[Massplanners] Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

[Massa, Lori]

Hello,

We are cleaning up the sign regulations in our zoning ordinance and have an issue on which we'd love feedback.

In regulating unlit, non-business signs and banners (such as community event, political, yard or garage sale, real estate, or construction signs) we are proposing to:


  1.  limit the size of each sign and banner with a cumulative size limit to be able to enforce situations were signs do not comply with goals/intent of sign section to limit blight and declining property values
     *   Each sign max 6 sf
     *   Each banner max 18 sf
     *   Total cumulative area per lot 18sf
  2.  put no time limit since that would limit speech more than necessary
  3.  only location limit would be that signs cannot be placed in such locations as to constitute a traffic or pedestrian safety hazard

There is interest by some to not have a cumulative size limit for these signs - I believe mostly for election times when a resident could want to have yard signs (typically 1.5'x2') for more than 6 candidates. Six yard signs is well over the number that I've seen around.

If we removed the size limit there would be no ability to control a situation where a property owner puts up a lot of signs that could remain up all year.

Does any community have an elegant way of regulating "non-business" signs? Or any feedback?

Thanks,
Lori

Lori Massa, AICP (she/her/hers)
Senior Planner
Office of Planning and Community Development
City of Melrose
562 Main Street
Melrose, MA 02176
781-979-4193
lmassa at CityofMelrose.org<mailto:lmassa at CityofMelrose.org>

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