[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Oconto Falls 3-13-1979
(Ch. 29). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
No sign shall hereafter be located, erected, moved, reconstructed,
extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered without a zoning compliance
permit, except those signs listed below, and without being in conformity with
the provisions of this chapter. The sign shall also meet all the structural
requirements of the Building Code.[1]
B.
All signs are prohibited in the Residence, Agricultural
and Conservancy Districts except the following:
(1)
Signs over show windows or doors of a nonconforming business
establishment announcing without display or elaboration only the name and
occupation of the proprietor and not to exceed two feet in height and 10 feet
in length.
(2)
Real estate signs not to exceed eight square feet in
area which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which
said signs are temporarily located.
(3)
Name, occupation and warning signs not to exceed two
square feet located on the premises.
(4)
Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions
not to exceed eight square feet in area located on the premises.
(5)
Memorial signs, tablets, name of building, and date of
erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of metal and
affixed against a structure.
(6)
Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restrictions,
information and notices.
(7)
Temporary signs or banners when authorized by the Planning
Commission.
(8)
Signs as an accessory use of a conditional use permit
upon review and recommendation to the Common Council by the Planning Commission.
The size and placement of such signs may be restricted by the Planning Commission.
[Added 4-18-1995]
C.
Signs are permitted in the Commercial and Industrial
Districts subject to the following restrictions:
(1)
Wall signs placed against the exterior walls of buildings
shall not extend more than six inches outside of a building's wall surface,
shall not exceed 200 square feet in area for any one promises, and shall not
exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center-line street grade.
(2)
Projecting signs fastened to, suspended from, or supported
by structures shall not exceed 1.5 square feet per linear foot of lot frontage
to a maximum of 100 square feet in area for any one premises, shall not extend
more than six feet into any public right-of-way, shall not be less than 10
feet from all side lot lines, shall not exceed a height of 30 feet above the
mean center-line street grade, and shall not be less than 12 feet above the
sidewalk nor 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.
[Amended 5-13-1980]
(3)
Ground signs shall not exceed 50 feet in height above
the mean center-line street grade, shall meet all yard requirements for the
district in which they are located, and shall not exceed 300 square feet on
one side nor 1,000 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
(4)
Roof signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the
roof, shall meet all the yard and height requirements for the district in
which they are located, and shall not exceed 200 square feet on all sides
for any one premises.
(5)
Window signs shall be placed only on the inside of commercial
buildings and shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the pane upon which
the sign is displayed.
(6)
Signs of a temporary nature, such as special sale or
poster signs, are permitted in the Commercial District.
(7)
A sign may extend not closer than five feet to the vertical
plane of the street curb or, if no curb exists, not more than six feet beyond
the vertical plane of the Official Map right-of-way line. This subsection
shall not prohibit the erection of authorized traffic control signs or devices
in customary locations.
[Amended 5-13-1980]
(8)
No sign shall be erected at any location where it may,
by reason of its position, shape, color or other characteristics, interfere
with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign,
traffic signal or other traffic device, nor shall any sign make use of the
word "Stop," "Look," "Danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character
in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
(9)
No sign shall be illuminated by intermittent, rotating
or flashing lights.
(10)
Vacant lots upon which advertising signs now exist or
are erected pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained in an orderly fashion
by the frequent and periodic removal of rubbish and maintenance of any verdure
growing on the lot.
(11)
At the termination of a business, commercial or industrial
enterprise, all signs shall forthwith be removed from the public view within
90 days of the date of said termination. Responsibility for violation shall
reside with the property owner, according to the latest official tax roll
listings.
(12)
In a shopping center or industrial park, one freestanding
identification sign may be permitted, showing the name of said center or park
and represented businesses or industries. The area of said sign shall not
exceed 50 square feet. Said sign shall not be permitted within 25 feet of
the right-of-way line of any street.
(13)
Necessary directional ground signs, which shall not exceed
four feet in area, shall be permitted. Permission to erect such signs must
be obtained from the Police Department and from the Planning Commission.
(14)
Commercial and industrial signs may be internally lighted
or illuminated by a hooded reflector; provided, however, that such lighting
shall be arranged to prevent glare, and no sign shall be lighted by a lighting
of intermittent or varying intensity. Animated signs, or signs having moving
parts, or signs which may be mistaken for traffic signal devices or which
diminish the visibility or effectiveness of such traffic signal devices, are
prohibited.
(15)
Any sign so erected, constructed or maintained as to
obstruct or be attached to any fire escape, window, door or opening used as
means of ingress and egress, or for fire-fighting purposes, or placed so as
to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation is prohibited.
(16)
Signs shall be permitted to hang from canopies or covered
walks in Commercial or Industrial Districts, provided that they shall be at
least 12 feet above ground level.
(17)
Combinations of any of the above shall meet all the requirements
of the individual sign.
D.
Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the
shape, size, form or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals or devices.
Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or
traffic signs, signals, or devices. No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct
or interfere with traffic visibility.
Present uses of signs may be continued even though they do not conform
to the restrictions of this chapter. However, structural repairs or alterations
of such signs shall not during their life exceed 50% of their original value
at the time they become nonconforming unless a sign conforming to this chapter
results. Any nonconforming use that is abandoned for one year shall be discontinued
permanently.
Appeals from decisions of the Building Inspector under this chapter and applications for variances from the terms of this chapter may be made to the Board of Appeals as provided in Chapter 480, Zoning, of this Code.
A.
The City of Oconto Falls shall designate that the Building
Inspector enforce this chapter by means of zoning compliance permits, the
cost of which shall be established by the City of Oconto Falls.
B.
The Building Inspector shall not issue a permit for a
sign that is not allowed by this chapter. No sign shall be built, moved, or
altered, and no land use shall be substantially altered, until a zoning compliance
permit has been issued.
C.
Application for any zoning compliance permit shall be
accompanied by a map showing the location, size and shape of any proposed
signs.
