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Planning board declines formal opinion on LED directory sign petition, defers to ZBA
Summary
The planning board reviewed a petition (common directory/LED sign) and voted to state the matter does not fall within its jurisdiction, leaving decisions about electronic or animated signs to the Zoning Board of Appeals under the town bylaw.
The Town of Lakeville Planning Board reviewed petitions referred from the Zoning Board of Appeals seeking permission for expanded directory signage and potential LED elements at Main Street commercial properties and voted to state the petition "does not fall within our jurisdiction."
Board members examined a petition described as a request to allow a common directory sign up to 88 square feet where 64 square feet was the referenced size. Members discussed whether the proposed sign would be an LED or an animated/scrolling display. Several members noted that the town bylaw specifically prohibits signs "or any part of which moves, flashes, or incorporates traveling or animated lights," and that authority to grant a special permit for an electronic or animated sign rests with the zoning board of appeals (ZBA).
At one point a planning board member said, "I move we have no opinion on this," and another member seconded. Later the board refined the comment to say the petition "does not fall within our jurisdiction," and approved sending that statement to the ZBA. The motion passed unanimously.
Members emphasized the town’s historic preference for maintaining a rural character and said they had adopted the bylaw to avoid an abundance of illuminated, moving signs along Route 18 and other corridors. Several members said the ZBA would be the permitting authority to determine whether a special permit could allow LED signage and whether any scrolling or flashing would be prohibited.
The planning board asked that the ZBA consider whether sign size, color, movement, and visual impacts on traffic sightlines were appropriate when the ZBA reviews the petition.
