(A) Purpose. The purpose of these standards is to protect the general welfare and safety of the city by providing a policy of aesthetic development to prevent signs from intruding on the rural and residential character of the city; to provide adequate signs for direction and property identification purposes; and to provide adequate and effective signs for commercial use.
(B) General.
(1) Non-maintained signs or signs for discontinued business will be removed after notification by the Zoning Administrator or after discontinuance of the business.
(2) Placement of signs shall consider protecting sight distance at intersections, driveways and curves.
(3) All flashing or lighted revolving signs and all portable signs are prohibited, except as specifically allowed in this section.
(4) Digital time and temperature signs with digital messaging that does not flash, that are part of an overall sign design are allowed in commercial areas.
(5) Temporary signs pertaining only to the construction, sale or rental of the premises are allowable provided they do not exceed nine square feet in any zone and are removed within 30 days of the completion of construction, sale or rental.
(6) Temporary signs, including streamers and portable signs, are allowed for special events such as grand openings and promotions provided they are not in place longer than 14 days.
(7) A non-conforming sign may be refaced, removed and replaced for maintenance purposes, however it shall not be increased in size, the support system shall not be improved and the sign shall be removed in its entirety upon the determination by the Zoning Administrator that the sign is in disrepair or the support system is failing.
(8) Residential and commercial signs may not contain elements commonly used by highway departments to alert, direct or caution traffic such as, but not limited to, octagonal stop signs or speed limit signs.
(9) Street identification signs, no hunting or trespassing signs and temporary signs endorsing a political candidate, party or issue during an election season are allowed without a permit.
(10) No signs, except for official traffic signs, shall be placed on or overhang public property, except where specific permission is granted by the Planning Commission.
(11) All signs must be constructed and maintained in a professional manner.
(12) All signs, excluding temporary signs, shall be set back ten feet from a right-of-way intersection.
(C) Required permits. All signs are considered structures and require a zoning permit, except signs placed by the city, county or state to relate the laws or ordinances, which are exempt, and signs exempted in division (B) above.
(D) On-site signs.
(1) Residential districts. (Highway Mixed Use, Shoreline Residential, Neighborhood Residential, Rural Preservation, Forest Preservation, Forest Residential)
(a) Signs shall not be internally or externally lighted, but may be reflective.
(b) No sign shall be larger than three square feet, except for a permitted home occupation where six square feet is allowed. Signs for home occupations or for businesses owned by the property owner along state highways or county roads in a 55 mph speed zone or higher are permitted to be 32 square feet.
(c) Only one sign per parcel shall be allowed.
(d) In addition to other signs exempted under this chapter, a temporary sign is allowed to be placed on private property within, and directly adjacent to, newly platted subdivision for 24 months following final plat approval, or until land use permits have been obtained on 50% of the parcels within the subdivision, whichever comes sooner. The property owner may request a 12-month extension for the temporary sign, to be granted at the discretion of the Planning Commission. Signs erected under this section shall require a permit and shall not exceed 32 square feet in any zone.
(2) Commercial districts. (Shoreland Commercial, Downtown Mixed Use, Commercial Transition/Light Industrial)
(a) All signs on a property must be coordinated to create an overall appearance in regards to size and color.
(b) Up to 25% of any principle structure facade area which directly abuts and lies generally parallel the road right-of-way or publicly traveled roadway may be dedicated to banners in good repair for an unlimited duration. If the property also displays yard banners on posts or banners elsewhere on the property not affixed to the building facade, the square footage calculated as the allowable 25% shall be reduced by the square footage of those banners.
1. The permitted sign area may be split up into several signs or used for one sign.
2. Any attached sign that protrudes from a structure two feet or less will be counted as part of the building facade signage 25% allowance.
3. Facade area may be transferred from one side to another so long as the area used as signage never exceeds 25% of the total allowed signage.
4. No credit is given for facade area not directly abutting and lying generally parallel the road right-of-way or publicly traveled roadway.
(c) Each property is allowed one freestanding sign so long as the sign can meet setbacks and its placement does not obstruct lines of sight or pedestrian corridors.
1. Buildings located in a 40 mph speed zone or higher are allowed up to 128 square feet (64 sq. ft. per side) of freestanding sign.
2. Buildings located in a less than 40 mph speed zone are allowed up to 96 square feet (48 sq. ft. per side) of freestanding sign and, for multi-business buildings, are allowed an additional ten square feet for each business after the first.
3. For corner lots, one freestanding sign conforming to these standards is allowed on each roadway.
4. Any attached sign that protrudes from a structure more than two feet will be considered a freestanding sign.
5. For parcels located in a 40 mph speed zone or higher, no freestanding sign shall exceed 20 feet in height. For parcels located in a less than 40 mph speed zone, no freestanding sign shall exceed 15 feet in height. For parcels in more than one zone, the more restrictive standard will apply.
(d) There shall be no signage on accessory structures.
(e) Property owners seeking to display more signs than what are allowed in this section or seeking allowances outside of what is allowed in this section, may obtain permission to do so by conditional use permit. Such application for a conditional use permit shall include submittal of a sign concept plan for the entire parcel. In addition to conditional use permit criteria, the basis for approval or denial shall include an evaluation of:
1. Necessity of the additional signage;
2. Alternatives to additional signage;
3. Continuity with signage on adjacent parcels;
4. Aesthetic impacts; and
5. Perceived effectiveness of proposed signage.
(f) Uses that depend on patrons arriving by watercraft may use signs and lighting to convey needed information to the public, subject to the following general standards.
1. No advertising signs or supporting facilities for signs may be placed upon public waters. Signs conveying information or safety messages may be placed in or on public waters by a public authority or a permit issued by the County Sheriff.
2. Signs may be placed, when necessary, within the shore impact zone if they are designed and sized to be the minimum necessary to convey needed information. They must only convey the location and name of the establishment and the general types of goods or services available. The signs must not contain other detailed information such as product brands and prices, must not be located higher than ten feet above the ground and must not exceed 32 square feet in size. If illuminated by artificial lights, the lights must be shielded or directed to prevent illumination out across public waters.
3. Other outside lighting may be located within the shore impact zone or over public waters if it is used primarily to illuminate potential safety hazards and is shielded or otherwise directed to prevent illumination out across public waters. This does not preclude use of navigational lights.
(3) Recreational district.
(a) Each recreationally zoned development may be allowed on-site signage as regulated by a conditional use permit. Unless otherwise allowed, the size of any single sign shall not exceed 48 square feet in area and shall not exceed ten feet from the ground to the top of the sign.
(b) A parcel of land may have internal directional signs that are related to the operation of the recreational facility.
(c) No signage shall be allowed to direct any light on to an adjacent parcel of land.
(E) Off-site signs. Off-site signs are prohibited, except for residential or commercial directory signs. Any existing off-site signs are considered non-conforming structures.
(Ord. 906-2011, passed - -2011; Ord. 906-2012, passed 5-8-2012; Ord., passed - -)
Penalty, see § 152.999