A. Purpose: The purpose of this section is to designate the use of certain temporary signs deemed necessary to offset the impact of building demolition activity and/or construction activity. Additional temporary signage for impacted businesses will benefit local neighborhoods and the city as a whole by promoting business identity and informing the public of continued business operations while demolition and construction activity is ongoing.
B. Nonpublic Forum: In allowing limited temporary signage in certain designated locations, the city does not intend to create a public forum, but rather intends to create a limited or nonpublic forum for the purposes set forth herein.
C. Definitions:
APPLICANT: Any person or organization located within a designated construction impact area that makes application for a construction impact area mitigation sign permit as described herein.
CITY ADMINISTRATION: The community and neighborhoods director with consultation with the planning director, transportation director and city engineer.
CONSTRUCTION IMPACT AREA: A specific location designated by the mayor or the mayor's designee likely to be impacted by temporary construction activities that are anticipated to occur for a period greater than six (6) months and which activities will likely disrupt pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic in such a manner to negatively affect nearby business activities. A construction impact area designation shall be effective for no longer than eighteen (18) months, unless extended by the mayor or mayor's designee for good cause.
CONSTRUCTION IMPACT AREA MITIGATION SIGN: A temporary sign that informs the public a business is open during the period of nearby construction activity.
D. Approval Of Construction Impact Areas: In order to encourage and promote business identity during periods of construction activity, the mayor or mayor's designee may recognize via a public meeting, business areas that are impacted by construction activity.
E. Authority To Display: The designation of a construction impact area authorizes the city administration to develop guidelines limiting sign types, size and location for permitting temporary construction impact area mitigation signs within affected business areas.
F. Construction Impact Area Mitigation Signs: Construction impact area mitigation signs are subject to the following minimum standards in addition to any administrative implementing guidelines developed for a specific construction impact area:
1. Signs for a business with a storefront:
a. Quantity of signs allowed is one banner or A-frame sign per business establishment with a storefront on a street within a designated construction impact area.
b. Size of banner or A-frame signs is limited to sixteen (16) square feet in area.
c. Additional window signs are limited to twenty five percent (25%) of the window area above the base zoning sign area allowed.
2. Signs for a building with multiple businesses without individual storefronts:
a. Quantity of signs allowed is a single banner sign or A-frame sign for the entire building.
b. Size of signs is limited to thirty two (32) square feet in area.
c. Additional window signs are limited to twenty five percent (25%) of the window area above the base zoning sign area allowed.
3. Directional signs identifying parking and businesses open are limited to eight (8) square feet in area and the location is subject to transportation division approval and subject to subsection 21A.46.070D of this chapter.
4. All temporary signs within the public way must be placed in a manner as not to damage roadway and sidewalk surfaces.
5. Duration of display period is up to six (6) months from building permit issuance and is intended to terminate coincidentally with the end of the construction impact. Administrative renewal of a permitted temporary sign is limited to six (6) month periods.
G. Location Of Construction Impact Area Mitigation Signs: The location where temporary signs are permitted can be varied subject to demolition and construction activity within a designated construction impact area. The determination of specific areas is a function of the administrative group given authority to allow temporary signage. Sign locations are also subject to the following criteria for safety purposes:
1. Signs, particularly A-frames, can only be located in a manner that they do not pose a hazard or block the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular travel in the public right of way.
2. Signs on sidewalks should not preclude normal pedestrian passage and should not be located such that they block more than half of the clear walking width or leave less than four feet (4') of passage width to maintain accessibility.
3. Signs in the public right of way cannot be placed in a manner that they preclude drivers within intersections or driveways from having sufficient sight ability of oncoming traffic to maneuver safely.
4. Any approved sign allowed on the public right of way is subject to modification or revocation for public safety purposes.
H. Effect On Overlay Districts: Construction impact mitigation signs are not subject to the requirements and standards of overlay districts established in chapter 21A.34 of this title. (Ord. 49-16, 2016: Ord. 77-08 § 2, 2008)