[Amended 3-8-2005; 6-9-2015]
It is the purpose of this article to authorize the use of signs
which are;
A.
Compatible with their surroundings, including existing and planned
uses on and nearby the premises where they are placed;
B.
Appropriate to the type of land use, activity, and zoning district
to which they pertain;
C.
Expressive of the desired identity of individual proprietors, residents,
the district in which they are located, and the community as a whole;
D.
Legible in the circumstances in which they are seen;
E.
Designed and positioned so as not to present any hazard to traffic
or pedestrian safety or property; and
F.
Not dominant visual elements, but instead integrated with and ancillary
to the buildings and lands on which they are located.
A.
Residential district signage. In all residential zoning districts,
no advertising signs, temporary or permanent, shall be permitted,
with the following exceptions:
(1)
Temporary posters advertising the occasional sale of personal possessions
of the resident, such as "garage sale" or "moving sale" type signs,
shall be permitted, provided that:
(2)
Signs advertising the sale, rental, or construction of residential
property shall be permitted, provided that:
(a)
There is only one sign per lot (except on lake lots, there shall
be one sign allowed on the lake frontage and one sign on the street
frontage).
(b)
The sign does not exceed seven square feet in area.
(c)
The sign is taken down upon substantial completion of construction
or completion of a sale or rental (advertising a property as "sold"
for more than five days shall not be permitted).
(d)
Construction signs may be erected only after a building permit
has been issued, the homeowner's approval has been received, and construction
has commenced.
(e)
Signs for "open houses" or other similar temporary events related
to the sale of a residential property shall be erected no more than
24 hours prior to the event and shall be removed no later than five
hours after the event ends.
(3)
Temporary signs advertising or giving direction to a special event
sponsored by a nonprofit organization with the permission of the Village
Board may be permitted by the Village Board on such conditions as
the Board may, in specific instances, require.
(4)
Signs encouraging neighborhood pedestrian/children safety shall be
permitted on private property. Such signs shall be limited to no more
than two square feet, and no more than two such signs shall be allowed
per residential lot.
(5)
Signs permitted hereunder shall not be placed closer than (nor project
to within) 10 feet of any lot line.
B.
Business district signage. In all business zoning districts, the
following signs shall be permitted, subject to the associated limitations
indicated below:
(1)
On-building signs.
(a)
There shall be a maximum of one on-building sign per signable
wall per business, but in no case more than two on-building signs
per business. A "signable wall" is defined as a front exterior wall,
a street-side exterior wall, or an interior side or rear exterior
wall with a customer entrance to the business's building space and
facing a customer parking lot. No individual wall shall count as more
than one signable wall for purposes of determining the allowable number
and area of business signs.
(b)
There shall be a maximum one square foot of on-building sign
area per one linear foot of exterior length of each signable wall,
up to a maximum of 48 square feet per business per signable wall.
For buildings with multiple tenants, the building owner(s) shall be
responsible for assignment of allowable sign area to individual tenants
within the building.
(c)
Each on-building sign shall be mounted no higher than 20 feet
above adjacent ground level.
(d)
For awning signs, text and/or logos shall not project below
or above the awning surface and shall not exceed 25% of the awning
area.
(e)
Each on-building sign shall meet the following design requirements.
These requirements are not intended to restrict imagination, innovation,
or variety, but rather to assist with creative solutions that will
develop a satisfactory visual appearance within the Village's business
districts.
[1]
Permitted sign materials include wood, wood composite, brushed
bronze, antique bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, canvas
or related durable fabric, architectural glass, stone, masonry, concrete,
or similar materials as determined by the Building Board. High-quality,
textured, low-reflectant plastic may be allowed. No particleboard
shall be used. "Medium-density-overlay" plywood or marine plywood
must be edge-banded.
[Amended 5-9-2023]
[2]
High-gloss paints, lacquers, varnishes or other "shiny" or reflective
surfaces, including smooth plastics, mirrors, and related materials
except transparent glass, shall not be used on the sign.
[Amended 5-9-2023]
[3]
Sign color combinations shall be compatible with the colors
of the building facade on which the sign is mounted and harmonious
within the sign. There shall be not more than four different colors
per sign. Fluorescent, "day glow," and other similarly intense colors
shall not be permitted.
[Amended 5-9-2023]
[4]
Sign illumination shall be limited to direct illumination from a shielded exterior light source, internal illumination of letters or logos only, backlit individual opaque letters or logos creating a halo effect, and neon or other visible light-emanating gas tube systems. Other internally illuminated on-building signs are not permitted, including backlit plastic sign panels and illuminated awnings (with or without messages). The lighting element of all fixtures shall not be visible from any public road or residentially zoned property, excluding neon or other visible light-emanating gas tube systems. All neon or other visible light-emanating gas tube systems shall comply with § 225-92E, be static in intensity and color, emit illumination not brighter than 0.5 footcandle above ambient lighting conditions 10 feet in front of the sign, conceal all electrical elements, not be illuminated from 1:00 a.m. until dawn. and not be both visible and within 200 feet from any residentially zoned property.
[Amended 5-9-2023]
[5]
Sign scale shall be proportioned to building scale. Signs shall
integrate with building architecture and not cover architectural elements,
details, windows, or doors.
[6]
The number of graphic elements and letters shall be held to
the minimum needed to convey each sign's message and shall be composed
in proportion to the area of the sign's face. Sign message length,
message complexity, font type, and letter sizes shall be selected
to provide clarity with consideration to the viewer's position and
travel speed.
[7]
Sign supports and braces shall be an integral part of the sign
design or hidden from public view.
[8]
Signs shall not be designed to obscure or compete for attention
with any other permanent sign.
(2)
Monument signs.
(a)
Monument signs are the only permitted type of permanent freestanding
sign. Pole, pylon, post, and other nonmonument signs are not permitted.
(b)
There shall be a maximum of one monument sign per lot.
(c)
The maximum sign area of any monument sign is 72 square feet
per side. There shall not be more than two sides per monument sign.
For buildings with multiple tenants, the building owner(s) shall be
responsible for assignment of allowable sign area to individual tenants.
(d)
The maximum freestanding sign height is 12 feet. The ground
level around the base of the sign may not be artificially raised,
except to the minimum necessary for proper drainage.
(e)
The minimum permitted setback is two feet from any front or
street side lot line and five feet from any interior side or rear
lot line.
(f)
Each monument sign shall meet the following design requirements.
These requirements are not intended to restrict imagination, innovation,
or variety, but rather to assist with creative solutions that will
develop a satisfactory visual appearance within the Village's business
districts.
[1]
Permitted sign materials include wood, wood composite, brushed
bronze, antique bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron, stone,
masonry, concrete, or similar materials as determined by the Building
Board. High-quality, textured, low-reflectant plastic may be allowed.
Internally illuminated plastic signs are not permitted, except for
internal illumination of a sign message only as determined by the
Building Board. No particleboard shall be used. "Medium-density-overlay"
plywood or marine plywood must be edge-banded.
[2]
The base of the sign shall be constructed of or surfaced with
materials that are similar in type and color to those used on the
principal building that contains the businesses identified on the
sign. Veneers of such materials may be used. If the sign identifies
businesses contained within more than one building, it shall be architecturally
similar to the newest such building, unless otherwise approved by
the Building Board.
[3]
The width of the sign base shall be not less than one foot narrower
than the width of the sign mounted upon it.
[4]
High-gloss paints, lacquers, varnishes or other "shiny" or reflective surfaces, including smooth plastics, mirrors, and related materials, shall not be used on a sign (except as permitted under Subsection B(2)(f)[1] above).
[5]
Sign color combinations shall be compatible with the colors
of the building facade to which the sign relates and harmonious within
the sign. There shall be not more than four different colors per sign.
Fluorescent, "day glow," "neon," and other similarly intense colors
shall not be permitted.
[6]
Sign illumination shall be limited to direct illumination from
a shielded exterior light source, backlit individual opaque letters
creating a halo effect, or internal illumination of the sign message
only where approved by the Building Board. The lighting element of
all fixtures shall not be visible from any public road or residentially
zoned property.
[7]
Signs must be architecturally similar to the principal building
that contains the businesses identified on the sign. Architectural
features, such as sills, piers, reveals, capstones, and medallions,
which are part of the architectural makeup of the building shall be
incorporated into the sign design. If the sign identifies businesses
contained within more than one building, it shall be architecturally
similar to the newest such building, unless otherwise approved by
the Building Board.
[8]
The number of graphic elements and letters shall be held to
the minimum needed to convey each sign's message and shall be composed
in proportion to the area of the sign's face. Sign message length,
message complexity, font type, and letter sizes shall be selected
to provide clarity with consideration to the viewer's position and
travel speed.
[9]
Signs shall not be designed to obscure or compete for attention
with any other permanent sign.
(3)
Auxiliary and directional signs:
(a)
Shall not exceed four square feet each. Any business name or
logo on such sign shall be no greater than one square foot.
(b)
The combined area of all auxiliary and directional signs on
any lot shall not exceed 24 square feet, not including any such sign
also meeting the definition of a "window sign."
(c)
Where a freestanding sign, shall be set back at least two feet
from all front and street side lot lines and five feet from other
lot lines and shall not exceed five feet in height.
(d)
Where providing a function to direct vehicles from a public
street to the site, shall be limited to one per each vehicular driveway
to a public street.
(4)
Window signs.
(a)
Window signs shall be confined within the transparent area of
the window and shall not encroach upon the frame, mullions, or other
supporting features of the glass.
(b)
All permanent window signs that have their lettering or graphic
elements directly on the surface of the glass shall be painted, metal-leafed,
vinyl-transferred, or in some other manner permanently applied to
the building window or door.
(c)
The total area of all signs in each window, including temporary
and permanently mounted window signs, shall not exceed 25% of the
window area.
(5)
Sandwich-board/pedestal signs:
(a)
A "sandwich-board/pedestal sign" is a movable, on-premises sign
placed by hand outside the building while the business is open; removed
at the time the business closes each day; self-supporting and stable
even on windy days; and not including any sign mounted on or part
of a vehicle and/or trailer.
(b)
There shall be a maximum of one sandwich-board/pedestal sign
per business.
(c)
Height shall not exceed four feet, width shall not exceed three
feet, and the sign shall have not more than two sides.
(d)
Shall not be illuminated in any manner.
(e)
Shall be placed directly on a hard-surfaced area in front of
and in line with the business to which it relates, maintaining at
least 42 inches of walkway width and in no way interfering with traffic
movement.
(f)
Shall not be placed on a public sidewalk or shall otherwise
extend onto or into a public right-of-way, except where approved by
the Director of Public Works where there is not adequate space to
place the sign on private property and sign placement will not interfere
with the safe functioning of the public sidewalk and roadway.
(6)
Temporary advertising signs and banners.
(a)
The maximum sign area of any temporary advertising sign or banner
is 32 square feet. The narrowest dimension shall be not less than
two feet.
(b)
No single business or other permitted use in a business zoning
district is permitted to display more than one temporary advertising
sign or banner at a single time, and no single lot is permitted to
display more than two temporary advertising signs or banners at a
single time.
(c)
No single business or other permitted use in a business zoning
district is permitted to display more than two temporary advertising
signs or banners in a single calendar year.
(d)
Each temporary advertising sign or banner shall be removed upon
completion of the advertised activity, event, or sale. No such sign
shall be placed on a lot for greater than 30 consecutive days, except
where advertising a property for sale or lease or where marking a
construction project. No property may be marked as "sold" for greater
than five days.
(e)
No single business or other permitted use is allowed to display
a temporary advertising sign or banner greater than two times in any
calendar year.
C.
PUD District. In the PUD Planned Unit Development District, permitted sign types, number, area, location and other characteristics shall be per an approved specific implementation plan under § 225-43.1E. No signage which is excluded from an approved specific implementation plan for a planned unit development project, or an amendment thereto, shall be located on any site zoned PUD.
E.
Prohibited signs. The following types of signs and sign configurations
shall be prohibited throughout the Village:
(1)
No sign shall be erected at any location where it may, by reason
of its position, shape, color, or design, interfere with, obstruct
the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal,
or device, nor shall such sign make use of words such as "stop," "look,"
"drive-in," "danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character
in such manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse users of
streets or highways.
(2)
No private sign shall be attached to or painted on any public utility
pole, public light pole, or traffic regulatory structure.
(3)
No flashing, fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise
moving signs, pennants, feather flags, feather banners, or other moving
decorations shall be permitted.
(4)
No sign other than a regulatory or government information sign shall
be permitted within or extend into a public right-of-way, except where
otherwise approved by the Director of Public Works.
(5)
No sign shall be mounted or displayed on, or extend above the top
edge of, a roof or extend above the top-most edge of an exterior wall,
parapet, or roofline.
(6)
Mobile or portable signs shall be permitted only as a type of temporary
sign for events of public interest but shall be prohibited for any
other purpose. Sandwich-board/pedestal signs, as defined and regulated
in this article, shall not be considered mobile or portable signs.
(7)
No inflatable signs shall be permitted.
(8)
No changeable-message signs shall be permitted, except by conditional
use permit for information of general public interest.
(9)
No advertising vehicle signs shall be permitted.
(10)
No off-premises advertising sign or structure supporting such
sign(s), including billboards, shall be permitted to be installed
or to be expanded in area or number of signs.
(11)
No illuminated sign shall face, project into, or be viewed from property located within a residential zoning district in any such manner as to permit the illumination to be directed or reflected or to glare into an area within any residential zoning district, except as permitted in § 225-92B(1)(e)[4].
[Amended 5-9-2023]
F.
Structural and design requirements.
(1)
All permanent signs shall be constructed and mounted so as to comply
with State Building Codes.
(2)
All temporary signs shall be anchored and supported in a manner that
reasonably prevents the possibility of the signs becoming hazards
to public health and safety, shall be designed of a material to withstand
a typical Wisconsin storm event, and shall be immediately removed
or restored if damaged.
(3)
No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent
free ingress to or egress from any door, window, fire lane, or fire
escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe, fire ladder,
or fire escape.
(4)
No sign or any part thereof, anchor, brace, or guide rod shall be
attached, erected, or maintained that may cover or obstruct any door,
doorway, or window of any building in a manner that may hinder or
prevent ingress or egress through such door, doorway, or window, or
that may hinder or prevent the raising or placing of ladders against
such building in the event of fire.
(5)
To minimize irreversible damage to masonry, all mounting and supports
for signs shall be inserted into mortar joints and not into the face
of the masonry.
(6)
No sign shall, in any instance, create a traffic visibility or other
safety hazard. No sign shall be erected so that it impedes safe pedestrian
and/or vehicular circulation.
(7)
All signs requiring a sign permit shall be designed and constructed
to withstand winds during typical Wisconsin storm events.
(8)
All freestanding signs requiring a sign permit shall be designed
and constructed with footings for support of such sign that extend
not less than 42 inches below the existing ground level. The base
or support(s) shall be securely anchored to a concrete base or footing,
except for signs legally installed in public rights-of-way. The footing
and related supporting structure of each such freestanding sign, including
bolts, flanges, and brackets, shall be concealed by the sign exterior
or shall be surrounded by landscaping.
(9)
The lowest part of all projecting and awning signs shall be at least
eight feet above the ground surface to enable safe pedestrian movement
beneath. Projecting signs shall be designed and constructed such that
the attachment to such wall does not extend above a point of bearing
with the roof rafters.
(10)
All illuminated signs:
(a)
Shall conform to the State Electrical Code and bear UL labels.
(b)
Shall be inspected and approved by the Electrical Inspector.
(c)
Shall be equipped with a watertight safety switch, located where
electric current enters the sign. All parts covering service openings
to the electrical supply shall be securely fastened.
(d)
Shall be connected to an electric power by an electrical contractor,
unless the only connection to the electric power source is through
a grounded three-prong heavy-duty plug.
(e)
If a freestanding sign, shall be supplied power only by underground
wiring or internal batteries.
(f)
If an electrical circuit is attached to or contained within
them, shall be constructed of noncombustible material throughout.
G.
Maintenance and removal of signs.
(1)
All signs and structures appurtenant thereto shall be properly maintained
and kept in an overall clean, neat state of appearance. It shall be
the responsibility of the permit holder and property owner to maintain
signs.
(2)
Proper maintenance shall be the absence of loose materials (including
peeling paint, paper, or other material); the lack of excessive rust;
the lack of excessive vibration or shaking; and the presence of the
original structural integrity of the sign, its frame and other supports,
its mounting, and all components thereof.
(3)
A sign that is improperly maintained, is abandoned, is unsafe, or otherwise exists in violation of this chapter shall be removed by the sign permit holder or the owner of the property on which the sign is located within 30 days from the date of disrepair, abandonment, or unsafe condition or by the notice from the Building Inspector of the problem. Any failure to remove such sign shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to enforcement under Article XX.
(4)
Signs that advertise an activity, business product, or service no longer conducted or available on the premises on which the sign is located shall be prohibited. In such instance, the property owner shall be responsible for removing the sign or sign component related to such activity, business product, or service within 30 days of the cessation of such activity, product or service. Any failure to remove such sign shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to enforcement under Article XX.
A.
General requirements. No sign in a business zoning district shall
be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted,
or structurally altered without a sign permit, except that the following
types of signs shall not require a sign permit:
(1)
Address, business nameplate, and any other information required to
identify a site by law, provided that its area does not exceed two
square feet.
(2)
Auxiliary or directional sign, as described and regulated in § 225-92B(3).
(3)
Sandwich-board/pedestal sign, as described and regulated in § 225-92B(5).
(4)
Window sign, as described and regulated in § 225-92B(4).
(5)
Temporary advertising sign or banner, as described and regulated in § 225-92B(6).
B.
Conditions not requiring a sign permit. Except for exempted signs in Subsection A, a sign permit shall be required for a change to the face of a sign, but not for repainting or exact replacement of the sign with the same sign copy, changing copy on a previously permitted changeable-message sign, cleaning, repair, or normal maintenance. No sign permit may be assigned or transferred to any other sign. The applicant may include all signs at one premises under one permit, if applied for at the same time.
C.
Sign permit application. Each application for a sign permit shall
be filed with the Building Inspector using an application form provided
by the Building Inspector. Each completed application form shall be
accompanied by:
(1)
A site plan for the property showing, at a minimum, the location
of the proposed sign; the location of all existing signs on the property;
all property lines and buildings on the property; and parking areas,
driveways, public roads, and buildings within 100 feet of the proposed
sign.
(2)
A diagram of the proposed sign, drawn to a recognized scale, and
listing and depicting the type, height, width, total sign area (square
footage), area of each sign component, method of attachment, structural
support, method of illumination, sign materials, and sign colors.
"Sign area" is defined as the entire area within a single, continuous
perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of such sign and in no case
passing through or between any adjacent elements of such sign. Such
perimeter shall not include any structural elements lying outside
the limits of such sign and not forming an integral part of the display.
(3)
The property's zoning district designation.
(4)
A summary of existing signage on the property, including quantity,
location, type, and area of all signs on the property, both before
and after the installation of the proposed sign.
(6)
Written consent of the owner of the premises and building upon which
the sign is to be erected, if the owner is not the applicant.
(7)
Proof of payment of the sign permit fee, per the Village's fee schedule.
D.
Building Board action. Upon the receipt of a complete application, including a completed form and all materials specified under Subsection C above, the Building Inspector shall review said application for completeness and shall refer all complete applications with his or her recommendation to the Building Board for its decision per this article, § 225-20, and Article V.
E.
Appeal to Village Plan Commission. The sign permit applicant may appeal any Building Board decision under Subsection D to the Plan Commission. Such appeal shall be made in writing to the Building Inspector within five days after the date of the Building Board decision. The Building Inspector shall refer the application, Building Board action, and his or her recommendation to the Plan Commission. In making its decision, the Plan Commission may waive or modify any regulation in § 225-92, provided that any waiver or modification is consistent with the purposes of this article in § 225-91 and chapter in § 225-4. The Plan Commission's decision shall be final and subject to appeal to the circuit court under any procedure authorized by statute.
G.
Time frame for permitted work. If work authorized under a sign permit
has not been completed within six months after the date of permit
issuance, the permit shall become null and void. In such event, a
new permit shall first be obtained to complete the work, and a new
permit fee shall be required.
H.
Possible revocation. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this article are mere permits, revocable at any time by the Building Inspector. Any sign permit may be revoked by the Building Inspector in the event that the applicant has failed to comply with the provisions of this article, the approved sign permit or application, or any conditions that may have accompanied the permit at the time of issuance. The sign(s) subject to any revoked permit shall be removed by the licensee, sign owner, or property owner within 30 days of such revocation, or shall be subject to enforcement under Article XX.
The fee for any sign requiring a permit shall be set forth in
the fee schedule which may be revised from time to time by the Village
Board. In addition, the applicant may be responsible for reimbursing
the Village for any consultant costs associated with the review, permitting,
inspection, or enforcement of any sign permit.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current fee schedule is on file at the
Clerk-Treasurer's office.
A.
Generally. Any sign lawfully existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of this article may be continued although the use, size, or location does not conform to the provisions of this article. However, such sign shall be deemed a nonconforming structure, and the provisions of § 225-56 and Subsection B shall apply.
B.
Maintenance and alteration of nonconforming signs. Nonconforming
signs may be maintained. No nonconforming on-premises sign shall be
altered, extended, enlarged, converted, or moved to a new location
without being brought into compliance with the requirements of this
article, except that the sign message, materials, and lighting may
be repaired or replaced, provided that sign area is not increased
or reconfigured. Alteration of a nonconforming sign is considered
to be any other change to the exterior appearance of any part of the
sign, frame, supporting structure, lighting method, material, height,
location, or any other alterations as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
