1339.22 PYLON SIGNS.

   (a)    Location. Pylon signs shall not exceed a height of forty feet measured from the finished grade of the ground where the sign is placed.

   (b)    Erection. No pylon sign is to be erected until the excavation for foundation or foundations has been inspected by the authorized officer of the Bureau of Buildings, Inspections, Licenses and Permits. (Ord. 94-185. Passed 9-6-94.)

1339.23 ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

   Any firm, business or person who discontinues a business, vacates the premises or moves his place of business to a new location shall be required to remove all real estate signs, political signs, Christmas tree signs and any other signs or advertising media from the premises the firm, business or person has vacated. All signs and sign structures shall be removed from the premises within thirty days from the date such premises are to be vacated.

   If the Superintendent finds that any firm, business or person has failed to comply with the provisions of Section 1339.16 he shall give immediate written notice to the firm, business or person for whom the sign was erected or to the property owner of the vacated premises upon which the sign is located. If the firm, business or person fails to remove or dismantle the sign so as to comply with the provision of this section within ten days after such notice, such sign may be removed by the Superintendent at the expense of that person.

(Ord. 94-185. Passed 9-6-94.)

1339.24 REMOVAL OF UNSAFE AND UNLAWFUL SIGNS.

   If the Superintendent finds that any sign is unsafe or hazardous, or has been constructed or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall give immediate written notice to the person for who or by whom the sign is erected or to the owner of the property upon which the sign is located. If the person fails to remove, repair or alter the sign so as to comply with the provisions of this chapter within ten days after such notice, such sign may be removed, repaired or altered by the Superintendent at the expense of that person. The Superintendent may cause any sign which is of immediate peril to persons or property, or erected or placed in violation with the provision of this chapter to summarily be removed without notice. (Ord. 94-185. Passed 9-6-94.)

1339.25 NONCONFORMING SIGNS.

   The provisions of Section 1339.23 through 1339.24 shall be applicable to all signs and provided further, that any sign which is at any time found to be unsafe or insecure or which is an immediate peril to person or property shall be removed, repaired or altered in accordance with Sections 1339.23 and 1339.24, provided, however, that if a nonconforming sign is replaced by another sign, such replacement sign must conform with the provisions of this chapter; likewise, a nonconforming sign which is removed or altered so as to substantially change the size, appearance or nature of the sign, must conform to the provision of this chapter.

(Ord. 94-185. Passed 9-6-94.)

1339.26 SIGN FEE SCHEDULE.

   Fees for the issuance of permits for signs as provided for in Section 1339.05 shall be collected by the Superintendent in advance of issuing a permit. The amount of such fees shall be as follows:

   (a)   Any sign 10 sq. ft. or less:   $55.00

   (b)   Any sign more than 10 sq. ft.:   $80.00 + $1.00/10 sq. ft.

   (c)   Any sign more than 10 sq. ft.   $50.00 + $1.00/10 sq. ft.

      and more than 20' in height

   (d)   All new electronic message display and new illuminated signs shall require an electrical permit, this shall be obtained at the time of the sign permit application. Electrical permit fees shall be in the amount of $135.00.

      (1)    Exception: Any replacement or erection of an electrical sign which has power available at the immediate location of the sign and does not require the extension of new conduit shall pay $80.00 for the electrical inspection of the hook-up.

   (e)   Marquees shall be reviewed as a "building addition" and shall require building and electrical permit fees relating to the size of the marquee.

   The Superintendent shall deposit these tees with the Director of Finance to the credit of the General Fund. (Ord. 12-186. Passed 12-18-12; Ord. 13-019. Passed 1-15-13.)

1339.27 SIGN ERECTOR'S REGISTRATION.

   In order to operate within the City, a sign erector shall be registered with the Bureau of Buildings, Codes and Permits in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 1333.

(Ord. 07-074. Passed 5-1-07.)

1339.28 MUNICIPAL TOURIST ATTRACTION DIRECTIONAL SIGNS.

   After demonstration of eligibility by meeting the threshold qualifications as set forth in this regulation, the City provides Municipal Tourist Attraction Directional Signs which are intended to provide directional information for facilities located within the City and whose activity includes substantial numbers of customers not residing in the City. If approved, the signs are erected by, owned, maintained and subject to removal by the City.

   (a)   Qualifications to Apply. A facility must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for a Municipal Tourist Attraction Directional Sign.

      (1)   Eligible facilities shall be limited to lodging facilities, museums, sport venues, community theaters, nature attractions and amusement parks meeting the criteria set forth in this code as determined solely by the City Engineer.

      (2)   The facility must have regular hours for commercial transactions on site and open to the public for at least five days a week, which five days must include a Saturday or Sunday, and

      (3)   The facility must provide to the City Engineer an affidavit attesting that the majority of business clientele are non-Mansfield residents; that the attendant commercial activity involves not less than two thousand (2,000) visitors in any year; and any additional information that may be required by the City Engineer to verify status as a tourist destination.

      (4)   The facility must provide adequate parking, public restrooms and drinking water.

      (5)   The facility must be located in the City of Mansfield.

   (b)   Design Standards.

      (1)   All signs shall conform to size and color standards as determined by the City Engineer.

      (2)   All signs shall contain only the facility name and such other directional information as the City deems necessary to locate the facility.

      (3)   All final sign design shall be determined by the City, and

      (4)   All signs shall be fabricated or purchased by the Applicant, and shall become the property of the City.

   (c)   Number and Location.

      (1)   A maximum of four (4) arterial streets within the City, being one each from the north, south, west and east, shall be used for said signage. No more than three (3) off-premises signs per municipal tourist attraction will be permitted on each arterial street.

      (2)   Specific locations may be requested by the applicant, but are subject to all applicable safety criteria. Final sign locations are determined in the sole discretion of the City.

      (3)   The City shall be responsible for the installation of the signage, and

      (4)   All erected signage shall be subject to further review as necssary by the City to evaluate any safety concerns which may arise after installation.

   (d)   Permits, Fees and Duration.

      (1)   To demonstrate eligibility and compliance with the regulations for signs as described in paragraph (c)(1) herein, applicants shall complete a permit application and submit the completed permit application along with seventy- five dollars ($75.00) per sign (commercial establishments) or fifty dollars ($50.00) per sign (non-profits) as an installation fee to the Engineering Department.

In addition, the City reserves the right to install gateway signage on the major arterial entrances into the City for use by tourist attractions. To demonstrate eligibility and compliance with the regulations for gateway signage, which, except for paragraph (c)(1) and (2), are the same as set forth herein, applicants shall complete a permit application and submit the completed permit application along with three hundred dollars ($300.00) per sign (commercial establishments) or two hundred dollars ($200.00) per sign (non-profits) to the Engineering Department.

      (2)   By February 1st of each year following the initial issuance of a permit, a renewal fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per sign (commercial establishments) and fifty dollars ($50.00) (non-profits), for paragraph (c)(1) signage, and three hundred dollars ($300.00) per sign (commercial establishment) or two hundred dollars ($200.00) per sign (non-profits) for gateway signage will be due in order to maintain the placement of the respective signs.

      (3)   If the facility to which the permit is issued ceases operation for a period of six consecutive months, all Municipal Tourist Attraction Directional Signs may be removed by the City without further notice of any nature.

      (4)   In the event a facility fails to pay the respective annual renewal fee(s), the City may, but is not required to, remove all Municipal Tourist Attraction Directional Signs without further notice to the permittee.

   (e)   Authority and Enforcement.

      (1)   The City Engineer or his designee is granted authority for discretionary decisions under this regulation.

      (2)   The City Engineer or his designee is charged with enforcement of the regulations set forth in this section.

         (Ord. 11-068. Passed 5-3-11.)