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exceed six(6) square feet per sign will be allowed in window (per requirements in subsection E), pro- commercial and industrial districts. jecting, and awning. No such sign shall exceed the Explanation: As was provided for in Section 174-51B, outline of the face of the building or roof line from any allowed and approved sign with specified copy Which it is viewed. may be replaced with a lawful, noncommercial mes- Explanation: To provide clarity to businesses and F sage. Also, as was done for residential districts, this developers and for more enforceable regulations for by-law now has eliminated time restrictions on politi- the Building Inspector as to what signage a building is cal signs, since the regulation single out protected allowed. As currently allowed,only one entrance sign speech under the First Amendment. is allowed per business. These changes will provide those businesses with two entrances the legal means to K. Section 174-SSA currently reads: There shall be no have one sign per entrance, and reduce requests for temporary or permanent special promotion signs,ban- variances of this section. ners, streamers or placards erected, suspended, posted or affixed in any manner outdoors or on the exterior or M. Section 174-55C currently reads: In an industrial any building except for public purposes, except by district, one (1) freestanding sign is permitted on each permit from the Building Inspector. lot, provided that it does not stand (40) square feet in 1. By changing Section 174-55A to read as follows: signboard area, does not exceed five (5) feet in height and is located closer than fifty (50) to a lot line. In Temporary special event sign(s) and decoration(s) commercial districts, one (1) freestanding sign per per premises as allowed by permit from the road access point is permitted. Such signs may not Building Inspector for special events, grand open- exceed forty (40) square feet in signboard area and ings, or holidays. Such signs and decorations may may not be closer than twelve (12) feet to any lot line. be erected 7 days prior to a special event or holiday The top edge of any such freestanding shall be not and shall be removed 24 hours following the event higher than twenty-five (25) feet vertical measure or holiday. For grand openings, such signs may be above the average level of the ground between the used for no more than 7 days. This excludes those supports of each sign. signs which need Board of Selectmen approval. I. By revising the first two sentences of Section 174- Explanation: This section is proposed to be re-written 55C to read as follows: in order to provide more clarity on the time frame of In an industrial district,one (1) freestanding sign is these types of signs. permitted on each lot, provided that it does not L. Section 174-55B currently reads: On each lot in a stand (40) square feet in signboard area, does not commercial or industrial district, there is permitted exceed fifteen (15) feet in height and is not located one(1)sign affixed to the exterior of each building for closer than five (5)feet to any lot line or block a line each business therein. The top edge of each sign shall of sight for pedestrian and traffic safety if so deter- be not higher than the roof ridge of the building,or the mined by the D.P.W. Director. highest point of the roof if no ridge pole, and not high- Explanation: The change of five to fifteen feet in er than the plate of a flat roof. The maximum area of height is to provide for the same signage requirements the sign shall be five percent (5%) of the area of the as in commercial zones (as changed below). The wall upon which the sign is located. In addition, an change in the location of such signs is same reason identification sign at each building entrance will be discussed for freestanding church and institution exempted, which shall be up to four (4) square feet in area or three percent (3%) of the area of wall upon signs: to avoid unnecessary clear cut just to place a sign and also make signage easier to read. which the sign is located, if approved by special per- mit by the Board of Appeals. II. By revising the fourth and fifth sentences of I. By deleting the first, third and fourth sentences of Section 174-55C to read as follows: Section 174-55B, moving the second sentence with Such signs may not exceed forty (40) square feet in following changes, and adding the new text as follows: signboard area and may not be closer than five (5) Building signs are allowed up to 10% percent of the feet to any lot line or block a line of sight for pedes- aggregate square footage of the front wall area. trian and traffic safety if so determined by the The square footage allowed includes asingle-sign,a D.P.W. Director. The top edge of any such free- series of signs representing individual businesses or standing shall be not higher than fifteen (15) feet vertical measure above the average level of the any combination thereof. Such signs can be placed ground between the supports of each sign. on any wall, but in no case shall the total of all building signs exceed 10% of the front wall square Explanation: The first change is being made for rea- footage, nor shall any wall have signage exceeding sons previously discussed. The lowering of signs from 10%.These signs can be any of the following: wall, 25 to 15 feet is suggested because otherwise free- 79