(A) Off-premises signs (special use permit required).
(1) Off-premises signs shall be a permitted special use; however, they can only be erected when the special need for the off-premise sign can be duly demonstrated to the Zoning Board of Appeals and are subject to the following guidelines.
(2) The size of all off-premises signs shall be subject to the discretion of the Zoning Board depending on the proposed location, design and the speed limit of adjacent roadways; however, not to exceed the following size limitations:
(a) Such sign shall not exceed 12 feet in any dimension.
(b) Such sign shall not exceed 100 square feet of gross surface area within the corporate limits of the city, excluding the Historic District.
(c) Any off-premises sign within the Historic District shall not exceed 12 square feet of gross surface area.
(3) No owner or user of an off-premises sign shall be permitted to increase the total gross surface area of the sign without approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
(4) Two or more such signs, if over 12 square feet of gross surface area and if located on a parcel, parcels or group of lots in one ownership, shall not be placed closer than 500 feet to each other.
(5) Off-premises signs shall be of an historic nature and may be required to have decorative lattice-work, mouldings and period lighting fixtures.
(6) A special use permit for off-premises signs shall be granted for a ten-year period.
(Ord. O-05-04, passed 4-11-05)
(B) Official signs of the city (special use permit required). Signs along U.S. Highway 20 are subject to both state and local control. In those areas along U.S. Highway 20 which are not zoned for commercial or industrial use, the state will issue a permit only upon application by the city for an official sign. For this reason, the city shall make application to the state only when certain and specific criteria are met by an applicant for a special use. Official signs of the city shall be the only off-premises signs permitted in those areas not zoned for commercial or industrial use which are clearly visible from U.S. Highway 20.
(1) Standards of approval. Official signs which the City Council may authorize through a special use permit shall comply with the following standards:
(a) Sign must be erected and maintained by the city for the purpose of carrying out an official duty or responsibility.
(b) Sign must promote or give direction to a feature of historic significance.
(c) Necessity for sign should be to relieve a hardship incurred by reason of hard-to-find location.
(d) Sign should only feature services provided as opposed to goods sold.
(e) Whatever is featured by sign should benefit travelers and/or community as a whole (in contrast to the only benefit being to the sponsor of the sign).
(f) The sign should not purely advertise a profit-making venture.
(g) The sign may purely advertise a not-for-profit venture (such as a museum, church, park, and the like).
(2) Restrictions. The following restrictions shall be met for all official city signs:
(a) No more than one official sign permitted per attraction or group of attractions under common ownership or control.
(b) Once approved, no modifications of any kind, other than routine maintenance, can be made to a sign without City Council approval.
(c) Colors and design must be sympathetic with the historical and aesthetic qualities of the city and surrounding countryside.
(d) The City Council must approve the final design and placement and all other matters, including ultimate removal of an official sign.
(e) Sign must comply with all other state and federal codes and ordinances.
(f) Sign cannot obscure or interfere with other signage or traffic in general.
(g) Sign cannot be placed upon rocks, trees or other natural features.
(h) Sign must be maintained at all times.
(i) Sign cannot have any moving parts.
(Ord. O-05-04, passed 4-11-05)