[Amended 7-1-2003 by Ord. No. 03-04; 5-17-2005 by Ord. No.
05-01]
A.
Purpose and scope.
(1)
The purpose of this article is to create the legal
framework for a comprehensive but balanced system of signs and thereby
to facilitate an easy and pleasant communication between people and
their environment. Further, it shall be the purpose of this article
to prohibit new off-premises and billboard- type outdoor advertising
signs in furthering the advancement of the public health, safety and
welfare of the citizens of the Village of New Glarus. With this purpose
in mind, it is the intention of this article to authorize the use
of signs which are:
(2)
The sections contained in this article shall be binding
alike upon every owner of a building, every lessee, and every person
in charge of or responsible for or who causes the construction, repair,
relocation or alteration of any sign in the Village of New Glarus.
(3)
This article shall apply to all signs.
B.
Rules and definitions.
(1)
Rules. In the construction of this article, the rules
and definitions contained in this section shall be observed and applied,
except when the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(2)
ACTIVITY
AWNING
BUSINESS SIGN
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SIGN
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
GROSS AREA
GROUND AND/POLE SIGN
GROUP SIGN
OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
PORTABLE/TEMPORARY SIGN
PROJECTING SIGN
SANDWICH SIGN
SIGN
TEMPORARY SIGN
WALL SIGN
Definitions. As used in this article, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Each unique occupant or tenant of a site or building occupied
by one or more nonresidential uses. As examples: a multitenant commercial
building (strip center) with three tenant spaces has three activities;
a hardware store or gas station/convenience store without any separate
leasable space for another business entity has only one activity;
and a commercial building with separate leasable spaces for two businesses
under different ownership has two activities. In the final example
and similar instances, each business must lease at least 25% of the
gross floor area of the building, and any residential use in such
building is not an additional activity. A product line is not an activity,
though an activity may choose to advertise a product line within its
permitted signage.
[Added 3-3-2020 by Ord.
No. 20-03]
A temporary hood or cover, which projects from the wall of
the building, which can be retracted, folded, or collapsed against
the face of a supporting structure.
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service or entertainment conducted, sold, offered, or manufactured
upon the premises where the sign is located.
Any permanent sign, which may have changeable copy and which
is limited to the display of information of interest to the general
community regarding scheduled public events and public activities,
and is not to be part of a business sign.
A sign, which indicates only the name and direction to a
facility. Directional signs shall be limited to government facilities,
library, schools, churches, historical sites, and entrances and exits
to parking lots.
Each surface of the sign.
Any sign, which is supported by structures or supports in
or upon the ground and independent of support from any building.
Any sign displaying the collective name of a group of uses,
such as the title of a shopping center, industrial park and its tenants,
or multiple tenants of a single building. Portions of a group sign
containing names of individual tenants shall be considered as part
of the area of a group sign.
A sign which directs the attention of the public to an activity
conducted or product sold or offered at a location not on the same
premises where such sign is located. For purposes of this article,
easements and other appurtenances and noncontiguous parcels under
the same ownership shall be considered off the premises of the parcel
of land on which the business or activity is located or conducted.
The following types of signs are excluded from the definition of an
"off-premises advertising sign":
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord.
No. 20-03]
Signs that are not more than 12 square feet in area per side,
no more than six feet in height above normal grade, and providing
only directions to an activity.
Governmental, community entryway, and directional and wayfinding
signs erected by a public agency, including temporary, changeable,
and variable messages on such signs.
Temporary off-premises signs advertising temporary activities,
where each such sign is specifically approved by the Building Inspector
prior to its installation, and as promptly removed following the completion
of the associated temporary activity.
Signs for shopping centers and business or industrial parks
that are located within the development, but may or may not be located
on the lot in which one or more occupants indicated on the sign are
located.
Not more than one sandwich sign per nonresidential building,
provided that there is not adequate space available on the premises
to place the sign on private property in a manner that is visible
to the public, the sign is placed directly in front of the business
to which it is related or on real property adjacent to the nearest
street intersection, no part of the sign is any closer than three
feet from the face of the public street curb, and where located on
a sidewalk a minimum of four feet in width of unobstructed travel
way remains available in all directions at all times.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground, intended
to be displayed for a short period of time, and is designed to be
easily moved from one location to another. This includes, but is not
limited to, real estate signs, political signs; banners.
Any sign extending more than 18 inches, but less than five
feet from the face of a wall or building.
A movable sign of not greater than six square feet per side
and six feet in height above normal grade; serving a nonresidential
use; placed by hand outside the building while the use is open; removed
at the time the use closes each day; self-supporting and stable even
on windy days because of its design; and located on premises or in
certain off-premises locations per the definition of "off-premises
advertising sign." There shall be not more than one sandwich sign
per lot.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord.
No. 20-03]
Anything that promotes, calls attention to or invites patronage
(or anything similar to the aforementioned) to a business, location
or product, including balloons, banners, streamers, strings of light
bulbs, (excluding Christmas lights).
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a structure,
intended to be displayed for a short period of time, and designed
to be easily moved from one location to another or discarded after
short-term use, but not including a sandwich sign, political sign,
or holiday decorations.
[Added 3-3-2020 by Ord.
No. 20-03]
Any sign attached to or erected on the wall of a building
or structure, and projecting not more than 18 inches from the wall.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
A.
No sign shall be placed within any vision corner of intersecting streets, highways, and driveways, per § 305-136.
B.
No sign will be permitted that resembles the size, shape, form, or
color of official traffic control signs, signals, or devices. No sign
shall be placed or illuminated so as to interfere with the visibility
or effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal or to impair
the vision of any motor vehicle driver.
C.
No sign shall contain, include, or be composed of any conspicuous
animated or moving part.
D.
No sign shall contain, include, or be illuminated by flashing lights,
except for those exclusively providing public service information,
such as time, date, and/or temperature.
F.
Any sign that encroaches over or upon a public road, street, easement,
alleyway, sidewalk, or lane shall have a vertical clearance of not
less than 14 feet, except that in the C-1 District the minimum clearance
above any public sidewalk shall be not less than 10 feet.
G.
No sign shall be taller than the maximum permitted building height
in the associated zoning district, and no building-mounted sign shall
extend higher than 10 feet above the roofline.
H.
No one sign shall contain more than 64 square feet in gross area per side visible from any one location, except by site plan approval under § 305-94.
I.
Off-premises advertising signs are not permitted. See the definition of "off-premises advertising sign" in § 305-48B for similar signs that are permitted.
J.
No sign shall be painted, erected, or maintained directly on a tree,
rock, or other natural feature, except for deliberately designed and
installed stone monuments and similar.
K.
Advertising on vehicles.
(1)
Parking of advertising vehicles is prohibited. No person shall park
any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or public property
or on private property so as to be seen from a public right-of-way
which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign for the basic
purpose of directing people to a business activity located on the
same or nearby property or any other premises.
(2)
This section shall not prohibit business vehicles actively used in
a business operation or "For Sale" signs on vehicles for sale, provided
that the vehicle for sale is not parked on a public right-of-way.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
The following sign uses and purposes are permitted in all zoning
districts without the need for a sign permit. Such signs shall not
count as part of the maximum permitted sign quantities or area in
the zoning district in which they are located.
A.
Address numerals and similar sign information required to identify
a location by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, provided
that such sign does not exceed two square feet in area per officially
assigned address, or the size required by any law, order, rule or
regulation, whichever is greater.
B.
Architectural elements, including integral decorative or architectural
elements of buildings or works of art, so long as such elements or
works do not contain a commercial message, trademark, moving parts
or moving lights.
C.
Auxiliary signs for nonresidential uses, such as on-site directional
signs, "open" signs, and parking lot rule signs, where each such sign
does not exceed six square feet.
D.
Bulletin boards, not exceeding 12 square feet for public, philanthropic
or religious institutions located on the premises of said institutions.
E.
Farm field signs, provided that no such sign exceeds 12 square feet
in area.
F.
Flags, standards, emblems and insignia of governmental, civic, philanthropic,
religious or educational organizations, not exceeding 48 square feet,
when not displayed in connection with a commercial promotion or as
an advertising device.
G.
Fuel canopy signs, not exceeding two signs and a total sign area
not exceeding 12 square feet per canopy.
H.
Historical markers, commemorative plaques, memorial tablets, or emblems
of official historical bodies, not exceeding 12 square feet, placed
flat against a building, monument stone, or other permanent surface.
I.
Holiday decorations of a primarily decorative nature, in connection
with traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holidays.
J.
Interior signs located on the interior of a premises and which are
three feet or more from any window to the outdoors.
K.
Political signs.
L.
Regulatory signs and government information signs not exceeding 64
square feet.
M.
Required signs by state or federal statute or regulation.
N.
Residential signs. Signs erected on a lot in a residential zoning
district or serving a residential use, not greater than six square
feet each and not more than two such signs per lot.
O.
Sandwich signs, per associated limitations in § 305-48B(2).
P.
Temporary signs, which if advertising a special event, auction or
sale shall be removed within two weeks of the conclusion of the event,
auction or sale. In no case shall a temporary sign be displayed longer
than 120 days in any calendar year, unless extended in writing by
the Zoning Administrator upon request and under exceptional circumstances.
There shall be not more than two temporary signs per lot at any one
time in the R-1, C-1, and W Districts and four per lot at any one
time in all other districts.
[Added 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03[1]]
A.
The owner of each closing business or institution, or the owner of
property on which a closing business or institution is located, must
remove all signs associated with the closing business or institution
within 60 days of closing. In the case of signs desired with interchangeable
faces, the closing business or owner may remove only the sign face
and replace it with a blank sign face, provided that the sign structure
remains sound and in good repair. This allowance shall not extend
to any property with a closing business that is converted to a residential
use. The Village make take any necessary enforcement action against
either party.
B.
Upon written notice to the sign owner, if known, or the owner of
the property upon which the sign is located, the Building Inspector
may order the repair, adjustment or removal of any sign that has not
obtained the proper permit; that is defective, dangerous, unsafe,
or dilapidated; that is an illegal nonconforming sign, or that has
been erected, installed, constructed, or maintained in violation of
this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 305-51,
Abandoned signs; alterations.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
Variances or exceptions to these sign regulations
may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and all decisions under
this article may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A.
Installation. All signs shall be properly secured,
supported and braced and shall be kept in a safe structural condition
and shall be kept clean and well painted at all times. Bolts or screws
shall not be fastened to window frames. Every sign and its framework,
braces, anchors and other supports shall be constructed of such material
and with such workmanship as to be safe and satisfactory to the Building
Inspector.
B.
Prohibitions.
(1)
No sign shall be erected so that any portion of the
sign or its supports is attached to or interferes with the free use
of any fire escape, exit, any required stairway, door, ventilator
or window.
(2)
No sign shall be erected that will interfere with,
obstruct, confuse or mislead traffic.
(3)
At no time shall signs be permitted within a vision
clearance triangle in such a manner as to restrict vision or impair
safety.
(4)
No sign located within 150 feet of a highway or street
right-of-way shall contain, include or be illuminated by a flashing
or rotating beam of light.
C.
Signs on public rights-of-way. Signs shall not be permitted on public
rights-of-way except for traffic control, parking and directional
signs and as otherwise specified in this chapter or allowed by approval
of the Building Inspector.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord.
No. 20-03]
A.
Signs eligible for characterization as legal nonconforming
signs. Any sign located within the Village of New Glarus limits on
the date of passage of this article, or located in an area annexed
to the Village of New Glarus hereafter which does not conform to the
provisions of this article is eligible for characterization as a legal
nonconforming sign and is permitted.
B.
Loss of legal nonconforming status.
(1)
A sign loses its nonconforming status if one or more
of the following occurs:
(a)
The sign is structurally altered in any way,
except for normal maintenance or repair, which tends to or makes the
sign less in compliance with requirements of this article than it
was before alteration.
(b)
The sign is relocated.
(c)
The sign fails to conform to the Village requirements
regarding maintenance and repair, abandonment or dangerous or defective
signs.
(2)
On the date of occurrence of any of the above, the
sign shall be immediately brought in compliance with this article
or shall be removed.
C.
Legal nonconforming sign maintenance and repair. Nothing in this
article shall relieve the owner or user of a legal nonconforming sign
or the owner of the property on which the sign is located from the
provisions of this article regarding safety, maintenance and repair
of signs. No legal nonconforming sign shall be rebuilt, relocated,
or expanded without conforming to all of the requirements of this
article.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord.
No. 20-03]
All signs and other advertising structures shall
be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less
than 30 pounds per square foot of area and shall be constructed to
receive dead loads as required in the Building Code or other ordinances
of the Village of New Glarus.
A.
Signs shall not be erected or altered until a permit
has been issued by the Building Inspector. Applications for a sign
permit shall be made in writing upon forms available from the Village
Clerk-Treasurer. The applicant shall file with the application plans
and specifications and provide information about the sign, including
dimensions, materials, illumination, wiring, height above grade, distance
from lot line, and by whom it shall be erected.
B.
When all of the provisions of this chapter or other
rules relating to such sign shall have been complied with and when
the applicant has paid the required fee for every such application,
the permit may be granted. The Building Inspector may prescribe suitable
regulations consistent with the provisions of this chapter concerning
the form and contents of all applications for permits herein required.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter
or relocate, within the Village, any sign as defined in this article
without first obtaining a permit from the Building Inspector and making
payment of the fees required. All electric signs shall, in addition,
be subject to the provisions of the Electrical Code[1] and the permit fee required thereunder.
D.
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector, upon
the filing of an application for permit, to examine such plans and
specifications and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed
to erect the sign, and if it shall appear that the proposed sign is
in compliance with all the requirements of this article and all other
laws and rules of the Village, he shall then issue the permit. If
work authorized under a permit has not been completed within 90 days
after date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
E.
All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions
of this article or any amendment thereto are mere permits, revocable
at any time by the Building Inspector, and all such applications shall
contain this provision.
Fees for sign permits shall be established by
resolution of the Village Board.
If the Building Inspector shall find that any
sign regulated herein is unsafe or insecure or is being maintained
in violation of the provisions of this article, he shall give written
notice to the permittee thereof and the owner of the street sign or
of the property on which it is located. If the permittee fails to
remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein
set forth within five days after serving notice upon the permittee,
such sign may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Inspector
at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which
it is located. The Building Inspector shall refuse to issue a permit
to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The
Building Inspector may cause any street sign which is an immediate
peril to person or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
[Amended 3-3-2020 by Ord. No. 20-03]
Sign regulations unique to each of the zoning
districts are contained within Figure 305-2.[1] All other regulations in this article are common to all districts, including prohibited characteristics of signs in § 305-49 and additional signs allowed without a permit in § 305-50.
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 305-2 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
