(a) Purpose. Signs perform an important function in identifying and promoting properties, businesses, services, residences, events, and other matters of interest to the public. The intent of this Article is to regulate all signs within the City to ensure that they are appropriate for their respective uses, in keeping with the appearance of the affected property and surrounding environment, and protective of the public health, safety, and general welfare by:
(1) Setting standards and providing uniform, scientifically based controls that permit reasonable use of signs and preserve the character of the City;
(2) Prohibiting the erection of signs in such numbers, sizes, designs, illumination, and locations as may create a hazard to pedestrians and motorists;
(3) Avoiding excessive conflicts from large or multiple signs, so that permitted signs provide adequate identification and direction while minimizing clutter, unsightliness, and confusion;
(4) Establishing a process for the review and approval of sign permit applications; and
(5) Ensuring sign design that builds on the traditional town image and visual environment the City seeks to promote.
(b) Applicability. Any sign erected, altered, or maintained after the effective date of this Ordinance shall conform to the regulations specified in this Ordinance.
(c) Alteration of Sign Face. The physical alteration of a Sign face shall not be considered the same as construction of a new Sign and shall not be subject to dimensional requirements of this Article.
(d) Alteration of Supporting Sign Structure. The physical alteration of a supporting Sign Structure shall be considered the same as construction of a new Sign and shall require a Sign Permit and conformity to all dimensional requirements of this Article.
(e) Signs on Public Property Forfeited. Any Sign installed or placed on public property or within a public right-of-way, except in conformance with the requirements of this article, shall be forfeited to the public and is subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the City Engineer/Planning Director or designee shall have the right to recover from the Owner or Person placing such a Sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such Sign.
(f) Vacant Parcels. Land completely void of a permissible Use shall also be completely void of all Signs, except for governmental Signs, warning Signs, Temporary Signs associated with a Temporary Use, and real estate Signs, all of which must be in compliance with this Article.
(g) Violations. Any of the following shall be a violation of this Article and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties provided by this Article, by the other provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, and by State law:
(1) To install, create, erect, or maintain any Sign in a way that is inconsistent with any plan or permit governing such Sign or the Lot on which the Sign is located;
(2) To install, create, erect, or maintain any Sign requiring a permit without such a permit;
(3) To fail to remove any Sign that is installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation of this Article, or for which the Sign Permit has lapsed; or
(4) To continue any such violation. Each such day of a continued violation shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this Ordinance. Each Sign installed, created, erected, or maintained in violation of this Ordinance shall be considered a separate violation when applying the penalty portions of this Ordinance.
(h) Enforcement and Remedies. The enforcement provisions of Section 1321.08
(e) are applicable to any violation or attempted violation of this Article or of any condition or requirement adopted pursuant hereto, and for such purposes a Sign shall be considered a Structure. Additionally, in the case of a Sign that poses an immediate danger to the public health or safety, the City may take such measures as are available to the City under the applicable provisions of the City’s other Ordinances and building code for such circumstances.
(i) Excluding Wall Signs, Suspended Signs, Projecting Signs, Canopy/Awning Signs, and Window Signs, all Signs advertising a business shall be separated by a distance of not less than fifty (50) feet. (Ord. 2021-7. Passed 7-21-21.)