Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Sign Bylaw Review Committee – Articles 6 through 15

Submitted by Jeff Cohen, Chair of the Ad Hoc Sign Bylaw Review Committee

The Selectmen appointed the Ad Hoc Sign Bylaw Review Committee (SBRC) in the fall of 2011 to review the town’s Sign Bylaw and develop recommendations to update the document. So far, the Committee has focused on high-priority changes; additional revisions will be proposed at Special Town Meeting in the fall.

The focus of this round of proposed changes is to:

1)   Amend the confusing language/ambiguities to make the Bylaw easier for the public to understand and for the ZBA to interpret.

2)   Change the one-size-fits-all approach to signage and provide new district-specific requirements in recognition that different districts have different needs and scales.  

3)   Make the Sign Bylaw more business-friendly while respecting Bedford’s aesthetic character.

The SBR received input from members of the ZBA, Historic District Commission, Planning Board, Selectmen, Town Counsel, Chamber of Commerce members, Council on Aging members, local business owners and several residents and received hundreds of comments. The Committee compared Bedford’s Sign Bylaw with those of other towns such as Concord, Lexington, Hingham, Chatham and Medford.

Attached to this report is Table 40.1 Schedule of Sign Regulations. This Table provides a snapshot of the signage requirements that are being proposed. Amendments are highlighted in purple text.

Article 6: “Housekeeping” abnormalities, including: changing Roman numerals to Arabic numerals and deleting outdated references.

Article 7:  Barber poles.  Permit them to revolve and contain internal illumination.

Article 8:  Modify definitions within the bylaw per feedback from Town Counsel, residents and the business community:

• Exempt from the provisions of the Sign Bylaw signs that are not visible from a lot’s adjacent public ways;

• Remove the size limitations on construction signs – these limitations will be outlined in the district specific section of the bylaw;

• Edit definition to denote what a freestanding sign is, not what it is not;

• Broaden the definition of moveable signs

• Amend definition of Political Signs in response to input from Town Counsel;

• Coordinate prohibitive language for painted-on signs with other existing restrictive language in the Bylaw;

• Define Traffic Signs on private property; and define Non-Commercial Signs.

Article 9:  Illumination regulations.

• Offer more flexibility re: acceptable luminaires for Illuminated Signs;

• LEDs may not be used as a primary means to display/convey the sign message;

• Permit businesses open from 11 pm to 6 am to illuminate their signs by ZBA Special Permit;

• Remove unrealistic/ unenforceable criteria for illumination overspill.

Article 10:  Non-commercial signs, freestanding or wall-mounted (regulated as temporary signs). Also proposed is an exemption for Traffic Control signs on private property, as authorized by an approved site plan, from the provisions of the Sign Bylaw.

Article 11: Prohibit moveable freestanding signs and clarify restrictions for movable freestanding signs and internal illumination.

Article 12:  Residential Districts.

• The change in wall signs and freestanding signs to 6 sq. ft. brings the size of these signs in line with  currently permitted size of real estate signs;

• Permits residents to display non-commercial signs (on a temporary basis); Addresses residents’ concerns regarding multiple contractor signs at construction projects, but recognizes larger signs are warranted for multi-unit or subdivision projects to allow project teams to be recognized;

• Permits Traffic Control Signs on private property subdivisions which will improve auto and pedestrian safety.

Article 13:  Business Districts signage language clarifications to make requirements more straightforward to interpret.

• Increase the maximum allowable area of freestanding signs to align with current maximum height and width dimensions;

• Stipulate when Special Permits are required from the Zoning Board of Appeals for increases in sign area or dividing signs;

• Permit a larger freestanding sign on a lot with more than two businesses on-site;

• Clarify requirements for awning signs, windows signs, construction signs, real estate signs, flags, gasoline station price signs, hotel/motel vacancy signs, traffic control signs and non-commercial signs.

Article 14: Removes cross references to other zoned districts and balances the Industrial Business Community’s request for greater visibility with respect for Bedford’s small- town aesthetic.

Article 15: Free Speech signs. This Article reflects advice from Town Counsel that Bedford may not regulate free speech signs.

Respectfully Submitted, Jeff Cohen, Ad hoc Sign Bylaw Committee