32A-135 (3) •
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Q�THAIIT\T
;,t City of Northampton, Massachusetts
Office of Planning and Development
�Q' ' + City Hall, 210 Main Street
� Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-6950 (413) 586-3726 fax
MEMORANDUM
TO: Sam Brindis,Director,DPW1T) E v 1 111
FROM: Penelope Kim,OPD MAY 2 la U
. REGARDS: Sandwich Board Signs
DEOHAPPA010NSNRTMON MA INSPECTIONS
DATE: May 1, 1995 i
I attach a copy of a letter received by the Mayor,Wayne Feiden and myself dated 4/24/95 from Denis Perlman
regarding Sandwich Board signs.
Would you kindly discuss with the Board of Public Works your recommendation in this matter?There appears
to be two questions to address and then several courses of action to consider.
Question 1: Should businesses located on Rte.5(King Street and Pleasant Street)be allowed to advertise by
Sandwich Board signs on Main Street?
1. If yes,then how can the DPW regulations insure that there are no safety hazards or clutter at the Main
and King/Pleasant intersections?
2.. If no,what is the best way to remedy the situation?
a) through DPW regulation or
b) through a change in the Zoning Ordinance Section 7.9. Said change would alter Section 1)"those
restaurants and retail business establishments in the CB District not fronting on Main Street"... by
adding"exclusive of establishments on King and Pleasant streets".
- -- Question 2: Should businesses located on Rte.5(King and Pleasant streets)below street level be allowed to use
Sandwich Board signs at/near their location?
1. If yes,Section 7.9 of the Zoning Ordinance could be amended by adding:1
• . "4) those restaurants and retail businesses establishments in the CB District fronting on King and
•
Pleasant streets whose location is solely above or below street level..."
2. If no,then the DPW's regulations would apply once the Zoning Ordinance is amended as under
Question 1 above.
Thank you for your assistance in expediting the resolution of this inquiry.
cc: Mary L.Ford,Mayor
Denis Perlman
Councilor Michael Bardsley
Frank Sienkiewicz,Building Inspector
Wayne Feiden,Principal Planner
Kathleen Fallon,City Solicitor
_-. c:\wp\daily\sanbrd.mem -
, -
Silverscape Designs
#1 King.Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413 584-3324
April 24, 1995
Ms. Penny Kim
do Northampton Planning Board
City of Northampton
Northampton, MA 01,060
To Ms. Kim:
write you this letter to bring your attention to some details in the sidewalk sign
ordinance. I hope that the language of that bylaw can be improved for the
betterment of the Northampton community.
There is by right an allowance for business owners on side streets to get a
special permit to place a directional "sandwich board sign" on Main Street to
direct pedestrian traffic to their place of business. In general, I appreciate the
usefulness of this practice both for the businesses and the pedestrians.
Perhaps by oversight this ordinance includes the central intersection in
downtown Northampton: that of King and Pleasant meeting Main Street. The
fact that they are state Routes 5 and 10 tells the story that these are major
thoroughfares. As a business owner at#1 King street, I feel that these signs are
not only an unattractive addition to the gateway to downtown Northampton, but -
1. also present something of a hazard to the crowds of people who wait at this
intersection to cross in many directions, and then pass by. it is my strongest
contention that ground floor businesses on Routes 5 and 10 can improve their.
own signs if they want or need greater visibility, at their place of business.
I would very much appreciate any suggestions you might give me to help get the
language of this ordinance rewritten, for the betterment of Northampton.
APR 8 Thanking you,
• (9, /
3 — I g Denis Perlman
City of Northampton, Massachusetts 04 pi3O
4.
Office of Planning and Development
City Hall • 210 Maln Street A dog`,�� �1
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Northampton, MA 01060 • (413)586-6950 . ice •. at
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FAX(413) 586-3726 .��) .v�; �(�
•Community and Economic Development ,�•�
•Conservation •Historic Preservation r+r
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•Planning Board•Zoning Board of Appeals .-"
•Northampton Parking Commission
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May 1, 1995
•
Mr. Denis Perlman
Silverscape Designs
1 King Street .
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Mr. Perlman:
. .- , • RE: SANDWICH BOARD SIGNS
. .We spoke several weeks ago about the location of Sandwich Board
signs on .the. corners of King/Pleasant . and Main Street. At that
time I suggested you contact the DPW and your ity Councilor to
seek a change in the Ordinance and the DPWregulations.
Several of us recently received a letter dated 4/25/95 from you
on this subject. In order to insure that our efforts are co-
ordinated toward an appropriate resolution of this matter, I have
prepared the -attached memo to Sam Brindis, Director. of the DPW,
and am sending copies of °the memo to all interested City parties .
Once the Board of Public Works has acted on this matter, we will
proceed with any necessary changes.
Please feel free to contact me regarding the status of this
matter.
Sincerely, .
Penelope G. Kim
cc: Mary L. Ford, Mayor
and others
ORIGINAL PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
4
2 . Pre-existing nonconforming projecting signs in the Central
Business District.
(Amended 5/18/89 and 10/6/94)
Section 7.7 Nonconforming, Non-Accessory (General Advertising) •
Signs. All nonconforming, non-accessory signs in existence and
lawfully erected before the adoption of this Ordinance may continue
to be maintained, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 7. 0, provided, however, that no proposed new non-accessory
sign shall be permitted in any District from and after the adoption
of this Ordinance. (Amended 12/6/70)
Section 7.8 Permit and Fees. No sign shall be erected, altered or
enlarged until a permit has been issued by the Building
Commissioner.. Such permit shall be issued only if the sign
complies or will comply with all ' applicable .provisions of this
Ordinance. The permit and/or permit number shall be affixed to the
sign in the manner prescribed by the Building: Commissioner. A
schedule of fees for such permits may be determined from time to
time by the City Council. The provisions of this section shall not
apply to signs permitted in a residential area nor to temporary
signs allowed under the provisions of Section 7.2 of this
Ordinance.
(Amended 10/6/94)
Section 7.9 Stationary Sandwich Board Signs. , Stationary off-
premise sandwich board signs (intended for pedestrian orientation)
are permitted on Main Street sidewalks in the Central Business (CB)
District and Bridge Street sidewalks in the Neighborhood Business
(NB) District only. Such signs may be used only by: 1) those
restaurants and retail business establishments in the CB District
riot fronting on Main Street; and 2) those restaurants and retail
business establishments in the CB District fronting on Main Street,
whose location is solely above or below street level; and 3) those
restaurants and retail business establishments in the NB District
not fronting on Bridge' Street. All sandwichl board signs must
receive a permit from the Northampton Board of Public Works in
accordance with the Provisions of Sections 3-1,7 and 3-18 of the
Code of ordinances for the City of Northampton. (Amended 7/18/91)
October 7, 1994 7-10