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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2018-017 Sponsored by: Staff CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2018-017 A RESOLUTION OF THE SEWARD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL AMEND VARIOUS PORTIONS OF TITLE 15.20 SIGNS OF THE SEWARD CITY CODE WHEREAS, at their June 5, 2018 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved their 2018 priority list, which included making updates to Title 15.20 Signs; and WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission discussed sign code amendments at their July 17 and October 16,2018 meetings; and WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to maintain a city code that reflects community needs by conducting periodic review; and WHEREAS,the Seward City Sign Code was last updated in 2010; and WHEREAS, the public notification process specified by Seward City Code §15.01.040 has been met. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission that: Section 1. The Commission recommends Council approve the attached Ordinance 2019- amending various portions of Title 15.20 Signs; and. Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. PASSED AND APPROVED by the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission this 4th day of December 2018. T CITY OF SEW• '• 4.e. • Cindy und, Chair AYES: Charbonneau, Swann, Fleming,Ambrosiani, Seese, Hatfield,Ecklund NOES: ABSTAIN: VACANT: None .' OF SElie.*** A EST: .�q`l•�N.".. 4 *4. tON SEAL City Clerk // Sea) E -n • V•�••i .� ',�r 43°'y ***,1 FOFAl- a`' a •..I/QN...j S Sponsored by: Planning and Zoning Commission Introduction Date: January 14,2019 Public Hearing Date: January 28,2019 Enactment Date: January 28,2019 CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA ORDINANCE 2019- AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, AMENDING VARIOUS PORTIONS OF TITLE 15.20 SIGNS OF THE SEWARD CITY CODE WHEREAS,the Seward City Sign Code has been periodically updated since its adoption in 1986;and WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission held public discussion on sign code updates at their July 17 and October 16,2018 regular meetings; and WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to maintain a city code that reflects community needs; and WHEREAS, at its December 4, 2018 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing and recommended City Council approval of the proposed Sign Code amendments. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA,HEREBY ORDAINS that: Section 1. Seward City Code Section 15.20 Planning and Land Use Regulations, Seward Sign Code is hereby amended to read as follows ( ethreughs = deletions and are bold, Underline =additions and are bold italics): Chapter 15.20. - Signs 15.20.015. -Definitions. For purposes of this section,the following definitions pertaining to signs shall apply: Banner. A temporary sign made of fabric or similar nonrigid material with no enclosing framework. National flags, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or non- commercial organization business shall not be considered banners. * * * * * Political sign. A temporary Any--poster-or sign used for the purpose of advertising, promoting or endorsing a political candidate, party initiative, issue, referendum or ballot proposition. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2018- Page 2 of 6 ** ** * Real estate sign. A temporary sign which is used to offer for sale, lease, or rent the property upon which the sign is placed ' " . (Note: cross reference deleted since none of the other temporary signs (political, construction) in this chapter contained the cross reference) 15.20.020. -Administration and enforcement. A. Except as provided herein, it shall be unlawful to display, erect, relocate or alter any sign without the property owner first filing with the Administrative Official, as defined under section 15.01.015, a written application and obtaining a sign permit. B. When a sign permit is issued by the administrative official, it shall be unlawful to change, modify, alter or otherwise deviate from the terms and conditions of said permit without prior approval of the Administrative Official. A written record of such approval shall be entered upon the original permit application and maintained in the files of the Administrative Official. C. A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within six months of its issuance. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit to do so shall first be obtained, and the fee shall be one-half the amount required for a new permit. D. Fees shall be set by resolution of the City Council. E. Issuance of a certificate of occupancy for each new facility using a sign for identification or advertising shall be contingent upon approval of a sign permit. F. Exceptions: 1. Painting, repainting or cleaning of a sign or the changing of copy or message thereon shall not be considered an erection or alteration which requires a sign permit, unless structural change is made. 2. Other specific exceptions are listed under signs allowed without permits. 15.20.021 —Measurement Standards The following regulations shall control the computation and measurement of sign area and sign height A. The sign area shall include the face of all the display area(s), the sign frame, the structural support, and any attendant construction of the sign, except as follows: 1. Structural support that is located below the sign face area and its accompanying frame, does not contain a message other than the street number in conformance CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2018- Page 3 of 6 with 12.01.020, and is clearly distinguishable from the sign face area, shall not be considered sign area B. For a sign that is framed, outlined, painted, or otherwise prepared and intended to provide a background for a sign display, the area of the sign shall be the area of not more than three geometric shapes that encompass the entire area of the sign including the background or frame. C. For a sign comprised of individual letters, figures, or elements on a wall or similar surface of a building or structure, or an irregular shaped freestanding sign, the area of the sign shall be the area of not more than three regular geometric shapes that encompass the perimeter of all the elements in the display. D. For freestanding and projecting signs the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces when two display faces are joined, are parallel, or are within 30 degrees of being parallel to each other and are part of the same sign structure. For any sign that has two display surfaces that do not comply with the above regulation, or has more than two display surfaces, then each surface shall be included when determining the area of the sign. ' E. The height of a freestanding sign shall be measured from the elevation of the edge of the public right-of-way immediately adjacent to, or nearest the sign structure, to the highest point of the sign, its frame, or decorative features. 15.20.025. - Requirements applicable to all signs. The following provisions shall apply in all zoning districts to all signs governed by this ordinance, subject to the specific regulations in each zoning district: A. Whenever two provisions of this code overlap or conflict with regard to the size or placement of a sign,the more restrictive provision shall apply. B. In matters of unspecified uses or clarification, the administrative official shall make determinations. C. Except when approved by the City Council for civic purposes, signs are considered an accessory use on a lot. Only signs identified under section 15.20.030 are allowed on vacant lots. D. Signs containing non-commercial speech are permitted anywhere business signs are permitted and are subject to the same regulations applicable to such signs. E. 14, All signs, including signs heretofore installed, and the area around the base of each freestanding sign, shall be constantly maintained in a state of security, safety and repair. If any sign is found not to be so maintained or is insecurely fastened or otherwise CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA ORDINANCE 2018-_ Page 4 of 6 dangerous, it shall be the duty of the owner and/or occupant of the premises on which the sign is fastened to repair or remove the sign within five days after receiving notice from the administrative official. F. €r Illumination from or upon any sign shall be shaded, shielded, directed or reduced so as to avoid glare or reflection of light on private or public property in the surrounding area and so as to avoid distracting pedestrians and motorists. G. F In those cases where a business or institution has frontage on more than one street, signs are allowed on each street frontage, provided they are in conformance with applicable district regulations, and that frontage limits are not combined. H. G The symbol, slogan or national trademark of a national brand beverage or other product that is sold on the premises shall not comprise more than 25 percent of the total area of the sign. National brand logo signs designed to hang in a window and not exceeding four square feet, and signs advertising products that form the bulk of the business transaction,are exempted from this provision. J. I-I,No sign shall be located so as to physically obstruct any door, window or exit from a building or be hazardous to a motorist's ingress and egress from any public or private parking area. K. I,Signs used seasonally are to be included in the total square footage of sign area allowed for that district. L. 3 In no case shall any portion of a sign attached to a building exceed the maximum allowable building height limit, or more than four feet above the roof line, facade or parapet height, whichever is less. M. KNo sign shall exceed the roofline of a building within any historic district. N.&Freestanding signs are subject to the following limitations: 1. Maximum height of 20 feet or the height of the building,whichever is less; 2. One per parcel; 3. Only allowed within front yards or side yards which are adjacent to a street. O. M:- No readerboard sign may exceed 32 square feet per side; changeable letters of such signs must be adequately secured against wind loss, and each readerboard sign must be one of the following: 1. A wall sign; 2. A marquee sign; 3. A freestanding sign within a structural framework. P. I Except in the central business district (CBD) zone and along the west side of Fourth Avenue between North and South Harbor Streets, no sign, except temporary street banners, shall project into the airspace above any right-of-way or sidewalk. 2,07 Projecting signs(fin or right angle signs) are subject to the following limitations: CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2018- Page 5 of 6 1. One per pedestrian entrance; 2. Maximum height of 20 feet or the height of the building, whichever is less; 3. Shall not extend over a public sidewalk in excess of the width of the sidewalk; 4. Shall maintain a clear vertical distance above the nearest grade by a minimum of eight feet. 15.20.030. - Signs allowed without permits. The following signs are not subject to a permit requirement if the following standards are met. They shall be regulated by the following size and placement standards and shall not be included when calculating permitted sign area for any building or parcel. If a proposed sign exceeds the limits of this section, a sign permit must be obtained and the signage must count toward the total allowed signage for the building or parcel. A. Nameplates not exceeding two square feet and building markers; * * * * * J. Structure or improvements intended for a separate use, such as phone-berms, donation containers,product dispensers, trash receptacles or recycling boxes; * * * * * O. Signs on vehicles, . . . . . • - • . •• . • . . • . • • , primarily and actively used for business purposes, which identify the firm or its principal product (see also section 15.20.035C.); * * * * * R. Temporary signs may be posted for not more than 30 days in a 180 day time period. 1. One temporary sign is allowed per property if non-commercial residential, and one for each business in commercial districts 2. Temporary signs may include banners, flags, or pennants. 3. Temporary signs may not exceed twelve (12) square feet in residential areas and thirty-two (32) square feet in commercial or industrial districts. 4. Temporary signs referencing a date or event must be removed within ten days following the date or event. S. Special noncommercial event signs may be erected two weeks prior to the event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA ORDINANCE 2018- Page 6 of 6 per street frontages • Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect ten (10) days following enactment. ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, THIS DAY OF , 2019. THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA David Squires, Mayor AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: Brenda Ballou, MMC City Clerk (City Seal)