7.4 blade signs 2014Refer to
QCitp of ,eortbampton
MASSACHUSETTS
In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen
UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE Planning Board, Office of Planning &
Sustainability
ORDINANCE
An Ordinance of the City of Northampton, Massachusetts, providing that the Code of Ordinances,
City of Northampton, Massachusetts, be amended by revising section § 350- 7.4Signs permitted in
any B District. of said code; providing for both projecting blade signs and standard wall signs
by -right as shown.
Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Northampton, in City Council assembled, as
follows: That section 350.7.4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Northampton,
Massachusetts, be amended so that such section shall read as follows:
350 -7.4Si ng_s permitted in any B District.
The following signs shall be permitted in any B District:
A. Signs permitted in § 350 -7.3 (R Districts) subject to the same regulations.
B. Business signs shall be permitted as wall signs as follows:
They shall be attached and parallel to the wall of the building; and
fQ They shall not project horizontally more than 12 inches therefrom (except as noted
below ) and, if the sign is designed to allow pedestrian traffic under the sign, shall be a
minimum of seven feet above the ground; signs projecting more than 12 inches over a
public way shall be permitted by the Board of Public Works in accordance with
Chapter 264, Signs, Article I; and ............
D. Business signs shall be permitted as ground signs as follows:
�D In the BB or M Districts, one ground sign for each lot, provided that:
U
a� It shall not exceed 100 square feet in surface area on any one side; and
bJ It shall be set back at least 15 feet from any street lot line; and
U It shall not rise to more than 15 feet from the ground or sidewalk to the top of
the sign; and
(Q It shall not have more than two sign faces.
(e) Ground signs shall be located in the same lot as the structure or establishment
being advertised
(2) Where a single lot is occupied by more than one business, whether in the same
structure or not, there shall not be more than one ground sign per lot.
(3) In particular instances, upon review by Office of Planning and Development staff,
sign site plan approval for one ground sign, in addition to the wall sign(s) permitted in
§ 350 -7.4B above, for each lot frontage of each lot in the Neighborhood Business (NB),
General Business (GB), Entranceway Business (EB) and Central Business (CB) Districts
may be granted, provided that:
(a) Sufficient evidence is presented to show that the structure, the orientation of
the structure, the location or setback of the structure, or the location of
establishments in the structure, especially affecting such structure or
establishment, but not generally affecting the zoning district in which it is located,
which restrict the visibility of wall sign(s) otherwise allowed by this chapter.
(b) Said ground sign shall be located in the same lot as the structure or
establishment being advertised.
(c) Said ground sign shall not exceed a height of 10 feet, nor have a surface area
greater than 80 square feet in the CB, GB or EB District or greater than 20 square
feet in the NB District. Illuminated signs that meet ordinance shall be turned off
within half an hour of close of business. Any applicant seeking a larger sign than
specified above or any applicant denied a permit may apply for a special permit to
the Zoning Board of Appeals in accordance with standard application procedures.
(d) Ground signs shall be located on the same lot as the structure or establislunent
being advertised.
E. Business signs shall be permitted as a two -sided projecting blade signs (i.e. small signs that
project perpendicular to the building) as follows:
(1) There shall only be one (1) blade sign per business. If there is more than one business
in the same building there may not be more than one sign per 20' of frontage on the same
building.
(2) Only businesses on the first floor of a building may have a blade sign.
(3 ) The sign may not proiect more than three feet (3') from the faQade of a building.
(4) The sign may not exceed six (6) square feet of total surface area of per sign.
(5) The sign may not exceed 2" in width.
(6) The bottom of the sign shall not be less than nine (9') and the top of the sign shall not
be less than fifteen (15) feet both measured above the sidewalk.
(7) The sign shall not be internally lit.
(8) Blade signs shall be located in the same lot as the structure or establishment being
advertised.
F. Temporary outdoor signs shall be permitted as follows:
(1) One temporary banner of no more than 25 square feet on a property for retail, service
and restaurant uses in the Highway Business District for a period not to exceed 30 days
per year.
One temporary banner of no more than 25 square feet on a property for new retail;
service or restaurant uses in the Central Business, Entranceway Business and General
Business Districts for a period not to exceed 30 days.
In City Council, May 15, 2014
Passed F' t Reading, on Roll Call Vote of 9 Yes, 0 No
Attest: `! V� Cleric of Council
In City Council, June 5, 2014
a Pass Se 9d Reading, on Roll Call Vote of 9 Yes, 0 No
Attest �% Clerk of Council
Approved: David J. Narkewicz, Mayor
Rules suspended, passed two readings, ordained and enrolled.
I hereby certify that the above Ordinance passed the Northampton City Council on June 5, 2014
David J Narkewiczo ayor pproved the ordinance on June 5, 2014.
Attest: �' Clerk of Council