The purpose of this section is to promote and protect the public health, welfare, and safety by regulating existing and proposed outdoor advertising, outdoor advertising signs, and outdoor signs of all types. It is intended to protect property values, create a more visually attractive economic and business climate, enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community, and preserve the scenic and natural beauty of designated areas. It is further intended to reduce sign or advertising clutter, distraction, and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way, provide more open space, curb the deterioration of the natural environment, and enhance community development by permitting signs which are compatible with their surroundings. All nomenclature in this section shall be as in § 150.03.
(B) Except those for traffic control, regulation, or information, no sign shall be placed within the public right-of-way.
(C) Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only light(s) emitting a light of constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light or lights. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be placed or directed so as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public thoroughfare, highway, sidewalk, or adjacent premises so as to cause a glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance nor lights of an intensity or hue and form which are similar to traffic-control lights. This section shall not apply to any sign performing a public service function indicating time, temperature or similar services.
(D) No sign shall employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention. This section shall not apply to any sign performing a public service function indicating time, temperature or similar services.
(F) No spot or flood light may be directly visible from a public right-of-way.
(G) No advertising shall be placed on any awning, mansard roof, or canopy, that extends above the building roofline.
(H) No outdoor sign shall be placed so as to impair the view of pedestrians or motorists along a public right-of-way or at intersections of the public right-of-way.
(I) No sign may be placed on the roof of a structure or above the roof line. See Figures 1.2d and 1.3b in Appendix A.
(J) All wiring, fittings, and materials used in the construction, connection, and operation of electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the electric code as administered by Wood County Building Inspection.
(K) No sign shall be located nearer than eight feet vertically or four feet horizontally from any overhead electric wires, conductors, or guy wires.
(L) No sign shall be erected in any manner to interfere with traffic visibility. This shall include visibility when existing from private drives. Any sign that is found to interfere with traffic visibility shall be removed.
(1980 Code, § 150.65) (Ord. 3484, passed 9-7-1976; Am. Ord. 3680, passed 2-6-1978; Am. Ord. 3929, passed 1-7-1980; Am. Ord. 4936, passed 9-19-1988; Am. Ord. 4999, passed 4-17-1989; Am. Ord. 5395, passed 4-6-1992; Am. Ord. 6070, passed 11-18-1996; Am. Ord. 7105, passed 9-15-2003; Am. Ord. 7425, passed 7-18-2005; Am. Ord. 7673, passed 5-21-2007) Penalty, see § 150.999