Item Coversheet


Town of Arlington, Massachusetts


Article 3
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/ SIGNS
Warrant Article Text:

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to update Section 2 Definitions and Section 6.2 Signs to create a new sign type located at shared mobility and electric vehicle charging stations; or take any action related thereto.

Requested by:

(Inserted at the request of the Redevelopment Board)

Report Excerpt:

Town Meeting voted to adopt substantial revisions to Section 6.2, Signs, of the Zoning Bylaw at 2019 Annual Town Meeting. At the time, very few publicly accessible electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations were provided in town and most were located on municipal lots. Similarly, the Town then had a contract with Lime Bikes for dockless bike share. In the intervening years, the Department of Planning and Community Development has received several requests from commercial businesses to install public EV charging stations on private lots. These electric vehicle charging stations typically feature an area for advertising, which offsets the cost of the installation of the station on public or private parking lots. The Town has also entered a multi-year contract with BLUEBikes, a bike share company where bikes are docked at stations located in East Arlington and Arlington Center, and eventually Arlington Heights. Bike docking stations typically feature a non-illuminated sign area. Signs displayed are typically for BLUEbikes and community-related events or activities. Should the Town identify local business sponsors of the docking stations, then there may be an opportunity for advertising space for that business on one side of the sign panel.

 

Wayfinding and ad/sponsor panels are an important part of marketing and funding bike share systems and electric vehicle charging stations. Within bike share docking stations, these panels can stand alone or be integrated into the kiosk and are typically placed at the ends of stations to maximize visibility. At EV charging stations, they are located at the end of the parking station and integrated into charging equipment. Additional attention is paid to pedestrian sight lines when siting large, tall panels near intersections as part of the Select Board review and approval process. The ARB discussed that, like station locations, the content of advertising or sponsor panels may be subject to Select Board review and approval.

Vote Language:

ARB Vote and Recommendation to Town Meeting: The Redevelopment Board voted (5-0-0) to recommend Favorable Action on Article 3 as amended that the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows:

 

Amend SECTION 2:

 

Mobility Station: A freestanding station with docks or charging options located on public or private property. A mobility station includes:

 

Shared Mobility Docking Station: Parking for bicycles, e-bicycles, or other micromobility options that is made available for a rental fee as part of a business operating docking stations.

 

Electric Vehicle Charging Station: A structure that supplies electric energy for the recharging of electric vehicles.

 

Amend SECTION 6.2.3.                                                                                 

6.2.3      General Restrictions for All Signs

A.    Location Restriction. Except where specifically authorized in this Section, signs may not be placed in the following locations:

(1)    Within, on, or projecting over public property, Town rights-of-way, and the Minuteman Bikeway, or waterways, except signs specifically authorized by this Section 6.2, including Shared Mobility Docking Stations; 

(2)    Any location that obstructs the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal, or other traffic control device;

(3)    On property at any corner formed by intersecting streets, within the triangular area formed between the property lines and a diagonal line joining points on the property lines 25 feet from the point of their intersection, or in the case of rounded property line corners, the triangular area between the tangents to the curve at such corner and a diagonal line joining points on the tangents 25 feet from the point of their intersection;

 (4)    Areas allowing for ingress to or egress from any door, window, vent, exit way or fire lane required by the Building Code or Fire Department regulations currently in effect;

 (5)    Off the premises of the business to which the commercial advertising sign refers, except as provided in Section 6.2.6;

 (6)    On fuel tanks, storage containers and/or solid waste receptacles or their enclosures, except for a manufacturer’s or installer’s identification, appropriate warning signs and placards, and information required by law;

 (7)    Where they cover the architectural features of a building, such as dormers, insignias, pilasters, soffits, transoms, trims, or another architectural feature;

 (8)    Tacked, painted, burned, cut, pasted, or otherwise affixed to trees, rocks, light and utility poles, posts, fences, ladders, benches, or similar supports that are visible from a public way except for notices as defined in Title V, Article 1, of the Town Bylaws; and

 (9)    On the roof of a building or structure.

 

Amend SECTION 6.2.5(C):

 

C.      Allowed Sign Types by Sign District. The table below establishes which sign types are allowed in each Sign District.

Allowed Sign Types by Sign District

Sign Type

Residential1

(R0, R1, R2, R3)

Residential/

Business1

(R4, R5, R6, R7, B1, B2)

Business1 (B2A, B3, B4, B5)

Industrial1 (I, T)

Multi-Use1

(MU, PUD)

Open Space1

(OS)

Building Mounted Signs2

Awning Sign

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

Bracket Sign

 

Y

Y

 

Y

 

Canopy Sign

 

 

Y

 

Y

 

Directional Sign

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

Directory Sign

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

Marquee Sign

 

 

Y

 

 

 

Porch Sign

Y

Y

 

 

 

 

Projecting Sign

 

 

Y

Y

Y

 

Service Island Canopy Sign

 

 

Y

Y

 

 

Wall Sign

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

Window Sign

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

Freestanding Signs

Directory Sign

Y

 

 

Y

Y

 

Directional Sign

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

Freestanding Projecting Sign

 

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Monument Sign

 

 

Y

Y

 

 

Post Sign

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Mobility Station

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

 

End Note:

1 For Religious and Educational Uses in all Districts, all permanent sign types are allowed except for the following:

· Awning Sign

· Marquee Sign

· Projecting Sign

· Service Island Canopy Sign

2 In all districts, a building may have no more than two of either an awning sign, wall sign, or a window sign.

 

Amend SECTION 6.2.5(E):

 

(5)    Mobility Station Sign. Mobility Station signs must comply with the standards provided in the table below.

Mobility Station Sign Standards

Standard

Requirements

Number of Signs

Max. 1 per shared mobility docking station or electric vehicle charging station

Sign Area

21 sq. ft. display area per shared mobility docking station; 12 sq. ft. display area per electric vehicle charging station.

Station Height

Max. 8 ft. from nearest grade.

Illumination

Non-illuminated, internally illuminated, or externally illuminated only. See Section 6.2.4(C).

Permitting

Sign permit not required if above criteria are met.

 

There is a diagram in the Additional Materials below created for illustrative purposes. It is not part of the Arlington Zoning Bylaw.

End Note:

In all districts, Mobility Station signs are not counted toward a building’s maximum allowable signs. Solar panels used to provide power to a Mobility Station do not contribute to the overall sign area calculation or station height.