A.
The purpose of this article is to promote and protect the public
safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare by the orderly placement
and erection of signs and billboards in the Town of Lawrence, Brown
County, Wisconsin.
B.
The following regulations shall apply to all signs hereinafter erected
or established within the Town of Lawrence, Brown County, Wisconsin.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person
or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product, or activity
conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is
displayed or when a rental or compensation is no longer provided.
A sign with action or motion or color changes, requiring
electrical energy, electronic or manufactured sources of supply, but
not including wind-actuated elements, such as flags, banners or specialty
items. This definition does not include public service signs, such
as time and temperature, or revolving or changeable message signs.
Any projection which is not intended for occupancy and which
extends beyond the face of an exterior wall of a building, but shall
not include signs.
The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter, composed
of squares or rectangles, which encloses the extreme limits of advertising
message, announcement or decoration of a wall sign.
The cumulative area of the faces 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 will be totaled. Any
irregular-shaped sign area shall be computed using the actual sign
face surface.[1]
The entire background area of a sign upon which copy could
be placed. In computing area of sign background, only that face or
faces which can be seen from any one direction at one time shall be
counted.
See "off-premises sign" or "poster panel."
That portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending
from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves and the entire
width of the building elevation.
A resurfacing of an existing facade with approved material,
illuminated or nonilluminated.
Any sign which promotes the name and type of business only
on the premises where it is located.
Any sign attached to or constructed in, on or under a canopy
or marquee. For the purpose of this article, canopy signs shall be
controlled by the rules governing projecting signs.
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 message sign.
On-premises incidental signs designed to guide or direct
pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
A sign with copy on two parallel faces that are back to back,
facing in opposite directions.
The period beginning on the first day for circulation of
nomination papers by candidates and ending on the day of the election.
A sign with an under clearance of greater than two feet,
supported permanently upon the ground by one or more supports and
not attached to any building.
The elevation or level of the street closest to the sign
to which reference is made, measured at the street's center line.
The area of a sign determined by using the outside perimeter
dimensions of the sign. If the sign consists of more than one section,
their area will be totaled. If the modules are formed in the shape
of letters or symbols, the rules for area or copy apply.
A freestanding sign with an under clearance of two feet or
less, supported permanently upon the ground by one or more supports
and not attached to any building. Ground/monument signs shall be measured
from the average height of grade.
The vertical distance measured from the grade at the street
right-of-way line where the sign is located to the highest point of
such sign.
A corridor parallel to U.S. Highway 41 established for the
purposes of allowing additional signage in Business/Commercial and
Industrial Districts. This corridor shall be 500 feet wide, measured
from the highway right-of-way, but shall never exceed 1,000 feet from
the center line of the right-of-way.
A sign in which a source of light is used in order to make
the message readable. This definition shall include internally and
externally lighted signs.
A nonconforming sign that did meet code regulations when
it was originally installed.
A permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by
the building and projecting over public property.
Any sign attached to or constructed in a marquee.
A sign which advertises other than the name of the business
and the principal product or service.
A sign that does not meet code regulations.
A sign which advertises goods, products, facilities or services
not necessary on the premises where the sign is located or directs
persons to a different location from where the sign is located.
Any sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity,
goods, products or services located on a premises where the sign is
installed and maintained.
A structure or framework attached to a building or the ground
for the purpose of posting advertising bills, posters, and painted
signs.
A sign, normally double-faced, which is attached to and projects
from a structure or building facia.
A sign which revolves 360° but does not exceed eight
rotations per minute.
A sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet wall of a
building and which is wholly or partially supported by said building.
Two adjacent properties may share a freestanding sign located
on one of the two properties. This type of sign is a shared use sign.
The intent of permitting shared use signs is to reduce the overall
number of signs by allowing two properties to share one sign. These
signs are permitted with a conditional use permit.
Any emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard, design, identification,
description, illustration or device, illuminated or nonilluminated,
to advertise, identify, convey information, or direct attention to
a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business
or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise.
For the purpose of removal, "sign" shall also include all sign structures.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service or entertainment not exclusively related to the premises where
such sign is located or to which it is affixed.[2]
Any structure which supports or is capable of supporting
any sign, as devised in this Code. A sign structure may be a single
pole or may or may not be an integral part of the building.
A sign installed on an arm or mast or spar that is not permanently
fastened to an adjacent wall or upright pole.
A sign which is intended to advertise community or civic
projects, construction projects, real estate for sale or lease or
other special events on a temporary basis.
A lighted or unlighted display attached to the underside
of a marquee protruding over public or private sidewalks or right-of-way.
The vision corner is formed by measuring 40 feet along each
property line from the corner where the two street sides of the property
meet. Connecting these two lines with a diagonal line completes the
triangle and forms the vision corner.
A sign which is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall
of a building or structure and which projects not more than 18 inches
from the building or structure wall and which does not extend above
the parapet, eaves or building facade of the building on which it
is located or a sign which is painted on an exterior wall.
A sign installed on a window or affixed to or visible through
an exterior window of an enclosed building for the purpose of viewing
from outside the premises.
When a zoning lot has more than 200 linear feet of frontage on one or more public streets, the aggregate total of signage on the lot may be increased by 1/2 square foot for each linear foot of frontage over 200 linear feet using the longest accessible street side adjacent to the lot as the basis. A zoning lot frontage credit may never exceed 500 square feet. See zoning districts and § 300-150, Exceptions to specific zoning district requirements, for specifics. (Note: In computing the linear footage of frontage on the longest accessible street side, only frontage along the developed portion of the lot may be considered.)[3]
The land use district as established by the Town of Lawrence.
A.
Scope. This section shall apply to all billboards, boards, fences
or structures of any kind used for advertisement purposes, or upon
which any advertisement is shown, painted or displayed, in the Town
of Lawrence.
B.
Animated signs. No animated signs shall be erected or maintained
in any residential land use district. No animated signs shall be erected
or maintained closer than 1,000 feet to any property in a residential
zoning district on which there exist structures used for residential
purposes.[1]
C.
Canopy signs. Copy area of a building facade facing shall comply with Subsection Q, Wall signs, and shall not exceed 40% of the background facing to which it is applied.
D.
Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face
(which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only
one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle,
rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the
extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display
together with any material or color forming an integral part of the
background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the
backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including
any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when
such fence or wall otherwise meets the regulations of this chapter
and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
E.
Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign
with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area
of all sign faces.
F.
Illumination. All electrical signs shall conform to the requirements
of the Town Electrical Code. Signs shall be illuminated so light is
directed entirely on the sign, so as not to reflect direct rays of
light into adjacent residential districts or into the public way.
Up-lighting is prohibited on all signage.
G.
Location.
(1)
All ground/monument signs (on premises) shall be located no
less than 200 feet from any residential zoning district.
(2)
Any billboard (off premises) shall be located no less than 500
feet from any residential zoning district.
(3)
Any billboard shall be located not less than 4,000 feet from
another billboard measuring from either side of a road or highway.
H.
Maintenance of signs. All signs and sign structures shall be properly
maintained and kept in a neat and proper state of repair and appearance.
I.
Marquee signs. Marquee signs may be placed on, attached to, or constructed in a marquee. A marquee sign shall comply with Subsection E and shall not exceed 40% of the background facing to which it is applied.
J.
Maximum area of signs. The maximum area of signs shall be the accumulation
of the area of all signs located on a parcel of record. The maximum
area of signs may differ according to the zoning classification of
a lot.
K.
Neon tubing and similar type strip lighting. There shall be no exposed
neon tubing or similar type strip lighting used on signage unless
it is shielded from direct view.
L.
Prohibited signs in all zoning districts. Roof signs are prohibited
in all zoning districts. No sign requiring a permit may be attached
to any fence.
M.
Removal of obsolete, nonmaintained, or abandoned signs. All signs,
including those painted on a building, which no longer serve the purpose
for which they were intended, or are not maintained, or which have
been abandoned, shall be removed by the business or property owner
within 90 days after the receipt of removal notice, or, upon failure
of such removal, the Town shall remove such signs at the expense of
the owner or lessee of the premises.
N.
Setbacks.
(1)
Freestanding and ground/monument signs shall be located within
the property lines and shall be set back from the street right-of-way
a distance at least equal to or greater than the height of the sign.
No portion of the sign may project into or over the street right-of-way.
(2)
Any freestanding sign shall not exceed 30 feet in height.
(3)
Any ground/monument sign shall not exceed 10 feet in height.
(4)
Any freestanding, ground/monument, or projecting sign located
within 40 feet of an intersection or 15 feet of a driveway, measured
from the point of intersection with a right-of-way, shall maintain
a minimum of eight feet between the bottom of the sign and the grade
where the sign is located or shall be more than three feet in height.
(5)
A vision corner must be maintained at all times.
O.
Stability. All signs requiring a permit shall be designed, constructed
and maintained to withstand a minimum load of 30 pounds per square
foot of sign area and will otherwise structurally be safe and shall
be securely anchored or otherwise fastened, suspended or supported
so that they will not be a menace to persons or property. No sign
shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the
sign to swing, due to wind action. The use of cables or wires is prohibited.
P.
Trailer or mobile mounted signs.
(1)
Trailer or mobile signs mounted on a vehicle are permitted for
a total of four weeks per year.
(2)
Each permit is to be issued to a single parcel or identifiable
shopping center and not each business therein. There shall be at least
15 days between such permits.
(3)
Such sign may be located in the front yard setback area if it
is not within 40 feet of an intersecting street or 15 feet of a driveway
to preserve the vision corner.
Q.
Wall signs. Background area of wall signs shall not exceed 10% of
the building facade or four square feet per linear foot of the elevation
upon which they are placed, whichever is greater.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge,
allow an illegal sign to remain, or structurally modify a sign or
cause the same to be done in the Town of Lawrence without first obtaining
approval from the Town of Lawrence Planning and Zoning Board and obtaining
a permit for each sign from the Building Inspector, as required by
this article. Permits shall not be required for a change of copy on
any sign, nor for the repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance
and repair of the sign and sign structure.[1]
B.
Application for a permit. Application for a permit shall be filed
with the Building Inspector upon forms provided by the Building Inspector.
The applicant shall provide all information required on the application
for the permit.
C.
Permit fees. Permit fees shall be filed with the permit application
for each sign in accordance with the Town Fee Schedule authorized
by the Town of Lawrence Town Board.
D.
Any sign erected without a permit shall be removed at the owner's
expense.
E.
A sign permit issued by the Town of Lawrence Building Inspector shall
become null and void if manufacturing of the sign is not commenced
within one year from the date of permit issuance.
A.
Construction signs. Two construction signs per construction site,
not exceeding 100 square feet in area each, shall be confined to the
site of construction and shall be removed 30 days after completion
of construction or prior to occupancy, whichever is sooner.
B.
Directional and instructional nonelectric signs. Directional and
instructional nonelectric signs which provide instruction or direction
and are located entirely on a property to which they pertain and do
not exceed eight square feet each in area and do not in any way advertise
a business. This includes, but is not limited to, such signs as those
identifying rest rooms, telephone, parking areas, entrances and exits.
C.
Emblems, nonilluminated. Nonilluminated emblems or insignia of any
nation or political subdivision or profit or nonprofit organization.
D.
Government signs. Government signs for control of traffic and other
regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs
of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to service or safety
which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance
of his/her public duty.
E.
House numbers and nameplates. House numbers and nameplates not exceeding
two square feet in area for each residential, commercial or industrial
building.
F.
Interior signs. Signs located within the interior of any building
or structure which are not visible from the public right-a-way. This
does not, however, exempt such signs from the structural, electrical
or material specifications of this article.
G.
Memorial signs and plaques. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings
and date of erection, which are cut into masonry surface or inlaid
so as to be part of a building or when constructed of bronze or other
noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
H.
No trespassing or no dumping signs. No trespassing and no dumping
signs not to exceed 1.5 square feet in area per sign.
I.
Public facility signs. Public parks and facilities (i.e., town hall,
fire/police station, schools, etc.). The location, size, materials,
and design of such signs are subject to Town Board approval.
J.
Public notices/official signs. Official notices posted by public
officers or employers in the performance of their duties. Official
signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction information and
notices.
K.
Public signs. Signs required as specifically authorized for a public
purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.
L.
Political and campaign signs. Political and campaign signs on behalf
of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots, provided
that said signs are subject to the following regulations:
(1)
Said signs shall not be erected for more than the election campaign
period as defined by § 12.04, Wis. Stats.
(2)
Each sign, except billboards, which require permits, shall not
exceed 32 square feet in nonresidential zoning districts and 16 square
feet in residential zoning districts.
(3)
No sign shall be located within 15 feet of the public right-of-way
at a street intersection nor over the right-of-way.
M.
Real estate signs. One real estate sales sign on any lot or parcel,
provided that such sign is located within the property to which the
sign applies and is not directly illuminated.
(1)
In residential districts, such signs shall not exceed eight
square feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after the
sale, rental, or lease has been accomplished.
(2)
In all other districts, such signs shall not exceed 32 square
feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after the sale, rental,
or lease has been accomplished.
(3)
On through lots (a lot fronting on two parallel streets) in
all districts one additional real estate sign is permitted along the
second street.
N.
Temporary window signs. In business, commercial and industrial districts,
the inside surface of any ground floor window may be used for attachment
of temporary signs. The total area of such signs, however, shall not
exceed 50% of the total window area, and such signs shall not be placed
on door windows or other windows needed to be clear for pedestrians.
O.
On-premises symbols or insignia. Religious symbols, commemorative
plaques of recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems
of religious orders or historic agencies.
P.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic,
educational or religious organizations, provided that such signs are
posted not more than 30 days before said event and removed within
seven days after the event. Signs may be a maximum of 32 square feet
when used on a collector street or highway and a maximum of eight
square feet in all other areas.
(2)
Temporary signs used to advertise rummage/yard sales, provided
that the signs are no larger than eight square feet in area. These
signs may be erected no more than two days before the sale and must
be taken down no later than the day after the sale.
Q.
Vehicular signs. Truck, bus, trailer or other vehicle, while operating
in the normal course of business, which is not primarily the display
of signs.
A.
All residential districts and agricultural districts. All signs are
prohibited in the residential districts and agricultural districts,
except for the following nonflashing, nonilluminated, permanent signs
under conditions specified:
(1)
Real estate signs. Real estate signs which advertise the sale,
rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily
located. No sign shall exceed eight square feet in area. Corner lots
shall be permitted two such signs, one facing each street. All signs
shall be confined to the immediate property being advertised or displayed.
(2)
Nameplate signs. Nameplate signs, not to exceed two square feet,
located on the premises. Corner lots shall be permitted two such signs,
one facing each street.
(3)
In Multifamily Residential (R-3) and Planned Development (PD)
Districts the following signs may be permitted:
(a)
One on-premises landscaped ground/monument sign, no more than
10 feet high, maximum 25 square feet per side, 50 square feet total
of all sides combined, shall be permitted with copy limited to name,
logo, and office or rental information phone number.
(b)
One wall sign, maximum of eight square feet, which may list
amenities.
(4)
Subdivision identification signs. In Planned Development (PD)
and R-1, R-2, and R-3 Residential Districts one subdivision identification
sign may be permitted to identify subdivision developments of five
or more lots and the subsequent subdivision additions. The sign must
be a landscaped ground/monument sign no more than 10 feet high, maximum
of 40 square feet per side. Copy is limited to the name of the subdivision
and logo.
(5)
Bulletin boards. Bulletin boards or similar devices for churches
and religious institutions shall not exceed 32 square feet in area
located on the premises. Height of said sign shall not exceed 10 feet.
(6)
Memorial signs. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings
and date of erection, which are cut into masonry surface or inlaid
so as to be part of a building or when constructed of bronze or other
noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
(7)
Public notices/official signs. Official notices posted by public
officers or employers in the performance of their duties. Official
signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction information and
notices.
(8)
Agricultural signs. Agricultural signs pertaining to the products
of the agricultural premises not to exceed 32 square feet in area
total of all sides combined. Height of this restrictive sign shall
not exceed 10 feet from grade level. Two such signs shall be permitted
per farm.
(9)
All sign placement shall be on the privately owned property
and shall not project beyond the property line onto the right-of-way.
B.
All business and industrial districts. In the business and industrial
districts, signs and advertising devices are permitted with approval
from the Town of Lawrence Planning and Zoning Board and subject to
the following conditions:
(1)
Area. The gross area in square feet of all signs on a specific zoned lot shall not exceed 400 square feet. (Provisions may apply in § 300-150 of this chapter.)
(2)
Content. Signs shall bear thereon no lettering other than to
indicate the name and kind of business conducted in the building or
structure, such as "Men's Clothing," "Jeweler" and the like, and the
year the business was established, and the street number thereof.
Signs may advertise articles of merchandise sold on the premises and
may include changeable message areas. The area of a changeable message
sign is limited to 33% of the side of the sign on which it is applied.
(3)
Number of signs. The number of signs shall not exceed two on
any one premises.
(4)
Ground/monument or freestanding signs. Either one ground/monument
or one freestanding sign shall be allowed per zoning parcel. Such
ground/monument or freestanding sign shall advertise only the name
and location of such shopping center or individual use and the name
and type of business of each occupant of the center. Exception: In
the case of a lot fronting on two public streets, such business shall
be entitled to a second ground/monument or freestanding sign; however
such second sign may be located no closer than 200 feet to the first
sign.
(5)
Height. Freestanding signs shall not exceed a height of 30 feet;
ground/monument signs shall not exceed a height of 10 feet above the
average ground level.
(6)
Illuminated signs. Illuminated signs shall be illuminated so
light is directed entirely on the sign, so as not to reflect direct
rays of light into adjacent residential districts or into the public
way.
(7)
Maximum size. Ground/monument signs shall meet all yard requirements for the district and shall not exceed 300 square feet in area or 20% of the building size, whichever is most restrictive, on all sides combined for any one premises. Freestanding signs shall meet all yard requirements for the district and shall not exceed 400 square feet in area or 20% of the building size, whichever is most restrictive, on all sides combined for any one premises. Exception: Lots with more than 200 feet of zoning lot frontage qualify for an additional 1/2 square foot of signage for each foot of zoning lot frontage over 200 feet. This additional square footage may be used to create a second ground/monument or freestanding sign; however, such second sign may be located no closer than 200 feet to the first sign. If so desired, the size of the first sign may be reduced in order to shift square footage to the second sign. Such second sign shall be limited in size in accordance with § 300-150A(3).
(8)
Mounting. All signs shall be mounted in one of the following
manners:
(a)
Flat against a building or wall;
(b)
Back to back in pairs so that the back of the sign will be screened
from public view;
(c)
In clusters in an arrangement which will screen the back of
the signs from public view; or
(d)
Otherwise mounted so that the backs of all signs or sign structures
showing to public view shall be painted and maintained a neutral color
or a color that blends with surrounding environment.
(9)
On-premises signs. All signs advertising or displaying industrial/business
places shall be constructed on said business premises only. Business
signs constructed off the premises shall be permitted only upon written
approval by the Town of Lawrence Town Board.
(10)
Projection. In those districts where limitations are imposed
by this article on the projection of signs from the face of the wall
of any building or structure, such limitations shall not apply to
identification canopy or marquee signs indicating only the name of
the building or the name of the principal occupant of the building
or the principal product available therein, provided that any identification
sign located on a marquee or canopy shall be affixed first to the
vertical face thereof.
(11)
Safety standards. All outdoor advertising structures, post signs,
accessory signs, or advertising statuary which is declared to be a
traffic hazard by the Building Inspector shall be relocated or rearranged
in accordance with safety standards. A sign in direct line of vision
of any traffic signal, from any point in the traffic lane, shall not
resemble traffic signals. No sign shall be closer than 40 feet to
the intersection of the right-of-way lines of any intersection road.
Any sign located in the direct line of vision of any traffic control
signal shall not have flashing intermittent red, green, or amber illumination.
(12)
Setbacks. Signs shall meet all yard requirements of the zoning district, except those instances as set forth in § 300-146N of this article. No sign shall be permitted within 200 feet of an adjacent residence.
(13)
Temporary flashing signs. No permanent flashing signs allowed.
A temporary flashing sign shall be allowed not more than 15 days with
the approval of the Town of Lawrence Town Board.
(14)
Wall signs. In a single-tenanted building, a business may have
one or more wall signs and the total square feet of these signs may
not exceed 10% of the surface area of the front face of the building,
an average of four square feet per linear foot of the elevation upon
which they are placed, 50 square feet, nor be greater than 40% of
the background area on which applied (i.e., projection or area architecturally
separated or standing alone as its own segment or feature), whichever
is less. Such signs may be located on any wall face of the building
but shall not extend more than six inches outside of the building
wall surface. Exceptions:
(a)
In the case of a lot fronting on two public streets, such business
shall be entitled to additional wall signage equal to 10% of the surface
area of the side of the building fronting on that street; however,
the aggregate signage on any one wall of the building may not exceed
10% of its total surface area.
(b)
If a lot does not front on two streets and has more than 200 feet
of zoning frontage, the lot is entitled to receive an additional 1/2
square foot of signage for each foot of zoning lot frontage over 200
feet as per the zoning lot frontage credit.
(15)
Window signs. Permanent window signs shall be placed only on
the inside of business buildings and shall not exceed 25% of the glass
area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed and shall not be
placed on windows needed to be clear for pedestrians.
Within business and industrial districts, for shopping centers, or where more than one business is located on a zoning lot in separate primary structures, each business shall be allowed a wall or building facade identity sign not to exceed the area requirements set forth in § 300-146 of this article. For shopping centers, only one wall or building facade sign is permitted for each tenant space. The requirements set forth in § 300-146C, D, I and Q shall be enforced for each individual business and not for the zoning parcel in its entirety. The building frontage of the individual tenant space shall be used to determine the square footage of a wall sign for that tenant space. Sign area shall not be shifted from one tenant to another.
A.
In a highway corridor, parcels zoned B-1 Business/Commercial or LI
Industrial may take the following exceptions:
(1)
Front foot increase. Allow an increase of signage of 1/2 square
foot per front foot of zoning starting after the first 200 linear
feet of zoning lot frontage; however, under no circumstance shall
the increase in signage be greater than 500 square feet.
(2)
Height. Freestanding signs shall not exceed a height of 50 feet;
ground/monument signs shall not exceed a height of 10 feet above the
average ground level. Note: Freestanding signs permitted in the highway
corridor over 30 feet high may not be located closer than 200 feet
to a residentially zoned property and may not be located outside the
highway corridor.
(3)
Second sign. One additional freestanding sign or one ground/monument
sign may also be installed, either of which shall be no larger than
120 square feet per side, 240 square feet total of all sides combined.
If a second freestanding sign is used it may not exceed 30 feet in
height. If a ground/monument sign is used it may not exceed 10 feet
in height. If this is a corner lot, this subsection does not provide
for a third sign.
(4)
Wall signs. A maximum of 700 square feet of wall sign shall
be permitted in a highway corridor, not to exceed 10% of the wall
area fronting the street. Wall signs may be located on any wall face.
Exception: The maximum area of wall signs may be increased to 900
square feet, utilizing the additional signage gained from the zoning
lot frontage increase of 1/2 square foot per foot of frontage over
200 linear feet.
A.
General. All off-premises poster panel/billboard and painted bulletin
signs are prohibited in the Town of Lawrence, regardless of the nature,
size and location, except as provided herein.
B.
Off-premises poster panel/billboard and painted bulletin signs shall
only be allowed in the highway corridor and only after obtaining a
conditional use permit and meeting the sign requirements as set forth
in this article.
C.
In issuing permits for off-premises poster panel/billboard and painted
bulletin signs in the Town of Lawrence, the Town Building Inspector
shall see that the following restrictions are complied with:
(1)
Height. Off-premises (billboard) signs shall not exceed a height
of 50 feet.
(2)
Illumination. All off-premises/billboard signs which contain,
include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving
light or lights or those of red, green or amber color at intersections
are prohibited. Illuminated signs shall be illuminated so light is
directed entirely on the sign, so as not to reflect direct rays of
light into adjacent residential districts or into the public way.
(3)
Location. Any off-premises/billboard signs shall be located
no less than 500 feet from any residential zoning district. Any off-premises/billboard
signs shall be located not less than 4,000 feet from another off-premises/billboard
measuring from either side of a road or highway. Note: No off-premises/billboard
sign shall in any manner project over the right-of-way of any highway
or roadway in the Town.
(4)
Number of off-premises/billboard signs. No more than one off-premises
sign per zoning lot, subject to spacing requirements, or one painted
bulletin is permitted on the same zoning lot.
(5)
Setbacks. Any off-premises/billboard signs located within 40
feet of an intersection or 15 feet of a driveway, measured from the
point of intersection with a right-of-way, shall maintain a minimum
of eight feet between the bottom of the sign and the grade where the
sign is located. Note: No off-premises/billboard signs may be located
within the front yard or corner side yard setback of any zoning district.
(6)
Stability. Any off-premises/billboard signs shall be erected
on no more than two uprights and shall be designed, constructed and
maintained to withstand a minimum load of 30 pounds per square foot
of sign area and will otherwise structurally be safe and shall be
securely anchored or otherwise fastened, suspended or supported so
that they will not be a menace to persons or property.
No sign in the Town of Lawrence shall hereafter be altered,
rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated, except in conformity with
the provisions of this article. The changing of movable parts of signs
that are designed to be changed or the repainting of display matter
in conformity herewith shall not be deemed to be alterations within
the meaning of this article.
A.
Notification of nonconformity. The Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator
shall survey the Town for signs which do not conform to the requirements
of this article. Upon determination that a sign is a nonconforming
sign, the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator shall use reasonable
efforts to notify, either personally or in writing, the user or owner
of the property on which the sign is located.
B.
Nonconforming signs. Any sign located within the Town on the date
of adoption of this article which does not conform to these provisions
is eligible for characterization as a nonconforming sign and is permitted,
provided that it also meets the following requirements:
(1)
The sign was covered by a sign permit, or a permit was issued
prior to the date of adoption of this article if one was required.
(2)
If no sign permit was required for the sign in question and
the sign was in all respects in compliance with applicable law on
the date of construction or installation.
C.
Continuation of nonconforming status. A nonconforming sign shall
maintain its nonconforming designation provided that:
(1)
No structural modification of a nonconforming sign is permitted,
except where such modification will result in having the effect of
bringing such sign more in compliance with the requirements of this
article, except for changing of copy and normal maintenance.
(2)
The sign is not relocated.
(3)
The sign is not replaced.
(4)
The total structural repairs or alterations to such a nonconforming
sign shall not during its life exceed 50% of the assessed value of
said sign existing at the time it became nonconforming.
D.
Loss of nonconforming status. Any changes, except as provided in
this article, shall result in the loss of nonconforming status.
A.
All signs or sign messages shall be removed by the owner or lessee
of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which
it advertises is no longer conducted or when rental or compensation
is no longer provided if said sign is of the off-premises type. If
the owner or lessee fails to remove it, the Town Building Inspector
shall give the owner 60 days' written notice to remove it. Upon failure
to comply with this notice, the Building Inspector, or his/her duly
authorized representative, may remove the sign at cost to the sign
owner.
B.
The Building Inspector shall cause to be removed any deteriorated
or dilapidated signs under the provision of § 66.0413, Wis.
Stats.
The administration and enforcement of this article shall be
the responsibility of the Town of Lawrence Building Inspector or a
designee by the Town Board.
