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Borough Tightens Sign Regulations For Town Center

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Borough Zoning Commission has revised its sign regulations, creating a set

of revamped rules intended to foster attractive, well-designed commercial

signs in the borough.

In a preface to the revised regulations, the Borough Zoning Commission states

that signage "should not destroy the harmony and character of the Borough of

Newtown, while recognizing the need for adequate business identification,

advertising and visual communication within the Borough of Newtown.

"This can be achieved through the display of attractive, well-designed

signs...The Borough (has a) responsibility to promote public safety, protect

property values, minimize visual clutter, and enhance the physical appearance

of the Borough of Newtown," according to the rules which have taken effect.

The revised regulations explicitly state what signage is allowable in the

borough, said Borough Zoning Officer Jean St Jean. As the zoning officer, Ms

St Jean enforces the borough's zoning regulations.

"It really is (intended) to make it clear what signs are allowed," she said.

Borough Zoning Commission members reviewed the sign regulations used by about

15 towns in formulating their signage rules, she said. Commission member Linda

Shepherd and former member Greg O'Brien developed proposals for new sign

regulations which commission members reviewed, modified, and then approved, Ms

St Jean said.

"A lot of people complain about sign proliferation," Ms St Jean said of the

Borough Zoning Commission's decision to revise its sign regulations to deal

with the problem of sign clutter.

Besides sign clutter, the new regulations address with the issue of

internally-illuminated signs. New internally-illuminated signs are now

expressly prohibited in the borough. Until now, merchants were legally able to

have internally-illuminated signs if they had a permit for such signs from the

Borough Zoning Board of Appeals.

With the passage of the new borough sign regulations, anyone who has an

internally-illuminated sign on display without a permit from the appeals board

will be in clear violation of the sign regulations, Ms St Jean said.

As in the past, the new rules prohibit neon signs.

"Shopping centers" are a special category in the borough sign regulations.

Such signage requires special exceptions to the zoning regulations.

Crackdown

Ms St Jean said the borough will start a crackdown on violators of its sign

regulations.

"We do have some illegal signs. We will send them (violators) the sign

regulations and we will give them an opportunity to comply," she said.

Ms St Jean noted a recent court ruling which found Trudeau's Service Center to

be in violation of the Planning and Zoning Commission's (P&Z) sign

regulations. A Danbury Superior Court judge has ordered the automotive

business at 47-49 South Main Street to remove numerous illegal signs from the

premises and pay a $12,000 fine to the town for sign violations.

"This is a very strong message for signs," Ms St Jean said, noting that the

court ruling will give the town and the borough leverage in enforcing

applicable rules against sign violators.

The town also plans a sign violation crackdown.

The borough sign regulations contain provisions on the maintenance and removal

of signs.

Under the terms of the regulations: all signs must be kept in good working

order and in safe repair; the owner of the lot on which a sign is kept will be

responsible for the sign; unsightly, damaged or deteriorated signs, and signs

in danger of falling down shall be repaired or removed; and any sign

pertaining to a business no longer conducted on the premises shall be removed

within five days after the business ceases there.