(a) It is hereby determined that regulation of the location, size, placement and certain features of signs is necessary to enable the public to locate goods, services and facilities without difficulty and confusion, to promote traffic safety, safeguard public health and welfare and prevent wasteful use of natural resources in competition among businesses for attention.
(b) In addition, it is the intent of this chapter to assure the continued attractiveness of the total city environment through the adoption of discretionary controls designed to preserve scenic, aesthetic, and economic values within the city. It is further determined that signs lawfully erected and maintained under the provisions of this chapter are consistent with customary usage.
(c) The standards contained herein are intended to be content neutral while achieving the following objectives:
(1) Recognize the proliferation of signs is unduly distracting to motorists and non-motorists travelers, reduces the effectiveness of signs directing and warning the public, causes confusion, reduces desired uniform traffic flow and creates the potential for vehicular crashes;
(2) Prevent signs that are potentially dangerous to the public because of structural deficiencies or disrepair;
(3) Require signs to conform to the city character and scale and reduce visual pollution caused by a proliferation of signs which could diminish the city’s image, property values, and quality of life;
(4) Recognize that the principal intent of commercial signs, to meet the purpose of these standards and serve the public interest, should be for identification of an establishment on the premises, and not for advertising special events, brand names or off-premise activities; alternative channels of advertising communication and media are available for advertising that does not create visual blight and compromise safety of the motoring public;
(5) Enable the public to locate goods, services and facilities without excessive difficulty and confusion by restricting the number and placement of signs;
(6) Prevent placement of signs that will conceal or obscure signs of adjacent uses;
(7) Protect the public right to receive messages, especially noncommercial messages such as religious, political, economic, social, philosophical and other types of information protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution
(8) Achieve a substantial government interest for public safety, aesthetics and protection of property values;
(9) Maintain and improve the image of the city by encouraging signs that are compatible with and complimentary to related buildings, uses and adjacent streets through the establishment of limited discretionary standards and specific standards for various commercial areas in the city; and
(10) To prohibit all signs that are not expressly permitted under this chapter.
(Ord. 2003-99, passed 9-8-2003)