§ 17.32.070. Contiguous commercial provisions.
A.
Definition. Contiguous commercial districts are those characterized by a majority of the buildings having:
1.
Continuous building fronts or continuous frontage from lot line to lot line;
2.
Zero lot lines for the primary facade; and
3.
A pedestrian orientation, that is, buildings which have entrances directly on a public way.
B.
Materials. All signs on contiguous commercial premises shall conform to Article 29, Massachusetts Stale Building Code (780 CMR). They shall, wherever possible, be mounted as to either hide the supporting structure, or incorporate the mounting device or structure into the overall design of the sign.
C.
Permanent Signs.
1.
This subsection pertains to permanent ground floor, wall and freestanding signs, and upper floor signs which are allowed according to the requirements of this section, including:
a.
Wall sign, affixed;
b.
Wall sign, painted;
c.
Window sign, hung;
d.
Window sign, painted or dimensional letters, applied;
e.
Individually applied back-lit letters (see "dimensional letters");
f.
Internally illuminated channel letters;
g.
Storefront sign/belt sign;
h.
Supergraphics/murals;
i.
Entry sign;
j.
Directory sign;
k.
Ground sign;
l.
Canopy sign;
m.
Awning sign;
n.
Freestanding sign;
o.
Product sign;
p.
Logo sign;
q.
Time/temperature sign;
r.
Changeable sign;
s.
Cornice sign;
t.
Electronic sign;
u.
Electronic message sign;
v.
Flag sign;
w.
V sign;
x.
Sign with business name, hours, goods, services.
2.
Ground Floor Sign. In addition to the main sign, no more than two permanent business name signs may be erected on the premises to which it (they) pertain. It (they) shall be located so as to leave visible all major architectural features of the storefront. The sign panel(s) shall fit within the framing elements of that portion of the storefront to which it (they) is (are) attached.
Signs shall be designed to be compatible in scale, proportion and materials with the storefront. The sign copy shall cover no more than seventy percent of the sign panel.
3.
Window Sign. Permanent window signs may be affixed to, painted on or hung inside storefront display windows. Those hung inside shall be composed only of permanent type materials, that is, they shall not be made from paper or cardboard products, but rather of regular durable sign materials such as glass, signage tubing, neon tubing, metal, plastic or other such materials. (Also see "temporary signs.")
For safety purposes and security reasons, signs should be located so that visibility into the interior is unobstructed.
Sign copy, panels and backgrounds may cover no more than twenty-five percent of the total glass area of display windows.
4.
Door Sign. Door signs may be painted on glass doors or affixed to or painted on solid doors. Door signs on glass doors may not obscure visibility into or out of the door and may cover no more than ten percent of the glass area. Door signs on solid doors may cover no more than fifteen percent of the door surface.
5.
Entry Sign. In cases where the entry to a ground or upper floor premises is set back at least two feet from the plane of the facade, a sign may be hung above the doorway provided it meets appropriate building code and safety standards, the bottom of the sign is a minimum of seven feet above the sidewalk, and it is no larger than four square feet.
6.
Ground Sign.
a.
Within Historic Commercial districts, no ground sign is allowed except:
1.
Where the principal facade of the building is set back from the property line at least ten feet; and
2.
The design of the sign has been approved by the Quincy historic district commission.
b.
Within other commercial districts covered by this subsection, ground signs are allowed if:
1.
The principal facade of the building is set back from the property line at least twenty feet;
2.
The sign contains a maximum of two faces; and each face contains no more than twenty-four square feet and is a maximum of eight feet above the surface of the ground. Any larger sign requires a special permit from the zoning board of appeals. In no case may the sign be higher than twenty-five feet or fifty square feet in size.
7.
Directory Sign. Multi-tenant buildings shall be allowed a directory sign listing the names and/or locations of the tenants. It shall be located at the entry and affixed flat to a wall surface or be freestanding. If affixed to the wall, the tenant directory shall not exceed eight square feet in area. If it is freestanding, it shall adhere to the ordinance pertaining to freestanding signs. The owners of multi-story, multi-tenant buildings shall provide building identification using a building name and street number to assist pedestrians and motorists in finding the location.
8.
Awning Sign. Awnings and canopies that extend over a public way shall be a maximum of six feet in depth and must be at least one foot behind a plane extending vertically from the face of the curb.
Signs may be located only on the slope or valance of awnings and the fascia and returns of canopies. Sign copy or panels may cover no more than thirty percent of the slope, or fifty percent of the valance of awnings and no more than seventy percent of canopy fascia and returns.
9.
Marquee Sign. Marquees must conform to Article 29, Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) and require a special permit from the zoning board. Marquee signs are not allowed in Historic Commercial districts without the approval of the Quincy historic district commission.
10.
Upper Floor Sign.
a.
Window Sign. Signs on upper floor windows shall pertain to the businesses located on upper floors of buildings. Upper floor window signs must be painted on the glass, covering no more than twenty-five percent of the glass area per window opening with a letter height maximum of nine inches. Signs shall be limited to two per business, per floor.
b.
Wall Sign. Signs on walls are allowed. Wall signs must be designed to be compatible with the architectural character of the facade to which they are attached. Wail signs may be a maximum of fifty square feet.
c.
Cornice Sign. Signs located on a building cornice must fit within the framing elements or the cornice and be designed to be compatible with the architectural character of the cornice.
11.
Multi-Story/Multi-Tenant Building Identification Signs. Any building of four stories or higher, located in business parks or on business or contiguous commercially zoned parcels, may have: two ground or wall signs of permitted size within the permissible setbacks; one directory sign of permitted size listing tenants and retail or commercial users; one entry sign, if building entry is recessed; and one address sign.
Signs mounted upon the upper fascia of such buildings must be horizontal to the building face and be located within some architectural element of the building constructed to accommodate such signs. No roof signs shall be permitted. The total amount of signage allowed upon a face of any such building shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total area of the face of the building or seventy-five square feet whichever is smaller.
No ground or wall sign on a multi-story building shall exceed seventy-five square feet in total area, nor shall it exceed twenty-five feet in overall height. The copy on any such ground sign shall be twenty-four inches above grade level. No more than one ground sign visible to the major artery or streetfront shall be permitted. The ground sign shall contain the name and address of the building or user. One ground sign visible to the road or motorist and pedestrian at the entryway which provides direct access to the property shall be permitted provided that it is no larger than fifty square feet and no more than twenty feet in total height. The copy on any such ground sign shall be no less than twenty-four inches above grade level. The total of all ground signs visible to arteries and access roads shall not exceed one hundred fifty square feet. In the case of a building, such as a hotel, other outside signs designating parking, lobby, pickup and delivery areas, function room entries, health clubs and so forth shall be permitted as such design is submitted to the planning board.
Signs located inside such buildings will not be subject to this chapter, but they will be subject to all other applicable regulations as enforced by the department of inspectional services.
12.
New Construction or Alteration of Existing Building Facades. When a permanent sign is to be erected in conjunction with a newly constructed building, the design and location of the signs and sign panels shall be considered an integral part of the facade design.
When a building is undergoing exterior alterations to its facade, the design and location of the signs and sign panels shall be considered an integral part of the facade design.
All new and altered buildings intended for retail and/or commercial use shall provide appropriate storefront sign bands and other appropriate facade areas to allow for the safe, re-usable and proper installation of signs in conformance with requirements of this section.
13.
Sign Copy. Permanent business name signs covered in this section may contain the following information: the name of the establishment and/or identification of the primary product or service; appropriate symbols, slogans or logos may be used.
A trademark may be used where its coverage of the sign panel does not constitute more than twenty-five percent of the total sign panel.
The same sign copy, slogan, logo, symbol or trademark shall not be repeated on a single sign panel or series of panels on the same or similar architectural element unless it is repeated ordinarily as part of the usual business identification, or unless it contributes to the overall design of the facade.
Signs for businesses above the ground floor are to be used for on-premises identification purposes only, and may include the business name and that of the primary product or service provided.
14.
Number of Signs. Each ground floor business establishment shall be allowed a maximum of three business name signs as follows: one storefront, wall, awning or window sign which is meant to be the main name sign for the business; two additional signs of the following types may also be mounted by the establishment: awning, sign belt, box, ground, freestanding, canopy, flag, V, window, door, entry, directory, product, logo, time/temperature, changeable, electronic, electronic message, business hours/goods/services sign.
Whatever combination of the above sign styles a business establishment chooses to use, all signs must conform to the size, materials and copy requirements of this chapter.
A maximum of two temporary signs per business establishment shall be allowed. Those signs shall conform to the rules for temporary signs.
15.
Size of Signs. Signs covered in this section shall be regulated according to the size of the sign copy and the panel or size requirements established in previous sections. Where no constraining architectural features otherwise exist, the maximum sign copy or sign panel area shall be twenty-five percent of the building facade area.
(Ord. 98-024 § 2 (part))