The purpose of this article is to establish
minimum standards to safeguard life and property and promote public
welfare and community aesthetics by regulating the appearance, construction,
location and maintenance of all signs and billboards.
The following definitions are used in this article:
AWNING
A temporary hood or cover which projects from the wall of
the building and which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against
the face of a supporting structure.
BILLBOARD
A sign which advertises goods, products or facilities or
services not necessarily on the premises where the sign is located
or directs persons to a different location from where the sign is
located.
BLANKETING
The unreasonable obstruction of view of a sign caused by
the placement of another sign.
SIGN
Includes anything that promotes, calls attention to or invites
patronage (or anything similar to the aforementioned) to a business,
location or product.
A.
DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGNAny sign designed to give any artificial light directly through any transparent or translucent material from a source of light originating within or on such sign.
B.
DIRECTORY SIGNAny sign on which the names and locations of occupants of a building are given. This definition shall include offices and church directories.
C.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE UNIT SIGNAny sign whose message may be changed by electronic process, including such messages as copy, art, graphics, time, date, temperature, weather or information concerning civic or charitable organizations or the advertising of products or services for sale on the premises. This definition also includes traveling or segmented message displays.
[Amended 1-3-2000]
D.
FLASHING SIGNAny directly or indirectly illuminated sign on which artificial light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times when in use.
E.
GROUND AND/OR POLE SIGNAny sign which is supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of support from any building (also referred to as a "freestanding sign").
F.
IDENTIFICATION SIGNAny sign which carries only the name of the firm, major enterprise, institution or principal products offered for sale on the premises or a combination of these.
H.
MARQUEE SIGNAny sign attached to and made part of a marquee. A "marquee" is defined as a permanent, roof-like structure projecting beyond a building wall at an entrance to a building or extending along and projecting beyond the building's wall and generally designed and constructed to provide protection against weather.
J.
PORTABLE SIGNAny sign not permanently attached to the ground which is designed to be easily moved from one location to another.
K.
PROJECTING SIGNAny sign extending more than 18 inches but less than five feet from the face of a wall or building.
L.
REAL ESTATE SIGNAny sign which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent the property upon which the sign is placed.
M.
ROOF SIGNAny sign erected upon or over the roof or parapet of any building.
N.
TEMPORARY SIGNAny sign intended to be displayed for a short period of time, including real estate, political or construction site signs and banners, decorative-type displays or anything similar to the aforementioned.
O.
WALL SIGNAny sign attached to, erected on or painted on the wall of a building or structure and projecting not more than 18 inches from such wall.
P.
WINDOW SIGNAny sign located completely within an enclosed building and visible from a pubic way.
[Amended 1-3-2000]
All signs shall be removed by the owner or lessee
of the premises upon which the sign is located when a business which
it advertises has not been conducted for a period of six months or
when, in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator, such sign is so
old or dilapidated or has become so out of repair as to be dangerous
or unsafe, whichever occurs first. If the owner or lessee fails to
remove it, the Common Council may remove the sign at the cost of the
owner, following adequate written notice. The owner may appeal the
Common Council's decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Any sign which was erected before the adoption
of this article shall not be rebuilt or relocated without conforming
to all of the requirements of this article.
All signs constructed or maintained in violation
of any of the provisions of this article are hereby declared public
nuisances within the meaning of the Code of the City of Manawa. In
addition to the penalty provisions for violation of this chapter,
the Common Council may bring an action to abate the nuisance in the
manner set forth in the Wisconsin state statutes.
All billboards, signs and other advertising structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of area and shall be constructed to receive dead loads as required in Chapter
106, Building Construction, or other ordinances of the City of Manawa.
Except as otherwise herein provided, all billboards
and/or sign messages shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the
premises upon which an off-premises sign/billboard is located when
the business advertised is no longer conducted where advertised. If
the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign/billboard, the Common
Council shall give the owner 60 days' written notice to remove said
sign/billboard and, thereafter, upon the owner's or lessee's failure
to comply, may remove such sign/billboard, any costs for which shall
be charged to the owner of the property or may be assessed as a special
assessment against the property, and/or the Common Council may take
any other appropriate legal action necessary to attain compliance.