(A) This chapter is established to promote the public health, safety and welfare through the provision of standards for existing and proposed signs of all types. More specifically, this chapter is intended to:
(1) Enhance and protect the physical appearance of the community;
(2) Promote and maintain visually attractive, residential, retail commercial and industrial districts;
(3) Ensure that signs are located and designed to reduce sign distraction and confusion that may be contributing factors in traffic congestion and accidents, and maintain a safe and orderly pedestrian and vehicular environment; and
(4) Provide review procedures that enable the city to evaluate the appropriateness of a sign to the site, building and surroundings.
(B) In establishing these objectives the city has determined that, without adequate regulation and design standards, signs are a nuisance. The number of signs in the city is excessive and is unduly distracting to motorists and pedestrians, creates a traffic hazard and in some places reduces the effectiveness of signs needed to direct the public. Therefore, permitted signs should comply with the standards of this chapter in order to reduce the aforementioned effects.
(C) In view of the foregoing, all signs not conforming to the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared a nuisance. It is further declared that the regulations contained in this chapter are the minimum regulation necessary to abate the nuisance and to achieve the purposes of this chapter.
(Ord. 107-05, passed 8-22-2005; Ord. 15-15, passed 6-15-2015)