HomeMy WebLinkAbout2481 Freestanding Signs, Exemptions, Political SignsOrdinance No. f'? 8 [
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AMENDING
CHAPTER 17.50, SECTION 060(E), FREESTANDING SIGNS, AND
SECTION 070(F), EXEMPTIONS, POLITICAL SIGNS, OF THE PORT
TOWNSEND MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, at the October 2, 1995 City Council meeting, the Council held a public
hearing to receive testimony and comments, and make a decision whether to make two minor
amendments to the City's sign code, PTMC Chapter 17.50; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments consist of a change to Section 060 to expand the
signarea available on directory signs, and to cure a constitutional defect in the "political signs"
exemption; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments were subject to SEPA review and received the
affirmative recommendation of the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance implements the Council's action following the October 2,
1995 public hearing approving the proposed amendments to Chapter 17.50 PTMC,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Port Townsend does ordain as
follows:
Section 1. Chapter 17, Section 060 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code is hereby
amended and shall be codified by the City's Code Reviser to read as follows:
17.50.060
Commercial business and public use districts (C-I, C-H, C-IH, and P-I zones)
except commercial historic districts.
In addition to the other applicable provisions of this chapter, the following regulations also apply
in each commercial business and public use zoning district:
A. Total allowable sign area is determined as follows:
1. One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of primary street frontage of
the primary building.
2. But, not less than 100 square feet for each primary building, nor less than 32
square feet for each business in a multiple business complex.
3. Forty square feet for an outdoor business which operates without a building.
4. Government buildings, schools, churches and the Port Townsend Visitors
Center are permitted one identification sign not to exceed 32 square feet.
5. Includes all types of signs on all sides and all stories of the building or
premises.
Exceptions: parking lot identification signs, symbol signs, incidental signs, window sign lettering
less than six inches in height, motor fuel price signs erected pursuant to subsection G below,
monument signs erected as a directory sign for a multiple-business complex pursuant to
subsection E.2 below, service club signs authorized pursuant to PTMC 17.50.090, and signs
listed as exempt in PTMC 17.50.070 are not included in the determination of allowable sign
B. Maximum sign height is as follows:
1. Seventeen feet, but in no event may signs extend higher than the nearby surface
of the roof of the building.
2. Canopy signs or signs mounted on a marquee may not extend higher than the
highest roof surface of the canopy or marquee, but in no event may extend higher than the
nearby roof surface of the building.
3. Five feet for a monument sign of a single business or multiple-tenant building.
4. Five feet plus one foot per each separate business advertised on a monument
directory sign of a multiple-business complex.
C. Projecting signs are subject to the following additional regulations: 1. No larger than 16 square feet per side.
2. May project no more than four feet from the building.
3. Minimum clearance of eight feet must be maintained above the sidewalk and
six inches from the vertical wall.
4. Only one projecting sign, including symbol signs, is allowed for each main
entry.
D. Window signs require a sign permit unless lettering is less than six inches in height.
E. Freestanding Signs.
1. Each single-business or multiple-tenant building shall be allowed .one monument
sign not to exceed a sign area of 24 square feet.
2. Each multiple-business complex is allowed one monument sign per street
frontage for a directory sign. The sign area of such directory sign is not to exceed 32 square feet
plus s:.x eight square feet per separate business advertised and an additional 12 square feet to
allow display of the name of the complex.
3. Each such allowed monument sign may not exceed a sign area of SO 102 square
feet per sign face, nor a sign face width of 10 feet, nor a height of 17 feet.
4. Monument signs must be set back from property lines a distance of one foot
for each one foot of sign height in excess of five feet.
Exception: The director is authorized to permit alternate monument sign placement as part of
a streetscape improvement project in conformance with the Gateway Development Plan.
5. Each mOnument sign shall have a landscaped area at the base of the sign of at
least twice the size of the sign area.
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F. Illuminated Signs.
1. Indirect lighting is encouraged.
2. Signs illuminated with internal or neon lighting are limited to a sign face area
of 25 square feet.
G. Readerboard signs may not exceed 12 square feet per sign face.
Exceptions:
1. In addition to the sign area allowed pursuant to subsection A, above, any
business selling motor fuel to the public may have one permanently mounted motor fuel price
sign not to exceed 18 square feet per sign face. If such sign is incorporated as part of the
monument sign allowed pursuant to this section, the allowable height of such monument sign
may be increased by four feet.
2. The director is authorized to permit one permanently mounted readerboard sign
for community event announcements on premises owned by the city or a nonprofit organization
under contract with the city. Such sign may not exceed a sign area of 50 square feet per sign
face.
3. Portable readerboard signs are not permitted.
(Ord. § 1, 1995; Ord. 2265 § 2, 1991; Ord. 2249 § 1, 1991).
Section 2, Chapter 17, Section 070, Exemptions, of the Port Townsend Municipal
Code is hereby amended and shall be codified by the City's Code Reviser to read as follows:
17.50.070 Exemptions.
The following types of signs are allowed in all areas without a sign permit. These
exemptions shall not be construed as relieving the owner of any sign for the responsibility of
its erection and maintenance, or for compliance with the provisions of this chapter, or any
other law or ordinance regulating same.
A. Community event signs if no larger than six square feet per sign face and
displayed no longer than 21 days before the event and removed within 48 hours after the
event; provided, however, that the location of any signs to be placed in the public
right-of-way shall be approved by the director;
B. Community fund raising signs pertaining to a specific proposed public construction
project or fundraising campaign; provided, that only one such sign may be erected at a time,
the sign area may not exceed 32 square feet, and the sign may not be displayed for longer
than two years or the conclusion of the project or campaign, whichever occurs soonest;
C. Real estate signs limited to one sign of four and one-half square feet maximum
area per sign face on each parcel of property offered for sale in 'residential zones. In other'
zones, one sign is allowed up to 16 square feet per sign face on each separate parcel of
property offered for sale. Each real estate sign must be removed no later than five business
days after closing of sale of the property advertised. Closing of sale shall be cOnsidered the
date of recording with the Jefferson County auditor. Off-premises real estate signs are not
permitted.
Exception: Real estate signs advertising an open house may be placed off-premises if: 1. Placed on private property;
2. Signs are no larger than three square feet per sign face; and
3. Displayed for no longer than four consecutive days.
Exception: Off-premises real estate signs are not allowed under any circumstances in the
historic district.
Real estate signs are not permitted within any public right-of-way;
D. On-premises or on-vehicle incidental signs not exceeding two square feet each;
E. On-premises directional signs not exceeding six square feet, the sole purpose of
which is to provide for vehicular and pedestrian traffic direction and which display no
advertising;
F. Political signs erected on private property up to four and one-half square feet per
sign face in residential zones and 16 square feet per sign face in other zones:mad '~:~
.... ...... ,,.~ ~n ~ .....":"' '~ '~'~ ~""':"~ and Pro ided that political signs shall be
removed within 10 days after the final election involving the candidate or ballot proposition
advertised the s n; v ..... ,--,, ....... gna .......... ~, .................. w-,v-,
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G. Temporary construction signs limited to a total sign area of 32 square feet per
COnstruction site, displayed no longer than one year and removed no later than 10 days after
completion or occupancy of the project;
H. Traffic, directional or informational signs lawfully installed, or required to be
installed, by a government entity; provided that, in the event of any conflict between the
provisions of this chapter and the provisions of any applicable state law, the provisions of
this chapter shall govern unless expressly preempted by the laws of the state;
I. Signs not intended to be viewed from, and which are not readable from, a public
right-of-way;
J. Window merchandise display;
K. Flags of the United States, the state, the city, the county, foreign nations, and any
other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction,
provided that such a flag shall not exceed 60 square feet in sign area and shall not be flown
from a pole the top of which is more than 40 feet in height. Such flags must be flown in
accordance with protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and
Stripes. Any flag not meeting any one or more of these conditions shall be considered a
banner sign and be subject to regulation as such;
L. Decorative banners if no more than five per each premises;
M. Legal notices required by law;
N. Barber poles;
O. Grave markers;
P. Incidental, nonilluminated signs identifying small specialized community service
structures, such as phone booths, public transit shelters, and collection containers for used
goods or recyclable materials;
Q. Incidental, nonilluminated signs limited to three per storefront;
R. Nonilluminated informational signs pertaining to motor fuel which are affixed to
the surface of fuel pumps, but not including signs projecting from the sides or top of such
pumps;
S. Temporary signs limited to a 15-day display;
T. Lettering or symbols painted directly onto or mounted magnetically onto an
operable motor vehicle operating in the normal course of business; provided no part of such
signs shall project higher than the roof surface of any such vehicle other than franchised
buses or taxis;
U. Signs attached to franchised buses or taxis;
V. One nonilluminated bulletin board not larger than 12 square feet in area for each
public, charitable or religious institution when the same is erected on the premises of the
institution;
W. Mural signs within the national historic district in existence on the effective date
of the ordinance codified in this chapter;
X. Nonilluminated religious symbols mounted on church premises.
(Ord. ~ § 2, 1995; Ord. 2249 § 1, 1991).
Section 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this
Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such order or judgment shall not affect
the validity or constitutionality of the remainder of any part of this Ordinance. To this end,
the provisions of each clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this law are declared
severable.
This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five days after the date of its
publication in the manner provided by law.
Read for the first, second, and third
of Port Townsend, Washington, at a regular
October, 1995.
the City Council of the City
~eld this ~/~ ~'/~day of
M. Clise, Mayor
Attest:
~~'ch~l H~ild, A~~fin~g C~ty Clerk
10/06/95 [95-016] Ord\Signs{1750Sign.doc}
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