The purpose of this article is to create the legal framework
to regulate, administer and enforce outdoor sign advertising and display
within the City. This article recognizes the need to protect the safety
and welfare of the public, the need for well maintained and attractive
sign displays within the community, and the need for adequate business
identification, advertising and communication. This article authorizes
the use of signs visible from public rights-of-way, provided the signs
are:
A. Compatible with the zoning regulations.
B. Designed, constructed, installed and maintained in such a manner
that they do not endanger public safety or traffic safety.
C. Legible, readable and visible in the circumstances in which they
are used.
D. Respectful of the reasonable rights of other advertisers whose messages
are displayed.
For the purposes of this article, the following definitions
shall apply:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign which no longer correctly advertises a bona fide business,
lessor, owner, product or activity conducted, or product available
on the premises where the sign is displayed or elsewhere.
AMUSEMENT PARK
A business or group of businesses planned and developed as
a single unit sharing off-street parking and whose principal activity
involves games, arcades, sporting or other recreational activities
in which the customer or patron participates.
AREA OF COPY
The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter which
encloses the extreme limits of advertising message, announcement or
decoration of a wall sign.
AREA OF SIGN
The area of the largest single face of the sign within a
perimeter which forms the outside shape, but excluding the necessary
supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign
consists of more than one section, or module, all areas shall be totaled.
Any irregular-shaped sign area shall be computed using the actual
sign face surface. In the case of wall signs, the area of copy shall
be used.
AWNING
A movable or fixed shelter supported from the exterior of
a building and composed of rigid or nonrigid materials except for
the supporting framework.
BANNER
Any sign printed or displayed upon cloth or other flexible
material, with or without frames.
BEACON
A stationary or revolving light which flashes or projects
illumination, single color or multicolored, in any manner which is
intended to attract or divert attention, except, however, this term
is not intended to include any kind of lighting device which is required
or necessary under the safety regulations described by the Federal
Aviation Agency or similar agencies.
CANOPY or MARQUEE
A permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all
of a building face over a public right-of-way and constructed of some
durable material such as metal, glass or plastic.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign such as a manual, electronic or electric controlled
time and temperature sign, message center or reader board, whether
electronic, electric or manual, where copy changes. Any sign may be,
or include as part of it, a changeable copy sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign not exceeding eight square feet in size which contains
no message other than the word "Enter," "Exit," or "Drive-In" and
is located within five feet of a driveway.
DISPLAY SURFACE AREA
The net geometric area enclosed by the display surface of
the sign, including the outer extremities of all letters, characters
and delineations; provided, however, "display surface area" shall
not include the structural supports for freestanding signs, provided
further that only one face of a double-faced sign, as defined in this
section, shall be considered in determining the display surface area.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN
A sign with copy on two faces that are back-to-back of V-shaped
facing in generally opposite directions.
ELECTRIC SIGN
Any sign containing internal electric wiring which is attached
to or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
FLASHING SIGN
An illuminated sign on which artificial or reflected light
is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color at
all times when in use.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign that stands alone, not attached to any structure
and is erected on one or more freestanding supports or uprights, whether
portable or attached to real estate.
FRONTAGE
The length of the property line on any one premises parallel
to and along each public right-of-way it borders. Said public right-of-way
may be known as a frontage road.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a building.
PREMISES
A parcel of land which, because of its unity of use, is one
unit of real estate.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which advertises goods, products, facilities or services
not on the premises where the sign is located or directs persons to
a different location from where the sign is installed and maintained.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
Any sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity,
goods, products or services located on a premises where the sign is
installed and maintained.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign wholly erected, constructed or maintained on, or
suspended above, the roof structure or parapet wall of any building.
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of three or more commercial uses characterized by
any one or more of the following:
A.
Uses that are designated as a single commercial group, whether
or not located on the same parcel.
B.
Contiguous uses occupying premises that are under common ownership
or management.
C.
Uses that are connected by party walls, partitions, canopies
or other structural members to form one continuous structure.
D.
Uses which are located in separate buildings, but are interconnected
by walkways, driveways or parking area which facilitate customer interchange
between the uses.
E.
Uses share a common parking area.
F.
Uses otherwise present the appearance of a single continuous
commercial development.
SHORELAND SIGN
Any sign designed or placed so that it is visible from a
lake or stream at any time of the year.
SIGN
As defined in §
400-7.
[Amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 233]
SIGN STRUCTURE
Any device or material which supports, has supported or is
capable of supporting a sign in a stationary position, including decorative
covers.
WALL SIGN
A sign attached to the wall of a building with the face in
a parallel plane to the plane of the building wall. This includes
signs painted directly on a wall.