HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0430.002 2010-2012Alexandra Bernstein notes on Dept. of Public Works' "What's Your Sign ?" document.
Nov. 1, 2011
Some of the suggestions below apply to the code itself. If the sign code will remained
unchanged, the suggested table can be modified to be in accordance with the code as is.
Content
Signs Prohibited in All Districts
Add a line that deals with moving signs — like balloon -type figures that move in the wind
or are propelled
Signs Allowed Without Permits
Real Estate Signs
There is no section just for real estate signs. Absent this, as it now reads, real estate signs
on each property could be 8 sq ft in area, as opposed to the much smaller size current on
this island and nationwide. And there needs to be a definition for Open House
Directional Signs so that they are up only when there is a realtor in attendance at an open
house. Real Estate Signs could also just be dealt with under Temporary Signs. See
suggested table below
Any Temporary Unlighted Sign
Suggest using table below. If not, at the end of the 2"d paragraph, insert ", or a short-term
form of promoting a product sold on the property ". Maybe even give examples of use:
Going out of business sale, Under construction, Town Meeting,
Time frame of six months is very long
Temporary Signs or Banners
Suggest making a special event sign limited to 3 weeks. With hundreds of organizations
putting up banners, it gets crowded. And if it is up too long people stop seeing it. It
becomes visual clutter.
Suggest putting "Temporary Unlighted Signs ", "Any Small Unlighted Sign ",
"Temporary Banners ", "Temporary Painted Window Signs ", and "New Business" into
one table of temporary signs, it is simpler for businesses to compare. And more
consistent. (Also, if you don't use a table like below, there is no need for a separate
category of "Any Small Unlighted Sign" because that is covered by "Any Temporary
Unlighted Sign ", which allows larger signs for a longer period.)
This method lets the business owners decide for themselves what constitutes a "Special
Event ". Then just limit them to 4 per year. If they want to use them for grand openings,
special coupons, or whatever, that is fine. And they can decide whether to make them
banners or window signs, so there is no need for a separate standard for different
materials. This also keeps businesses from removing one painted or temporary sign after
30 days and putting up another a day later. Conn No. 4136. Z
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1 -1 -11 Notes on What's Your Sign brochure for Dept. of Public Works- Alexandra Bernstein 883 -3666
It might be a good idea to require that temporary signs contain the date(s) of an event, so
that businesses are not encouraged to leave them up after the allowed time period. Even
thought it is logical for a business to remove a sign after an event is over, when they use
them to promote products, it is in their interest to leave them up as long as possible.
Suggested Section for Temporary Signs
Temporary Signs
Temporary signs include banners for any purpose. Temporary signs are allowed, without
permit, as described in the following table.
Type of Sign
Number
Allowed
Maximum Size
Location
Information
Special Event
One per
business or
charitable
organization
Thirty -two
square feet
N/A
Maximum
display of thirty
days
Each business
or organization
may erect up to
four special
event signs per
calendar year
Must be
removed at end
of event
Must contain
dates of event
New Business
One
Thirty -two
square feet
Must be on the
property of the
new business
Must be
removed after
30 days
Construction
One per
contractor,
architect, or
subcontractor
Per sign — three
square feet
Aggregate area
— six square feet
area
Must be on the
property under
construction
Must have
active building
permit
1 -1 -11 Notes on What's Your Sign brochure for Dept. of Public Works- Alexandra Bernstein 883 -3666
Real Estate
One per
property
frontage
Three square
feet (excludes
support base
and sign riders)
Only on the
private property
that is for sale,
exchange, or
rent
Limited to
property that is
for sale, lease,
rent, or
exchange
Brochure boxes
are allowed
Real Estate Sign
One per real
6" tall x 24"
Must be on the
N/A
Riders
estate sign
wide
property that is
for sale,
exchange, or
rent
Open House
One per
Three square
Must be on the
Limited to open
property street
feet
property that is
house, name of
frontage
for sale,
exchange, or
rent
real estate
company and
directions to
property
Only during
daylight hours
and when
seller /agent is in
attendance
If you do not want to use a table, do not have both "Any Temporary Unlighted Sign" AND
"Temporary Signs or Banners ". It is confusing. You can combine them into "Any
Temporary Unlighted Sign" by adding "A meeting or special event banner may be used
for 30 days and must be removed within 72 hours after the event closes."
Signs Allowed in All Districts with a Permit
Change first title to "Banners Across or Above Streets" — it is less confusing when the distinction
is in the title.
Within Residential Districts
Suggest limit be three square feet — the same size as a standard real estate sign.
Ground Sign
Suggest maximum height be six feet, as less distracting in traffic. Maybe the height
should be related to how close the sign is to the street. A sign right by the entrance of a
building far away could be higher than one that is a few feet from the passing driver.
Somewhere it should state `one' ground sign, as the other categories state the quantity.
1 -1 -11 Notes on What's Your Sign brochure for Dept. of Public Works - Alexandra Bernstein 883 -3666
Roof Sign
This seems to say that roof signs are permitted in residential areas.
Marquee Sign
Should there be a statement that businesses choose either the marquee or the ground sign?
I don't see where it says how many signs a business may have.
Grammar, Usage, and Layout:
General: in titles, it is prepositions that are left uncapitalized. All other words are Capitalized.
General: over time this brochure will be photocopied many times. It will be more effective if it
does not have a photo or colored background. The title will work well because the letters
are outlined.
Introduction
Insert `and' before `consistency
Insert `and' before minimize
Change "on public and personal" to "to the public" or "to public and personal
something (the noun is missing)
Insert a comma after `personal' and follow the comma with `and'
Insert a comma after "when dealing with signs"
Introduction Continued
Replace first comma with `in'
Insert a comma after
Replace `or' with `and'
Signs Prohibited in All Districts
Signs Allowed Without Permits
First line: delete `an' before `area'. Delete hyphen between `square' and `feet'.
Any Temporary Unlighted Sign
Last line has a double negative. Either change `cannot' to `may' OR change `not
exceeding' to `exceeding'
Within Residential Districts
Remove hyphen after `six'
Use same typeface as for previous subsections — ALL CAPS — unless this heading is a
subheading of SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGNS. If so, maybe indent it.
Within Commercial Districts
Use same typeface as for previous subsections — ALL CAPS - unless this heading is a
subheading of SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGNS. If so, maybe indent it.
If the sections following this section are subsections of this one, they should be indented
or otherwise indicate visually that they are part of it, and not at the same outline level.
1 -1 -11 Notes on What's Your Sign brochure for Dept. of Public Works - Alexandra Bernstein 883 -3666
Directory Sign
`Lineal' is accurate, but `linear' is more normal usage.
Replace hyphen after `sixteen' with a space
Ground Sign
Replace hyphen after `sixteen' with a space
Marquee Sign
Second paragraph. Change `One" to "A ". As it is, it implies that there is another.
Wall Sign
First line. Insert `that' between `sign' and `relates' OR change `relates' to `related'
Second line. Delete comma after `wall'
Roof Sign
Second line: change "of the" to "in"
Change "alphabets" to "letters"
Signs Permitted within Commercial Districts
Delete hyphen after `fifty'
Signs Permitted within Agricultural/Open Districts
Ground Sign
Delete hyphen after `eight'
Insert comma after `One ground sign'
Insert "of the" between `front' and `building'
Table at end of code
Give this a title. Such as "Permitted Permanent Signs"
1 -1 -11 Notes on What's Your Sign brochure for Dept. of Public Works - Alexandra Bernstein 883 -3666