(a) Signs obstruct views, distract motorists, displace alternative uses for land, and pose other problems that legitimately call for regulation. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the size, color, illumination, movement, materials, location, height, and condition of all signs placed on private property for exterior observation, thus ensuring the protection of property values, the character of the various neighborhoods, the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community, protection against destruction of or encroachment upon historic areas, and the safety and welfare of pedestrians and wheeled traffic, while providing convenience to citizens and encouraging economic development. This chapter allows adequate communication through signage while encouraging aesthetic quality in the design, location, and size of all signs. This chapter shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. If any provision of this chapter is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such finding shall not affect the validity of other provisions of this article which can be given effect without the invalid provision.
(b) Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by conditional use permit under this chapter, by specific requirements in another portion of this code, or otherwise expressly allowed by the Town Council or Board of Zoning Appeals are prohibited.
(c) A sign placed on land or on a building for the purpose of identification, protection or directing persons to a use conducted therein shall be deemed to be an integral but accessory and subordinate part of the principal use of land or building. Therefore, the intent of this article is to establish limitations on signs in order to ensure they are appropriate to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant and are adequate for their intended purpose while balancing the individual and community interests identified in subsection (a) of this section.
(d) These regulations are intended to promote signs that are compatible with the use of the property to which they are appurtenant, landscape and architecture of surrounding buildings, and that are legible and appropriate to the activity to which they pertain, are not distracting to motorists, and are constructed and maintained in a structurally sound and attractive condition.
(e) These regulations distinguish between portions of the Town designed for primarily vehicular access and portions of the Town designed for primarily pedestrian access.
(f) These regulations do not regulate every form and instance of visual speech that may be displayed anywhere within the jurisdictional limits of the Town. Rather, they are intended to regulate those forms and instances that are most likely to meaningfully affect one or more of the purposes set forth above.
(g) These regulations do not entirely eliminate all of the harms that may be created by the installation and display of signs. Rather, they strike an appropriate balance that preserves ample channels of communication by means of visual display while still reducing and mitigating the extent of the harms caused by signs.
(Passed 8-28-18.)