It is declared that the regulation of signs
within the City is necessary and in the public interest to:
A. Protect property values within the City;
B. Preserve the beauty and the unique character of the
City by aesthetically complementing the development which a sign identifies;
C. Promote a healthy and properly designed business environment;
D. Safeguard the general public from damage and injury
which may be caused by the faulty and uncontrolled construction of
signs within the City;
E. Protect against hazards to vehicular traffic movement
through improper placement of signs; and
F. Promote the public safety, welfare, convenience and
enjoyment of travel and the free flow of traffic within the City.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign located on a property which becomes vacant and is
unoccupied for a period of 60 days or more; any sign which pertains
to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies; or a sign which
no longer directs attention to a business, activity or service offered
or product sold on the premises.
AREA OF SIGN
That area enclosed by one continuous line, connecting the
extreme limits or edges of writing, representation or similar figures
or characters, together with any material forming an integral part
of the display or forming the backing surface or background on which
the message or symbols are displayed on a sign. The area shall be
determined using the largest sign area or silhouette visible at any
one time from any point. This area does not include the main supporting
sign structure, but other ornamental attachments are to be included
in determining area of sign.
AWNING SIGN
A fireproof space frame structure with translucent, flexible,
reinforced vinyl or similar covering designed in awning form, but
whose principal purpose and use is signage. Such signs may be internally
illuminated by fluorescent or other light sources in fixtures approved
under national and local electrical codes.
BANNER SIGN
Any sign intended to be hung either with or without frames,
possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied
to paper, plastic, fabric or similar flexible material of any kind.
National flags, flags of political subdivisions and symbolic flags
of any institution or business shall not be regulated as banner signs
for the purpose of this chapter.
BUILDING FRONT FOOT
The maximum building width measured at grade on a straight
line parallel to the street on which the building is addressed.
BUSINESS FRONT FOOT
The lineal distance of the building space occupied by the
particular business measured on a straight line parallel to the street.
Where a business does not parallel a street, the front foot shall
be measured along the exterior of the building space occupied by the
particular business.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign that is designed so that characters, letters or illustrations
can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface
of the sign.
COMMISSION
The Plan Commission of the City of Jefferson.
CONTRACTOR SIGN
Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, subcontractors, architects and lending institutions responsible for construction on the site where the sign is placed, together with other pertinent information included thereon. (See §
292-11E.)
DEVELOPMENT SIGN
Any sign used to identify future residential or nonresidential development or such a development under construction. (See §
292-11).
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD
A type of changeable copy sign whose message or display is
presented with patterns of lights or other means that may be changed
at intermittent intervals by an electronic process.
FASCIA
A parapet-type wall used as part of the fascia of a flat-roofed
building and projecting not more than six feet from the building face
immediately adjacent thereto. Such a wall shall enclose at least three
sides of the projecting flat roof and return to a parapet wall or
the building.
FLAG
"Banner sign," as defined above.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign which is supported by structures or supports in
or upon the ground and independent from any building.
GRAND OPENING SIGN
A sign which calls attention to a new business or the announcement
of a change in ownership of a business.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The overall height of a sign and/or the supporting structure
of a sign, where applicable, measured from the nearest adjacent road
grade at the edge of the pavement to the highest point of the sign
and/or supporting structure of the sign.
HOLDERS OF PERMIT
Collectively, the owner(s) of the premises on which a sign is located and the lessee(s) of the premises to which such sign pertains, all of whom must sign the application for a sign permit. (See §
292-7B.).
ILLEGAL SIGN
A.
Any sign except the following:
(1)
A sign allowed by this chapter and not requiring
a permit.
(2)
A sign allowed by this chapter carrying a valid
permit.
(3)
A sign not allowed by this chapter but which
has been legalized by waiver and proper permit granted.
B.
A sign not allowed by this chapter, and not
legalized by waiver, is not rendered legal by the issuance of a permit,
whether by mistake or otherwise.
LEGAL NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign that met code regulations when it was originally erected,
either by adherence to a previous sign ordinance or by a waiver granted
to that ordinance, and which met code regulations or was legal nonconforming
immediately prior to the adoption of this chapter, but which does
not comply with all the present regulations of this chapter.
MAINTENANCE
The replacing or repairing of a part or portion of a sign
made unusable by ordinary wear, tear or damage beyond the control
of the owner or the reprinting of existing copy without changing the
wording, composition or color of said copy.
MASTER SIGN PROGRAM
The establishment of an identification program for any multitenant operation within the City, including but not limited to office parks, industrial parks and multitenant office and retail buildings. The intent of a master sign program is to give a uniform theme of size, color and style to signs in such a development. Each sign covered by a master sign program must be permitted separately. (See §
292-7B.)
MEANINGFUL OPEN SPACE
The area around the base of a sign, determined to be necessary
for aesthetics and safety by the Commission. Meaningful open space
shall be no less than 250 square feet and shall be landscaped with
plantings and grass or ground cover as per site development standards.
MULTIPLE TENANT COMMERCIAL BUILDING (MTCB)
A commercial development in which there exists a number of
separate commercial activities, in which there are appurtenant facilities
(such as parking or pedestrian mall) and which is designed to provide
a single area in which the public can obtain varied products and services.
Distinguishing characteristics of a MTCB may, but need not, include
common ownership of the real property upon which the center is located,
common wall construction, a multiple-occupant commercial use of a
single structure. For the purpose of this chapter, MTCB shall also
include separate parcels sharing common walls and facilities but not
necessarily common owners. MTCB can be office, retail or mixed use
in character.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which is not appurtenant to the use of the property
or to a product sold or a service offered upon the property where
the sign is located and which does not identify the property where
the sign is located as a purveyor or source of the merchandise or
services advertised upon the sign.
PARAPET WALL
A wall extending above the plate line of the building.
PENNANT
A tapered or dove-tailed banner, sign, streamer or flag,
with or without any representation or writing thereon.
PERMANENT SIGN
Any sign which is intended to be and is so constructed as
to be lasting and enduring, remaining unchanged in character, condition
(beyond normal wear) and position and in some permanent manner affixed
to the ground, wall or building.
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
A collection of like-use buildings, residential, office or
industrial in nature, designed and constructed contemporaneously and
in close proximity to each other as part of a single integrated project,
including but not limited to residential subdivisions and office or
industrial parks.
PLATE LINE
The point at which any part of the main roof structure first
touches or bears upon an external wall.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign supporting a candidacy for office or urging
action on any other matter on the ballot of a primary, general or
special election or urging that a candidacy for office or any other
matter be placed on a ballot of a primary, general or special election.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a building
or designed to be permanently attached to the ground or a building,
including but not limited to trailorized signs and vehicles.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign other than a wall sign affixed to any structure,
building or wall whose leading edge extends beyond such structure,
building or wall.
RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR
A geographic area which predominantly features homes, and includes but is not limited to areas which transition from commercial to residential. [See §
292-9D(3)(j).]
ROOFLINE
The highest point of the main roof structure or highest point
on a parapet, but shall not include cupolas, pylons, projections or
minor raised portions of the roof.
ROOF SIGN
A sign that extends above the roofline.
SANDWICH BOARD
A two-sided portable sign constructed of wood, cardboard
or similar rigid material generally displayed outside of a commercial
establishment to identify a product or service.
SEASONAL SIGN
A sign for seasonal commercial establishments, including
but not limited to garden centers, Christmas tree lots and fruit and
vegetable stands.
SHINGLE SIGN
A sign used to identify a business whose front is under a
roof overhang, covered walkway, covered porch or open lattice walkway.
SIGN
Any device for visual communications and the structure which
supports it which is used or is intended to attract the attention
of the public when the display of this device is visible beyond the
boundaries of the property upon which the display is made. The term
"sign" shall not include any flag, badge or insignia of the United
States, State of Wisconsin, Jefferson County, City of Jefferson or
foreign countries or official historic plaques.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign constructed of cloth, canvas, wood, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, plastic or other like materials, with or without frames, and any type of sign not permanently attached to the ground, wall or building which is permitted for display for a limited period of time only. (See §
292-11.)
TENANT DIRECTORY BOARD
Any sign on which the names of occupants or the uses of a
building is given, including but not limited to those utilized at
office buildings, retail centers and other MTCBs.
TRAFFIC DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign designed and located solely for the purpose of relieving
traffic congestion and directing and promoting the safe flow of traffic.
WALL SIGN
Any sign painted on, or attached to and erected parallel
to the face of, or erected and confined within the limits of, the
exterior wall of any building or structure and supported by such wall,
building or structure and which displays only one advertising surface.
This definition includes signs composed of individual letters or symbols.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign placed inside or upon a window facing the outside
of a building and which is usually intended to be seen from the exterior
of the building. Signs displayed on glass panels which are integral
to doors visible from the exterior of the building will be considered
to be window signs for purposes of this chapter.
Any sign authorized or otherwise permitted under
this chapter shall be allowed to contain noncommercial copy in lieu
of any other copy.
Penalties for a violation of this chapter shall be as described in Chapter
1, Article
I, of this Code.