(A) Findings of fact.
(1) The regulation of signs within the city is necessary for pedestrian and traffic safety, the public health and safety, the preservation of property values and the avoidance of unnecessary clutter.
(2) An appointed committee of citizens has received public input and undertaken a review of the current ordinances and code provisions regulating signs within the city for purposes of updating, amending and modifying such regulations.
(B) First Amendment rights. This chapter shall not be construed, applied, interpreted or enforced in a manner to violate the First Amendment rights of any person, and the Building Official shall seed the advice and recommendation of the City Attorney prior to taking any action to enforce any provision of this chapter with respect to any non-commercial sign or speech by any person.
(C) Comprehensive regulation of advertising signs. This chapter shall apply to the control, use, installation, regulation, licensing and permitting of signs within the city.
(D) Purpose generally. In general, the objectives of this chapter are to promote the health, safety, welfare, convenience, communication and the landscape quality of the public. It shall further be the purpose of this chapter to achieve the following:
(1) Safety.
(a) No hazard is created due to collapse, fire, collision, decay or abandonment;
(b) No obstruction is created to fire fighting and police surveillance; and
(c) No traffic hazard is created by confusing or distracting motorists, or by impairing the driver's ability to see pedestrians, obstacles, or other vehicles, or to read the traffic signs.
(2) Communications. To promote the efficient transfer of information in sign message by providing that:
(a) Businesses and services may identify themselves;
(b) Customers and other persons may locate a business or service; and
(c) Persons exposed to signs are not overwhelmed by the number of messages presented, and are able to exercise freedom of choice to observe or ignore the messages, according to the observer's purpose.
(3) Landscape quality and preservation. To protect the public welfare and to enhance the appearance and economic value of the landscape, by providing signs that:
(a) Do not interfere with scenic views;
(b) Do not create a nuisance to persons using the public right-of-ways;
(c) Do not constitute a nuisance to occupancy of adjacent and contiguous property by their brightness, size, height or movement;
(d) Are not detrimental to land or property value; and
(e) Contribute to the special character of particular areas or districts within the city, helping the observer to understand the city and orient oneself within it.
(Ord. 476, passed 11-12-96)