Lawerence Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Sign Regulations
§ 300-144 Purpose.
A.
The purpose of this article is to promote and protect the public safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare by the orderly placement and erection of signs and billboards in the Town of Lawrence, Brown County, Wisconsin.
B.
The following regulations shall apply to all signs hereinafter erected or established within the Town of Lawrence, Brown County, Wisconsin.
§ 300-145 Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product, or activity conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is displayed or when a rental or compensation is no longer provided.
A sign with action or motion or color changes, requiring electrical energy, electronic or manufactured sources of supply, but not including wind-actuated elements, such as flags, banners or specialty items. This definition does not include public service signs, such as time and temperature, or revolving or changeable message signs.
Any projection which is not intended for occupancy and which extends beyond the face of an exterior wall of a building, but shall not include signs.
The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter, composed of squares or rectangles, which encloses the extreme limits of advertising message, announcement or decoration of a wall sign.
The cumulative area of the faces of the sign within a perimeter which forms the outside shape, but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas will be totaled. Any irregular-shaped sign area shall be computed using the actual sign face surface.[1]
The entire background area of a sign upon which copy could be placed. In computing area of sign background, only that face or faces which can be seen from any one direction at one time shall be counted.
See "off-premises sign" or "poster panel."
That portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves and the entire width of the building elevation.
A resurfacing of an existing facade with approved material, illuminated or nonilluminated.
Any sign which promotes the name and type of business only on the premises where it is located.
Any sign attached to or constructed in, on or under a canopy or marquee. For the purpose of this article, canopy signs shall be controlled by the rules governing projecting signs.
A sign, such as a manual, electronic or electric controlled time and temperature sign, message center or reader board, whether electronic, electric or manual, where copy changes. Any sign may be, or include as part of it, a changeable message sign.
On-premises incidental signs designed to guide or direct pedestrians or vehicular traffic.
A sign with copy on two parallel faces that are back to back, facing in opposite directions.
The period beginning on the first day for circulation of nomination papers by candidates and ending on the day of the election.
A sign with an under clearance of greater than two feet, supported permanently upon the ground by one or more supports and not attached to any building.
The elevation or level of the street closest to the sign to which reference is made, measured at the street's center line.
The area of a sign determined by using the outside perimeter dimensions of the sign. If the sign consists of more than one section, their area will be totaled. If the modules are formed in the shape of letters or symbols, the rules for area or copy apply.
A freestanding sign with an under clearance of two feet or less, supported permanently upon the ground by one or more supports and not attached to any building. Ground/monument signs shall be measured from the average height of grade.
The vertical distance measured from the grade at the street right-of-way line where the sign is located to the highest point of such sign.
A corridor parallel to U.S. Highway 41 established for the purposes of allowing additional signage in Business/Commercial and Industrial Districts. This corridor shall be 500 feet wide, measured from the highway right-of-way, but shall never exceed 1,000 feet from the center line of the right-of-way.
A sign in which a source of light is used in order to make the message readable. This definition shall include internally and externally lighted signs.
A nonconforming sign that did meet code regulations when it was originally installed.
A permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by the building and projecting over public property.
Any sign attached to or constructed in a marquee.
A sign which advertises other than the name of the business and the principal product or service.
A sign that does not meet code regulations.
A sign which advertises goods, products, facilities or services not necessary on the premises where the sign is located or directs persons to a different location from where the sign is located.
Any sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, goods, products or services located on a premises where the sign is installed and maintained.
A structure or framework attached to a building or the ground for the purpose of posting advertising bills, posters, and painted signs.
A sign, normally double-faced, which is attached to and projects from a structure or building facia.
A sign which revolves 360° but does not exceed eight rotations per minute.
A sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet wall of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by said building.
Two adjacent properties may share a freestanding sign located on one of the two properties. This type of sign is a shared use sign. The intent of permitting shared use signs is to reduce the overall number of signs by allowing two properties to share one sign. These signs are permitted with a conditional use permit.
Any emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard, design, identification, description, illustration or device, illuminated or nonilluminated, to advertise, identify, convey information, or direct attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise. For the purpose of removal, "sign" shall also include all sign structures.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment not exclusively related to the premises where such sign is located or to which it is affixed.[2]
Any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign, as devised in this Code. A sign structure may be a single pole or may or may not be an integral part of the building.
A sign installed on an arm or mast or spar that is not permanently fastened to an adjacent wall or upright pole.
A sign which is intended to advertise community or civic projects, construction projects, real estate for sale or lease or other special events on a temporary basis.
A lighted or unlighted display attached to the underside of a marquee protruding over public or private sidewalks or right-of-way.
The vision corner is formed by measuring 40 feet along each property line from the corner where the two street sides of the property meet. Connecting these two lines with a diagonal line completes the triangle and forms the vision corner.
A sign which is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure and which projects not more than 18 inches from the building or structure wall and which does not extend above the parapet, eaves or building facade of the building on which it is located or a sign which is painted on an exterior wall.
A sign installed on a window or affixed to or visible through an exterior window of an enclosed building for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises.
When a zoning lot has more than 200 linear feet of frontage on one or more public streets, the aggregate total of signage on the lot may be increased by 1/2 square foot for each linear foot of frontage over 200 linear feet using the longest accessible street side adjacent to the lot as the basis. A zoning lot frontage credit may never exceed 500 square feet. See zoning districts and § 300-150, Exceptions to specific zoning district requirements, for specifics. (Note: In computing the linear footage of frontage on the longest accessible street side, only frontage along the developed portion of the lot may be considered.)[3]
The land use district as established by the Town of Lawrence.
§ 300-146 General requirements.
A.
Scope. This section shall apply to all billboards, boards, fences or structures of any kind used for advertisement purposes, or upon which any advertisement is shown, painted or displayed, in the Town of Lawrence.
B.
Animated signs. No animated signs shall be erected or maintained in any residential land use district. No animated signs shall be erected or maintained closer than 1,000 feet to any property in a residential zoning district on which there exist structures used for residential purposes.[1]
C.
Canopy signs. Copy area of a building facade facing shall comply with Subsection Q, Wall signs, and shall not exceed 40% of the background facing to which it is applied.
D.
Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets the regulations of this chapter and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
E.
Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces.
F.
Illumination. All electrical signs shall conform to the requirements of the Town Electrical Code. Signs shall be illuminated so light is directed entirely on the sign, so as not to reflect direct rays of light into adjacent residential districts or into the public way. Up-lighting is prohibited on all signage.
G.
Location.
(1)
All ground/monument signs (on premises) shall be located no less than 200 feet from any residential zoning district.
(2)
Any billboard (off premises) shall be located no less than 500 feet from any residential zoning district.
(3)
Any billboard shall be located not less than 4,000 feet from another billboard measuring from either side of a road or highway.
H.
Maintenance of signs. All signs and sign structures shall be properly maintained and kept in a neat and proper state of repair and appearance.
I.
Marquee signs. Marquee signs may be placed on, attached to, or constructed in a marquee. A marquee sign shall comply with Subsection E and shall not exceed 40% of the background facing to which it is applied.
J.
Maximum area of signs. The maximum area of signs shall be the accumulation of the area of all signs located on a parcel of record. The maximum area of signs may differ according to the zoning classification of a lot.
K.
Neon tubing and similar type strip lighting. There shall be no exposed neon tubing or similar type strip lighting used on signage unless it is shielded from direct view.
L.
Prohibited signs in all zoning districts. Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts. No sign requiring a permit may be attached to any fence.
M.
Removal of obsolete, nonmaintained, or abandoned signs. All signs, including those painted on a building, which no longer serve the purpose for which they were intended, or are not maintained, or which have been abandoned, shall be removed by the business or property owner within 90 days after the receipt of removal notice, or, upon failure of such removal, the Town shall remove such signs at the expense of the owner or lessee of the premises.
N.
Setbacks.
(1)
Freestanding and ground/monument signs shall be located within the property lines and shall be set back from the street right-of-way a distance at least equal to or greater than the height of the sign. No portion of the sign may project into or over the street right-of-way.
(2)
Any freestanding sign shall not exceed 30 feet in height.
(3)
Any ground/monument sign shall not exceed 10 feet in height.
(4)
Any freestanding, ground/monument, or projecting sign located within 40 feet of an intersection or 15 feet of a driveway, measured from the point of intersection with a right-of-way, shall maintain a minimum of eight feet between the bottom of the sign and the grade where the sign is located or shall be more than three feet in height.
(5)
A vision corner must be maintained at all times.
O.
Stability. All signs requiring a permit shall be designed, constructed and maintained to withstand a minimum load of 30 pounds per square foot of sign area and will otherwise structurally be safe and shall be securely anchored or otherwise fastened, suspended or supported so that they will not be a menace to persons or property. No sign shall be suspended by chains or other devices that will allow the sign to swing, due to wind action. The use of cables or wires is prohibited.
P.
Trailer or mobile mounted signs.
(1)
Trailer or mobile signs mounted on a vehicle are permitted for a total of four weeks per year.
(2)
Each permit is to be issued to a single parcel or identifiable shopping center and not each business therein. There shall be at least 15 days between such permits.
(3)
Such sign may be located in the front yard setback area if it is not within 40 feet of an intersecting street or 15 feet of a driveway to preserve the vision corner.
Q.
Wall signs. Background area of wall signs shall not exceed 10% of the building facade or four square feet per linear foot of the elevation upon which they are placed, whichever is greater.
§ 300-147 Permit required.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, allow an illegal sign to remain, or structurally modify a sign or cause the same to be done in the Town of Lawrence without first obtaining approval from the Town of Lawrence Planning and Zoning Board and obtaining a permit for each sign from the Building Inspector, as required by this article. Permits shall not be required for a change of copy on any sign, nor for the repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of the sign and sign structure.[1]
B.
Application for a permit. Application for a permit shall be filed with the Building Inspector upon forms provided by the Building Inspector. The applicant shall provide all information required on the application for the permit.
C.
Permit fees. Permit fees shall be filed with the permit application for each sign in accordance with the Town Fee Schedule authorized by the Town of Lawrence Town Board.
D.
Any sign erected without a permit shall be removed at the owner's expense.
E.
A sign permit issued by the Town of Lawrence Building Inspector shall become null and void if manufacturing of the sign is not commenced within one year from the date of permit issuance.
§ 300-148 Signs not requiring a permit.
A.
Construction signs. Two construction signs per construction site, not exceeding 100 square feet in area each, shall be confined to the site of construction and shall be removed 30 days after completion of construction or prior to occupancy, whichever is sooner.
B.
Directional and instructional nonelectric signs. Directional and instructional nonelectric signs which provide instruction or direction and are located entirely on a property to which they pertain and do not exceed eight square feet each in area and do not in any way advertise a business. This includes, but is not limited to, such signs as those identifying rest rooms, telephone, parking areas, entrances and exits.
C.
Emblems, nonilluminated. Nonilluminated emblems or insignia of any nation or political subdivision or profit or nonprofit organization.
D.
Government signs. Government signs for control of traffic and other regulatory purposes, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, and signs of public utilities indicating danger, and aids to service or safety which are erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of his/her public duty.
E.
House numbers and nameplates. House numbers and nameplates not exceeding two square feet in area for each residential, commercial or industrial building.
F.
Interior signs. Signs located within the interior of any building or structure which are not visible from the public right-a-way. This does not, however, exempt such signs from the structural, electrical or material specifications of this article.
G.
Memorial signs and plaques. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, which are cut into masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of a building or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
H.
No trespassing or no dumping signs. No trespassing and no dumping signs not to exceed 1.5 square feet in area per sign.
I.
Public facility signs. Public parks and facilities (i.e., town hall, fire/police station, schools, etc.). The location, size, materials, and design of such signs are subject to Town Board approval.
J.
Public notices/official signs. Official notices posted by public officers or employers in the performance of their duties. Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction information and notices.
K.
Public signs. Signs required as specifically authorized for a public purpose by any law, statute or ordinance.
L.
Political and campaign signs. Political and campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measures on election ballots, provided that said signs are subject to the following regulations:
(1)
Said signs shall not be erected for more than the election campaign period as defined by § 12.04, Wis. Stats.
(2)
Each sign, except billboards, which require permits, shall not exceed 32 square feet in nonresidential zoning districts and 16 square feet in residential zoning districts.
(3)
No sign shall be located within 15 feet of the public right-of-way at a street intersection nor over the right-of-way.
M.
Real estate signs. One real estate sales sign on any lot or parcel, provided that such sign is located within the property to which the sign applies and is not directly illuminated.
(1)
In residential districts, such signs shall not exceed eight square feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after the sale, rental, or lease has been accomplished.
(2)
In all other districts, such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall be removed within 30 days after the sale, rental, or lease has been accomplished.
(3)
On through lots (a lot fronting on two parallel streets) in all districts one additional real estate sign is permitted along the second street.
N.
Temporary window signs. In business, commercial and industrial districts, the inside surface of any ground floor window may be used for attachment of temporary signs. The total area of such signs, however, shall not exceed 50% of the total window area, and such signs shall not be placed on door windows or other windows needed to be clear for pedestrians.
O.
On-premises symbols or insignia. Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historic agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historic agencies.
P.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs pertaining to drives or events of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations, provided that such signs are posted not more than 30 days before said event and removed within seven days after the event. Signs may be a maximum of 32 square feet when used on a collector street or highway and a maximum of eight square feet in all other areas.
(2)
Temporary signs used to advertise rummage/yard sales, provided that the signs are no larger than eight square feet in area. These signs may be erected no more than two days before the sale and must be taken down no later than the day after the sale.
Q.
Vehicular signs. Truck, bus, trailer or other vehicle, while operating in the normal course of business, which is not primarily the display of signs.
§ 300-149 Specific zoning district requirements.
A.
All residential districts and agricultural districts. All signs are prohibited in the residential districts and agricultural districts, except for the following nonflashing, nonilluminated, permanent signs under conditions specified:
(1)
Real estate signs. Real estate signs which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are temporarily located. No sign shall exceed eight square feet in area. Corner lots shall be permitted two such signs, one facing each street. All signs shall be confined to the immediate property being advertised or displayed.
(2)
Nameplate signs. Nameplate signs, not to exceed two square feet, located on the premises. Corner lots shall be permitted two such signs, one facing each street.
(3)
In Multifamily Residential (R-3) and Planned Development (PD) Districts the following signs may be permitted:
(a)
One on-premises landscaped ground/monument sign, no more than 10 feet high, maximum 25 square feet per side, 50 square feet total of all sides combined, shall be permitted with copy limited to name, logo, and office or rental information phone number.
(b)
One wall sign, maximum of eight square feet, which may list amenities.
(4)
Subdivision identification signs. In Planned Development (PD) and R-1, R-2, and R-3 Residential Districts one subdivision identification sign may be permitted to identify subdivision developments of five or more lots and the subsequent subdivision additions. The sign must be a landscaped ground/monument sign no more than 10 feet high, maximum of 40 square feet per side. Copy is limited to the name of the subdivision and logo.
(5)
Bulletin boards. Bulletin boards or similar devices for churches and religious institutions shall not exceed 32 square feet in area located on the premises. Height of said sign shall not exceed 10 feet.
(6)
Memorial signs. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection, which are cut into masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of a building or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material not more than four square feet in area.
(7)
Public notices/official signs. Official notices posted by public officers or employers in the performance of their duties. Official signs, such as traffic control, parking restriction information and notices.
(8)
Agricultural signs. Agricultural signs pertaining to the products of the agricultural premises not to exceed 32 square feet in area total of all sides combined. Height of this restrictive sign shall not exceed 10 feet from grade level. Two such signs shall be permitted per farm.
(9)
All sign placement shall be on the privately owned property and shall not project beyond the property line onto the right-of-way.
B.
All business and industrial districts. In the business and industrial districts, signs and advertising devices are permitted with approval from the Town of Lawrence Planning and Zoning Board and subject to the following conditions:
(1)
Area. The gross area in square feet of all signs on a specific zoned lot shall not exceed 400 square feet. (Provisions may apply in § 300-150 of this chapter.)
(2)
Content. Signs shall bear thereon no lettering other than to indicate the name and kind of business conducted in the building or structure, such as "Men's Clothing," "Jeweler" and the like, and the year the business was established, and the street number thereof. Signs may advertise articles of merchandise sold on the premises and may include changeable message areas. The area of a changeable message sign is limited to 33% of the side of the sign on which it is applied.
(3)
Number of signs. The number of signs shall not exceed two on any one premises.
(4)
Ground/monument or freestanding signs. Either one ground/monument or one freestanding sign shall be allowed per zoning parcel. Such ground/monument or freestanding sign shall advertise only the name and location of such shopping center or individual use and the name and type of business of each occupant of the center. Exception: In the case of a lot fronting on two public streets, such business shall be entitled to a second ground/monument or freestanding sign; however such second sign may be located no closer than 200 feet to the first sign.
(5)
Height. Freestanding signs shall not exceed a height of 30 feet; ground/monument signs shall not exceed a height of 10 feet above the average ground level.
(6)
Illuminated signs. Illuminated signs shall be illuminated so light is directed entirely on the sign, so as not to reflect direct rays of light into adjacent residential districts or into the public way.
(7)
Maximum size. Ground/monument signs shall meet all yard requirements for the district and shall not exceed 300 square feet in area or 20% of the building size, whichever is most restrictive, on all sides combined for any one premises. Freestanding signs shall meet all yard requirements for the district and shall not exceed 400 square feet in area or 20% of the building size, whichever is most restrictive, on all sides combined for any one premises. Exception: Lots with more than 200 feet of zoning lot frontage qualify for an additional 1/2 square foot of signage for each foot of zoning lot frontage over 200 feet. This additional square footage may be used to create a second ground/monument or freestanding sign; however, such second sign may be located no closer than 200 feet to the first sign. If so desired, the size of the first sign may be reduced in order to shift square footage to the second sign. Such second sign shall be limited in size in accordance with § 300-150A(3).
(8)
Mounting. All signs shall be mounted in one of the following manners:
(a)
Flat against a building or wall;
(b)
Back to back in pairs so that the back of the sign will be screened from public view;
(c)
In clusters in an arrangement which will screen the back of the signs from public view; or
(d)
Otherwise mounted so that the backs of all signs or sign structures showing to public view shall be painted and maintained a neutral color or a color that blends with surrounding environment.
(9)
On-premises signs. All signs advertising or displaying industrial/business places shall be constructed on said business premises only. Business signs constructed off the premises shall be permitted only upon written approval by the Town of Lawrence Town Board.
(10)
Projection. In those districts where limitations are imposed by this article on the projection of signs from the face of the wall of any building or structure, such limitations shall not apply to identification canopy or marquee signs indicating only the name of the building or the name of the principal occupant of the building or the principal product available therein, provided that any identification sign located on a marquee or canopy shall be affixed first to the vertical face thereof.
(11)
Safety standards. All outdoor advertising structures, post signs, accessory signs, or advertising statuary which is declared to be a traffic hazard by the Building Inspector shall be relocated or rearranged in accordance with safety standards. A sign in direct line of vision of any traffic signal, from any point in the traffic lane, shall not resemble traffic signals. No sign shall be closer than 40 feet to the intersection of the right-of-way lines of any intersection road. Any sign located in the direct line of vision of any traffic control signal shall not have flashing intermittent red, green, or amber illumination.
(12)
Setbacks. Signs shall meet all yard requirements of the zoning district, except those instances as set forth in § 300-146N of this article. No sign shall be permitted within 200 feet of an adjacent residence.
(13)
Temporary flashing signs. No permanent flashing signs allowed. A temporary flashing sign shall be allowed not more than 15 days with the approval of the Town of Lawrence Town Board.
(14)
Wall signs. In a single-tenanted building, a business may have one or more wall signs and the total square feet of these signs may not exceed 10% of the surface area of the front face of the building, an average of four square feet per linear foot of the elevation upon which they are placed, 50 square feet, nor be greater than 40% of the background area on which applied (i.e., projection or area architecturally separated or standing alone as its own segment or feature), whichever is less. Such signs may be located on any wall face of the building but shall not extend more than six inches outside of the building wall surface. Exceptions:
(a)
In the case of a lot fronting on two public streets, such business shall be entitled to additional wall signage equal to 10% of the surface area of the side of the building fronting on that street; however, the aggregate signage on any one wall of the building may not exceed 10% of its total surface area.
(b)
If a lot does not front on two streets and has more than 200 feet of zoning frontage, the lot is entitled to receive an additional 1/2 square foot of signage for each foot of zoning lot frontage over 200 feet as per the zoning lot frontage credit.
(15)
Window signs. Permanent window signs shall be placed only on the inside of business buildings and shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed and shall not be placed on windows needed to be clear for pedestrians.
§ 300-150 Exceptions to specific zoning district requirements.
Within business and industrial districts, for shopping centers, or where more than one business is located on a zoning lot in separate primary structures, each business shall be allowed a wall or building facade identity sign not to exceed the area requirements set forth in § 300-146 of this article. For shopping centers, only one wall or building facade sign is permitted for each tenant space. The requirements set forth in § 300-146C, D, I and Q shall be enforced for each individual business and not for the zoning parcel in its entirety. The building frontage of the individual tenant space shall be used to determine the square footage of a wall sign for that tenant space. Sign area shall not be shifted from one tenant to another.
A.
In a highway corridor, parcels zoned B-1 Business/Commercial or LI Industrial may take the following exceptions:
(1)
Front foot increase. Allow an increase of signage of 1/2 square foot per front foot of zoning starting after the first 200 linear feet of zoning lot frontage; however, under no circumstance shall the increase in signage be greater than 500 square feet.
(2)
Height. Freestanding signs shall not exceed a height of 50 feet; ground/monument signs shall not exceed a height of 10 feet above the average ground level. Note: Freestanding signs permitted in the highway corridor over 30 feet high may not be located closer than 200 feet to a residentially zoned property and may not be located outside the highway corridor.
(3)
Second sign. One additional freestanding sign or one ground/monument sign may also be installed, either of which shall be no larger than 120 square feet per side, 240 square feet total of all sides combined. If a second freestanding sign is used it may not exceed 30 feet in height. If a ground/monument sign is used it may not exceed 10 feet in height. If this is a corner lot, this subsection does not provide for a third sign.
(4)
Wall signs. A maximum of 700 square feet of wall sign shall be permitted in a highway corridor, not to exceed 10% of the wall area fronting the street. Wall signs may be located on any wall face. Exception: The maximum area of wall signs may be increased to 900 square feet, utilizing the additional signage gained from the zoning lot frontage increase of 1/2 square foot per foot of frontage over 200 linear feet.
§ 300-151 Off-premises poster panel/billboard and painted bulletin signs.
A.
General. All off-premises poster panel/billboard and painted bulletin signs are prohibited in the Town of Lawrence, regardless of the nature, size and location, except as provided herein.
B.
Off-premises poster panel/billboard and painted bulletin signs shall only be allowed in the highway corridor and only after obtaining a conditional use permit and meeting the sign requirements as set forth in this article.
C.
In issuing permits for off-premises poster panel/billboard and painted bulletin signs in the Town of Lawrence, the Town Building Inspector shall see that the following restrictions are complied with:
(1)
Height. Off-premises (billboard) signs shall not exceed a height of 50 feet.
(2)
Illumination. All off-premises/billboard signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights or those of red, green or amber color at intersections are prohibited. Illuminated signs shall be illuminated so light is directed entirely on the sign, so as not to reflect direct rays of light into adjacent residential districts or into the public way.
(3)
Location. Any off-premises/billboard signs shall be located no less than 500 feet from any residential zoning district. Any off-premises/billboard signs shall be located not less than 4,000 feet from another off-premises/billboard measuring from either side of a road or highway. Note: No off-premises/billboard sign shall in any manner project over the right-of-way of any highway or roadway in the Town.
(4)
Number of off-premises/billboard signs. No more than one off-premises sign per zoning lot, subject to spacing requirements, or one painted bulletin is permitted on the same zoning lot.
(5)
Setbacks. Any off-premises/billboard signs located within 40 feet of an intersection or 15 feet of a driveway, measured from the point of intersection with a right-of-way, shall maintain a minimum of eight feet between the bottom of the sign and the grade where the sign is located. Note: No off-premises/billboard signs may be located within the front yard or corner side yard setback of any zoning district.
(6)
Stability. Any off-premises/billboard signs shall be erected on no more than two uprights and shall be designed, constructed and maintained to withstand a minimum load of 30 pounds per square foot of sign area and will otherwise structurally be safe and shall be securely anchored or otherwise fastened, suspended or supported so that they will not be a menace to persons or property.
§ 300-152 Alteration or relocation.
No sign in the Town of Lawrence shall hereafter be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated, except in conformity with the provisions of this article. The changing of movable parts of signs that are designed to be changed or the repainting of display matter in conformity herewith shall not be deemed to be alterations within the meaning of this article.
§ 300-153 Nonconforming signs.
A.
Notification of nonconformity. The Building Inspector or Zoning Administrator shall survey the Town for signs which do not conform to the requirements of this article. Upon determination that a sign is a nonconforming sign, the Building Inspector/Zoning Administrator shall use reasonable efforts to notify, either personally or in writing, the user or owner of the property on which the sign is located.
B.
Nonconforming signs. Any sign located within the Town on the date of adoption of this article which does not conform to these provisions is eligible for characterization as a nonconforming sign and is permitted, provided that it also meets the following requirements:
(1)
The sign was covered by a sign permit, or a permit was issued prior to the date of adoption of this article if one was required.
(2)
If no sign permit was required for the sign in question and the sign was in all respects in compliance with applicable law on the date of construction or installation.
C.
Continuation of nonconforming status. A nonconforming sign shall maintain its nonconforming designation provided that:
(1)
No structural modification of a nonconforming sign is permitted, except where such modification will result in having the effect of bringing such sign more in compliance with the requirements of this article, except for changing of copy and normal maintenance.
(2)
The sign is not relocated.
(3)
The sign is not replaced.
(4)
The total structural repairs or alterations to such a nonconforming sign shall not during its life exceed 50% of the assessed value of said sign existing at the time it became nonconforming.
D.
Loss of nonconforming status. Any changes, except as provided in this article, shall result in the loss of nonconforming status.
§ 300-154 Abandoned signs; deteriorated or dilapidated signs.
A.
All signs or sign messages shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business which it advertises is no longer conducted or when rental or compensation is no longer provided if said sign is of the off-premises type. If the owner or lessee fails to remove it, the Town Building Inspector shall give the owner 60 days' written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with this notice, the Building Inspector, or his/her duly authorized representative, may remove the sign at cost to the sign owner.
B.
The Building Inspector shall cause to be removed any deteriorated or dilapidated signs under the provision of § 66.0413, Wis. Stats.
§ 300-155 Administration and enforcement.
The administration and enforcement of this article shall be the responsibility of the Town of Lawrence Building Inspector or a designee by the Town Board.