06-C Sign Ord Amendments - Laserfiche WebLink

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(g) A new provision regulating signs on public rights-of-way has been added. (h) A new provision regulating signs on trees, poles, etc. has been added. (i) A new provision regulating signs on abandoned buildings or lots has been added. G) A new provision regulating attached signs has been added. These kinds of signs are frequently used, and there is no provision in the current ordinance to address their permitted size. (k) A new provision regulating the total allowed square footage of all signs combined. The City Council is requested to recommend a maximum allotted amount. 4. The existing Section 28-21, "Removal of nonconforming signs," is being repealed and replaced by a new Section 28-21, "Nonconforming signs; maintenance of existing signs; removal of signs by city." The old section addressed only those signs that existed prior to 1986 and the conditions under which they should be removed. Nowhere in the ordinance were there provisions allowing for removal by the City of dilapidated signs or signs otherwise deemed nuisances. The proposed revision provides for the following: (a) Nonconforming signs are addressed in a manner consistent with current State law. (b) Owners of abandoned or obsolete signs will now be required to remove those signs within a certain time period. In accordance with State law, if the owner of the property ran the business, he will be allowed a one (1) year period to remove the sign; and if a tenant ran the business, he will be allowed two (2) years to remove the sign. If the owner does not remove a sign within the required time period, Code Inspectors will now have the authority to remove the sign. (c) Code Inspectors will now have the authority to remove unlawful or hazardous signs. (d) Provisions have been added to require maintenance of existing signs. Code Inspectors will now have the authority to remove signs which become dilapidated. (e) The Community Development Department will now have the authority to impound signs and assess fees for the recovery of impounded signs. The Department will also now have the authority to dispose of unclaimed impounded signs. 5. A new Section 28-22, "General provisions," will be added to address the following: (a) A business may not cover with interior, outward-facing signs more than thirty percent (30%) ofthe transparent area of a window. (b) External illumination will be regulated to insure that the lighting does not interfere with the use of surrounding properties. (c) Nonconforming signs removed as a result of street construction may not be replaced. Although the ordinance currently requires this, this new provision was added to explicitly state the requirement so as to avoid any confusion in the future. T ..