05/06/1997 Annual Town Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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A. Section 174-51B currently reads: New Signs. A new sign shall not hereafter be erected, constructed, altered or maintained except as herein. provided and until after a permit has been issued by the Building Inspector and the bond, if required, shall have been filed in accordance with Section 174-57. Signs over twenty (20�) square feet, existing as of the effective date of this chapter shall have their continued use subject to the issuance of a permit from the Building Inspector. The deadline for obtaining such a permit is September 1, 198,5. Any sign over six (6) square feet in a commercial or industrial zoning district, or in a commercial, o�ffice or industrial use in a residential zoning district, shall require review and comment by the Design Review Committee prior to the issuance of a permit for said sign by the Building Inspector. 1. Deleting the second sentence in Section 174-5 1 B and replacing it with: Pre-�existing permitting signs may continue, all other signs must be permitted as required by thi's Bylaw. Any sign allowed under this Bylaw may, in lieu of any specified copy, contain any otherwise lawful, noncommercial message that does not direct attention to a business or to a service or to a commodity for sale. Explanation: To reflect changes to this article, as it currently refers to 1985. The second sentence provides for on-premise signs (as regulated §174-54 and § 174-5151) that contain non- commercial messages involving religious, political, or other ideological statements. Such speech has been found to be protected under First Amendment rights and the regulation of such speech would violate the constitution. The Town's Sign By-law is also to be changed, deleting the section regulating time limits on political signs, as such signs are protected by the First Amendment. 11. Also by making the following changes to the last sentence of Section 174-�5 IB: All signs over six (6) square feet shall require review and comment by the Design Review 0 0 0 0 0 -1 0 *1 -1* Committee prior to the issuance of a permit for saici sign by the Builcling Inspector. Explanation: Changing any to all provides more clarity. Deleting specifically identified areas will provide that all signs over six square feet can have Design Review comment and review. B. Section 174-51D currently reads: New signs exceeding twenty (20) square feet require a special permit from the Board of Appeals, in accordance with Article VI. By moving the text of Section 174-51D to the last sentence of Section 174-51B with. the following change: All signs exceeding twenty (20�) square feet require a special permit from the Board of 0 Appeals, in accordance with Article VI. Explanation: Provide clarity and make article more coherent. C. Section 174-52G currently reads: Window neon-type signs advertising products are not permitted. By deleting Section 174-52G. Explanation: This subsection is being deleted to allow for limited use of neon signs as specified under changes to Section 174-55E. 41