Downtown Chapel Hill
Proposed Banner Policy
Banners
Managing Authority: Banners
in downtown Chapel Hill are managed by the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, a nonprofit
corporation that is charged with bringing
the resources of the Town, University, and the downtown community together to
maintain, enhance and promote downtown as a social, cultural and spiritual
center of Chapel Hill through economic development.
Definitions:
- Banners are defined as a
piece of cloth that is intended to communicate a message through words, color,
symbols, or logos.
- Downtown Chapel Hill is
defined as the central business district.
Purpose: The purpose
of installing banners in a downtown district is to promote the downtown revitalization
initiative and to quickly convey a
positive visual message about the central business district and what it has to
offer.
Time Period: Banners may be permitted up to three months (ninety
days), and extensions may be granted by the managing authority with a renewed
application.
Criteria for Approval:
Banners will be installed by the Town of Chapel Hill under the coordination of
the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, for the purpose of promoting the
revitalization and vitality of downtown. Other nonprofits organizations
interested in installing banners may make application provided that the banners
reinforce the purpose as outlined in this policy and meet the guidelines for approval.
More than one nonprofit may be approved for the same quarter-period in
different areas of downtown, but permission is granted at the discretion of the
managing authority.
Site Locations: Such banners may be hung over the streets
right-of-way in Downtown Chapel Hill. The
Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, Duke Energy, and the Town of Chapel Hill have developed
a banner site map to determine where and how many banners may be displayed at any given time.
(See attached banner site map (PDF))
Policy Specifics:
- Application to install banners may
be made once each quarter and will be reviewed once each quarter by the Chapel Hill
Downtown Partnership. CHDP will
manage the coordination of the banner program with Town of Chapel Hill
departments. (There is no fee.)
- Such banners must be consistent with common community values and approved by the managing authority
based on the meeting the guidelines of this policy.
- The following streets may
be eligible for banners: Franklin Street, Rosemary Street and Columbia Street,
and other streets within the central business district.
(See banner site map (PDF) for approved locations).
- Such banners are limited to
the number of banner arm brackets that are installed in approved locations and
must be hung on approved brackets only. The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership,
Duke Energy and the Town of Chapel Hill will approve the brackets and the approved
locations.
- In addition to banners, approved sites will be identified by the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, Duke Energy,
and the Town of Chapel Hill for displaying the US Flag on federal holidays (as
defined in attachment). These sites may not be used for banners and flags at the same time.
- All banners must conform to
the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) regulations regarding
banners on state and federal highways and roadways. (See attached)
- The size of approved
banners must be 30” X 60” and must be made of awning fabric, vinyl, nylon or
alternative materials, subject to approval by the Chapel Hill Downtown
Partnership.
- Such banners must be new or in “like new” condition.
- Only seasonal,
informational or generic banners may be approved. Event banners are not eligible.
- Commercial advertising of any kind is not permitted.
- It must be hung between the pedestrian light and the cobra head light only. If there are power lines
attached to the pole at that point, the banner cannot be installed on that
pole.
- The Town of Chapel Hill will install and remove approved banners once quarterly. Banner arm brackets
will be maintained as required at the time of installation or removal. Any
additional maintenance required will be administered by the Town of Chapel Hill
and all personnel time and equipment required will be paid for by the
sponsoring nonprofit organization. If the Town of Chapel Hill cannot perform
the required maintenance, the sponsoring nonprofit organization may contract
with an approved private contractor.
- The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is the permitting authority for downtown banners in cooperation
with the Town of Chapel Hill.