The following regulations shall govern the location, area and type of signs permitted within the village.
(A) Intent and applicability. The following regulations shall govern the locations, areas heights and types of signs permitted within the zoning jurisdiction of this chapter.
(1) All signs hereafter constructed, erected, printed or otherwise established, moved, altered or changed shall comply with this chapter.
(2) After the effective date of this chapter, no sign shall be erected, enlarged, constructed or otherwise installed without first obtaining a sign permit. A sign permit shall be legally issued only when in compliance with this chapter.
(3) No accessory sign, advertising display or structure, poster or device shall be erected, moved, enlarged, maintained or reconstructed except as expressly permitted by this subchapter; provided, however, that such state, county and municipal signs and traffic signs as are installed for public purposes are exempt from these requirements.
(4) Nonconforming signs existing at the time of enactment of this chapter may be repaired or maintained, but may not be otherwise established, moved, altered, or changed except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(5) Temporary signs or banners on or over public property may be authorized by the Village Board for a period not to exceed ten days.
(6) Signs attached to a building and projecting over a street, alley, or other public space shall project no more than ten feet and be no closer than two feet to a plumb-line from curb-line; clearance below such signs shall be a minimum of nine feet.
(7) No sign except for those of incidental sales of a non-commercial basis shall be constructed, erected, remodeled, relocated, or expanded, until a sign permit for such sign has been obtained authorized and signed by the Zoning Administrator excluding general maintenance. Such requirement shall pertain to both permanent and temporary signs. A fee for application for a sign permit for signs shall be paid to the village to handle processing costs. In addition, information pertinent to the sign characteristics and dimensions must be presented to the Zoning Administrator sufficient to determine compliance with the ordinance.
(B) On and off-site signs on interstate or federal aid primary highways. The erection or maintenance of any advertising sign, display or device which is visible to the traveled way of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, and the system of federal-aid primary roads of the state as defined by the Nebraska Department of Roads, is hereby prohibited unless in compliance with the regulations set forth in Rules and Regulations Relating to the Control of Advertising in Areas Adjacent to the Interstate and Federal Aid Primary Highways, as amended, adopted and published by the Nebraska Department of Roads. As of July, 1976, primary highways within the village’s zoning jurisdiction are Highway 30 and Interstate 80.
(C) Prohibited signs. Signs shall not be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obscure, or otherwise physically interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device, or in such a manner as to obstruct or interfere with a driver’s view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic. This shall also mean pedestrian traffic on sidewalks. All road signs shall be maintained in a neat and presentable condition.
(D) District regulations.
(1) Agriculture Residential District (AGR). No regulations apply other than those outlined herein.
(2) Residential Districts (R-1 and R-2).
(a) Signs permitted in the Residential Districts shall be erected and maintained at least 15 feet from the street or road line.
(b) One sign not illuminated less than six square feet in area for each dwelling. A maximum of two signs are permissible for multi-family apartment buildings, whether attached to the apartment building or mounted on the ground, at a maximum size of 12 square feet for each sign.
(c) Any temporary sign, not illuminated, less than six square feet in area, advertising the sale, lease or rental of the property.
(3) General Commercial District (C-1). Illuminated or non-illuminated signs identifying the character or the establishment. No one sign shall exceed 50 square feet in area.
(4) Highway Commercial District (C-2). Illuminated or non-illuminated signs identifying the character of the establishment. No one sign shall exceed 100 square feet in area.
(5) Industrial District (I). In an I District, identification and advertising signs accessory to the allowed use are permitted except that each sign shall be limited to 100 square feet in area.
(E) Political signs.
(1) Political signs are not authorized in any zoning district except for a period of 30 days before a national, state, village or local governmental subdivision election to which they apply, and such signs must be removed within a period of five days after such election.
(2) No political signs shall be permitted on the public streets, parks, alleys or other public areas.
(F) Discontinuation of use. In the event the use or need of a sign shall cease, the sign shall be removed promptly and the area restored to a condition free from refuse and rubbish. After 30 days notice and failure to do so, the village shall remove the sign and assess the charges to the owner.
(Ord. 2009-04, passed 4-23-2009) Penalty, see § 154.999