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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 43
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / MARQUEE SIGNS
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 6.2.5.D.(6),
Standards for All Permanent Building- Mounted Sign Types,
Marquee Signs, of the Zoning Bylaw, to allow for electronic
displays on marquees; or take any action related thereto.
Requested By:
the Redevelopment Board
Report Excerpt:
The Board recommends Favorable Action (5-0).
The purpose of Article 43 is to modify the standards for Marquee
Signs in the Zoning Bylaw to permit digital components. The
current Bylaw prohibits electronic message centers and displays;
Article 43 provides a modernization path for marquee signs only,
such as those located at the Town’s two Historic theaters, the
Capital and the Regent. Currently, theater staff must change sign
lettering manually, a task that presents a significant safety liability.
Arlington’s two historic theaters, the Capital and the Regent, are
among the most successful economic drivers bringing visitors to
the Town; making it easier for them to update their upcoming
offerings may help prompt additional visits not only to the theaters
but to Arlington’s business districts overall. Since the Town’s sign
bylaws were last revised, digital marquee technology has
advanced to offer programmable LED signs that can be integrated
appropriately into historic marquee facades. The Board noted that
the proposed change to the Zoning Bylaw considers illumination,
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limitations on the content of the display, and integration with the
existing architecture. This modification would explicitly apply to
Marquee signs only and would require applicants to obtain a
Special Permit for a Marquee sign through the Redevelopment
Board. The Board agreed that this is an appropriate update to the
Zoning Bylaw.
Vote Language:
That the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows:
Amend SECTION 6.2.5.D.(6), Standards for All Permanent
Building-Mounted Sign Types, Marquee Signs, as follows:
6.2.5. Standards for Permanent Signs
D. Standards for All Permanent Building-Mounted Sign Types.
The following sign types are allowed, subject to the criteria
listed under each sign type.
…
(6) Marquee Sign. Marquee signs must comply with the
standards provided in the table below.
Marquee Sign Standards
Standard
Requirements
Number of
Signs
1 sq. ft. of sign area
per linear foot of
marquee width.
Sign Area
Min. of 8 ft. from the
bottom of the
marquee to the
sidewalk.
Mounting
Height
Only above the doors
and windows of the
ground or second floor
of a building. Must not
project above, below,
or beyond the edges
of the face of the
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building wall or
architectural element
on which it is located.
Sign width shall not be
greater than 60% of
the width of the face
of the marquee
Sign
Placement
Min. 2 ft. from back of
curb
Illumination
Non-illuminated,
internally illuminated,
or direct illumination
only. See Section
6.2.4(C).
Permitting
Sign permit required.
See Section 6.2.2(A).
This diagram is included for
illustrative purposes only. It is
not part of the Arlington
Zoning Bylaw.
Special
Provisions
Requirements
Changeable
Copy Signs
Equivalent to the total allowable wall sign area.
Allowed only as an integral part of a marquee sign.
Non-illuminated or internally illuminated. See Section
6.2.4(C).
Sign permit required. See Section 6.2.2(A).
Electronic
Display
Permitted for Marquee Signs only.
Special permit required.
The electronic display shall be incorporated as an
integral architectural component of an existing
marquee and shall not be freestanding or alter the
character of the marquee structure.
Content shall be limited to the display of events,
performances, or activities occurring on the
premises. Off-premises advertising and general
commercial advertising are prohibited.
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Displays shall be equipped with
automatic dimming technology that
adjusts brightness in response to
ambient light conditions.
No animated features, flashing, rotating,
motion picture or application creating
the illusion of motion allowed on display.
See Section 6.2.3(C).
Redevelopment Board Report
