A. The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations for signs in order to promote the public health, safety and general welfare. It is further the intention of this chapter to harmonize the legitimate private purposes of signs, that is, the identification and promotion of the seller to the buyer, with public purposes. Public purposes include considerations of traffic safety and economic and aesthetic welfare. Unregulated signs may divert the driver’s attention from the road, causing a traffic hazard. In addition, conflicts between private signs and traffic control signs result in unsafe traffic conditions. The economic base of the town is, to some extent, dependent upon maintaining an attractive area, both as to natural and manmade features, in which to visit, live and work.

B. Regulation of signs also serves to promote the private purposes of signs. Signs have become larger, more numerous and more expensive as a result of competition for attention. This competition of signs has, in some cases, defeated the very purpose for which they were created. The elimination of destructive competition between signs thus enhances the private purposes of signs as well as promotes the public health, safety and general welfare. [Ord. 519 § 1 (Exh. A), 2010; Ord. 378 § 2 (Exh. 1), 1999.]