§ 109-3. Findings, purpose and effect.
(a)
Findings. The city council hereby finds as follows:
(1)
Exterior signs have a substantial impact on the character and quality of the environment.
(2)
Signs provide an important medium through which individuals may convey a variety of messages.
(3)
Signs can create traffic hazards, aesthetic concerns and detriments to property values, thereby threatening the public health, safety and welfare.
(4)
The city's regulations have included the regulation of signs in an effort to provide adequate means of expression and to promote the economic viability of the business community, while protecting the city and its citizens from a proliferation of signs of a type, size, location and character that would adversely impact upon the community's aesthetics and threaten the health, safety and welfare of the community. The regulation of the physical characteristics of signs within the city will have a positive impact on traffic safety and the appearance of the community.
(b)
Purpose and intent. It is not the purpose or intent of this chapter to regulate the message displayed on any sign; nor is it the purpose or intent of this chapter to regulate any building design or any display not defined as a sign, or any sign which cannot be viewed from outside a building. Rather, the purpose and intent of this chapter is as follows:
(1)
To regulate the number, location, size, type, illumination and other physical characteristics of signs within the city in order to promote the public health, safety and welfare.
(2)
To maintain, enhance and improve the citys' aesthetic environment by preventing visual clutter that is harmful to the community's appearance.
(3)
To improve the city's visual appearance while providing for effective means of communication, consistent with constitutional guarantees and the city's goals of public safety and aesthetics.
(4)
To provide for fair and consistent enforcement of the sign regulations set forth herein under the city's police power.
(c)
Effect. A sign may be erected, mounted, displayed or maintained in the city if it is in conformance with the provisions of these regulations set forth in this chapter. The effect of this chapter is intended to:
(1)
Allow a variety of sign types in commercial zones, and a more limited variety of signs in other zones, subject to the standards set forth in this chapter;
(2)
Prohibit a sign whose location, size, type, illumination or other physical characteristics negatively affects the environment and where the communication can be accomplished by means having a lesser impact on the environment and the public health, safety and welfare;
(3)
Provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 380, § 1(18.1), 9-24-2007)