[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Fox Point as Ch. 16 of the 1961 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Village is enacting this chapter to establish reasonable regulations
for the posting of permanent or temporary signs on public and private
property. The Village Board finds that signs provide an important
medium through which individuals may convey a variety of noncommercial
and commercial messages. However, left completely unregulated, signs
can become a threat to public safety as a traffic hazard and detriment
to property values and the Village's overall public welfare as
an aesthetic nuisance.
B.
By enacting this chapter, the Village Board intends to:
(1)
Balance the rights of individuals to convey their messages through
signs and the right of the public to be protected against the unrestricted
proliferation of signs;
(2)
Further the objectives of any such Village Master Plan as may from
time to time be adopted and in effect;
(3)
Protect the public health, safety, and welfare;
(4)
Reduce traffic and pedestrian hazards;
(5)
Protect property values by minimizing the possible adverse effects
and visual blight caused by temporary signs;
(6)
Promote economic development; and
(7)
Ensure the fair and consistent enforcement of the sign regulations
specified herein.
For purposes of this chapter, the following words have the meanings
respectively ascribed to them in this section, except where the context
clearly indicates a different meaning:
- CONTRACTOR SIGN
- Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, subcontractors, architects and lending institutions responsible for repair or remodeling on the site of an existing structure where the sign is placed, together with other pertinent information included thereon.
- DEVELOPMENT SIGN
- Any sign designed to identify a future residential development or a future nonresidential development or redevelopment project currently under construction.
- DIRECTIONAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL NONELECTRIC SIGN
- A sign that provides instruction or direction and does not advertise a business. This includes, without limitation, signs identifying telephones, house numbers, nameplates, no trespassing and warning signs, alarm signs, memorial signs, and rummage sale signs.
- ESTATE SALE SIGN
- Any sign advertising or providing information which relates
to any sale or liquidation occurring on residential premises wherein
personal property of the resident or property owner is held out for
public sale with the assistance of a paid, professional, commissioned,
or in any other way compensated agent.[Added 5-14-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-07]
- GRAND OPENING SIGN
- A sign that calls attention to a new business or announces a change of ownership of a business.
- POLITICAL SIGN
- A sign containing a political message.[1]
- POST
- To erect, attach, or affix in any manner, including without limitation nailing, tacking, tying, gluing, pasting, painting, staking, marking, or writing.
- PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
- The entire area between property boundaries which is owned by a government, dedicated to public use, or impressed with an easement for public use; which is primarily used for pedestrian or vehicular travel; and which is publicly maintained, in whole or in part, for such use, and includes without limitation the street, gutter, curb, shoulder, sidewalk, sidewalk area, pathway, parking or parking strip, planting strip, and any public way.
- REAL ESTATE SIGN
- A sign indicating the availability for sale, rent, or lease of the specific lot, building, or portion of a building upon which the sign is posted.
- SIGN
- Any writing, pictorial representation, illustration, decoration (including any material used to differentiate sign copy from its background), landscaping form, emblem, symbol, design, trademark, banner, flag, pennant, captive balloon, streamer, spinner, ribbon, sculpture, statute, or any other figure or character that is a structure or any part thereof (including the roof or wall of a building) or is written, printed, projected, painted, constructed, or otherwise placed or displayed upon or designed into landscaping or a structure or a board, plate, canopy, awning, marquee, or vehicle, or upon any material object or device whatsoever, and by reason of its form, color, wording, symbol, design, illumination, or motion attracts or is designed to attract attention to the subject thereof or as a means of identification, advertisement, or announcement or political or artistic expression or decoration, but landscaping constitutes a sign only to the extent that it is planted, trimmed, graded, arranged or installed in such a manner as to convey an explicit commercial message.
- TEMPORARY SIGN
- A sign that:
- WINDOW SIGN
- Any nonelectric sign painted upon or attached to or displayed in a window in such a manner as to permit viewing from the exterior of the building or structure.
A.
Political signs. Signs containing a political message shall be permitted
under the following conditions:
(1)
The display of any such signs shall be limited to a period beginning
on the first day for circulation of nomination papers by candidates
and ending on the day of the election.
(2)
Political signs shall not exceed six square feet if such size limitation
is necessary to ensure traffic or pedestrian safety.
(3)
The candidate, party or parties responsible for the erection or distribution
of any such signs shall be jointly and severally liable for the removal
of the sign(s) within three days after the primary, general, or special
election to which they refer.
(4)
No permit shall be required for such a sign.
(5)
Political signs are not permitted on public property, rights-of-way,
or within 100 feet from a polling place entrance.
[Added 8-13-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-12]
B.
Directional and instructional nonelectric signs. Directional and
instructional nonelectric signs shall be located entirely on the property
to which they pertain and shall not exceed three square feet in area.
Rummage sale signs shall not exceed two on-premises signs and shall
be displayed for no more than 72 hours.
C.
Government signs. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent
the erection, construction, alteration, placement, maintenance, or
location of signs, devices and markings of the state, Village or other
governmental authority, or the posting of notices required by law.
D.
Window signs. Such signs not occupying more than 50% of the window
area shall be permitted for not more than 90 days.
E.
Religious proclamation signs. Signs proclaiming a religious message,
and which do not announce a specific activity, shall be exempt from
the provisions of this chapter to the extent such signs communicate
a religious message without any adverse impact on public health, welfare
or safety, and provided such sign is placed upon the religious institutional
grounds.
No person shall erect or construct any sign, nor add to, enlarge, move, alter, convert or extend any sign not exempt under § 540-3, without first obtaining a building permit from the Building Inspector. Before the Building Inspector shall issue a building permit, plans showing all details shall be submitted to him and be referred by him to the Building Board. The Building Board may request such further descriptive detail or engineering detail as it may deem necessary. The Building Board may impose reasonable conditions for approval, including but not limited to limitation on hours of illumination. Upon approval of an application for a sign by the Building Board, a permit shall be issued by the Building Inspector. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Building Board may appeal to the Village Board of Trustees if written notice is filed with the Village Board within 45 days of the decision of the Building Board.
B.
Freestanding signs in excess of 15 feet in height above normal grade
level to the top of the sign may only be permitted subject to the
approval of the Village Board after recommendation of the Building
Board.
C.
All signs shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 756, Building Construction, and the National Electrical Code.
D.
All signs shall be constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not
less than 30 pounds per square foot of area.
E.
Signs pertaining to nonresidential buildings shall be in accordance with a uniform sign format with uniform casements. Such uniform sign format shall be submitted by the owner of the nonresidential building to the Building Board and must be approved by the Building Board. Such uniform sign format shall be submitted to the Building Board within 12 months of the effective date of this chapter or before any sign under § 540-4 is approved by the Building Board. In the event that a request for additional or amended signage occurs as to a property subject to PDO zoning and as to which the Village Board has in granting Planned Development Overlay Zoning regulated signage in any way, the Building Board shall conduct its review in the capacity of a recommending body. Any change or addition to signage which is in deviation from a prior approval of the Village Board shall then be reviewed by the Village Board for final approval after recommendation of the Building Board. Review and recommendation by the Building Board as to signage shall be deemed to fulfill the function of the Plan Commission as to amendments in a PDO district. No building permit shall be issued for additions to or changes to signage in the PDO district without the approval of both the Building and Village Boards.
[Amended 6-11-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-09]
A.
Permit required. The Village Manager may grant a permit for the erection
of a temporary sign of any kind in the Village when he/she has determined
that the sign is of a size and type and will be posted in a location
that does not pose a safety hazard; that the sign is compatible with
other property in the neighborhood and the zoning district in which
the sign will be located; and that the sign will not cause substantial
depreciation of the property values in the neighborhood. The permit
issued shall be written, shall not be for a period exceeding 90 days,
shall set forth the date of termination, and shall be subject to the
following limitations and restrictions.
B.
Temporary sign limitations and restrictions.
(1)
The total square footage for temporary signs posted on a lot in a
single-family residential zoning district, or on a lot used for any
residential purpose, in the aggregate, shall not exceed 12 square
feet, with no individual sign exceeding six square feet. The total
square footage for temporary signs posted on a building lot in all
other zones, in the aggregate, shall not exceed 30 square feet, with
no individual sign exceeding 15 square feet. The total square footage
of a sign is measured to include all of the visible display area of
one side of the sign.
(2)
No temporary sign shall obstruct or impair access to a public sidewalk,
public or private street or driveway, traffic control sign, bus stop,
fire hydrant, or any other type of street furniture, or otherwise
create a hazard, including a tripping hazard.
(3)
A temporary sign shall be designed to be stable under all weather
conditions, including high winds.
(4)
No temporary sign shall be illuminated or painted with light-reflecting
paint.
(5)
A temporary sign shall only be posted with the consent of the property
owner or occupant.
(6)
A temporary sign may be posted for a period of up to 90 days, at
which time the sign shall be removed or replaced.
(7)
A temporary sign shall not advertise or promote any commercial enterprise
or event not conducted on the same lot.
(8)
There shall not be more than two temporary signs located on any single
lot at any one time.
C.
Removal or replacement requirements for temporary signs. In addition
to the requirements stated above, temporary signs shall comply with
the following requirements:
(1)
All commercial temporary signs, including those announcing special
events to occur on one or more particular dates, shall be removed
within three days of the conclusion of the sale or event that the
sign is promoting.
(2)
The person who has posted or directed the posting of a temporary
sign is responsible for the removal or replacement of that sign in
accordance with this chapter.
(3)
If that person does not remove or replace the temporary sign in accordance
with this chapter, then the property owner or occupant of the building
lot where the sign is posted is responsible for the sign's removal
or replacement.
(4)
The Village Manager, or the Village Manager's designee, is authorized
to remove any temporary signs posted in violation of this chapter
that are not removed or replaced in accordance with the provisions
herein. Temporary signs posted on private property in violation of
this chapter shall be deemed a public nuisance, and the Village Manager,
or the Village Manager's designee, may abate that nuisance by
removing such sign, and any expenses incurred shall be billed to the
person who has posted or directed the posting of the temporary sign,
or the property owner.
(5)
The Village Manager, or the Village Manager's designee, may
immediately remove temporary signs posted on public property or rights-of-way
in violation of this chapter and, in addition to any other penalties
provided herein, may bill the person who has posted or directed the
posting of the temporary sign for the cost of removing the sign, or
the property owner.
D.
Real estate signs. Such signs shall be permitted under the following
conditions:
(1)
One sign pertaining to the sale or lease of real estate shall be
permitted on each fronting public street of the property itself. The
sign may be one- or two-sided, shall not be illuminated, and shall
not exceed six square feet in area. Said sign(s) shall be removed
within 10 days after an offer is accepted.
(2)
One residential sign pertaining to internal viewing of real estate,
known as "open house," shall be permitted on each fronting public
street of the property itself. Two additional such signs shall be
permitted in the Village with the consent of those property owners.
The signs may be one- or two-sided, shall not be illuminated or adorned,
and shall not exceed six square feet in area. Such signs shall set
upon or be staked in the ground. All such signs shall be permitted
only on the day(s) of an open house and shall be removed daily.
(3)
Permitted sign area for nonresidential sale, lease or rent signs
is only as follows:
E.
Development signs. Such signs shall be permitted under the following
conditions:
(1)
A development project may have one development sign on each street
that the development abuts. Each sign must be placed on the property
being developed.
(2)
No development sign may exceed six feet in height or 15 square feet
in area. This sign may be single- or double-faced and may be perpendicular
or parallel to the street.
F.
Contractor signs. Such signs shall be permitted under the following
conditions:
(1)
Except as otherwise provided herein, contractor signs shall comply with the requirements of Subsection B of this section.
(2)
Contractor signs may not be placed until procurement of any requisite
building or remodeling permits or prior to commencement of the project,
whichever is earlier.
(a)
Contractor signs must be removed upon the earliest of the following:
(b)
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Subsection F(2)(a)[1], [2] or [3], in no event shall a contractor sign be posted longer than 90 days in a residential zoning district, whether or not such days are continuous, as to any given project.
(3)
Not more than one sign shall be allowed on a lot zoned single-family
residential or on a lot used for residential purposes.
(4)
The contractor shall advise the Village Building Inspector of the intent to post any such sign, and the owner of any residential property shall procure a permit for the posting of such sign, which permit shall be issued by the Building Inspector upon his determination that the sign as intended will not violate the provisions of this subsection, and which permit shall require payment of a fee set in accordance with § 540-9.
G.
H.
Residential family announcement signs. A sign on a residential property
may be permitted subject to all other provisions of this section,
which sign announces a personal or family event such as a birthday
or wedding, and which shall be placed for a period not to exceed 48
hours.
I.
Estate sale signs. Such signs shall be permitted under the following
conditions:
[Added 5-14-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-07]
(1)
No estate sale signs shall be placed in or upon Village right-of-way
or publicly owned property. Estate sale signs shall be placed only
upon private residential property, and then only with the written
permission of the owner.
(2)
One sign per side of the lot fronting on a street may be permitted on the subject property at which the estate sale is occurring. Not more than two additional signs may be placed upon private property; however, not more than one sign per property, as set forth in Subsection I(1). Such signs shall not exceed six square feet in area per side. In no event shall there be greater than a total of three signs.
(3)
Estate sale signs shall be portable and shall not be displayed other
than during the hours of sale and in no event earlier than 10:00 a.m.
or later than 5:00 p.m.
The Village of Fox Point may establish a system of fire lanes
for the purpose of permitting access by the North Shore Fire Department
to buildings, improvements and sources of water supply. The Village
shall be permitted to erect and post signs and paint lines indicating
that parking is prohibited in said fire lanes.
The following types of signs are prohibited in the Village of
Fox Point:
A.
All moving, rotating and flashing signs are prohibited except those
signs which give information of time and temperature and which are
not closer than 750 feet to another time and/or temperature sign.
B.
All mobile signs including but not limited to signs on wheels, trailers
or motor vehicles and parked on a street or property for the purpose
of advertising shall be prohibited.
C.
All abandoned signs shall be prohibited. An abandoned sign is one which no longer correctly advertises a bona fide business, lessor, lessee, owner, product or activity conducted or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed, or a sign which has not been maintained in a safe, presentable, and good structural condition at all times, including replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign. The owner shall be responsible for the repair or removal of any sign within 30 days after written notice from the Building Inspector of the abandonment of the sign. If any such sign is not repaired or removed within such time, the Building Inspector shall give the owner written notification to remove said sign within 15 days, after which time the Building Inspector shall be authorized to remove such sign and any expenses incurred shall be billed to the owner. Except as allowed by § 540-3D, no signs shall be allowed in public right-of-way.
Any person who shall violate, neglect or refuse to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties as provided in § 1-4 of the Fox Point Village Code.
