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HomeMy WebLinkAbout193 - 01/04/2000 - AMENDING CITY CODE BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW DIVISION 4 PERTAINING TO NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRY SIGNS AND PE ORDINANCE NO. 193, 1999 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING CHAPTER 23, ARTICLE III, OF THE CITY CODE BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW DIVISION 4 PERTAINING TO NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRY SIGNS AND AMENDING SECTION 24-1 OF THE CODE PERTAINING TO SIGNS ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS WHEREAS,the City has recently received inquiries from certain neighborhoods regarding the establishment of a process and criteria whereby neighborhood entry signs could be permitted to be erected in the public right-of-way for the purpose of identifying neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, the Council has determined that such identification of neighborhoods would enhance community spirit and promote the general welfare of the City; and WHEREAS,the Council of the City of Fort Collins has determined that Chapter 23,Article III,should be amended by the addition of a new Division 4 for the purpose of establishing a process and criteria for allowing the erection of such neighborhood entry signs; and WHEREAS,the Council of the City of Fort Collins has further determined that Section 24-1 of the Code of the City pertaining to signs on streets and sidewalks should be amended to allow for the erection of such neighborhood entry signs. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That Chapter 23, Article III, of the Code of the City of Fort Collins be, and hereby is, amended by the addition of a new Division 4 to read as follows: DIVISION 4. NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRY SIGNS See. 23-90. Definitions. The following words,terms and phrases,when used in this Division,shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section: Qualified Neighborhood Organization shall mean an organization which: (a) represents a neighborhood area with identifiable geographic boundaries; (b) represents a neighborhood area having at least two hundred (200) existing households within its geographic boundaries; (c) has at least one elected representative; and (d) makes membership in the organization available to all residents and property owners withinthe geographic boundaries ofthe neighborhood. Sec. 23-91. Permits. Any qualified neighborhood organization desiring to erect a neighborhood entry sign upon any street, avenue,alley, sidewalk,highway,public right-of-way or other public ground within the city shall file a written application for a permit upon a form prepared and provided by the city. Only established, qualified neighborhood organizations may apply for and obtain a permit for neighborhood entry signs. Permits shall not be issued under this Division to residential developments that are being processed for development review and approval under the Land Use Code or the Transitional Land Use Regulations. Sec. 23-92. Contents of Application. The application for a neighborhood entry sign permit shall contain all information required on the form provided by the city including, without limitation, the following: (1) The name, address and telephone number of the Qualified Neighborhood Organization and the person to be contacted representing said organization. (2) The names of the streets or other identifiable features that define the boundary of the neighborhood. (3) The proposed location of the neighborhood entry sign or signs (not to exceed four) including the names of the intersections and the direction of travel. (4) A detailed description of the sign(s) proposed to be used for neighborhood entry (or entries) including the size, shape, types of materials used in the construction of the sign structure (including the sign blank and the legend), color and types of mount. This description shall include a detailed drawing of each proposed sign showing the exact sign placement. (5) A statement that the applicant agrees to abide by the provisions of this Division. Sec. 23-93. Standards and Criteria. All neighborhood signs permitted pursuant to this Division shall conform to the following standards and criteria: (1) Neighborhood entry signs in,adjoining or adjacent to a residential area shall be harmonious with and reflect the residential character of the area. 2 (2) One(1) single-faced sign,one(1)double-faced sign,or two (2) single-faced signs bearing identical copy(with no sign face being larger than twenty-four [24] square feet)may be permitted to identify the name of a neighborhood at each of the neighborhood's major entrances. (3) The top of any such sign shall be no more than five (5) feet above ground level. (4) The word "neighborhood" must be included in the sign copy. (5) The sign shall not have internal or external lighting. (6) A maximum of four (4) major entrances into a neighborhood may be permitted for signs for any Qualified Neighborhood Organization. (7) The applicant must show to the satisfaction of the city that it has formally established an organization which is ready,willing and able to maintain the sign. The sign must, at all times, be kept in a well-maintained and proper condition. (8) The following sight distances must be maintained for any neighborhood entry sign in the right-of-way: Arterial 500 Collector 400 Local 300 (9) The cost of the design, installation and maintenance of the neighborhood entry sign or signs shall be borne by the Qualified Neighborhood Organization. (10) Prior to installation of any neighborhood entry sign,all "utility locates" must be performed. Sec. 23-94. Investigation of Application; Permit Fee; Revocation. (a) The application for a permit for a neighborhood entry shall be made to the City Engineer. The City Engineer shall make or cause to be made an investigation of the information contained in the application and prior to the issuance of a permit 3 shall determine that the applicant is a Qualified Neighborhood Organization and that the proposed neighborhood sign(s) does not constitute a nuisance or destroy or impair the use of the right-of-way by the public or constitute a traffic hazard and complies with all standards and criteria of this Division.In investigating whether the application for a neighborhood entry sign(s) conforms to the standards and criteria of this Division, the City Engineer shall consult with the Traffic Engineer, the Director of Current Planning and the City Neighborhood Resources office. (b) At the time of issuance of a permit hereunder,the applicant shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.) for each neighborhood entry sign proposed to be constructed. (c) Neighborhood entry sign permits issued pursuant to this Division are authorized under Article XI,Section 10 of the Charter. Accordingly,any such permit shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Council or the City Engineer,whether or not such right to revoke is expressly reserved in such permit. (d) Whenever any neighborhood entry sign is made or located contrary to the terms of the permit or without a permit or contrary to the terms of this Division, or at such time as the permit is revoked as provided for in this Division, the City Engineer shall give notice to the person or Qualified Neighborhood Organization who made or located such neighborhood entry sign requiring the removal of such neighborhood entry sign. Said sign shall be removed within thirty (30) days following the date of delivery of such notice. See. 23-95. Noncompliance with Notice; Removal of Encroachment. If any notice given under§23-94 is not complied with,the City Engineer is hereby authorized to cause the removal of the neighborhood entry sign(s)and to collect the cost of such removal and disposal from the permittee,and may commence such legal actions as may be necessary or appropriate for the purpose of collecting such costs. Section 2. That Section 24-1 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins be, and hereby is, amended by the addition of a new subparagraph (b)(6)to read as follows: (6) Neighborhood entry signs which have been authorized pursuant to Chapter 23, Article III, Division 4 of the Code. 4 Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 7th day of December, A.D. 1999, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of January, A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk , Passed and adopted on final reading this 4th day of January, A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk 5