Washington Planning Board

Hearing - December 6, 2011

0.0 Assembly: 6:30PM

0.1 Members present:

Cook, Crandall, Marshall, Schwartz,

0.2 Alternates present:

Terani and Kluk

0.3 Members and Alternates Absent: Chute, Dagesse

0.4 Visitors: Rick Niven

Hearing on changes to the LUO regarding signs

Cook called the hearing to order at 6:30PM.

Marshall made a motion for Terani to sit in for Chute, Crandall seconded and all voted in favor.

This being the second hearing on the sign ordinance Cook asked Rick Niven if he wanted us to read through the ordinance or if he wanted to comment. He said that it wasn't necessary to read through it he wanted to speak about how one section of the ordinance would affect his sign. He felt that his sign is a grandfathered structure and shouldn't be affected by newer regulations. He heard that if he changed the message on his sign it would no longer be compliant with the regulations. Cook read the section 309.3.1. Kluk said that we were addressing off-premise advertising with this section. Niven feels that this goes too far, he has an agreement with his renters to keep things in good order and feels that the location is far from any abutter and not an eyesore. His sign also generates good revenue for him. Schwartz suggested that we remove "business name and copy" from this section. Niven was agreeable to this and didn't have any other problems with the ordinance. Marshall disclosed that he had a previous conversation with Niven about the section of the ordinance. Crandall asked if anyone changes the copy on their sign do they have to get a new permit? It was agreed that they wouldn't. Cook asked for a motion, Crandall made a motion to remove the words "business name and copy" from the ordinance section, Marshall seconded, all voted in favor. Schwartz asked about the changes suggested at the previous hearing. It was decided not to include "no signs on utility poles" because it is already covered and we felt that we couldn't make it mandatory to seek abutter's permission for signs. We felt that because Thayer and the board decide where signs should be sited we can be sensitive to abutters when we are permitting them. Marshall said that the Selectmen are working with Steve about the siting and use of the lighted municipal sign. Schwartz said that she looked into how long the state allows political signs to be up and they require removal within ten days of the election. We were asking that they be taken down within 4 days. We decided to be consistent and make it ten days, all agreed. Cook asked for a motion to send the sign ordinance to town meeting (with agreed on changes), Marshall made the motion, Crandall seconded and all voted in favor.

Cook closed the hearing at 6:57PM after Crandall motioned to do so, Schwartz seconded and all voted in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Nan Schwartz