(1)
Determination of Use. Allowed signs at Devens are
determined by the uses allowed in the district by the By-laws and in accordance
with the Reuse Plan. The following matrix references use categories from the
By-laws with applicable sections of 974 CMR
6.04.
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Use
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Sign Regulation
Section
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Environmental
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Offce
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If in area with retail/service uses, 974 CMR
6.04(4). Retail; otherwise, 974 CMR 6.04(5).
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Industrial-Institutional
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Home office
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974 CMR 6.04(3). Residential
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Industrial
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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R&D
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Cultural
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Health care
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Conference
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Academic
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Municipal
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Lodging
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974 CMR 6.04(4). Retail
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Commercial
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974 CMR 6.04(4). Retail
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Residential, single family, multifamily
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974 CMR 6.04(3). Residential
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Nursing home
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Incubator
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974 CMR 6.04(5). Industrial-Institutional
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Restaurant (freestanding, in retail service
areas)
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974 CMR 6.04(4). Retail
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Restaurant, open to the public, accessory in
Lodging)
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Accessory sign; see Retail section 974 CMR
6.04(4)(f)
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In the event a permitted use in Devens is not included in 974
CMR 6.04: Table, the Applicant shall request in writing that
the Director determine the appropriate Sign regulation section that applies for
the use. The Director may delegate such authority to the Building Official.
Such determination shall be made within seven days of the receipt of the
written request. Should the
Director not render a determination within the seven days, the
Applicant may erect signs in accordance with 974 CMR
6.04(5)Industrial-Institutional. The Applicant may appeal the
Director's determination by requesting a Reconsideration pursuant to the
By-laws and
974 CMR
1.00: Administration.
(2)
Signs Allowed on
All Premises. The following signs may be erected on all premises
within Devens. These signs do not require a permit from the DEC.
(a)
Type 3 Directional
Signs. Signs for the express purpose of directing persons through
the site (ENTER, EXIT, VISITORS, etc.) including signs within
parking areas and signs for vehicular and pedestrian traffic shall not be
limited as to number, but shall not exceed four square feet in size per
individual sign and be erected so that they do not reduce visibility for
vehicles.
(3)
Signs in Residential
Areas. In residential areas, occupants may erect a single two
square foot free standing or building mounted accessory sign, showing name,
address, and allowed home occupation ( if a ny) .
(4)
Signs for Retail and Service
Uses, Lodging, and Offices Located within Areas of Retail and Service
Uses.
(a)
Commercial
Areas in Devens Consist of Any of the Following: retail/service
centers with multiple occupants (such as shopping centers, "mini-malls," strip
malls,
etc.); free-standing (or one user per structure)
retail/service uses; convenience retail, either free-standing or contained
within structures; and small scale accessory retail uses contained within
structures devoted primarily to other uses. Small-scale offices, providing
services to the public or to clients, and located within areas of retail
centers, free standing retail, and convenience retail establishments may erect
signs according to 974 CMR
6.04.
Signs erected in retail areas include Type 1 Freestanding
signs, Type 3 Directional signs, Type 4 Building-mounted signs, window signs
(both Type 5 Permanent signs and temporary window signs), and Type 6 Hanging
signs. Window signs, in retail areas may not exceed 25% of the window area to
which they are attached.
(b)
Retail/Service Centers with
Multiple Occupants may Erect the Following Signs:
1.
Type 1 Freestanding
Signs. One free-standing sign may be erected. For buildings
containing multiple occupants, a single sign is allowed and should be
restricted to a common name or the building's name or other identifying
information. If individual business names are displayed, the design of each
shall be as uniform as possible, and incorporated in such a way to resemble a
single sign to the greatest extent possible, with total area of signs not
exceeding the maximum allowed for a single sign.
STYLE TYPE 1: FREESTANDING
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The maximum size of the signboard or signboard envelop of
freestanding signs is 72 square feet in area. For two-sided signs, the maximum
size of each message board on each side is also 72 square feet. The total area
of the structure erected, inclusive of the signboard and the base, pedestal or
superstructure that encompasses the sign, shall not exceed 100 square feet in
area or a ratio of 11/2:1, sign area to total structure area (measured on
the same area plane as the sign.) Free-standing signs should be set-back 20
feet from the edge of roadway to allow for full visibility of persons entering
and exiting the site. No portion of a free-standing sign may exceed 20 feet in
height.
Free-standing signs may be illuminated in compliance with
974 CMR 4.00:
Industrial Performance Standards. Free-standing signs shall
not be illuminated when the premises is not open for business.
2.
Type 4 Building
Signs. Illuminated and non-illuminated signs may not occupy more
than 3% of the building facade on which they are mounted (from
974 CMR
4.04(3)(i) ) up to a
maximum of 100 square feet in area. For buildings containing multiple retail
and commercial occupants, each occupant with direct access to the outside shall
be allowed a sign, not to exceed 3% of the portion of the building facade that
the premises occupies, with a minimum of 20 square feet and a maximum of 100
square feet in area. Perpendicular or hanging signs may be erected instead of
the individual building- mounte dsigns .
Buildings located on a corner may erect a building-mounted sign
on each facade of the building with a smaller (up to a maximum of 1% of the
portion of the building facade that the premises occupies, with a minimum of
ten square feet and a maximum of 50 square feet in area) sign on the second
side. Ideally, the larger sign will be located on the side with the larger
facade, the side facing the principal access street, or the side with the
principal entrance to the premises.
3. Type 3 Directional signs for the safety of
the public may be erected as needed.
4. Type 5 Windows signs, temporary and
permanent, may be erected in accordance with
974 CMR
6.00.
(c)
Free-standing Retail/Service
Uses. Free-standing retail and service uses are a single use or
entity within a single structure, frequently on a separate lot. Free-standing
retail/service uses may erect the following signs:
1. Type 1 Free-standing signs, as described
in 974 CMR
6.04(4), if the building is located on a single lot with at least
200 feet of frontage. Free-standing signs shall not be illuminated when the
premises is not open for business.
2. Type 3 Directional signs as
needed.
3. Type 4 Building-mounted
signs as described in
974 CMR
6.03(4)(d). A secondary sign
may be erected for buildings on corners.
4. Type 5 Windows signs.
(d)
Convenience Retail, Either
Free-standing or Contained within Structures. Convenience Retail
are small retail establishments, offering food, services, newspapers,
magazines, and other items. They may be open for business 24 hours a day.
Free-standing convenience retail may be located on a separate lot and may erect
the following signs:
1. Type 4
Building-mounted signs as described in
974 CMR
6.03(4)(d). A secondary sign
may be erected for buildings on corners.
2. Type 3 Directional signs as
needed.
3. Type 5 Windows
signs.
(e)
Small-scale AccessoryRetailUses. A small-scale
accessory retail use located within another structure may erect a Type 4
building-mounted sign not to exceed 20 square feet in area, provided it has
external entrance directly to the parking area or building access areas and the
establishment is open to the general public, not restricted to the occupants of
the building.
(f) Lodging
establishments may erect signs in accord with 974 CMR
6.04(4)(c):
Free-standing Retail/Service Uses. A restaurant within a
hotel, motel, or other lodging establishment being open to the general public
and having an external entrance to the parking or access areas may erect either
a Type 6 hanging signor a building-mounted sign, not exceeding 20 square feet
in area, in addition to any permanent or temporary Type 5 window signs
otherwise allowed.
(5)
Industrial-Institutional. Industrial, Environmental
Businesses, Research & Development, and all other office uses (including
small-scale offices not located in a Retail area); Conference Centers;Nursing
Homes; Institutional (Cultural, academic, municipal, and public recreation)
Signs erected in these areas include Type 2 On-premises signs,
Type 3 Directional signs, Type 4 Building-mounted signs, window signs (both
Type 5 Permanent signs and temporary window signs), and Type 6 Hanging signs.
Window signs in industrial-institutional areas may not exceed 25%of the window
area to which they are attached.
(a)
Type 2 - Each building may erect an on-premises sign,
complying with the size and illumination limitations listed in the sign type
description above. The sign shall be located adjacent to the street
right-of-way adjacent to the primary vehicular entrance to the site. This sign
shall contain the name of the business or entity occupying the premises, or in
the case of multiple occupants, the name of the building, the address, or other
identifier for the premises. On corner lots with vehicular access from both
streets, the DEC may allow a second on-premises sign to be erected.
(b)
Type 3 Directional
Signs as needed and complying with
974 CMR
6.00
(c)
Type 4 Building-mounted Signs. Illuminated and
non-illuminated signs may not occupy more than 3% of the building facade on
which they are mounted (from
974 CMR
4.04) up to a maximum of 100 square feet in
area. For buildings containing multiple occupants, occupants with direct access
to the outside shall be allowed a sign, not to exceed 3% of the portion of the
building facade that the premises occupies, with a minimum of 20 square feet
and a maximum of 100 square feet in area. Perpendicular or hanging signs may be
erected instead of the individual building-mounted signs .
Buildings located on a corner may erect a building-mounted sign
on each facade of the building with a smaller (up to a maximum of 1% of the
portion of the building facade that the premises occupies, with a minimum of
ten square feet and a maximum of 50 square feet in area) sign on the second
side. Ideally, the larger sign will be located on the side with the larger
facade, the side facing the principal access street, or the side with the
principal entrance to the premises.
(d)
Type 5 Permanent Window
Signs. Both permanent signs and temporary window signs may be
used.
(e)
Type 6
Hanging Signs. Perpendicular or hanging signs in the size and
located in accord with
974 CMR
6.00 may be erected in lieu of a building-mounted sign
as detailed in 974 CMR
6.04(5)(c).
(f)
Restaurants in Conference
Centers open to the public and having a direct external entrance
to the parking or access areas may erect either a Type 6 hanging sign or a Type
4 building-mounted sign, not exceeding 20 square feet in area, in addition to
any permanent or temporary window signs otherwise allowed.
(g) To identify the premises within planned
or coordinated developments, a planned subdivision, or planned unit
development, multiple buildings on a single lot, with multiple owners or
tenants, the DEC may permit a single freestanding Type 1 sign may be erected in
lieuofa Type 2 on-premises sign.
1. For
buildings containing multiple occupants, a single Type 1 sign is allowed and
shall be restricted to a common name or the building's name or other
identifying information. If individual business names are displayed, the design
of each shall be as uniform as possible, and incorporated in such a way to
resemble a single sign to the greatest extent possible, with total area of
signs not exceeding the maximum allowed for a single sign.
2. The maximum size for freestanding signs is
100 square feet in area. Free-standing signs should be set-back 20 feet from
the edge of roadway to allow for full visibility of persons entering and
exiting the site. No portion of a freestanding sign may exceed 20 feet in
height.
3. Lots or developments
located on corners may erect a free-standing sign along the street having the
higher volume of traffic with a Type 2 on-premises sign along the second
street. In planned developments or for buildings on very large lots, the DEC
may, during site plan review, allow a freestanding sign along the second street
if the DEC determines the sign will better direct the public to the premises,
enhance the appearance of the site, or because of topographic
conditions.
(6)
Signs Located in the Historic
District. Buildings and premises within the Historic District
shall be subject to review by the Massachusetts Historical Commission pursuant
to the Programmatic Agreement, section 1.06, between the Army and the
Commonwealth and approval by the DEC as the Local Historic District Commission.
The Commission may utilize more stringent standards and restrictive criteria
than contained in
974 CMR
6.00. The Commission may also allow signs of a form
not otherwise permitted by
974 CMR
6.00 or allow signs to be mounted in locations not
otherwise permitted by
974 CMR
6.00, if, in their opinion, such sign may more
appropriately fit with the character the premises and the district.
(7)
Signs in the Views
hed. Signs within the views hed shall comply with the allowed
signs for the use category of the premises. Any sign, whether free-standing,
on-premises, or building mounted, to be erected within a views hed area shall
be located below existing or new tree canopies, but may not in any case exceed
a maximum of 20 feet in height.
Illuminated signs are generally discouraged within the views
hed.
