#7 Schedule public hearing to amend sign ordinance (File Ord. #2010-468)
Community Development Department Memorandum
Date: November 12, 2010
TO: Janesville City Council
FROM: Gale Price, Building & Development Services Manager
SUBJECT: Introduce and schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance
amending Chapter 14 (Signs) of the Code of General Ordinances of the
City of Janesville with regard to on-premise wall signs in Sign District D
and the designation of street frontages for allowing such signs (File
Ordinance No. 2010-468).
_____________________________________________________________________
The Community Development Department has drafted an amendment to the Sign
Ordinance which is Chapter 14 of the Code of General Ordinances to allow wall signs
on the rear of a building in certain situations. Specifically the proposal would allow a
business along the riverfront walkway between Centerway and West Racine Street to
have an on premise business wall sign on the rear of the building.
Currently the Code does not permit a business to have a wall sign on the rear of the
building unless the sign faces the Downtown Parking Plaza. This proposed code
amendment would extend the ability for rear wall signage along the entire downtown
riverfront walkway.
The Community Development Department recommends that following the first reading
of Ordinance No. 2010-468, it be referred to the Plan Commission for review and
recommendation and scheduled for public hearing on January 10, 2010.
cc: Eric Levitt
Jay Winzenz
ORDINANCE NO. 2010-468
An ordinance amending the City’s Sign Code with regard to on premise wall signs in Sign
District D and the designation of street frontages for allowing such signs as set forth in JGO
Chapter 14, with penalties for violations thereof as set forth as applicable in JGO 14.48.050.
THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JANESVILLE DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I.
Section 14.28.120 of the Code of General Ordinances of the City of Janesville is
hereby amended to read as follows:
“14.28.120 District D--On-premises signs permitted
. In sign overlay district
D, the following on-premises signs are permitted:
A
. One freestanding ground sign may be permitted for each parcel of land,
provided sufficient setback from the street right-of-way is provided so as not to cause
encroachment into the right-of-way.
1
. Such ground sign shall not extend above a total height of twenty
feet above grade.
2
. The maximum area of any ground sign shall not exceed
seventy-five square feet per face.
B
. One under-canopy sign per business occupancy may be permitted,
provided each sign shall not exceed ten square feet in area and shall have a clearance
of nine feet between the bottom of the sign and the ground beneath it. Under-canopy
signs may only be placed above pedestrian walks.
C
. One wall sign may be permitted for each street frontage or each separate
business occupancy. For the purposes of this chapter, the downtown parking plaza and
the riverfront public walkway between Centerway and West Racine Street shall be
considered a street frontage. Such signs comply with the following regulations:
1
. The maximum area of all wall signs shall not exceed an area equal
to two and one-half square feet for each lineal front foot of building or that portion of a
building devoted to a business occupancy.
2.
Such signs shall not extend above the roof line.
3
. No wall sign shall be positioned on the building elevation facing a
non-street rear lot line of the parcel upon which the building is located, except where
such building adjoins the downtown parking plaza or the riverfront public walkway
between Centerway and West Racine Street.
4.
No wall sign shall be positioned on a building elevation directly
adjoining a residential zone district.
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SECTION II.
This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the Common
Council, the public health, welfare, peace, tranquility, good order, public benefit, and police
power so requiring.
ADOPTED: Motion by:
Second by:
APPROVED:
Councilmember Aye Nay Absent
Pass
Brunner
McDonald
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
Perrotto
Rashkin
ATTEST:
Steeber
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Wald Klimczyk, City Attorney
Proposed by: Community Development Department
Prepared by: Community Development Department
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