For the purpose of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to them in this section:
ORIGINAL ART DISPLAY A hand-painted work of visual art that is either affixed to or painted directly on the exterior wall of a structure with the permission of the property owner. An original art display does not include: mechanically produced or computer-generated prints or images, including but not limited to digitally printed vinyl; electrical or mechanical components; or changing image art display. An original art display meeting these requirements is not considered to be a sign.
SIGN A name, identification, description, display or illustration, in any medium, including sign face, words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, trade names, or trademarks, which is affixed to, painted or represented directly or indirectly upon a building or other surface (including the ground, poles, etc.), which directs attention to, or is designed or intended to direct attention to, the sign face or to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, cause, or business, used to communicate, which is visible from any public street or highway, and includes searchlights and other lighted displays. Each display surface of a sign is considered to be a sign.
SIGN AREA The space enclosed within the extreme edges of the sign for each sign face, not including the supporting structure; or, where attached directly to a building wall or surface, the space within the outline enclosing all the characters of the words, numbers, or design.
SIGN COPY The message, advertising, and/or any other symbols on the face of the sign.
SIGN DISPLAY AREA The display area of a sign shall be measured as the area, in square feet, of the smallest rectilinear polygon, with a maximum of eight sides, that describes the portion of the sign which encloses all lettering, wording, design, and symbols, together with any background that, through the use of illumination, color or other techniques, helps the sign stand out from its surroundings. Where a sign has multiple display surfaces and any two of these display surfaces are parallel and face in opposite directions, only one of the parallel display surfaces is included when calculating the display area. For an internally illuminated awning or marquee sign, the display area shall be calculated as the height of the awning or marquee multiplied by its width.
SIGN FACE The entire area display surface area upon, against or through which copy is placed.
SIGN, ABANDONED Any sign, the use of which has been discontinued to a period of 12 consecutive months, which sign advertises or identifies an activity that has been discontinued for a period of 12 consecutive months, shall be considered abandoned.
SIGN, AWNING A sign that is mounted or painted on, or attached to, an awning, canopy, or marquee.
SIGN, BACKLIT CHANNEL LETTER This letter combines the standard front-lit letter along with the reverse/halo-lit letter. The sides of the letter are aluminum, the faces are polycarbonate and the back of the sign is open to reflect the LED or neon illumination off of the wall. (See appendix for example.)
SIGN, BULLETIN BOARD A sign that allows changeable copy that directs attention to buildings or activities that are located or to be located either on or off the premises where the sign is located.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL A sign that does not advertise, but merely draws attention to a business, development, or other building by indicating no more than the direction and distance it is from the sign.
SIGN, ESTABLISHED GRADE OR IMMEDIATELY BELOW The distance from the bottom of the sign or other projection to the established grade immediately below is measured from the elevation immediately adjacent to the face of the building to which the sign or other projection is attached.
SIGN, GROUND Any sign placed upon a pole or other support independent of any other structure, where the sign height does not exceed 10 feet.
SIGN, HALO OR CHANNEL LIT Halo-lit letters, or also known as "reverse channel-lit letters," consist of aluminum faces and sides (returns) mounted onto standoffs away from the wall which project either LEDs or neon illumination to the wall surface giving the sign a halo effect. This technique is often considered to give the customer a distinguished or unique image. (See appendix for example.)
SIGN, INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED A sign illuminated by one or more light sources enclosed entirely within the sign cabinet and not directly visible from outside the sign.
SIGN, NEON A sign with luminous gas-filled tubes formed into text, symbols, or decorative elements and directly visible from outside the sign cabinet.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES (BILLBOARD) A sign that directs attention to a building, commodity, activity, or service conducted, sold, or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located. No off-premises sign may be erected without Plan Commission approval.
SIGN, PERMANENT A sign permanently attached to the land or a structure by means of concrete, plaster, nails, bolts, screws or other material, or painted on or etched into the exterior of a window.
SIGN, POLE A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other support so that the bottom of the sign is over 10 feet above grade.
SIGN, PORTABLE A sign that is not permanently affixed to a building, structure, or to the ground. Such a sign is sometimes mounted on wheels to make it transportable.
SIGN, PROJECTING A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than 12 inches from that building.
SIGN, ROOF A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or that is wholly dependent on a building for support and which projects above the point of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with a gambrel, gable, or hip roof, or the deckline of a building with a mansard roof.
SIGN, TEMPORARY A sign constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, paper, cardboard, plastic, wood or other material and not permanently attached to the land or a structure.
SIGN, WALL A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of, the sign, and which does not project more than 12 inches from that building or structure.
SIGN, WINDOW, EXTERIOR Any outdoor sign painted, posted, displayed, or etched in or on the surface of a window or a translucent or transparent surface of a door.
SIGN, WINDOW, INDOOR A sign that is applied or attached to the interior of a window or located in such manner within a building that it can readily be seen from the exterior of the building through a window.
The following sign regulations apply to all residential districts, and the signage requires
permits, except as set forth in §
245-39:
A. Size. Except as may otherwise be provided in this article, when a sign is authorized on a property, the sign must not exceed two square feet in area. Where attached dwellings exist on a property, the total square footage must not exceed two square feet per dwelling unit.
B. Subdivision and residential development signs. For residential developments (including subdivision identification signs), the maximum size and number of signs that the owner or owners of the residential development must be controlled according to the following:
(1) Residential developments four acres or less in area may have a sign or signs with a total area of no more than 32 square feet.
(2) Residential developments over four acres but less than 40 acres in area may have a sign or signs that have a total area of no more than 48 square feet.
(3) Residential developments of 40 acres or more may have a sign or signs with a total area of no more than 102 square feet.
C. Location. Permitted signs may be anywhere on the premises, except in a required side yard or within 10 feet of a street right-of-way.
D. Height. The following maximum heights apply:
(1) If ground-mounted, the top must not be over four feet from the ground, except temporary signs must not be over six feet from the ground.
(2) If building-mounted, the sign must be flush-mounted and must not project above the roofline.
E. Illumination. No internal illumination is allowed. If illumination is used, it may not be blinking, fluctuating or moving. Light rays must shine only on the face of the sign and on property within the premises.
F. The following signs are not allowed: portable signs, marquee signs, digital billboard, and projecting signs.
G. Temporary signs in residential districts that do not require permits.
(1) Temporary signs.
(a) Up to three temporary signs are allowed per street frontage, as follows:
[1] Neither sign may exceed 12 square feet in area on one side and 24 square feet in area on all sides.
[2] These signs shall not be located in any street right-of-way, nor in front of any sidewalk.
(b) The temporary use of banners, balloons, streamers, pennants, and other similar media in any district is allowed, provided that the media will not be located on any sidewalk or bikeway if one is present or in any public right-of-way, except as approved by the Zoning Administrator.
[1] This type of media shall be displayed for no more than 14 days.
[2] The media will not be located closer than 10 feet to an adjacent property or driveway and will not cause a hazard to traffic or adjoining properties. This type of media shall not exceed 12 square feet in area on one side or 24 square feet on all sides.
(c) In all cases, when the temporary sign or media is placed by a person other than the property owner or legal tenant of the property, the person placing the sign or media must obtain permission from the owner for the placement of the signs or media.
(d) Failure to comply with standards. Any person that fails to follow the standards set forth in this section shall be notified, in writing, that all future temporary signage shall require a regular sign
permit and may be issued a citation, for a violation of this chapter as set forth in §
245-57 and Chapter
1, Article
II of this Code.
(2) Temporary construction area signage.
(a) Temporary signs on a property during a period of construction may be placed on a construction site without a permit, provided that:
[1] There shall be no more than one such sign located on the premises;
[2] No sign shall exceed 32 square feet in area on one side or 64 square feet on all sides; and
[3] The sign shall be removed within 72 hours following the issuance of an occupancy permit. Temporary signs allowed as part of a development agreement shall be removed as specified in that agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding the above, pursuant to Wis. Stats. § 66.1102(5), any person who is the owner, or other person in lawful possession or control, of a construction site may install a banner over the entire height and length of a fence surrounding the construction site.
(3) Bulletin boards. Bulletin boards are not to exceed four square feet in area on one side and located on the building.
(4) Signs cut into buildings. Signs and tablets, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and affixed flat against a building, may not exceed two square feet in area. Signs may be approved larger than two square feet by the Plan on the basis of unique design considerations.
(5) Official signs: official signs, such as traffic control, parking restrictions, welcome signs and related entrance signs, neighborhood watch signs, and public notices approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(6) Lot signs. Permanent directional signs located at the entrance and exit of a driveway or street shall not exceed two square feet.
(7) Parking signs. Signs in the parking lot shall be mounted no less than four feet from the ground and shall not exceed 24 inches high by 30 inches wide.
(8) Flags. Property owners shall be permitted one flag per 25 feet of frontage on a right-of-way, up to a maximum of three flags and three flagpoles per premises. Each flag must be a maximum of 15 square feet in area. Flagpoles must be a maximum of 50 feet in height, but no higher than the highest point of the nearest principal building's roof on the premises. Flagpoles must meet the minimum yard setback requirements for a principal building or a minimum of 10 feet, whichever is more restrictive.
(9) Signs on external walls. No signs may be placed on an external wall.
(10) Election campaign periods. During an election campaign period, as defined in Wis. Stats. § 12.04, there is no limit on the number or square footage of signs allowed; provided, however, that such signs shall not interfere with traffic or pedestrian safety and shall not be placed in the vision clearance triangle. Said signs may be placed on property zoned for any use and on property abutting that property for which the owner or renter is responsible for the maintenance or care. A sign having an electrical or mechanical auxiliary requires a permit, may not be located closer than 10 feet to an adjacent property or driveway, may not cause a hazard to traffic or adjoining properties, and may not exceed 12 square feet in area on one side or 24 square feet on all sides. No sign may have an audio auxiliary in a residential district.
(11) Original art display. Original art displays are allowed, provided that they meet the following requirements:
(a) Must not be placed on the front of a dwelling;
(b) Must not extend more than six inches from the plane of the wall upon which it is painted or to which it is affixed;
(c) Must be no more than 24 square feet in size, per lot or parcel;
(d) Compensation must not be given or received for the display of the original art or the right to place the original art on-site; and
Each planned community development district in the Village is covered in its own separate section of Article
VIII of this chapter. The specific section lists the allowed residential and/or nonresidential uses within that district. When the Zoning Administrator determines whether nonresidential or residential sign regulations apply, the Zoning Administrator will first determine whether the allowed uses listed in the particular PCDD for that parcel are residential or nonresidential, and then apply the appropriate regulation to the use on the parcel.
The following signs are prohibited in all districts:
A. Abandoned signs: any sign advertising or identifying a business or organization which is either defunct or no longer located on the premises. Exceptions may be granted to landmark signs, which may be preserved and maintained even if they no longer pertain to the present use of the premises.
B. Flashing, alternating, rotating or swinging signs or devices, whether illuminated or not, visible from the right-of-way.
C. Floodlighted or reflection-illuminated signs where the light source is positioned so that its light source is visible from a public right-of-way by the vehicular traffic, or where the light source is visible from adjoining property.
D. Internally illuminated signs, neon and back-lighted signs other than OPEN signs, except as indicated elsewhere in this chapter.
E. Flashing signs, signs with an intermittent or flashing light source, signs containing moving parts, and signs containing reflective elements that sparkle or twinkle in the sunlight. Signs of a digital nature may not change message more than four times in one hour.
F. Electronic message centers, variable message signs that utilize computer-generated messages or some other electronic means of changing copy, including displays using incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs or a flipper matrix, except at an establishment with a permanent indoor seating capacity of 300 or more patrons (defined as 15 square feet per patron in patron-accessible areas), and possessing a Class B alcohol license for on-site retail sales of spiritous liquor. Holographic signs which use a rotating LED or LCD blade to display 3D graphics are not prohibited by this chapter indoors. Electric message centers are prohibited on all R-1, R-2, R-3 and B-3 zoned properties in the Village, except those properties that are zoned B-3 and front Milwaukee Street.
G. Other prohibited signs:
(1) A sign that is a hazard or dangerous distraction to vehicular traffic or a nuisance to adjoining residential property.
(2) A sign that resembles, imitates or approximates the shape, size, form or color of a traffic sign, signal or device.
(3) A sign that is located to interfere with the visibility or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal or with driver vision at the access point of any intersection.
(4) A sign that is erected, relocated or maintained to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape, or is attached to a standpipe, fire escape or utility pole.
(5) A sign that contains, includes, or is illuminated by flashing light or by any light directed toward a neighboring residence, road, or highway.
(6) A sign that contains, includes, or is composed of any conspicuous animated part, except holographic signs.
(7) A sign that is painted on a rock or rocks, except in institutional zoning districts.
(8) Inflatable devices or signs.
(9) A display that would be an original art display but does not have the permission of the owner of the property on which it is located or is graffiti.
(10) Off-premises signs larger than the maximum permitted square footage per face.
(11) Signs taller than eight feet in height, except as permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
(12) A "V" sign shall be prohibited unless the backs of both signs display no letters or symbols and are landscaped to screen their backsides.
(14) Mobile signs unless permitted as a temporary use.
(15) No sign shall be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted or structurally altered in a Shoreland-Wetland, Shoreland, or Floodplain District.
(16) Changeable copy signs, except as otherwise defined and permitted under this chapter.