Boston Township

It is the purpose of these sign regulations to permit the use of signs as a means of communication in the Township; to maintain and enhance the natural and manmade environment; to minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property; to ensure that signs are located and designed to reduce sign distraction and confusion that may be contributing factors in traffic congestion and accidents; to maintain a safe and orderly pedestrian and vehicular environment; to promote the public health, safety and welfare by avoiding conflicts between signs and traffic control devices, avoiding traffic hazards, and reducing visual distractions and obstructions; and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations. The purpose as stated above is based on the following findings concerning signs: a. That excessive signs create dangerous traffic conditions, intrude on motorist and pedestrian enjoyment of the natural and manmade beauty of the Township, and as such are detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare. b. That business enterprises and other institutions located along public and private streets have a need to identify themselves and their activities to motorists and pedestrians by means of signs. It is further the purpose of these sign regulations to allow businesses, institutions, and individuals to exercise their right to free speech by displaying an image on a sign and to allow audiences to receive that information. The Township does not intend to infringe on the rights of free speech as protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 11 of the Ohio Constitution. All provisions of this Chapter 12 are to be construed, whenever possible, in favor of vigorous political debate and accommodation of the rights of residents and visitors to speak freely.