The exterior of the premises and the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained so that the appearance of the premises and all buildings thereon shall reflect a level of maintenance in keeping with the standards of the immediate neighborhood so that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not constitute a blighting factor for adjoining property owners nor an element leading to the progressive deterioration and downgrading of the immediate neighborhood with the accompanying diminution of property values, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Landscaping. Premises shall be maintained. Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly where exposed to public view and where the same constitute a blighting factor depreciating adjoining property.
(b) Signs and Billboards. All permanent signs and billboards exposed to public view permitted by reason of other regulations or as a lawful nonconforming use shall be maintained in good repair. Any signs which have weathered or faded or those upon which the paint has peeled or cracked shall, with their supporting members, be removed forthwith or put into a good state of repair. All nonoperative or broken electrical signs shall be repaired or shall, with their supporting members, be removed.
(c) Windows. All windows exposed to public view shall be kept free of foreign substances, except when necessary in the course of changing displays. No storage of materials, stock or inventory shall be permitted in window display areas or other areas ordinarily exposed to public view, unless such areas are first screened from the public view by draperies, Venetian blinds or other permanent rendering of the windows opaque to the public view. All screening of interiors shall be maintained in a clean and attractive manner and in a good state of repair.
(d) Store Fronts. All store fronts shall be kept in good repair and painted where required, and shall not constitute a safety hazard or nuisance. In the event repairs to a store front become necessary, such repairs shall be made with the same or similar materials used in the construction of the store front in such a manner as to permanently repair the damaged area or areas. Any cornice visible above a store front shall be kept painted, where required, and in good repair.
(e) Removal of Signs or Advertising. Except for "for rent" signs, any temporary sign or other paper advertising material glued or otherwise attached to a window or windows or otherwise exposed to public view shall be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which it is erected or within sixty days after erection, whichever shall occur sooner.
Except during the course of repairs or alterations, no more than one-third of the square footage of any single window or single window display area shall be devoted to signs or other temporary advertising material attached to such window or windows or otherwise exposed to public view.
(f) Awnings and Marquees. Any awning or marquee and its accompanying structural members which extend over any street, sidewalk or other portion of the premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall not constitute a nuisance or a safety hazard. In the event such awnings or marquees are not properly maintained in accordance with the foregoing, they shall, together with their supporting members, be removed. In the event such awnings or marquees are made of cloth, plastic or similar materials, such cloth or plastic, where exposed to public view, shall be maintained in good condition and shall not show evidence of weathering, discoloration, ripping, tearing or other holes. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any encroachment on streets, sidewalks or other parts of the public domain.
(Ord. 36-1985. Passed 5-28-85.)