(a) Except as otherwise prohibited by this section, billboards are permitted in and limited to placement along in Agriculture, B-1, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts when placed along a limited access highway or state trunk line. A billboard is not permitted to be erected or placed on a premise which also contains a freestanding sign.
(b) Billboards are subject to the following conditions:
(1) Such signs shall be placed no closer than 1,500 feet from any other billboard sign on the same side of the right-of-way.
(2) Such signs shall not exceed 672 square feet of area when located on or facing a limited access highway. When all other conditions are met for placement, the setback from a limited access highway or highway shall not exceed 300 square feet. When located on any primary highway as used in the subsection, terms limited access highway and primary highway shall have the same meaning as provided for as in the Highway Advertising Act Public Act of 1972, Public Act 106 of 1972, as amended, being MCL 252.301 et seq.
(3) Such signs shall not exceed thirty-five feet in height.
(4) Such signs shall not be closer than ten feet from any property line, twenty feet from any street right-of-way, and 100 feet from any residential, public or quasi-public structure.
(5) Such signs shall be maintained free of peeling paint or paper, sun-fading, staining, rust or other conditions which impair the legibility, supporting structures, frames, braces, guys and anchors of such signs shall be maintained so as not to be unsafe or in a state of disrepair.
(6) Such signs shall not be illuminated other than by approved electrical devices in accordance with Chapter 1422 “Electrical Code.” Underground wiring shall be required for any illuminated sign permitted under this section. Such signs shall not employ flashing, blinking or oscillating lights. Any lighting shall be directed away from adjacent properties, passing motorists and pedestrians.
(c) No billboard shall be erected at any time when there are seventy-five or more billboard faces in the City. With Administrator approval, a sign owner choosing to remove a legally nonconforming billboard may transfer the billboard's square footage to a new billboard in another location in accordance with this section.
(d) The City reserves all rights it is granted or permitted to regulate signs pursuant to the Highway Advertising Act of 1972, Public Act 106 of 1972, as amended, being MCL 252.301 et seq., and nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted or construed to in any way limit the ability of the City to regulate, restrict or limit the number and locations of billboards within the City pursuant to the Home Rule City Act, Public Act 279 of 1909, as amended, being MCL 117.1 et seq., and the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MZEA), Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, being MCL 125.3101 et seq.
(Ord. 10-2020. Passed 11-24-20; Ord. 03-2023. Passed 5-2-23.)