HomeMy WebLinkAbout145 - 02/05/1991 - AMENDING CITY CODE RELATING TO SIGNS ORDINANCE NO. 145, 1990
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 29 OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
RELATING TO SIGNS
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Fort Collins has determined that it is
in the best interest of the City, in the protection of the public health, safety
and welfare, that, to the extent legally permissible under the Constitution of
the United States and the State of Colorado, signs and billboards located on
premises to which they do not specifically relate (off-premise signs) should be
strictly regulated and in some instances prohibited; and
WHEREAS, the Council has further determined that such off-premise signs
endanger the public safety by distracting the attention of drivers from the
roadway and by obstructing the vision of drivers necessary for the maintenance
of traffic safety and by otherwise endangering the public health, safety and
welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Council has further determined that such off-premise signs
result in harm to the welfare of the City by creating visual clutter and blight
and by promoting a negative aesthetic impact in the City and by deterring
economic growth and development in the City; and
WHEREAS, off-premise signs can create confusion when intermixed with on-
premise signs thereby contributing to the distraction of motorists and
corresponding endangerment to public safety; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has further determined that the maximum number
of such off-premise signs authorized in the City should be affirmatively
established and that such signs should be strictly regulated.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
that Chapter 29 of the Code of the City be amended as follows:
Section 1. That Section 29-1 of the Code of the City shall be amended by
the addition of a new definition to be entitled "Off-Premise Sign" to provide
as follows:
"Off-premise sign" shall mean a sign or billboard which is used
or intended for use to advertise, identify, direct or attract the
attention of the public to a business, institution, product,
organization, event or location offered or existing elsewhere than
upon the same lot, tract or parcel of land where such sign or
billboard is displayed.
Section 2. That Section 29-563(b) and Section 29-563(e) of the Code of
the City be and hereby are repealed, and Section 29-563(c) be relettered to
Section 29-563(b) .
Section 3. Section 29-563(d) of the Code of the City shall be relettered
as Section 29-563(c) and amended to read as follows:
Sec. 29-563. Nonconforming signs.
(c) All other existing non-conforming signs located on property
annexed to the city shall be removed or made to conform to the
provisions of this Article no later than five (5) years after the
effective date of such annexation. Any non-conforming sign which
has been damaged by fire, wind or other cause in excess of fifty
(50) percent of its original cost shall not be restored except in
conformance with the provisions of this Article. This subsection
shall not apply to off-premise signs which are within the ambit of
the just compensation provisions of the Federal Highway
Beautification Act and the Colorado Outdoor Advertising Act.
Section 4. That Section 29-603 of the Code of the City is hereby repealed
and re-enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 29-603. Off-premise signs.
No off-premise signs (except off-premise ideological and
election signs) shall be erected until the number of such signs
which are in existence in the city on the effective date of this
ordinance is reduced by fifteen (15) percent. Thereafter, the
maximum number of such signs to be permitted in the City at any one
time shall not exceed seventy-six (76) signs, plus the number of
such additional off-premise signs, if any, which may be situated on
property annexed into the city after the effective date of this
ordinance. Any such sign erected after the effective date of this
ordinance shall conform to the following provisions:
(1) All such signs shall be permitted only in non-
residential zones.
(2) All such signs shall be located at least fifteen (15)
feet from the street right-of-way line and must comply
with all other applicable setback requirements of
Section 29-595 of this Article.
(3) The maximum size for such ground and freestanding signs
shall be fifty-five (55) square feet per face when set
back between fifteen (15) and twenty-nine (29) feet from
the right-of-way line, and shall be seventy-eight (78)
square feet per face when set back thirty (30) feet or
more from the right-of-way line.
(4) The maximum height shall be fifteen (15) feet above
grade.
(5) No such sign shall be constructed within a radius of
three hundred (300) feet of an existing off-premise sign
which is located on a corner lot. In all other
instances, no such sign shall be constructed within
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three hundred lineal feet on either side of the street
on which an existing off-premise sign is located.
(6) No sign face shall remain blank for more than sixty (60)
consecutive days. A sign face which displays only the
sign owner's name, telephone number and/or message
indicating the availability of the space for lease shall
be considered a blank sign face.
(7) No such sign shall contain more than two (2) sign faces.
(8) Such signs shall also comply with all other requirements
of this Article which pertain to size, height and
location.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published
this 15th day of January, A.D. 1991, and to be presented for final passage on
the 5th day of February, A.D. 1991 .
tyL
Mayor
ATT�EEST(:`
City Clerk �—
Passed and adopted on final reading this 5th day of February, A.D. 1991 .
Mayor �
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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