The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Council approves public hearing for ordinance
Question and answer period set for regular April 7 village meeting
By Ed Patino, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 13, 2008
After several months of reworking the language and defining criteria, the Manchester Village Council moved one step closer to approving its sign ordinance during its March 3 meeting.
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The council approved a public hearing on the ordinance, which will take place during its April 7 meeting at the Manchester Village Hall.
According to Village President Pat Vailliencourt, the hearing is a necessary step before council members can vote on the ordinance.
"The Planning Commission has held a public hearing on this already," Vailliencourt told council members during the meeting. "It's a courtesy for the community, and should save us from having to answer lots of questions over and over again."
The sign ordinance covers permitted real estate signs, temporary signs such as portable display signs, promotional signs and banners and charitable activity signs and the physical dimensions, structure and conditions for the signs. The majority of the discussion during the March 3 meeting focused on charitable signs and how to apply for permits.
According to the ordinance, a civic or charitable group that wants to display a sign promoting their event or organization is to first receive approval by the Manchester Village Zoning Administrator and requires a permit. Once the Zoning Administrator determines that the sign follows the guidelines of the ordinance, the group then receives a permit after meeting with Manchester Village Manager Jeff Wallace.
"It's an annual permit that carries over to the next year," Vailliencourt said. "They only have to get a permit one time for one sign. But if they come up with a new sign, they'll have to get a new permit."
The ordinance allows for non-profit and charitable groups to display portable signs in the public right-of-way in Manchester's business district five days before the event, during the event and 24 hours after it ends. They must have permission of the business owner and have the village as an additional named insured. The business owners do not forfeit the right to display their own business sign.
"The charity assumes responsibility for their sign, but doesn't assume the insurance," Vailliencourt said.
The sign ordinance defines "portable display signs" as either sandwich board types or easel types. Sandwich board signs are two rigid boards, connected at the top to form an A-frame, with the faces of the board extending to within 6-feet of the ground. Easel types are a single board held vertically (or near vertically) and supported with legs extending from the top of the board to the ground to form an A-frame.
Easel boards are to extend to within 6-feet of the ground, be double-sided, stand vertical and be supported at the bottom.
One portable display sign per building or business is permitted in commercial zones and are to be placed directly in front of that business. Portable signs in the business district must be set up so that the outer edge of the display is no more than 30 inches from the face of the building.
Under the ordinance, all portable display signs are to be no more than 5 feet high and 2 feet wide. They also must be self-supporting signs that are structurally stable under all reasonable wind and weather conditions.
Business owners will have minimum restrictions when it comes to designing the signs. Hand-painted, carved and unique signage on flat surfaces are encouraged, but should be visually consistent with the architecture within the area where the signs are being displayed.
With temporary promotional signs and banners, the Zoning Administrator may allow the use of one sign or banner for up to 45 days in all districts. Businesses and organizations using such signs and banners are limited to four times per calendar year, and the signs must comply with all structural requirements pertaining to the zoning district where the sign is displayed.
In Other Business:
The Manchester Men's Club received approval from the council to hold its Easter Egg Hunt. The event is scheduled to take place March 22 at Carr Park. Like last year, the hunt begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m.
"The Easter Egg Hunt is a tradition that we're all familiar with around here," Vailliencourt said.
The Council also approved an additional concert for the Gazebo Concert Series that takes place in the summer. Originally scheduled to have six events, a seventh Gazebo Concert will take place Aug. 7 at Wurster Park. The concert will run the same day as the ice cream social at the Emmanuel Church of Christ.
The Manchester Downtown Development Authority announced the appointment of two new officers. Resident Chris Fegan was named the DDA's new vice chairman, while Sue Fielder was appointed as treasurer. The terms run from July 1 to June 30, 2009.
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