(A) Billboards.
(1) Maximum height from adjacent grade is 42 feet.
(2) Maximum area is 300 square feet.
(3) Minimum ground clearance is ten feet.
(4) Minimum front yard setback is 15 feet.
(5) Minimum distance from residential zones is 300 feet measured along the street.
(6) Minimum distance from other billboards is 1,000 feet.
(7) Minimum distance from street intersection is 200 feet as measured from the right-of-way.
(8) Maximum number, per parcel of property, is one, excluding railroad right-of-way.
(9) All billboards shall have an annual inspection if they are on railroad right-of-way or within 100 feet of a public right-of-way; with an inspection fee to be assessed and collected in an amount set set by the City Council and maintained in the city's master fee schedule.
(B) Directional signs.
(1) No more than two directional signs per street entrance shall be permitted for any enterprise, business or institution.
(2) Such signs shall be for the sole purpose of ensuring safe and convenient access and egress to the use for which they apply.
(3) No such sign shall exceed two square feet in area in the residential zones, and shall not exceed four square feet in area in all other zones.
(C) Wall signs. In the commercial districts, such projecting parallel signs may project over public rights-of-way, provided such signs shall not extend more than one foot beyond the wall of the building, or impede free and complete use of the sidewalk for pedestrians.
(D) Freestanding signs.
(1) Freestanding signs shall not exceed 15 feet in height within 15 feet of any lot line abutting public street right-of-way. For each additional one foot of setback beyond 15 feet, the sign height may be increased by two feet, provided that in no event shall a sign exceed 42 feet in height; provided, however, that freestanding signs, greater than 15 feet in height, may be set back from any lot line, abutting a street, a distance equal to the average street setback of all freestanding signs, in excess of 15 feet in height located in adjacent properties, within 200 feet of the property line and on the same side of the street.
(2) All freestanding signs shall comply with the site distance triangular setback area height requirements specified by the applicable zone.
(3) A freestanding sign shall not be located closer than 50 feet from another freestanding sign located upon another premises; provided, that this division shall not prohibit the ability to place one freestanding sign upon a premise that would otherwise have a right to such a sign; nor shall this division be applied in a manner that would require a setback for such freestanding sign in excess of what would otherwise be required by this chapter.
(4) Any sign within 40 feet of a property line abutting a street right-of-way shall not be located closer than 200 feet from another freestanding sign on the same premises.
(E) Projecting signs. In the retail zone only, projecting signs may project over public right-of-way a maximum of four feet, provided such signs shall not extend to within two feet of the street curb or the improved shoulder edge of the traveled way, or impede free and complete use of the sidewalk for pedestrians.
(F) Community event message signs.
(1) A nonprofit organization shall be eligible to apply for a conditional-use permit to allow a sign area bonus for a community event message sign. The purpose of this area bonus shall be to allow the display of changing messages and information on such matters as the date, time, location and sponsor of special events of community interest. Such signs shall meet the following standards and conditions:
(a) Each nonprofit organization shall be eligible for a bonus for no more than one facade sign or one freestanding sign;
(b) The maximum bonus available shall be 50% of the base permitted sign area if located in a residential zone, or 100% if located in any other zone;
(c) Permanent advertising of a commercial nature shall be allowed only in commercial zoning and shall not exceed 25% of the total area of the community event message sign;
(d) The sign shall be made reasonably available to other community nonprofit organizations for the display of information about their special events or other announcements of a noncommercial nature; and
(e) The signs shall not be of a size, or cited in such a manner, that will substantially hinder the visibility of other legal signs on adjacent property.
(2) In reviewing an application for a community event message sign, the Planning Commission, and City Council on appeal, shall consider the following objectives, and may impose conditions to ensure that these objectives are met.
(a) By virtue of the sign’s design, size, location and other factors, including appropriate landscaping, the sign shall be harmonious and compatible with its surroundings, and consistent with community aesthetic sensibilities.
(b) The sign shall not be erected, or any electronic or electric changing copy be controlled, in an manner that will be a substantial distraction to motorists, thus causing a traffic hazard.
(G) Bus bench signs. Bus bench signs shall be limited to two benches per lot.
(Ord. 9-8-05D, passed 9-8-2005; Ord. 05-19-2020-MASTER, passed 5-19-2020)