Signs are recognized as important means of communication and reasonable modes of advertising, and therefore constitute a significant and specific use of land. Standards for the construction of signs are herein provided for the purpose of protecting places and areas of historical and cultural importance; to increase safety and lessen congestion in the streets; to conserve the value of buildings and land; to preserve residential values; and to encourage the most appropriate use of land.

(1)

Classifications. The following sign construction types used in the schedule of sign regulations contained in table E hereof are defined in, and correspond to, the sign classifications in the building code of the city: billboard, business directory, business sign, construction sign, fascia sign, outdoor advertising sign, marquee sign, monument sign, portable sign, pylon sign, real estate sign, roof sign, banner sign, spectacular sign, and freestanding sign.

(2)

Definitions.

(a)

Sign structure: Any part of a sign, including the base, supporting columns, braces, display surface, or any other appendage thereto.

(b)

Required setback: The distance from the property line or right-of-way line of all streets adjacent to the premises on which a sign is located.

(c)

Lighting: As the term is used in table E hereof, the illumination of a sign face by a light source exterior to and not a part of such face; or a source of light not exposed to the eye, such as internal illumination.

(d)

Flashing sign: As the term is used in table E hereof, a sign or part thereof operated so as to create flashing; changes in light intensity, color or copy; or intermittent light impulses.

(e)

Motion: As the term is used in table E hereof, the moving or rotating of a sign or portion thereof, or the giving of the perception of motion.

(f)

Billboard, as used herein, is defined as any outdoor advertising sign on a freestanding framework and independent of a building which directs attention to a business, commodity, industry, or other activity which is sold, offered, or conducted elsewhere than on the premises upon which the sign is located, or to which it is affixed, or which is sold, offered, or conducted on such premises only incidentally, if at all. Further, the term shall include all structures of whatever material the same may be constructed, which are erected, maintained, and established for public display of posters, printed signs, pictures, or other pictorial or reading matter.

(g)

Business directory sign shall mean a sign which advises vehicular or pedestrian traffic of the presence of a strip center, mall, shopping center, or other project of more than two separate business establishments. Such directory signs shall advertise the project, [and] shall not be permitted as additional business signs.

(h)

Business sign shall mean any outdoor advertising sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment, industry, or other activity which is sold, offered, or conducted, other than incidentally, upon the premises upon which the sign is located, or to which it is affixed. Any building which is painted so that the building constitutes the background color of a logo, lettering, or graphic that is painted on, attached to, or projected upon the building shall be considered a part of the sign. In such cases, the area of the sign shall be computed as the entire area of the painted background of the building. A sign shall not be deemed a business sign if less than 25 percent of the area of the sign is devoted to such business, commodity, service, industry, or to other activity.

(i)

Construction sign shall mean a temporary sign that denotes contractor's or building owner's work or proposed work at a building site. Such sign shall be permitted only on a temporary basis.

(j)

Fascia sign shall mean a sign attached to the face or wall of a building.

(k)

Marquee sign shall mean an accessory sign attached flush or hung flush from a freestanding or pylon sign which does not exceed 25 percent of the area of the sign to which it is attached, and which serves only as identification for the development in which the primary sign is located.

(l)

Monument sign shall mean a sign constructed at ground level as part of a masonry wall or other structure.

(m)

Portable sign shall mean a display sign or other advertising device which is not permanently constructed in a single place, and which is intended for a limited period of display. Portable signs include trailer-mounted and moveable signs but shall exclude coin-operated newspaper vending machines and the like.

(n)

Pylon sign shall mean a freestanding structure which contains two or more separate business signs for entities within a single project.

(o)

Real estate sign shall mean any outdoor advertising sign which is for the purpose of selling or leasing vacant lands or buildings on the property on which the sign is located.

(p)

Temporary banner sign shall mean a fabric banner which shall not exceed 32 square feet in total area which is designed to be temporarily attached to poles or buildings for the purpose of advertising events of a public nature such as holidays, special events, and the like, and which are approved as a special permit in accordance with this ordinance.

No sign shall be erected, placed, displayed, or located except in accordance with the schedule of sign regulations contained in table E hereof.

(1)

The standards and regulations prescribed in this section shall apply to those signs classified and defined in the building code of the city.

(2)

The provisions of this section shall be applicable to the location, size, and placement of signs and shall otherwise be supplementary to the building code of the city. No provisions specified herein shall be construed to amend or nullify any provision of the building code. Where the standards herein are more restrictive than the building code they shall govern; where the standards of the building code are more restrictive, they shall govern.

(3)

Signs shall be permitted for all legally existing nonconforming uses of land or buildings, and if such signs are not in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall be deemed a nonconforming use coextensive with the nonconforming use of the land or building on the same premises: provided, that any nonconforming sign which constitutes a principal use of the property on which it is situated shall be subject to the provisions of section 11 of this ordinance.

(4)

A sign in direct line of vision of any signal light, traffic light, traffic control sign or other such device from any point in a moving traffic lane within 50 feet of an approach to such traffic control shall not be permitted.

(5)

No revolving beam or beacon of light resembling any emergency vehicle light shall be permitted as part of a sign display in any zoning district, nor shall any sign be located so as to obstruct the vision or sight distance of motor vehicle operators or pedestrians at any street intersection, street crossing, or other point of traffic concentration. Beacons along the waterfront or as part of boating facilities shall be permitted when such beacons conform to and are licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as navigation aids only.

(6)

No high intensity light shall be permitted as part of a sign display visible from an adjacent street in any zoning district; and in this regard, no reflectorized light shall be permitted which shall exceed the intensity of a 25-watt frosted-face bulb, except general informational type signs such as church message signs, time and temperature signs, and similar signs approved by the building official.

(7)

Anchoring of portable signs. Portable signs shall be anchored to prevent movement caused by winds, rain, or manual effort by an individual by one of the following:

(a)

Structurally attached to a permanent anchor device; or

(b)

Chaining to a permanent anchor device so long as the chain does not exceed two feet in length between attachment points; and the links in the chain are of sufficient strength to withstand ten times the deadweight load of the portable sign.

(1)

The area of a sign shall be computed by drawing a line or lines around the sign in such a way as to form not more than four regular geometric figures such as a rectangle, circle, triangle, trapezoid, or ellipse. The total of these figures shall be the total area of the sign.

(2)

The maximum sign area in square feet as prescribed in table E shall apply to only one face. If the sign has more than one face, the maximum area of all faces shall be the area prescribed in table E multiplied by the number of faces.

(3)

The height of a sign shall be measured from the base to the top of the sign structure.

(1)

The maximum sign heights prescribed in table E shall apply only to ground and pole and portable signs; provided, that in no event shall a sign of any classification be permitted to exceed the maximum height prescribed for buildings or other structures within a zoning district in which the sign is located, unless authorized under the provisions hereof.

(2)

All ground signs shall be limited to one sign, per use, per street frontage.

In order that the city may develop in accordance with the intent and purpose of this ordinance, and in order that substantial justice may be done, signs may be erected which exceed the height and area limitations contained in table E after approval of the same as a special permit in compliance with the terms and provisions of section 12 hereof having due regard for the topography of the premises, the elevation of adjacent roadways, and the height of buildings and other structures in the vicinity.

All nonconforming signs shall be registered by the owner within 90 days of the effective date of this ordinance with the building official, and a permit (nonconforming) shall be obtained.

TABLE E. SCHEDULE OF SIGN REGULATIONS

Legend:

Notes to table E:

(1)

All signs shall require a permit from the city building department.

(2)

Political campaign signs shall not be posted prior to 60 days before an election and shall be registered with the building official. A deposit in the amount of $200.00 to ensure their prompt removal within ten days after the election shall be deposited with the building official. If signs are not removed within 30 days the bond shall be confiscated. In no case may political signs be erected on public rights-of-way, public buildings, or in any place which shall constitute a threat to safety of pedestrians or motorists.