§ 42-1. Purpose.

(a)

General. This chapter exempts certain signs from these regulations, prohibits certain signs, establishes regulations to govern the placement, construction and size of temporary and permanent signs within the town, and establishes application procedures and procedures for appeals.

(b)

Applicability. This chapter applies to all signs, and other advertising devices, that are constructed, erected, operated, used, maintained, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered within the town. Mere repainting or routine maintenance of a sign shall not, in and of itself, be construed as a substantial alteration.

(c)

Intent. It is the intent of this chapter to promote the public health, safety and general welfare through a comprehensive system of reasonable, consistent and nondiscriminatory sign standards and requirements. It is not the intent of this chapter to regulate or control the copy or content of signs. Notwithstanding any thing to the contrary in this chapter, no sign shall be subject to any limitation based on the content of the message contained on such sign. It is not the intent of this chapter to afford greater protection to either commercial or noncommercial speech. Any sign, display or device under this chapter may contain, in lieu of any other copy, any otherwise lawful noncommercial message that does not direct attention to a business operated for profit, or to a commodity or service for sale, and that complies with all other requirements of this chapter. These sign regulations are intended to:

(1)

Enable the identification of places of residents and business.

(2)

Allow for the communication of information necessary for the conduct of commerce.

(3)

Lessen hazardous situations, confusion and visual clutter caused by proliferation, improper placement, illumination, animation and excessive height, area and bulk of signs which compete for the attention of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

(4)

Enhance the attractiveness and economic well being of the town as a place to live, vacation and conduct business.

(5)

Protect the public from the dangers of unsafe signs.

(6)

Permit signs that are compatible with their surroundings and aid orientation, and preclude placement of signs in a manner that conceals or obstructs adjacent land uses or signs.

(7)

Encourage signs that are appropriate to the zoning district in which they are located and consistent with the category of use to which they pertain.

(8)

Curtail the size and number of signs and sign messages to the minimum reasonably necessary to identify a residential or business location and the nature of any such business.

(9)

Establish sign size in relationship to the scale of the lot and building on which the sign is to be placed or to which it pertains.

(10)

Preclude signs from conflicting with the principal permitted use of the site or adjoining sites.

(11)

Regulate signs in a manner so as to not interfere with, obstruct vision of or distract motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians.

(12)

Require signs to be constructed, installed and maintained in a safe and satisfactory manner.

(13)

Preserve and enhance the natural and scenic characteristics of this community.

(14)

Promote the economic development and marketing of businesses.

(15)

Provide increased flexibility in the number, size, location, design and operating characteristics of signs in an approved planned development district.

(Ord. No. 2010-11-13, 5-23-2011)