(A) Statement of purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate permanent signs in a manner which will permit the identification and/or advertizing of a business, product, or event while maintaining the protection of the city’s appearance and the general welfare of the public.
(B) Regulation of sign requirements. All permanent signs shall be subject to the following regulations to be enforced by the Zoning Administrator, unless otherwise provided in this chapter (see § 154.022(K)(5), § 154.022(L)(4), and Chapter 152). Unless otherwise permitted within this section, no signage shall be displayed within the city. of Saugatuck.
(C) Sign permit procedure. All proposed permanent signs shall be subject to prior approval by the Zoning Administrator. All applications for approval of proposed signs shall indicate size, type, materials, structural supporting devices, and type of illumination (if any). A scale drawing of the proposed sign shall be provided with all applications. If the application is made by the building tenant, the same must have written permission for the proposed sign from the building owner. Sign approval shall be valid for a period of one year. If the approved sign is not installed within that period, a new application must be submitted.
(D) Signs- freestanding. Non-residential uses are permitted to have one freestanding sign per frontage. Said sign shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Total area of all freestanding signs for each lot shall not exceed 0.25 square feet per linear foot of property frontage on a public or private road up to 32 square feet;
(2) Freestanding signs shall not exceed 12 feet in height from the grade of the sidewalk to the upper most point of the sign. If no sidewalk is present, then the measurement shall be taken to the grade of the nearest public or private road;
(3) Freestanding signs shall be located at least five feet from any property line;
(4) Freestanding signs shall be located at least 25 feet from any other freestanding sign;
(5) Freestanding signs shall be placed in a manor as to not create a traffic vision obstruction; and
(6) Directional freestanding signs, on private property for the direction of traffic, shall not exceed two square feet in size per sign, and shall be approved as part of an overall site plan by the Planning Commission.
(E) Attached signs. Each non-residential use is permitted to have up to two wall signs per building frontage. Attached signs as defined in this chapter shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The total area of all attached signage associated with a non-residential use shall not exceed 0.75 square feet per linear foot of building frontage. The maximum area of any sign visible from more than one street shall not exceed 0.75 square feet per linear foot of the largest building frontage and shall count as the signage for that frontage. If the building contains more than one business, then the frontage shall be limited to the building frontage of the tenant space facing a public street or primary entrance;
(2) Projecting and canopy signs shall be located such that there is a clear area of no less than seven feet below the lowest part of the sign and the sidewalk or ground surface below the sign and shall not project more than four feet from the building face to which it is attached;
(3) No attached sign shall be permitted to extend above the roofline of the building to which it is attached;
(4) No projecting or canopy sign shall be within ten feet of another projecting or canopy sign; and
(5) Building names which do not contain a commercial message, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, and have been engraved into stone or brick as part of the building facade shall not be included in the calculation of signage or number of signs permitted.
(F) Sign illumination. The illumination of permanent signs shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1) All externally lit signs shall be designed so that the light source shall not be visible from the public right-of-way;
(2) All internally lit signs shall be designed such that the source of the lighting is not visible from the public right-of-way; and
(3) No sign shall contain lights which flash, change color or intensity.
(G) Exempt signs. The following permanent signs are exempt from requiring a permit or historic district approval if they meet the following regulations:
(1) Signs on docks: Signs on docks shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:
(a) Primary signage meant to identify a business or service from a waterway shall be limited in size to six square feet in area; and
(b) Signage on a boat dock with the main business located in a nearby building shall be limited to one sign with a maximum area of 1.5 square feet oriented vertically, and attached only to a piling at the entrance to the dock.
(2) Residential signs: Buildings that do not contain any commercial use shall be permitted to have an attached sign up to two square feet listing the name of the structure, the occupants, street address, or other non-commercial message.
(3) Signs erected by government agencies and necessary for the identification, operation, or protection of public services, incidental to the legal process, or necessary for public welfare.
(4) Flags: Official national, state, local, provincial, or other government entity flags, and official public or private educational institution, fraternal organization, society, or similar organization flags, no larger than 24 square feet in size shall be permitted. Flags displaying commercial emblems, commercial messages, business or organization names, or “Open” or similar message shall be regulated as attached signs.
(H) Historic district. Permanent signs located within the historic district shall require approval from the Historic District Commission before installation.
(J) Compliance with building codes. All signs shall comply with the building and electrical codes of the city. Underground wiring shall be required for all illuminated signs, or signs requiring electrical connections which are not attached to a building.
(K) Existing non-conforming signs. The intent of this section is to permit the continuance of a lawful use of any sign existing at the time of the effective date of this section, although the sign or supporting structure may not conform with the provisions of this section. Further, it is the intent that non-conforming signs and structures be gradually eliminated upon their natural deterioration.
(1) Every permanent legally existing sign which does not conform to the height, size, area, or location requirements of this subchapter as of the date of the adoption of this section, is hereby deemed to be non-conforming.
(2) Alteration, erection, replacement, or enlargement of signs. No person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity shall alter, replace, or enlarge the faces, supports, or other parts of existing non-conforming signs except in accordance with this section. Non-conforming signs, however, may be repaired, repainted, or otherwise maintained.
(3) Accidental destruction.
(a) If a non-conforming sign is destroyed, it may be replaced, provided that it is not enlarged in size or dimension. If the sign is located in the public right-of-way, the sign may not be replaced without the approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals for a sign permit.
(b) For the purpose of this section, a non-conforming sign is destroyed if damaged to an extent that the cost of repairing it to its former state or replacing it with an equivalent sign equals or exceeds the value of the damaged sign prior to the damage.
(4) A non-conforming sign may be diminished in size or dimension, or the copy of the sign amended or changed without jeopardizing the privilege of non-conforming use.
(L) Permanent signs in the public right-of-way or in city parks.
(1) All existing non-conforming signs, supports, and structures located in the public right-of- way may continue to occupy the right-of-way until such time that they are accidentally destroyed, removed, or become non-functional. These signs shall not be replaced without approval of the Planning Commission for a sign permit, the City Council for a revocable license, and the Historic District Commission if located in the Historic District.
(2) Any new permanent signs within the public right-of-way shall obtain City Council approval prior to erection. Signs shall not create a traffic vision obstruction, pedestrian traffic obstruction, or prevent the general accepted use of the public right-of-way.
(Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. passed 4-27-1998; Am. Ord. 050711, passed - -; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 090824-1, passed 8-24-2009; Am. Ord. 101122-1, passed 11-22-2010)
Penalty, see § 154.999