(A) Billboard signs are not a permissible use as a matter of right in any zoning district in the town.
(B) No billboard sign shall be located within 1,500 feet of another billboard sign as measured from any part of the billboard to the nearest point of any other billboard.
(C) No billboard sign shall be located within 400 feet of a public park, public cemetery, or place of worship.
(D) Billboard signs may be allowed as a conditional use in any commercial or industrial district in the town providing that the Town Council makes the determination that the billboard will not be detrimental to the value of the surrounding property and will be in harmony with the existing structures in the area.
(E) The granting or denial of a conditional use permit for a billboard sign rests solely with the discretion of the Town Council. The Council’s decision on any particular application shall set no precedence whatsoever. Each case shall be examined on its own merits.
(F) If the Council elects to grant such a conditional use permit, it shall include provisions the Council deems appropriate including, but not limited to, such matters as size, number of facings, and duration. However, in no case shall the permit be less restrictive than the requirements of state law currently set forth in A.R.S. §§ 28-7902 et seq.
(G) Any use permit application for a billboard sign shall conform to the following development standards:
(1) Seventy-five feet in height if located within 300 feet of the right-of-way line of an existing freeway, and a maximum of 672 square feet in sign face area. These billboards shall be oriented only towards the freeway and may be double-faced or “V” shaped, thus doubling the allowed sign face area, provided the “V” shape is designed so that there is no greater than 54 inches between faces at the apex and the angle between the faces of the sign is no greater than 45 degrees.
(2) Thirty feet in height if located greater than 300 feet from an existing freeway and 300 square feet in sign face area. These billboards shall not be located within 200 feet of the property line of any parcel of land which is zoned to a category allowing for single-family residential use even though the zoning categories applicable to such parcels may allow additional uses. These billboards shall not be located within 500 feet of the property line of any public park, public cemetery, or place of worship.
(H) Use permit applications for new digital billboards and conversion to digital billboards shall only be considered if:
(1) Network time shall be made available on all digital sign faces to federal, state, and local public safety agencies for emergency messaging. Such messages shall override all copy for one hour and shall then be displayed for no fewer than eight seconds in every minute as long as needed.
(2) From 11:00 p.m. until sunrise all billboard illumination shall be extinguished, and all billboards shall be equipped with an automatic devise to assure compliance. These illumination requirements shall not be applicable to the display of any amber alert or other governmental emergencies, or for other emergent situations as determined by the Town Manager. Further, in the event of an electronic malfunction the sign shall be shut off until repairs have been made to restore the electronic messaging system.
(3) Minimal display time shall not change message more than once every eight seconds.
(I) No such conditional use permit shall be considered without first holding a public hearing and giving proper notice.
(J) All billboard signs erected or posted in the town shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes and in conformance with this section, at all times. All billboard signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building, or other structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure.
(K) All billboard signs and the premises surrounding them shall be maintained by the owner thereof in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition, free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish, weeds and overgrown grass.
(Ord. 99-02, passed 2-11-1999; Ord. O2023.01, passed 4-27-2023)