum of three feet wide by four
feet high per side, and with support legs extending from the bottom
of the sign to the ground, no more than one foot in length.
SIGN, SOFFIT
A sign hung from under and within an overhang, which is attached
to a building, and which covers a walkway serving that building.
SIGN, WALL
All flat signs of solid-face construction which are placed
against a building and attached to the exterior front, rear or side
wall of any building so that the display surface is parallel to the
plane of the wall. Signs painted on an exterior of a wall shall be
deemed to be wall signs subject to this chapter.
SIGN, WINDOW
A sign visible from a sidewalk, street or other public place,
painted or affixed on glass or other window or door material, or a
sign clearly visible through a window from such a public location.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard,
wallboard or other light materials, with or without frames, including
portable signs, sandwich board signs and banners.
TENANT
A legally permitted occupant, other than the owner, of an
"establishment" as defined herein.