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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 09-026-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GRANT COUNTY, WASHINGTON ORDINANCE: 09��-CC An ordinance relating to the adoption of amendments to Section 23.12.150 of the Grant County �Tni�ed Development Code, titled "Signs". Recitals: WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Grant County intend to comply fully with the laws and regulations of the State of Washington, and; WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Grant County adopted a Growth Management Act compliant Comprehensive Land Use Plan in September of 1999 and a subsequent update in 2006, and; WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Grant County adopted a Unified Development Code (UDC) implementing the Comprehensive Plan on October 1, 2000, and; W�-IEREAS, the Grant County UDC, Chapter 25.12 "Legislative Action", provides a process for adopting amendments to the Grant County Code, and; WHEREAS, the Grant County Board of County Commissioners finds that the proposed UDC text amendments do beneiit the public health, safety, and welfare of Grant County, and; WHEREAS, the Grant County Board of County Commissioners �nds that the proposed UDC text amendments do have merit for the community as a whole, and; WH�REAS, the Grant County Board of County Commissioners fnds that proposed UDC text amendments are consistent with the purpose and intent of the Grant County Comprehensive Plan, and; WHEREAS, the Grant County Board of County Commissioners fmds that the proposed UDC text amendments are consistent with Grant County Code Titles, 22, 23, 24, and 25, and; NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of County Commissioners of Grant County does hereby ordain and amend Section 23.12.150 of the Grant County Code as it relates to signs as follows: 23.12.150 Signs (a) Pm•pose: The purpose of this section is to promote community identity, to facilitate commerce, and to facilitate the dissemination of information to people in the community without jeopardizing trafiic and pedestrian safety and while preserving the aesthetic beauty of the natural and manmade environment. (b) On premise exempt signs: (1) Traff'ic, uiformation, identification and directional signs installed by a government entity. (2) Of�cial flags or emblems of the United States of America, the State of Washington, or any flags of a political subdivision thereo£ (3) Legal notices required by law. (4) Political campaign signs or public issue ballot signs that are placed on private property. Provided, however, that these signs shall not be placed more than forty-�ve (45) days prior to the election and must be removed within seven (7) days following the election terminating candidacy. (5) "No Hunting" signs, "No Trespassing" signs, "No Fishing" signs, and other signs of similar lcind and nature. (6) Any sign that is placed inside a window or upon the windowpane and is visible from the exterior of the window. (7) Awnings and canopies that do not contain internal illumination. (8) Temporary signs that are not permanently affixed to a building or sign structure and not displayed for more than forty-five days during any 365 day period. (i.e., yard sale, garage sale, auctions, cultural events and festivals, grand opening signs and banners etc.) Temporary signs may not be relocated from location to location on the same lot. (9) On-site directional signs such as "Truck Parking", "Self-Serve", `Bnter", "Exit" and other similar signage. (10) Seasonal displays or decorations that do not identify a product, company, or service, (11) Signs that are not visible from adjacent properties or public rights-of-way. (12) Temporary agricultural-related signs, such as fruit and vegetable stand signs, harvest directional signs, etc. for a maximum forty�five (45) days prior to operation and must be removed within thirty (30) days of ceasing operation. (13) Agricultural-related (e.g., crop identi�cation/information signs, hay sale signs, and tarp rental/sale signs) (14) Rea1-estate/ property for sale signs = or < 32 square ft, (15) Subdivision gateway/entrance signs = or < 32 square ft. (16) Temporary construction/ contractor/ developers signs = or < 32 square ft. Exempt signs shall conform to all applicable development standards and requirements including but not limited to (e), (�j, (g) and (h) in this section. Other than those sizes speci�cally identified above, exempt signs shall be limited in size by what is customary for the sign type. (c) Permits Required: Except as identified as an exception in (b) above, no sign, including those attached to buildings or houses, shall be erected, re-erected, constructed, or structurally altered unless and until authorization of such action and a permit is issued. Signs =/or less than 32 sq/ft shall be allowed outright. Signs greater than 32 sq/ft shall be processed as a Discretionary Use. All signs utilizing animation or containing any flashing lights shall be processed as a Conditional Use. All off-premise advertising signs erected in any zoning district require an approved discretionary use permit (including but not limited to billboards). Applications for signs shall be submitted on application forms provided by the Department. In addition to the materials required in the application, the applicant shall provide: (1) A site plan, drawn to scale showing the property or building for which the sign is proposed. (2) Drawings, to scale, that depict structural details -2- (3) The means of attachment (if applicable) (4) The means of illumination (if applicable). (5) The applicant shall demonstrate how the design of the sign provides continuity (including but not limited to: size, shape, height, location, materials etc.) with the existing signage, if any, on the property and the existing signage, if any, on adjacent properties. Provided, however, that the Administrative Official may waive one or more of these requirements if determined that the information would not be significant, relevant, or helpful for review. (d) For purposes of determining whether a permit should be issued, the Decision Maker shall apply the following criteria in addition to a11 other relevant provisions of the code including but not limited to GCC 23.12.150(e) and (�: (1) The scale of the sign is appropriate for the size and type of use it serves, viewer distance, and observation by a passing motorist/pedestrian. (2) The various components of the sign sha11 be integrated into a single design and shall not have auxiliary projections or attachments. (3) The design of the sign provides continuity with the existing signage, if any, on the property and the existing signage, if any, on adjacent properties, To the extent necessary, as determined within the Decision Maker's discretion, the Decision Maker may impose conditions upon the applicant when a sign permit is issued. (e) General Prohibitions; (1) No sign shall be erected or placed on a utility pole, street light standard, or traffic control standard unless placed there by the public entity owning the structure. (2) No sign shall be placed in or extended over any street or public right-of-way unless permitted herein. (3) No sign shall be placed in a location that would block the field of vision of a motorist attempting to enter or exit a public or private right-of-way. (4) No sign shall be placed within or extended over any required setback area. (5) Strobe lights are prohibited unless required by a governmental agency/department. (6) Neon or flashing signs within all residential zones are prohibited. (7) Signs that rotate or are audible are prohibited except traffic safety signs installed by a governmental agency. (8) Signs oriented to highways and freeway signs shall not be permitted within residential zones. (� General Requirements: (1) At roadway intersections, signs shall be placed so that a three hundred (300) foot line of sight may be seen along the right-of-ways. Sign supports (posts) do not constitute an obstruction to the line of sight. (2) Each structure/building may be permitted one (1) on-premise freestanding sign on each i•oad frontage, up to a maximum of two (2) on-premise freestanding signs. In the event that the structure/building has no frontage, one (1) on-premise freestanding sign shall be allowed. (3) On-premises freestanding signs shall not exceed the maximum building height allowed in the zoning district in which the sign will be located, except that signs in the Rural Freeway Commercial Zone shall not exceed 80-feet in height. The height of the sign shall be determined by measuring from the grade to the highest point on the sign. -3- (4) On-premise freestanding signs shall not exceed 200 square feet in sign area per face. On- premise signs that exceed 200 square feet in size shall require a discretionary use permit. (5) Illuminated signs shall be placed so as to reduce any nuisance to area residents or future residents of adjacent residentially zoned property. Illuminated signs shall not be placed closer than two hundred (200) feet of a residential zone unless adequately screened pursuant to 23.12.180. (6) Signs in residential districts shall not exceed six (6) square feet per face and shall not be ilhuninated, unless otherwise permitted. The maximum height for freestanding signs in a residential district shall be six (6) feet. (7) Signs oriented to highways and freeways may be permitted to have a maximum sign area per face of four hundred (400) square feet. Signs oriented to highways and freeways that exceed 400 square feet shall require a Discretionary Use permit. (8) On-premise freestanding signs shall not contain more than 2 faces. (9) Any signage proposed within state or federal rights-of-way or jurisdiction as determined by statute/ownership, must seek the requisite agency permits before applying for a County sign permit. (10) No signage unless the Public Works Department grants prior approval, is permitted within County rights-of-way. (11) All signage must meet current minimum sight distance restrictions as determined by the County Public Works Department pursuant to the Manual on Trafiic Control Devices. Prior to or concurrent with the submittal of a County sign permit, the applicant shall inquire with the Public Works Department as to what minimum distances if any are required. (12) Prior to or concurrent with the submittal of a County sign permit, the applicant shall uiquire with the Building Depai�tment/Fire Marshall as to the necessity of a building permit application. (g) Maintenance and Removal of Signs: All signs and their support structures shall be maintained in good order and repair at all times so as to avoid creating a hazard to public safety. (h) Reirioval of Non-Conforming Signs: Grant County reserves the right to remove or require the removal of existing non-conforming signs. (Ord. 4-2003-CC, 03/03) BE IT FUIiTHEI� ORDAINED, the effective date of this ordinance shall be at Sp.m. the date the ordinance is adopted and signed by the Board of County Commissioners. � � PASSED AND AI)OPTED this � day of March, 2009. A TTTC�T. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Yea Nay Abstain GRA1�1T COUNTY, WASHINGTON � � � � Cindy Carter, Chair � � � Richard Stevens, Member � ° / � � � Carolann Swartz, Member -5-