I.

Purpose and findings. The town council has considered the aesthetic and safety reasons for limiting signage within the Town of Thunderbolt. The council has determined that signs can detract from the aesthetic beauty of the town which is located in the scenic Georgia coastal and wetland setting. Further, unregulated sign proliferation may contribute to a lowering of commercial and residential property values. Lastly, signs can be detrimental to the safety of motorists in the town which has a substantial road way, Victory Drive, passing through it. It has been found by the council by limiting the number, type, location, and dimension of signs in accordance with the following regulations will serve these substantial governmental and community interests.

In furtherance of the above stated goals the Town of Thunderbolt affirms the goals of the C.U.T.S. Transportation Amenities Program that was adopted by the City of Savannah and Chatham County and was also adopted by the Town of Thunderbolt on September 10, 2003 and notes that one of the goals of the C.U.T.S. Transportation Amenities Program is to protect and preserve canopy and palm lined historic roads. In such regard the Town of Thunderbolt hereby names Victory Drive within the jurisdiction of the Town of Thunderbolt as an amenities corridor.

The council is well aware that signs are an important means by which the town's residents, organizations, institutions, and businesses convey constitutionally protected commercial and noncommercial messages. The following regulations provide an appropriate balance between the right to communicate via signs and the protection of the community interests stated above.

The council recognizes that it is rarely proper for the government to determine the content of speech that will be allowed on signs. As such, it is the intent of the council that except as specified by the state's statutes, rules and regulations signs will be approved or disapproved entirely without regard to the content to be posted on all signs.

II.

Definitions specific to this article XIII.

Administrator means the town administrator or clerk or the authorized designee of the town administrator or clerk.

Major roads means Victory Drive from the western town limit line to Whatley Avenue is hereby defined as a major road for purposes of this ordinance. The governing body may declare other thoroughfares to be major roads in the future.

III.

Signs requiring permit. All signs not exempted by section V of this ordinance require a permit.

IV.

Signs prohibited. The following signs are prohibited:

A.

Billboards, except in accordance with section IX of this ordinance.

B.

Signs on the public right-of-way, to include medians, sidewalks, curbs, and all other public land except in accordance with section V(B) below;

C.

Any sign larger than nine square feet on property that is currently vacant or in use for residential or agricultural purposes; any such sign shall not have a height of greater than five feet above the grade level of the adjacent street to which the parcel on which the sign is located;

D.

Any sign, the erection of which would increase the total aggregate area of all sign faces on property that is currently vacant or in use for residential or agricultural purposes to more than 20 square feet;

E.

Any sign larger than 60 square feet on a property that is currently primarily used for commercial or industrial purposes, except in accordance with sections IX and XIV of this ordinance;

F.

Any sign, the erection of which would increase the total aggregate area of all sign faces on a property that is currently primarily used for commercial or industrial purposes to more than 80 square feet except in accordance sections IX and XIV of this ordinance;

G.

Signs attached to the roof of a building or structure;

H.

Portable signs (See definition in article III);

I.

Any sign that is taller than 25 feet from the ground at its highest point, except in accordance with section IX of this ordinance;

J.

Signs which simulate an official traffic control or warning sign or hides from view any traffic or street sign, signal or public service sign;

K.

Signs which interfere with road or highway visibility or obstruct or otherwise interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic;

L.

Signs erected by nailing, fastening or affixing the sign in any manner to any tree, post, utility pole, or other structure except as set forth herein;

M.

Signs requested to be erected in marshland;

N.

Any sign within 50 feet of the right-of-way of Victory Drive;

O.

Any sign within ten feet of the right-of-way line of all other streets within the Town of Thunderbolt;

P.

All signs as described in O.C.G.A. § 32-6-75 (a)(1) through(a)(10) and (a)(12) through (a)(16) and (a)(20) through (a)(21), it being the intent hereof that the above referred to code sections as presently existing are incorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference;

Q.

All signs where a home occupation is located except as allowed in article V herein.

V.

Exempt signs. The following signs are exempt from all provisions of this ordinance:

A.

One sign smaller than nine square feet in area may be posted on any parcel of land;

B.

Signs posted by authorized government officials in the strict performance of their official duties on public land or right-of-way;

C.

Signs not visible from public thoroughfares or signs within a business, office, building, or other enclosed heated or cooled structure;

D.

Any sign of six square feet or smaller that is posted by a town resident at the location of their residence;

E.

One temporary sign or banner of a size not larger than 50 square feet may be posted on property that is currently primarily used for commercial or industrial purposes for a period not exceeding 15 days. On properties used for other than commercial or industrial purposes a temporary sign shall not remain in place exceeding 30 consecutive days and only twice per year per property. The applicant for a temporary sign permit (whether on commercial or industrial properties or any other property) shall deposit a sum of $250.00 with the zoning administrator to insure removal of the temporary sign when its purpose ceases to exist or when the permit period expires whichever is the shorter period of time. The deposit shall be returned in full to the applicant upon the satisfaction of the requirements for removal. A temporary sign shall be removed by the person owning such sign or structure or by the owner of the building or premises on which such sign is affixed or erected within ten calendar days following the date on which the permit expires;

F.

Up to three flags measuring no more than an aggregate of 30 square feet.

VI.

Permits. Applications for sign permits shall be made available by the administrator. The administrator is hereby authorized to produce an application form and to establish other requirements for sign permit applications. At a minimum the application shall include:

A.

The street address of the property upon which a sign is to be located and a plat or map of the property which bears an indication of the proposed location of the sign;

B.

The number of and aggregate area for all signs on the parcel;

C.

The name(s) and address(es) of the owner(s) of the real property upon which the subject sign is to be located;

D.

Consent of the owner, or the owner's agent, granting permission for the placement or maintenance of the sign;

E.

Name, address, phone number, and business license number of the sign contractor;

F.

The area of the sign, the height of the sign, the shape of the sign, and an explanation of how the sign is to be mounted or erected;

G.

The distance of the sign from the closest other sign in any direction;

H.

The size and dimensions of the parcel on which the sign is to be placed;

I.

Any proposed trimming or cutting down of trees;

J.

Other information required in XIV of this article;

K.

Any other information required for a building permit and/or site plans as required elsewhere in this Zoning Ordinance.

The administrator shall act to grant or deny each application for a sign permit within 15 business days. All complete applications for signs which meet the requirements of this ordinance shall be granted. If the administrator does not grant or deny a sign permit request within 30 business days, the applicant may post the applied-for sign until such time as the administrator makes a determination that the permit should be denied. If the permit is denied for a sign that has already been posted, the sign must immediately be removed at the owner's expense until such time as appeals or legal proceedings are finally concluded.

VII.

Permit expiration. A sign permit shall become null and void if the sign for which the permit was issued has not been completed and installed within six months after the date of issuance. No refunds will be made for permit fees paid for permits that expired due to failure to erect a permitted sign. If later an individual desires to erect a sign at the same location, a new application must be processed and another fee paid in accordance with the fee schedule applicable at such time.

VIII.

Appeal. If an application for a sign permit has been denied by the administrator, the applicant may appeal this decision by filing a written request to the zoning commission within 30 days of the denial date. Such appeal will be heard and a recommendation made to town council at the earliest possible meeting of the zoning commission, but in no case more than 90 days after the date of the filing of the written request for a hearing before the zoning commission. After the zoning commission makes its recommendation, the issue may then be heard by the zoning board of appeals pursuant to article XVI of the Zoning Ordinance. (Amended 2/11/2009)

IX.

Billboards. The following regulations of billboard signs shall also apply:

A.

The governing body has considered the need for commercial and noncommercial speech through the medium of billboard signs along major roads, as designated herein. These interests must be weighed against the aesthetic and safety concerns that have been enumerated elsewhere in this ordinance. After thorough consideration of these countervailing interests, the governing body has developed the following guidelines regarding billboard signs which shall to be allowed only along a designated major road in the town.

(1)

All billboards must comply with the State of Georgia's sign regulations, including, but not limited to the size and space limitations and restriction found in O.C.G.A. §§ 32-6-75 and 32-6-75.3 as now existing or hereinafter amended;

(2)

No billboard shall exceed 30 feet in height from grade level of the adjacent street to which the property on which the sign is located has access. The level of the ground shall not be altered in such a way as to provide additional sign height;

(3)

No billboard shall exceed 300 square feet in size per side;

(4)

Seven with a total of no more than nine billboards faces shall be allowed within the town;

(5)

To afford greater opportunity for local advertisers on the limited number of allowed billboards, multiple message technology shall be allowed in accordance with Georgia law, to include spacing of at least 5,000 feet between any two signs on the same side of Victory Drive using such technology;

(6)

The number of allowed billboards within the Town of Thunderbolt shall decrease if an allowed billboard becomes obsolete, not structurally safe, clean and in good repair or, is not securely affixed to a substantial structure which is permanently attached to the ground. Whenever a billboard meets the requirements of this section in the sole discretion of the Administrator he shall notify the owner of the billboard to make such billboard safe, clean, in good repair or secure within ten business days. If such corrections are not made within ten business days of the administrator's written notice to the owner the sign shall be considered void and the billboard shall be permanently removed. It is the intent of this section that if a billboard meets any of the above requirements that such billboard shall be removed and not replaced and the number of billboards allowed in the town shall be reduced by such number of billboards that have been removed for such reasons.

X.

Changing copy. The text or image posted on a sign may be changed without the town's permission.

XI.

Nonconforming signs. Any sign that was in existence at the time this ordinance was passed, and was legal pursuant to the town's previous sign regulations, variances, or agreements, will be exempt from the permitting provisions of this ordinance. The structure, dimensions, location, and/or other physical characteristics of any such sign shall not be changed without first complying with this ordinance. Nonconforming signs shall be permitted until one of the following conditions occurs.

1.

The sign is obsolete, not structurally safe, clean and in good repair or, is not securely affixed to a substantial structure which is permanently attached to the ground or, the deterioration of the sign or damage of the sign makes it a hazard or unsightly.

2.

The sign has been damaged to the extent that more than minor repairs are required to restore the sign.

3.

Whenever a sign meets the requirements of this section in the sole discretion of the administrator he shall notify the owner of the sign to make such sign safe, clean, in good repair or secure within ten business days. If such corrections are not made within ten business days of the administrator's written notice to the owner the sign be shall be permanently removed.

XII.

Illumination.

A.

Illumination for a sign shall not cast light on adjoining property or shine in such a manner as to cause traffic interference.

B.

Illuminated signs shall conform to the following:

(1)

Illumination shall be by an externally located steady stationary light source, shielded and directed solely at the sign;

(2)

Light sources to illuminate signs shall neither be visible from any street right-of-way nor cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or vehicle drivers or so as to create a nuisance to adjacent properties.

(3)

Spot-lighting of signs shall be restricted to not more than one shielded light fixture per side for sign faces up to 40 square feet and not more than two shielded light fixtures per side for sign faces over 40 square feet;

(4)

The intensity of the light shall not exceed 20 foot candles at any point on the sign face; and

(5)

Signs shall not have light-reflecting backgrounds but may use light-reflecting lettering.

(6)

Colored lamps are not permitted.

XIII.

Sign design guidelines.

A.

Materials, colors, and shapes of proposed signs shall be compatible with the related buildings. Size and proportion of the sign shall not be a dominant feature of the site and shall be judged by sizes and proportions of signs on adjacent and nearby properties which are compatible with the town character and substantially in compliance with this ordinance.

XIV.

Freestanding signs.

A.

The area and quantity of any freestanding sign for which a permit is required shall conform with the following requirements:

(1)

A commercial, institutional, or industrial development approved for more than 100,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be allowed no more than four freestanding signs if the business fronts on more than one street. The applicant shall be limited to no more than two signs per street frontage. Each sign shall have no more than a total of 480 square feet of sign face divided among not more than sign faces containing copy. No single sign face shall exceed 120 square feet.

(2)

A commercial, institutional, or industrial development approved for 100,000 square feet or less, but more than 40,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be allowed no more than three freestanding signs if the business fronts on more than one Street. The applicant shall be limited to no more than two signs per street frontage. Each sign shall have no more than a total of 320 square feet of sign face divided among not more than four sign faces containing copy. No single sign face shall exceed 80 square feet.

(3)

A commercial, institutional, or industrial development approved for 40,000 square feet or less, but more than 2,500 square feet of gross floor area shall be allowed no more than two freestanding signs. Each sign shall have no more than 160 square feet of sign face divided among not more than four sign faces containing copy. No single sign face shall exceed 40 square feet.

(4)

A commercial, institutional, or industrial development approved for 2,500 square feet or less square feet of gross floor area shall be allowed one freestanding sign. Said sign shall have no more than 40 square feet of sign face divided between not more than two sign faces containing copy.

B.

The maximum height of any freestanding sign above the average grade elevation of the nearest public way or within a 20-foot radius of the sign shall not exceed the following:

(1)

Eight feet where the sign face does not exceed 40 square feet;

(2)

Ten feet where the sign face does not exceed 60 square feet; or

(3)

Twelve feet where the sign face exceeds 60 square feet.

C.

The bottom edge of the sign shall not exceed four feet in height from the lowest grade elevation at the base of the sign.

D.

The maximum width of any freestanding sign shall not exceed the following:

(1)

Fifteen feet where the sign face does not exceed 40 square feet;

(2)

Twenty feet where the sign face does not exceed 60 square feet; or

(3)

Twenty-five feet where the sign face exceeds 60 square feet.

E.

The maximum depth of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 25 percent of the width.

F.

The area of a sign structure for any freestanding sign is limited to the same number of square feet as the sign face that it supports.

G.

Subject to greater setback requirements in this ordinance on certain streets all freestanding signs fronting on a street right-of-way shall be required to be set back at least 20 feet from the edge of the adjacent street right-of-way. However, if conditions exist so as to make this impractical, this setback may be reduced by the administrator or his designee provided such reduction does not create a hazard to motorists or pedestrians and that no portion of the sign is located in the right-of-way.

H.

Freestanding signs shall be separated by a distance of not less than 200 foot intervals along each street frontage of the premises. In the event that a street frontage of less than 200 feet exists for any premises, only one sign shall be permitted along that frontage, notwithstanding that a greater number of signs may appear to be permitted by this section.

I.

In lieu of a freestanding sign, an owner may use signs on entrance structures such as fences or walls. The number of signs faces is limited to two per entrance, on either side of the entrance and is confined to the entrance area. The distance between sign faces shall not exceed 100 feet. Such signs are subject to the size limitations of this section.

J.

Signs may be permitted in access easements, subject to the approval of the administrator or his designee, if the applicant can demonstrate that the access easement provides a necessary means of vehicular access to the property for which the sign is proposed. In the event where a property is served by more than one necessary access easement the sign shall be located within the easement that serves the street with the highest number of average daily vehicle traffic (ADT) as determined by the administrator or his designee.

XV.

Facade signs.

A.

The total area of facade signs shall not occupy more than ten percent of the area of the facade upon which they are placed with the maximum size of any one sign limited to 40 square feet.

B.

No more than two signs may be placed on any one facade of any one building except that shopping centers shall be permitted two signs per tenant space per tenant facade provided only one such tenant sign per tenant facade is visible from any street right-of-way. Such tenant signs shall only be permitted in lieu of building signs.

C.

Facade signs must be contained within any single wall panel, window, door or other architectural component upon which they are placed.

D.

Tenant facade signs must be located on the facade of the tenant space being identified.

XVI.

Directional signs. Such signs may be located at entrances and exits to designate traffic movements and identify access to onsite land uses and/or activities. Such sign shall meet the design requirements of uniform traffic engineer standards and shall be located on private property, unless installed by an authorized governmental body.

1.

Such sign shall not to exceed four square feet in area nor extend more than five feet in height above the established ground level and shall be permitted at each vehicular entrance or exit designating the directional traffic flow in to and from property used for commercial or industrial purposes. Sign area of such sign may be increased by one square foot for each 50 feet of lot frontage above 100 feet up to a maximum sign area of 12 square feet. A directional sign shall not be included in the aggregate sign space allowed for such property.

XVII.

Incidental signs. A permit shall be required for incidental use signs that exceed three square feet in area. Incidental signs not exceeding an aggregate sign area of eight square feet shall be permitted for each commercial or industrial use on a property within the B, I, W-I, I-P, H-M and L-I zoning districts. Provided, however, that for uses in the B, W-I, I and L-I zoning districts, for each two linear feet of building frontage greater than 30 feet along one street, one additional square foot of incidental signs shall be allowed along such Street frontage up to a maximum aggregate incidental sign area of 20 square feet. Incidental signs shall not be considered in the aggregate sign space for the property.

XVIII.

Trees. In addition to the provisions of this ordinance or the state regulations pertaining to removal or trimming of trees, the Town of Thunderbolt's Tree Ordinance shall be taken into consideration when authorizing or denying a permit for a sign.

XIX.

Maintenance. All signs must be maintained in a state of good repair. When the administrator or other authorized official believes that a sign is dangerous or has otherwise become a public nuisance they shall contact the owner of the sign in writing and request the problem be repaired or corrected. If the owner has not appealed the official's determination to the governing body or corrected the problem(s) within ten business days of the date of the written notice, the town shall arrange for removal of any such sign and bill the owner for all costs of such removal.

XX.

Future developments. Where the owner or developer of a commercial, residential, or other development seeks permission to post signs on such development as part of the general plan approval process, such signs shall be approved by the administrator, or any other person or body the town administrator shall designate, as part of the normal process for approving design and building plans for new developments.

XXI.

Standards.

A.

Wind pressure. Signs and their supporting structures shall be capable of withstanding horizontal loads as required by the Town of Thunderbolt Building Code. The exposed area of a sign shall, by definition, include the total area of all parts of the sign, including the structural framing. In assuming or determining the pressure on any sign, the wind shall be assumed to be blowing from the direction which will produce the maximum stress.

B.

Setback and clearance. Adequate setback and clearance shall be provided in order that trucks and other large vehicles may park or move close to the curb. No portion of any sign shall be less than ten feet above the finished grade of the sidewalk or any pedestrian way, or less than 15 feet above an area used for vehicular access to ingress, egress, park or circulate in any area where vehicular traffic is legally permitted.

XXII.

Fees. All sign applications shall be accompanied by a fee which is intended to partially recoup the town's cost of permitting and regulating signs. Fees shall be paid as indicated on the fee chart contained in the clerk's office for various signs.

XXIII.

Enforcement.

A.

The town may issue a citation for violation of this ordinance by any sign erected, altered, converted, or used in violation of this ordinance;

B.

Any person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of an offense and upon conviction, shall be fined as set forth in article XV of this Zoning Ordinance.

C.

The erection or maintenance by any person, firm, or corporation of any sign for which a permit is required by this ordinance without a valid permit or renewal thereof is declared to be a public nuisance. In addition to the remedies provided for herein above or may otherwise exist under the laws of Georgia, the town is authorized to bring an equitable proceeding to enjoin any person, firm, or a corporation from erecting or maintaining, without a valid permit or renewal thereof, any sign for which a permit or renewal thereof is required by this ordinance. It shall not be necessary for the town to allege and prove that there is no adequate remedy at law in order to obtain the equitable relief provided for herein.

XXIV.

Severability. If any portion of this ordinance is held to be invalid by a court, it is the intention of the governing body that the remainder of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.

(Ord. of 12-9-2020)