Lake Mills City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Signage
§ 660-114 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to indicate the requirements for signage for all properties within the jurisdiction of this chapter. This article regulates the location, type, size, and height of signage within the jurisdiction of this chapter. This article is designed to ensure the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Lake Mills, particularly in regard to the implementation of the desired overall character of the community, and its constituent zoning districts.
§ 660-116 General signage and iconic displays.
The regulations contained in this section apply to signs and iconic displays in all districts.
A.
Sign prohibitions and limitations.
(1)
No sign shall use any word, phrase, symbol, shape, form or character in such manner as to interfere with moving traffic, including signs that incorporate typical street-type and/or traffic-control-type signage designs and colors.
(2)
No fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs, pennants or other decorations shall be permitted, except for time and/or temperature signs, and decorative flag signs according to limitations in § 660-12, Definitions.
(3)
No illuminated flashing signs shall be permitted. Flashing signs are those that change their appearance more than once every 30 seconds, except for time and/or temperature signs.
(5)
No advertising signs, as defined in § 660-12, shall be permitted, except as provided within the right-of-way of Interstate 94, per applicable State of Wisconsin Statutes.
Rationale: The adoption of Subsection A(5), above, reflects a formal finding of fact on the part of the City of Lake Mills Plan Commission and City Council that the prohibition of advertising signage furthers two compelling government interests: (a) the general public interest of reducing visual clutter caused by advertising signage that the City has determined is a significant cause of unsafe traffic conditions; and (b) the public interest served by furthering the implementation of the purposes of this chapter and the City of Lake Mills Comprehensive Plan in terms of limiting the spread of strip commercial development — of which advertising signs are a primary contributor. Furthermore, the City of Lake Mills advocates that this regulation leaves ample and adequate alternative channels of commercial speech communication for the messages portrayable on such advertising signs - namely, distributed print media, broadcast media, and point-of-purchase display, and are narrowly defined so as to limit said prohibition to commercial speech on exterior signage. |
(6)
No inflatable signs shall be permitted.
B.
Sign location requirements.
(1)
No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, working, illumination, size, shape or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device.
(2)
No sign shall be located within a required buffer yard or within a permanently protected green space area.
(3)
No sign shall be mounted on a roof or extend above the roof, if attached to the building.
(4)
No sign, temporary or otherwise, shall be affixed to a tree or utility pole unless otherwise authorized by the Director of Public Works.
(5)
Permanent private signs shall not be allowed within road right-of-way lines.
(6)
Projecting signs located over a vehicle circulation or pedestrian walkway shall be prohibited, unless a conditional use permit therefor has been granted.[1] Such conditional use permit, in addition to whatever other conditions are imposed, shall comply with all other applicable ordinances in this chapter, and shall cause the sign permit to expire every two years unless the Zoning Administrator has inspected the sign and its supports for the safety of vehicles and/or pedestrians. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of the Zoning Administrator to inspect the sign or the findings of the Administrator upon inspection shall not give rise to a cause of action against the City, its employees, or its agents, unless such failure or such findings are the result of intentional actions by the Administrator.
(7)
Pylon signs are not permitted in any residential district or in the B2, PB, or B1 Districts.
C.
Iconic display requirements.
(1)
Iconic displays shall only be permitted in the B1 Downtown Business District.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(2)
A permit shall be required for an iconic display in accordance with the regulations outlined in § 660-189, Sign permits.
(3)
One iconic display shall be permitted on a building in addition to other wall signs permitted under this chapter.
(4)
Iconic displays shall not exceed 27 cubic feet in area.
(5)
No iconic display shall be backlit.
(6)
Iconic displays shall be mounted or attached to the facade similar to a projecting sign. No iconic display shall be mounted on a roof or extend above the ridgeline of the roof.
(7)
No iconic display shall be erected or maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, size, shape, or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device.
§ 660-117 Sign and iconic display measurement.
A.
Ground level. The average elevation of the ground upon which the sign supports are placed, except when the sign supports rest upon a berm or other area elevated above the surrounding ground. In such cases, the average elevation of the base of such berm or other area shall be considered as the ground level.
B.
Sign area shall be measured in square feet in the following manner:
(1)
In the case of a sign placed within a frame, marquee sign, or other structure, sign area consists of the entire surface area of the sign on which the message could be placed. The supporting structure or bracing of a sign shall not be counted as a part of the message. Where a sign has two or more display faces, the total area of the largest sign face shall be considered the sign face area.
(2)
In the case of a sign whose message is fabricated together with the background that borders or frames that message, sign face area shall be the total area of the entire background.
(3)
In the case of a sign whose message is applied to a background that provides no border or frame, sign face area shall be the area of the smallest rectangle that can encompass all words, letters, figures, emblems, and other elements of the sign message.
C.
An iconic display shall be measured in cubic feet in the following manner:
(1)
The area shall be computed by means of the smallest cube or box that will encompass the extreme limits of the representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the display.
(2)
The supporting structure or bracing of a sign shall not be counted as a part of the display.
§ 660-118 Signage in residential districts.
In all residential zoning districts, signage shall be permitted per the requirements of §§ 660-114, 660-189, 660-117 and 660-120, 660-124, 660-125, and per the following:
A.
Only wall and monument signs may be permitted in residential zoning districts. Other forms of signage are prohibited.
B.
For each single-family lot, or multifamily lot containing four or fewer dwelling units, one identification sign, not to exceed two square feet in area, is permitted for each dwelling unit. Said identification sign may include one or more of the following: name, address, and/or home occupation title.
C.
For each multifamily or institutional residential lot containing more than four dwelling units, one identification sign, not to exceed 16 square feet in area, is permitted. The sign shall indicate nothing more than the name and address of the premises and the name and phone number of the management company or the on-site name, address and phone number of the manager of the premises.
D.
Permanent subdivision identification signs are authorized, if approved as part of a subdivision plat. Detailed plans of proposed signs must be submitted at the time of subdivision review or may be approved subsequently through the granting of a conditional use permit. Such sign shall comply with visibility standards of this chapter.
E.
For any permitted principal use, other than those specified in Subsections B through D, above, one sign, not to exceed 16 square feet in area, is permitted. The sign shall indicate nothing more than the name and address of the premises and the schedule of services or other information relevant to the operation of the premises.
§ 660-119 Signage in nonresidential districts.
In all nonresidential zoning districts, signage shall be permitted per the requirements of §§ 660-114, 660-189, 660-117, 660-120 through 660-124, and per the following:
A.
The owners of multi-tenant properties will be allowed to allocate sign size to each business up to a specified maximum for the entire property. This would allow the owner to allocate much of the allowed sign area to one business and none to another business if he or she saw fit to do so. Notwithstanding the foregoing, one sign per tenant shall be permitted and, if the total sign area for the property would exceed the maximum area permitted; a conditional use permit may be granted for the additional sign area.
B.
The total surface area of all business signs on a lot shall not exceed the maximum permitted by Table 6.1 or using a combination of the following calculation methods:
(1)
For on-building signs (wall, canopy, projecting, or marquee) use the listed ratio of sign area in square feet to linear feet of exposed exterior building wall length on that wall of the building, except for walls directly abutting residentially zoned property. Permitted sign area may not be transferred from one wall to another or combined in any other manner. The number of permitted on-building signs (one per wall) may be transferred from one wall to another, but the total combined sign area of all signs on the receiving wall shall still be limited by its length ratio of said wall.
(2)
Freestanding signs (monument or pylon) are limited to a maximum of 50 square feet per street frontage. Permitted sign area may not be transferred from one street to another, or combined in any other manner. The requirements shown in Table 6.2 of this section shall also apply to freestanding signs.
C.
The number and area of business and group signs for a business use shall not exceed the number or area shown in Table 6.1.
D.
Only one freestanding sign shall be permitted to be erected on each public street frontage of a lot. Such sign may be either a business sign or a group sign. All signs shall be located so that no part of the sign shall project beyond the lot line or impede visibility. Where visibility is not a problem, the minimum required setbacks for freestanding signs vary by zoning district. Within the B2 Neighborhood Business District, the minimum required setback shall be 10 feet from the right-of-way line. Within the PB Planned Business District, and within the PI, I1, and I2 Industrial Districts, the minimum required setback shall be 12 feet. There shall be no permitted pylon signs in the B2, PB, and B1 Business Districts.
E.
Auxiliary signs may be permitted, provided said signage is calculated independently of the requirements of Subsection A above, and it shall not exceed 50% of the maximum permitted area.
F.
Maximum sign sizes for nonresidential districts shall be permitted per the requirements of Table 6.1: Maximum Sign Sizes, below.
G.
Temporary signs are permitted per the requirements of § 660-120.
Table 6.1. Table of Maximum Sign Areas and Sizes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Sign Area Ratio Calculation Methods | |||
Zoning District | On-Building Signs: Building Wall Length Ratio1,2,4 | Freestanding Signs: Public Street Frontage Ratio3 | Maximum Number Of Signs |
Business Zoning Districts B2, B1, and PB | Aggregate total of sign area on front facade shall be determined as follows: Facade Length/Max. Size (sq. ft.) <15 feet/32 16 to 20 feet/36 21 to 25 feet/40 26 to 30 feet/44 31 to 35 feet/48 36 to 40 feet/52 41 to 45 feet/56 46 to 60 feet/60 >60 feet/1 square feet per linear foot of facade Total sign area on side and back facades shall be permitted up to 1/2 the maximum sign area allowed per length of facade, as shown above for front facade | 1 sign up to 50 square feet, excepting B1 District | Building frontage wall: 1 on-building sign per fronting business or per group of businesses Side-street facing wall: 1 on-building sign per business facing the side street or per group of businesses Rear-facing wall viewable by pedestrian or vehicular traffic: 1 on building sign for all businesses in the building, except for on-premises directional signs 1 freestanding sign per public street frontage |
Industrial Zoning Districts PI, I1, and I2 | 1 square foot of sign area per 1 linear foot of exposed exterior wall length on that wall | 1 sign up to 50 square feet | Building frontage wall: 1 on-building sign per fronting business or per group of businesses. Side-street facing wall: 1 on-building sign per business facing the side street or per group of businesses. Rear-facing wall viewable by pedestrian or vehicular traffic: 1 on building sign for all businesses in the building, except for on-premises directional signs. 1 freestanding sign per each public street frontage |
NOTES: | |
|---|---|
1 | Applies to all buildings regardless of the number of businesses located within, except all tenants in a multi-tenant building shall be permitted a minimum of one sign, under provisions of § 660-119A. |
2 | Building wall length is defined as the length of the exposed exterior portion of the structure housing the principal use(s) at the foundation line. |
3 | Applies to all buildings regardless of the number of businesses located within, except all tenants in a multi-tenant building shall be permitted a minimum of one sign, under the provisions of § 660-119A. |
4 | Maximum sign area for on-building signs is the total combined permitted sign area for on-building signs on said measured wall(s). |
Table 6.2. Table of Freestanding Sign Standards1,2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum Height | Minimum Setbacks | |||
Zoning District | Monument Sign | Pylon Sign | Monument Sign | Pylon Sign |
B2, PB | 8 feet from ground level Maximum height may be increased by obtaining a conditional use permit, provided said sign is located on property in the PB Zoning District and within 40 feet of the CTH V right-of-way | 10 feet from right-of-way line | ||
I1, PI, and I2 | 8 feet from ground level | The height of a pylon sign at the lot line shall not exceed 25 feet from the elevation of the nearest point from the nearest street. | 12 feet from right-of-way line | 12 feet from right-of-way line |
NOTES: | |
|---|---|
1 | No freestanding signs are permitted in the B1 Downtown Business District |
2 | No pylon signs are permitted in the B2 and PB Districts. |
§ 660-120 Temporary signs.
Except as provided by Subsections A through E below, any one lot is permitted to display a temporary sign for a maximum of 30 days within any twelve-month period. Furthermore, any one lot is limited to a maximum of two temporary signs in any twelve-month period (political signs are exempt from this restriction).
A.
For each lot. One "For Sale" or "For Rent" sign, not more than 12 square feet in area is permitted.
B.
For construction on or development of a lot, one sign not more than 32 square feet in area, indicating the name of the contractors, engineers or architect, or products being used in the construction of a building is permitted, but only during the time that construction or development is actively underway.
C.
For a temporary event of public interest, such as a neighborhood garage sale or church fair, one sign, not over 32 square feet in area, located upon the site of the event, will be permitted. Such sign shall not be erected more than 30 days before the event and shall be removed immediately after the event.
D.
Temporary political signs do not require a permit and they are permitted in all zoning districts. Such signs are subject to the restrictions pertaining to safety of persons or property, as required under this chapter. Political signs may be placed on private property with the consent of the property owner or the person entitled to possession of the property. No political sign shall be larger than 16 square feet, and the total area of all political signs per lot shall not exceed 32 square feet. All such signs may be displayed 60 days before the election or vote to which they pertain, and they shall be removed within 10 days thereafter.
E.
For each real estate subdivision that has been approved in accordance with the subdivision regulations of Chapter 650, a minimum of two temporary development project identification signs are permitted to be located on some portion of the subject subdivision. Each such sign shall be not more than 32 square feet in area. One additional similar sign shall be permitted for each 100 lots in the subdivision in excess of said original 100 lots. These signs shall comply with the visibility standards of this chapter. These signs shall be permitted to remain within the subject subdivision until a time at which building permits have been issued for 80% or more of the lots in the subdivision.
§ 660-121 Sidewalk signs and movable sign boards.
A.
Sidewalk sign. A sidewalk sign may be permitted, through issuance of a sign permit, on sidewalks within the B1 District, provided such signs in compliance with the design standards set forth in the downtown design guidelines, the visibility standards contained in § 660-38 of this chapter, and in compliance with the following:
(1)
Each permitted sidewalk sign shall not exceed 2 1/2 feet in width or 30% of the sidewalk width, whichever is less, and shall not exceed four feet in height. There shall not be any lighting allowed on the sign. The sign itself shall be movable, shall not be attached in any way to the sidewalk, and shall not be chained or attached in any way to street furniture, other signs, street trees, other landscaping, or other fixtures or appurtenances on or in the sidewalk. Signs shall also not be placed on any section of the sidewalk in a way that narrows the effective width of the sidewalk for pedestrian movement to less than six feet.
(2)
Each sidewalk sign permitted under this section shall be maintained in good condition, shall be removed each day at the close of business, and be replaced or removed when the appearance of the sign deteriorates through damage, weathering, or other causes.
(3)
The property and business owners are jointly and severally liable for any and all injury to any person or property directly and/or indirectly caused by their joint or several negligence and/or activities occurring on the paved sidewalk under this article.
B.
Movable signage boards in business districts other than B1 Downtown District. Placement of movable signage boards to display daily specials (such as sandwich boards) shall be permitted according to the following:
(1)
Limited to one sign board per tenant/business with the total area of the sign, not exceeding seven square feet per business.
(2)
All signage boards shall be designed, printed and mounted on durable signage board.
(3)
Signage shall be limited to the advertisement and sales of merchandise or services directly associated with the business type.
(4)
Such signage shall be permitted to be displayed on pedestrian walkways located adjacent or nearly adjacent to the entrance of an establishment. The unobstructed sidewalk area must be at least six feet in width and comply with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements. Such signage shall not be placed in any drive or access area, nor placed within any landscape area. Such signage shall not be used as a replacement for directional signage.
(5)
Such signage shall be located a maximum of 10 feet from a public entrance to an establishment.
(6)
Such signage shall be brought inside at dusk or close of business day each day.
(7)
Such signage shall not block or impede pedestrian rights-of-way or walkways.
(8)
Such signage shall not be internally or externally directly illuminated.
§ 660-123 Signs applicable to properties abutting Interstate 94.
A.
On-premises, freestanding signs facing Interstate 94 are allowed, subject to the following standards:
(3)
Number. One freestanding sign shall be permitted for identification of a business park, retail center or education facility that has a minimum of 300 feet of direct frontage on the Interstate 94 right-of-way.
(4)
Size. A freestanding sign shall not exceed 100 square feet per sign face and 200 total square feet.
(6)
Appearance. The sign structure shall have architectural interest consistent with the materials and characteristics of the site's buildings and designed proportionate to the building as well as to the surrounding context of the site. The sign structure may have more than two sides; however, the sign face shall only be displayed on two sides of the structure.
(7)
Display of tenants. The face of the freestanding sign is limited to displaying two tenant panels.
B.
On-premises wall signs facing Interstate 94 are allowed, subject to the following standards:
(1)
Number. One wall sign per tenant facing Interstate 94 is permitted.
(3)
Size. The size of wall signage facing Interstate 94 shall comply with the regulations outlined in § 660-119, Table 6.1: Table of Maximum Sign Areas and Sizes.
(4)
Appearance.
(a)
All wall signs shall be channel letters.
(b)
All wall signs as part of one development site shall have a consistent backing or structural support frame, if one is proposed, or affixing mechanism.
(c)
All wall signs shall have architectural interest and colors consistent with the materials and characteristics of the buildings on the site.
§ 660-124 Construction and maintenance of signage.
A.
All signage within the jurisdiction of this chapter shall remain in a state of proper maintenance.
B.
Proper maintenance shall be the absence of loose materials, including peeling paint, paper or other materials; 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.
C.
The repainting, changing of parts, and preventive maintenance of signs, which completely conform to the requirements of this chapter and result in absolutely no change in the appearance of the sign from that originally approved, shall not be deemed alterations requiring a sign permit.
D.
The owner, lessee, or manager of a sign, and the owner of the land on which the same is located, shall keep grass or weeds and other growth cut and debris and rubbish cleaned up and removed from the lot on which the sign is located.
E.
Any signs that may be, or may hereafter become rotted, unsafe, or in a state that is not properly maintained shall be repaired or removed by the licensee or owner of the sign, or owner of the property upon which the sign stands upon notice of the Zoning Administrator.
F.
All signs shall be constructed and mounted so as to withstand a wind pressure of 30 pounds per square foot.
§ 660-125 Nonconforming signs.
A.
Nonconforming signs.
(1)
Signs existing as of the effective date of this chapter, which do not conform to the provisions of this chapter, shall be nonconforming signs and shall be subject to the provisions of Subsection B of this section. Nonconforming signs may be maintained. No nonconforming sign shall be altered or moved to a new location without being brought into compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(2)
Business signs on the premises of a nonconforming use or building may be continued per Subsection B of this section, but such signs shall not be allowed to expand in number, area, height, or illumination. New signs, not to exceed the maximum allowable aggregate sign area, may be erected only upon the complete removal of all other nonconforming signs existing at the time of adoption of this chapter.
(3)
Nonconforming signs shall be removed when the principal structure located on the premises undergoes a change of use, unless the signs are altered within their existing frames or other structure defining the size and shape of the signs, or shall be removed per Subsection B of this section. Closing businesses must remove their signs within 60 days of closing.
B.
Removal of nonconforming signs.
(1)
Alteration of signs.
(a)
For the purposes of this section, alteration of a sign is considered to be any change to the exterior appearance of any part of the sign's frame, supporting structure, or lighting including changing the material, height, or location of the sign.
(b)
Altering a sign does not include maintaining the existing appearance of the sign, or replacing the supporting structure with identical materials, or replacing the message of the sign, provided the size and shape of the sign within its existing frame does not change.
(2)
All signs found not to be in compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be removed within 30 days of receiving written notice of noncompliance and removal from the Zoning Administrator.
§ 660-126 Abandoned signs.
A.
Any sign that advertises or identifies any activity, business, product or service no longer conducted or available on the site on which the sign is located is prohibited. Abandoned signs must be removed by the owner of the sign or by the owner of the premises within 120 days of closing of the establishment to which the sign pertained, or within 120 days of cessation of the use to which the sign pertained.
B.
Any abandoned sign existing upon enactment of this article shall be removed within 120 days.