The purpose of this chapter is to create the legal framework for a comprehensive but balanced system of sign graphics and thereby to facilitate communication between people and their environment. With this purpose in mind, it is the intention of this chapter to authorize the use of sign graphics which are:
(a) To promote attractive and maintain high value in business districts and attractive public facilities and education districts;
(b) To provide for reasonable and yet appropriate, conditions for advertising goods sold or services rendered in business districts by regulating the size, type and design of signs to the type and size of establishment providing that no ground sign shall be used for the advertising of goods or services.
(c) To provide for appropriate signs for the identification and encouragement for further growth and development of business in the Village;
(d) To promote the most desirable developments and economic activities in accordance with the objectives of the master plan of the Municipality.
(e) To protect the rights of free speech within the Village by permitting signs without reference to the message conveyed by any sign and without attempted regulation of any sign on the basis of the message conveyed by the sign.
(f) To permit signs compatible with their surroundings, appropriate to the type of activity to which they pertain and legible in the circumstances in which they are seen.
(g) To regulate the physical characteristics of signs on aesthetic, public safety and general welfare basis.
The provisions of this chapter do not apply to signs placed or erected in the residential districts of the Village and shall apply only to signs identifying business or commercial activities located in the business districts of the Village.
(Ord. 1995-61. Passed 6-21-95.)