PROSPECT — The Planning and Zoning Commission is considering a handful of changes to the town’s zoning regulations.
One of the areas the proposed changes take up is the amount of free-standing signs that can be posted on a commercial property.
Land Use Inspector Bill Donovan said the issue of signs on commercial properties is one he deals with frequently.
“From one aspect it’s one of the more common zoning violations I have to deal with. We currently allow one detached sign per property. Even if it is a large complex with several businesses, only one sign can be displayed. Business owners have said, ‘We would like to have more flexibility to put out a sandwich board sign on temporary basis to attract more customers,’” Donovan said.
Under the proposed changes a business would be able to put up one sign per sales event. The sign can be posted up to seven days prior to the event and must be removed with one day after the event. The new regulations would limit these signs to five events per calendar year.
The proposed changes would also create an entirely new section for tag sales.
The proposed regulations would allow a tag sale at a specific property to run three consecutive days at maximum and only occur for 10 days within a calendar year.
Donovan said the section was created to prevent tag sales from becoming an ongoing business at a home.
“It’s to try to ensure that tag sales are for the sale of goods that are owned by property owner that they no longer needed. The commission doesn’t want to allow people to go elsewhere and bring acquired items back to property and sell them under a tag sale,” Donovan said.
Tag sales are also addressed under the proposed changes regarding signage as well. The change would limit the placement of signs to one on the property that must be removed within a day of the sale.
The commission is also looking at expanding the definition of home business to include the retail sale of goods that are not made on the premises.
“We realize that the likelihood is, with the change of technology, people may be using the computer more to order and sell goods and products. What we have to figure out is where would they come from, where would they be stored, and how would they be distributed in a way that wouldn’t impact residential neighborhoods,” Donovan said.
A public hearing on the changes was held Oct. 1. Donovan said it was primarily business owners who spoke at the public hearing, requesting lenience for the signage regulations.
“It was very cordial discuss. How can we better improve zoning regulations to help businesses that don’t impact the character of town,” Donovan said.
The public hearing was continued to the commission’s next meeting Oct.15. Donovan said once the commission accepts the changes it will set an effective date for them, which is usually a month from the time it accepts them.
Donovan said the proposed changes to the regulations were not driven by any one issue, but rather a desire to continue to improve them so they best serve the town and its residents.
“This is what we do when there’s a reduction in new applications for site plans. The commission isn’t as busy. It’s just a good idea to review regulations from time to time and have discussion with ourselves and the public,” Donovan said.
