Business & Tech

Sign Proposal for Waltham Gains Support

The proposal was sent to two subcommittees.

Waltham City Councilors, during a Nov. 25 meeting, supported a proposed sign regulation that if approved, would allow for new and more visible signs in the downtown part of Moody Street.

The measure, if approved, would allow for "projecting signs" on Moody Street that would hang from the sides of buildings instead of having signs that are built into the facade of a storefront. The Downtown Waltham Partnership sponsored the measure and is developing a program to help business owners get new signs, according to its director Charnan Bray. 

"We’re trying to help business owners that their storefront and their sign is the most important advertising they have,” Bray said.

SUPPORT/DETAILS


-Any business that buildings a new sign would have to get a permit and submit to an annual inspection, according to City Councilor Robert Logan. 

-While the new proposal would allow for projecting signs, a landlord could still prohibit them through terms in a lease, Logan said. 
-City Councilor Ed Tarallo noted a regulation that prohibits signs from hanging over sidewalks. 

-Logan said he was in favor of the idea.  "I think this is something that would be good. It does not allow huge signs,”  he said.  

-City Councilor Daniel Romard said he supports the idea but was concerned about the appearance of some signs.  “What some people consider art is not so great to someone else,” he said.

The issue was referred to the Board of Survey & Planning for a Dec. 4 meeting and to the Ordinance & Rules Committee for a Dec. 16. meeting. 


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