The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the type, location,
erection, movement, reconstruction, enlargement, expansion, alteration,
conversion, operation, maintenance, placement, relocation, removal,
size, number and character of all signs in the Town of Barton in order
to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by:
A.
Reducing the depreciation of property values caused by signs that
are incompatible with surrounding land uses;
B.
Creating a more attractive economic and business climate within the
Town;
C.
Enhancing and protecting the physical appearance of all areas of
the Town;
D.
Protecting signs from obstruction by other signs; and
E.
Reducing the distractions, obstructions, and hazards to pedestrian
and auto traffic caused by the indiscriminate placement and use of
signs.
The regulations of this chapter shall govern and control the type, location, erection, movement, reconstruction, enlargement, expansion, alteration, conversion, operation, maintenance, placement, relocation, removal, size, number, and character of all signs in the Town of Barton visible from any public street, public walkway, or public or private common open space. Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations shall be prohibited. The regulations of this chapter relate to the location of signs, by function and type, within zoning districts established under the provisions of Chapter 500, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Barton, as amended. The regulations of this chapter shall be in addition to the provisions of Chapter 500, Zoning, and other Town of Barton codes and ordinances applicable to the construction and maintenance of signs.
No sign shall hereinafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed,
enlarged, expanded, altered, converted, operated, placed, or relocated
without obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Administrator, with
the following exceptions:
A.
Memorial signs and tablets displayed on public property or in cemeteries.
B.
Address numerals and signs not exceeding two square feet in area
and bearing the names of occupants of the premises.
C.
Legal notices.
D.
On-site traffic directional signs, traffic control signs, and parking
signs which bear no advertising and do not exceed three square feet
in area.
E.
Home occupation signs mounted against the building and not exceeding
four square feet in area. Freestanding home occupation signs are allowed
but must be 10 feet off the road right-of-way, must not exceed five
feet in height from surrounding grade and must not exceed four square
feet in area. No home occupation signs are allowed to be illuminated
by any means.[1]
F.
Governmental signs and governmental entity flags which are the official
flags of the United States, State of Wisconsin, Washington County,
or the Town of Barton and which are properly displayed.
G.
Gasoline price signs as required by law and not larger than 10 square
feet in surface area.
H.
"No Trespassing" and "No Dumping" signs, provided that no such sign
shall exceed two square feet in surface area.
I.
No more than one "Open/Closed" and one "Vacancy/No Vacancy" sign,
not exceeding two square feet in area each, displayed for each business.
J.
Window signs not exceeding 50% of the glass area of the glass pane
upon which the sign is displayed.
K.
Repainting, changing of parts, and preventive maintenance of signs
located on the site.
L.
Government-related and quasi-government-related off-premises directional
signs to give sufficient public notice of the location of governmental
facilities, hospitals, colleges, schools, and unincorporated areas.
The maximum size of each sign shall be four square feet.
A.
The following signs are hereby prohibited in all zoning districts in the Town of Barton, unless a Sign Ordinance variance is granted pursuant to § 428-18 herein:
(1)
Any permanent sign which, or any part of which, is in motion by any
means, including fluttering or rotating, or other signs set in motion
by movement of the atmosphere. This includes all flags, pennants,
whirling objects, or other entity(ies) attached to strings or lines,
and banners.
(2)
Any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of
changing degrees of intensity, except a sign indicating time or temperature,
with changes alternating on not less than a five-second cycle, or
message board, when such sign does not constitute a public safety
or traffic hazard, in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator.
(3)
Any sign that obscures or interferes with a sign displayed by public
authority for the purpose of giving traffic instructions or direction
or other public information.
(4)
Any sign that obstructs a clear view to and from traffic along any
public street right-of-way, entrance, or exit.
(5)
Any sign that uses the word "stop" or "danger" or otherwise presents
or implies the need or requirement of stopping or caution of the existence
of danger or which is a copy or imitation of or which, for any reason,
is likely to be confused with any sign displayed by public authority.
(6)
Any sign that obstructs any window, door, fire escape, stairway,
ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress
for any building, as required by law. No sign shall be attached to
a standpipe.
(7)
Any sign or illumination that causes any direct glare into or upon
any building, other than the building to which the sign may be related.
(8)
Off-site and off-premises signs which advertise businesses, establishments, activities, goods, products, facilities, or services or other message not made, produced, sold, or present on the premises or site where the sign is installed and maintained other than those which are permitted under § 428-10 of this chapter.
(9)
Any permanent inflatable advertising devices or signs.
(10)
Any permanent changeable copy and portable trailer signs, either
fixed or moveable.
(11)
Any permanent banners which are signs or devices of paper, fabric,
plastic, or other flexible materials and are suspended by wires or
poles to advertise a special event.
(12)
Any permanent off-premises directional signs.
(13)
Any sign that violates any provision of any law of the State
of Wisconsin relative to outdoor advertising.
(14)
Snipe signs which do not identify a public utility such as a
public telephone or which do not identify a recognized and/or real
danger to public safety.
(15)
Any permanent sandwich signs.
(16)
Any sign located within a public right-of-way except as provided
by this chapter.
(17)
It shall be unlawful to erect a billboard sign in any area of
the Town. It shall be unlawful to change the size of any existing
billboard sign in the Town without a sign permit.
(18)
Wall signs which are painted directly upon walls.
(19)
Signs as a principal use in any zoning district, except as otherwise
provided for in this chapter.
(20)
The posting of any signs on any permanent or temporary structure
or building, pole, or tree located in any public street right-of-way,
public park, or other public way or place within the Town of Barton
without the approval of the Plan Commission.
(21)
Vehicles or other property with "For Sale" signs, when located
within any public right-of-way.
(22)
Signs mounted to fences shall not exceed a total cumulative
sign area for all such signs of three square feet, except as may otherwise
be permitted under the provisions of this chapter.
(23)
Statues.
(24)
Signs painted or mounted on rocks or other natural features
or affixed to trees.
(25)
A sign on a motor vehicle or trailer parked on public or private
property so as to be seen from the public right-of-way for more than
three consecutive hours, which has attached thereto or located thereon
any sign for the purpose of advertising a product or directing people
to a business activity.
(26)
A sign of any character, including any sign advertising the
exact nature and kind of business conducted on the premises, for the
exhibition, by posting, painting or in any other manner displaying
of any statement, word, character, or illustration of any obscene,
indecent, or immoral nature.
