§ 41-7. Oversize off-premises commercial signs.
(a)
Oversize off-premises commercial signs represent a special privilege granted by the city to advertisers to enable them to use the environment for marketing purposes. Such signs derive their profitability solely from use of the public investment embodied in public roads, and offer no additional public benefit such as identification of premises. Therefore, certain additional considerations arise in their regulation. Such signs by definition do not conform to the restrictions otherwise placed upon business signs by section 41-4 of this chapter, and are therefore:
(1)
Detrimental to property values, the character and quality of neighborhoods, and highway safety;
(2)
Out-of-scale with pedestrian areas and most buildings;
(3)
Potential hazards to life and property and potential harbors for criminal activity;
(4)
Accumulators of junk;
(5)
Obstructers of light, air and sun;
(6)
Incompatible with quality building rehabilitation, and with historic architecture, revitalization of existing commercial areas, economic development, and the attraction of image-conscious, high-quality commercial and industrial firms, which attraction is a stated policy of the city;
(7)
Otherwise in contravention to the stated purposes of this chapter; and
(8)
Detrimental to aesthetic values and to the public health, safety and welfare otherwise.
(b)
To the extent that such signs vary from the business sign standards hereinabove provided by section 41-4 hereof, there are imposed the following restrictions. For all oversize off-premises commercial signs to the extent permitted under subsections (c) or (d) of this section:
(1)
A permit shall be required for each such sign.
(2)
A sign structure shall have no more than one (1) sign face oriented to a public right-of-way facing the same direction, nor a total of more than two (2) sign faces total.
(3)
Any direct lighting of such signs shall be screened from the eyes of passing motorists and from any residential district.
(4)
No such sign shall be permitted as a wall sign.
(5)
No such sign shall be permitted as a roof sign.
(6)
No such sign shall be permitted as a projecting sign.
(7)
Such signs in residential areas particularly reduce property values and the quality of neighborhoods. Therefore, such signs are prohibited in residential districts.
(8)
Such signs shall be set back as follows:
a.
The minimum setback of such signs from Route 5 shall be the height of the sign or twenty-five (25) feet, whichever is larger;
b.
The minimum exterior yard and rear yard setback of such signs from lot lines other than those abutting Route 5, shall be at least equal to the height of the sign; and
c.
The minimum interior side yard setback of such signs from lot lines other than those abutting Route 5, shall be equal to ten (10) percent of the lot width, but not less than ten (10) feet.
(9)
Such signs shall be aesthetically improved by the regular maintenance of the immediate area surrounding the sign (twenty (20) feet in all directions), including maintaining the height of any surrounding weeds or grass at eight (8) inches or less.
(10)
In addition to the information required in section 41-10(a) hereof, permit applications for such signs shall include:
a.
A site plan, drawn to scale, showing all setbacks, abutting roadways, abutting zoning, landscape materials, and the proposed sign and its orientation and lighting;
b.
An elevation drawing of each proposed sign face, drawn to scale, showing the sign face height, face length, and total height;
c.
An area plan, drawn to scale, showing all lots, their zoning and all existing off-premises signs, within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the proposed sign; and
d.
A legal description of the lot upon which the sign will be constructed.
(c)
Where state law does not prevail pursuant to section 41-3(d)(1) hereof, and in addition to the provisions of subsection B of this section:
(1)
Such signs which are up to seventy-two (72) square feet in area and up to sixteen (16) feet high, shall be regulated as follows:
a.
Such signs shall be prohibited if not located along primary highways or arterial streets.
b.
No such sign shall be located within three hundred (300) feet along the way of any other such sign, provided that no more than three (3) such signs shall be permitted within one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet along the way of each other.
c.
There shall be living ground cover installed and maintained surrounding the base of each such sign, unless the sign base is set in pavement.
d.
There shall be no more than an amount of seventy-two (72) square feet of such sign faces permitted in the city for every twenty-five (25) acres zoned B3, M1 and M2, not including planned development districts and the Meridian Business Park.
e.
Such signs in historic districts are incompatible with the purpose and goals of such districts. Therefore:
1.
Such signs shall be prohibited from historic Stolp Island; and
2.
No such sign whose face is oriented to and visible from Stolp Island, shall be located less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from Stolp Island.
f.
Such signs in existing high-density commercial areas are particularly discouraging of pedestrian uses, detrimental to property values, out of scale with most buildings, potential hazards to life and property, wrongfully disadvantageous to nearby businesses, and incompatible with revitalization of such areas. Therefore, such signs are prohibited from the downtown core, and areas zoned O, B1, and B2 except as otherwise provided by subparagraph h hereof.
g.
Since such signs are particularly detrimental to property values, potential traffic hazards, in direct opposition to economic development and the attraction of high-quality, image-conscious commercial and industrial firms, which attraction is a stated policy of the city, and the business-boulevard, office/research/industrial, and research and development districts are the primary areas of the city where such high-quality development is encouraged, such signs are prohibited from areas zoned BB, ORI, and R&D.
h.
Such signs are permitted only in areas zoned B3, M1 and M2, and in areas zoned B2 if such signs are located on vacant parcels (with no other structures) in such areas.
i.
No such sign whose face is oriented to and visible from a residential district shall be located less than two hundred (200) feet from such district.
(2)
Such signs which are over seventy-two (72) square feet in area or over sixteen (16) feet high, or both, shall be regulated as follows:
a.
Such signs shall be prohibited if not located along primary highways or arterial streets.
b.
No such sign shall be located within three hundred (300) feet along the way of any other such sign, provided that no more than three (3) such signs shall be permitted within one thousand two hundred (1,200) feet along the way of each other.
c.
Such signs shall be landscaped as follows:
1.
Such signs which are double-faced shall have evergreen shrubs planted at their bases in such a manner that no portion of the sign or sign structure visibly appears to be touching the ground after a period of two (2) years;
2.
In the rear of such signs which are single-faced, evergreen trees or shrubs shall be planted of such species and at such location that, at maturity, they totally screen the view of the rear of the sign, such plantings having a minimum planting height of ten (10) feet; and
3.
Any tree or shrub thereon that dies shall be replaced by the end of the next planting season.
d.
The new construction of such signs on arterial streets shall be prohibited except that:
1.
Upon the effective date of this chapter, the total existing number of such sign faces in the city, other than those along primary highways, shall be verified and that total number shall represent the maximum allowable number of such sign faces on arterial streets hereunder; and
2.
Upon removal of any such existing sign faces, the owner thereof shall have sixty (60) days to apply for and receive a permit to replace such sign faces on one (1) or more structures. If application is not made within said sixty (60) days, a permit shall be granted to the first applicant who files for a new permit and meets the requirements applicable to such application.
e.
Such signs in historic districts are incompatible with the purpose and goals of such districts. Therefore:
1.
Such signs shall be prohibited from historic Stolp Island; and
2.
No such signs whose face is oriented to and visible from Stolp Island, shall be located less than six hundred sixty (660) feet from Stolp Island.
f.
Such signs in existing high-density commercial areas are particularly discouraging of pedestrian uses, detrimental to property values, out of scale with most buildings, potential hazards to life and property, wrongfully disadvantageous to nearby businesses, and incompatible with revitalization of such areas. Therefore, such signs are prohibited from the downtown core, and areas zoned O, B1 and B2.
g.
Since such signs are particularly detrimental to property values, potential traffic hazards, in direct opposition to economic development and the attraction of high-quality, image-conscious commercial and industrial firms, which attraction is a stated policy of the city, and the business-boulevard, office/research/industrial, and research and development districts are the primary areas of the city where such high-quality development is encouraged, such signs are prohibited from areas zoned BB, ORI, and R&D.
h.
Such signs are permitted only in areas zoned B3, M1 and M2.
i.
No such sign whose face is oriented to and visible from a residential district shall be located less than three hundred (300) feet from such district.
(3)
Such signs which are over three hundred (300) square feet in area or over thirty-five (35) feet high, or both, shall be prohibited.
(d)
Where state law prevails pursuant to section 41-3(d)(1) hereof, and in addition to the provisions of subsection b of this section:
(1)
Such signs which are up to seventy-two (72) square feet in area and up to sixteen (16) feet high, shall be regulated as follows:
a.
No such sign shall be permitted to be erected without a permit from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
b.
Permit applications for such signs shall include a detailed drawing of the lot upon which the sign will be constructed.
c.
There shall be living ground cover installed and maintained surrounding the base of each such sign, unless the sign base is set in pavement.
d.
No such sign whose face is oriented to and visible from a residential district shall be located less than two hundred (200) feet from such district.
(2)
Such signs which are over seventy-two (72) square feet in area or over sixteen (16) feet high, or both, shall be regulated as follows:
a.
Such signs shall be no more than thirty-five (35) feet high.
b.
Such signs shall be prohibited if not oriented to a primary highway.
c.
Such signs shall be landscaped as follows:
1.
Such signs which are double-faced shall have evergreen shrubs planted at their bases in such a manner that no portion of the sign or sign structure visibly appears to be touching the ground after a period of two (2) years;
2.
In the rear of such signs which are single-faced, evergreen trees or shrubs shall be planted of such species and at such location that, at maturity, they totally screen the view of the rear of the sign, such plantings having a minimum planting height of ten (10) feet; and
3.
Any tree or shrub thereon that dies shall be replaced by the end of the next planting season.
d.
No such sign shall be permitted to be erected without a permit from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
e.
Permit applications for such signs shall include a detailed drawing of the lot upon which the sign will be constructed.
f.
No such sign whose face is oriented to and visible from a residential district shall be located less than three hundred (300) feet from such district.
(Ord. No. O03-159, § 1, 12-9-03)