Section
1236.01 Purpose
1236.02 Substitution and protection clause
1236.03 Reclassification of signage
1236.04 Applicability
1236.05 Review and permit requirements
1236.06 Prohibited signs
1236.07 Measurements and computations
1236.08 General requirements for all signs
1236.09 Sign illumination and electronic message centers
1236.10 Permanent signs
1236.11 Temporary signs
1236.12 Nonconforming signs
(a) In the interest of furthering the purpose of this code, these sign regulations are herein established to provide for the use, location and size of signs in a manner that ensures that signs are in harmony with the character of the associated use and surrounding area. More specifically, the purposes of these regulations are to:
(1) Promote and maintain attractive, high value residential, commercial and industrial areas;
(2) Control the size and location so that signs will be aesthetically harmonious and in context with the area in which they are located;
(3) Provide for reasonable and appropriate methods for locating goods, services and facilities in all zoning districts by relating the size, type and design of signs to the size, type and design of the uses and districts;
(4) Eliminate any conflict that would be hazardous between identification signs and traffic control signs and devices;
(5) Ensure that signs are located and designed to maintain a safe and orderly pedestrian and vehicular environment; and
(6) Prohibit all signs not expressly permitted by this code.
(b) In establishing these purposes, the city has determined that signs which do not comply with these regulations (type, size, location and limitation on the number of signs) are a public nuisance. Unregulated signs are unduly distracting to motorists and pedestrians, and thereby create a traffic hazard and reduce the effectiveness of signs needed to direct the public.
(c) The city does not intend to infringe on the rights of free speech as protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Chapter I, § 11 of the Ohio Constitution. All regulations in this chapter are to be construed, whenever possible, in favor of vigorous political debate and accommodation of the rights of persons to speak freely.
(Ord. 21-161, passed 12-13-2021)
Wherever a sign with a commercial message is allowed or permitted under this chapter, an owner may replace the message with a noncommercial message, subject to the time, place and manner provisions of this chapter, without applying for a permit and/or paying a fee that otherwise would be required for the placement of a commercial message sign on the lot; provided, that the sign structure or mounting device is legal without consideration of message content. This provision prevails over any provision to the contrary in this chapter. The purpose of this provision is to prevent any inadvertent favoring of commercial speech over noncommercial speech, or favoring of any particular noncommercial message over any other noncommercial message. This provision does not create a right to increase the total amount of signage on a lot or parcel, nor does it affect the requirement that a sign structure or mounting device be properly permitted.
(Ord. 21-161, passed 12-13-2021)
If the type of any sign that legally existed prior to the effective date of this amendment is reclassified by this amendment, such sign shall be classified as the sign type defined in this chapter and Chapter 1246: Definitions, and shall be subject to the applicable standards for such sign type from the effective date of this amendment. Such reclassification shall be regardless of any variances that were approved prior to the effective date of this amendment.
(Ord. 21-161, passed 12-13-2021)
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