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HomeMy WebLinkAbout059 - 11/18/1971 - AMENDING SECTIONS 19-42 4 19-47 AND 19-49 OF THE CITY CODE AND ESTABLISHING COMPREHNSIVE REGULATIONS ORDINANCE NO '7, 1971 , BEING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 19-42 4 19-47 and 19-49 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO AS AMENDED, AND ESTABLISHING COMPREHENSIVE REGULATIONS AND RULES CONCERNING THE PLACING OF SIGNS IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS UNDER THE ZONING ORDINANCE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS Section 1 That Section 19-42 4 (1 ) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958 as amended be and the same hereby is amended by adding after the words may include and before sub-paragraph (2) thereof, the following words and shall be limited to the following Section 2 That Section 19-42 4 (2) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958, as amended be and the same hereby is amended by adding after the words may include and before sub-paragraph (a) thereof the following words and shall be limited to the following Section 3 That Section 19-42 4 (3) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado 1958 as amended be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows (3) Signs in the B-P B-L B-Gs H-B C I-L and I-G Districts may include and shall be limited to the following (a) Such signs as are permitted in the R-M District and (b) Flush wall signs projecting wall signs window signs free- standing signs and ground signs, provided the placement and use of all such signs shall be governed by and shall be within the following limitations ( 01 ) For the first two hundred feet in building fascia length the maximum sign area permitted shall be equal to two square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of build- ing fascia length ( 02) For that portion of a building fascia which exceeds two hundred feet in length the maximum sign area permitted shall be equal to one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building fascia length over such two hundred feet The sign area permitted hereunder shall be in addition to the sign area permitted under the sub- section ( 01 ) above ( 03) When either the signs on a group of properties planned as a unit under the unit development provision of this Ordinance, or the signs on a single property are limited to individually outlined letters or script mounted on a building fascia (signs without backing) and/or one ground sign per street frontage the permitted square footage of signs allowed in sub-paragraphs ( 01 ) and ( 02) above may be increased to two and one-half square feet and one and one-half square feet respectively ( 04) In no event shall the total sign allowance for any prop- erty be less than one square foot of sign allowance for each lineal foot of lot frontage ( 05) For the purposes of this sub-section the sign allowance shall be calculated on the basis of the area of the one building fascia which is most nearly parallel to the street it faces Each building fascia which faces a dedicated public street shall have its own separate and distinct sign allowance In the event a building does not have frontage on a dedicated public street the owner of the building may designate the one building fascia which shall be used for the purpose of calculating the sign allowance In the event the only building fascia which fronts on a dedicated street is a wall containing no commercial dis- play area the property owner may at his option designate another building fascia on said building on the basis of which the total sign allowance shall be calculated In - 2 - any case no more than twenty-five per cent of the total sign allowance allowed under this Ordinance may be placed other than on the building fascia which was the basis for the sign allowance calculation or on the street frontage which relates to said fascia except as may be permitted in a unit development plan, processed and approved in accordance with the unit development procedures of this Ordinance ( 06) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing if property in the B-P or H-B District is developed under a unit development plan the signs on such property must be reviewed and approved as a part of the unit development plan Variance of the maximum total surface area of signs shall not be permitted as a part of the unit development plan process but the maximum sign area allowance for all buildings in a unit development plan may be aggregated and the total allowance redistributed if approved under the unit development provisions of this Ordinance ' Section 4 That Section 19-42 4 (4) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958 as amended be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows (4) The following rules shall apply to the measurement of signs in all districts (a) The total surface area of all sign faces of free-standing signs ground signs and projecting wall signs shall be counted and con- sidered a part of the maximum total surface area allowance (b) The area of all signs (except ground signs) with backing or a background that is part of the overall sign display shall be measured by determining the sum of the area of each square rectangle, triangle, portion of a circle or any combination thereof - 3 - which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the display surface or face of the sign including all frames backing face plates non-structural trim or other component parts not otherwise used for support (c) The area of all signs (except ground signs) without backing or back- ground that is part of the overall sign display shall be measured by determining the sum of the area of each square rectangle triangle portion of a circle or any combination thereof which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of each word written representation (including any series of letters) logo or figure of similar character including all frames face plates non-structural trim or other component parts not otherwise used for support (d) The area of all ground signs shall be measured by determining the sum of the area of each square rectangle triangle, portion of a circle or any combination thereof which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of sign face and that portion of the sign structure which exceeds one and one- half times the area of the sign face Section 5 That Section 19-42 4 (5) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958, as amended be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows (5) In zones where free-standing signs and ground signs are permitted, the following rules shall apply to free-standing and ground signs (a) Signs within fifty feet (measured along the street right of way) of the intersection of a street with a street or driveway which exceed, forty-two inches in height shall be set back at least fifteen feet from the property line on the street or shall main- tain free air space between a height of forty-two inches above the adjacent street elevation and a height of seventy-two inches above - 4 - ON said elevation (b) When electrical service is provided to free-standing signs or ground signs all such electrical service shall be underground (c) Such signs shall comply with the following requirements with respect to size, height and location except that ground signs may be placed at the front property line (except as prohibited in (a) above) provided such ground signs meet all other requirements of this Ordinance CHART OF REQUIREMENTS FOR FREE-STANDING AND GROUND SIGNS Distance in feet Maximum height Maximum size from Street right above grade in allowed per side of way line feet in square feet 0 10 20 5 12 30 10 14 40 15 16 50 20 18 60 25 20 70 30 22 80 35 24 90 40 24 100 45 24 110 50 and more 24 120 The maximum size for any such sign shall be one hundred twenty square feet per side No such sign shall be built within fifteen feet of any side lot line For the purpose of calculating the distance from the street right of way line if the existing street right of way width is less than that required in the Subdivision Ordinance of the City (Section 19-55 (b) (10)) , said distance shall be measured from the line of such right of way as required by said Ordinance rather than from the existing right of way line (d) No more than one free-standing or ground sign shall be permitted for any property per street frontage Section 6 That Section 19-42 4 (6) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, 1958 as amended be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows - 5 - (6) Signs projecting over private property shall not project more than six feet from the face of the building nor beyond the minimum required building set back for the zone in which located Such signs shall not exceed fifteen square feet per face Section 7 That Section 19-42 4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958 as amended be and the same hereby is amended by adding thereto a sub-section (7) as follows (7) The following rules shall apply with respect to signs in all districts under this Ordinance (a) All signs shall be located on the premises to which they relate and all exterior signs shall be permanent in nature (except ' for sale or for rent signs not to exceed six square feet in a residential zone and not to exceed thirty-two square feet in all other zones) (b) Signs shall not contain more than three cabinets or modules Individually outlined letters or logos (signs without backing) mounted on a wall shall not be construed as individual modules or cabinets (c) Flashing moving blinking chasing or other animation effects are prohibited on all signs except the following ( 01 ) Time and Temperature signs and ( 02) Revolving displays which do not exceed seven revolutions per minute and which are limited in size to a distance not to exceed two feet measured perpendicular to the axis of rotation Such rotating displays shall be engineered to maintain rotations not to exceed seven revolutions per minute under a wind load of thirty pounds per square foot (d) Rooftop signs and all other signs which project above the fascia wall portable signs tent signs, strings of light bulbs not per- manently mounted on a rigid background used in connection with - 6 - commercial premises for commercial purposes (other than tradi- tional holiday decorations) posters and wind driven signs (except banners and pennants) shall be prohibited in all zones (e) Signs shall be engineered to withstand a wind load of thirty pounds per square foot (f) Outside signs with lighted backgrounds shall not be permitted below six feet above grade unless located fifteen feet or more from the public right of way Copy and logos on signs below six feet must utilize internal illumination of letter faces and/or logos only or may be floodlighted (g) Signs which identify businesses, goods or services no longer pro- vided on the premises shall be removed within ninety days after such business ceases, except that billboards made non-conforming by this amendment shall be governed by the provisions of Section 19-47 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado 1958 as amended relating to the termination of non-conforming signs (h) Copy on signs other than the principal name or principal business activity shall be limited to ten per cent of the background area except in the case oT changeable copy signs (i) No sign may project over a public right of way in any district except signs eight feet or more above grade may project up to forty- eight inches from the face of the building if the total area for such signs is the lesser of (a) one square foot of sign for each lineal foot of building frontage upon which such sign is displayed or (b) twelve square feet per face In addition flush wall signs at least eight feet above ground level may extend up to twelve inches beyond this building fascia at the base of the sign ' Section 8 That Section 19-42 4 (0) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958, as amended is hereby repealed Section 9 That Section 19-47 10 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado 1958 as amended, be and the same hereby is amended to read - 7 - � 1 as follows (10) Abatement of non-conforming signs (a) All portable signs tent signs strings of lightbulbs not per- manently mounted on a rigid background, used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes (other than tradi- tional holiday decorations) , posters , wind driven signs (encept banners and pennants) and signs which were illegal under the sign provisions of the zoning ordinance prior to the adoption of this Ordinance shall be removed immediately upon the final adoption of this Ordi- nance (b) All signs with flashing, moving, blinking, chasing or other anima- tion effects not in conformance with the provisions of this Ordi- nance shall be made to cease such flashing, moving, blinking chasing or other animation effects within sixty days after the final adoption of this Ordinance (c) All legal non-conforming flush wall signs with backing, whose design is integral with the architecture and structure of the building of which it is a part, which are non-conforming due to size but which conform in all other respects to the requirements of this Ordinance shall be permitted to remain, subject to the following conditions ( 01) The total sign area of all signs on the property shall not exceed the total sign allowance as determined in Section 19-42 4(3)(b) when the copy symbols or logos on a flush wall sign with backing are measured as on a flush wall sign without backing as prescribed in Section 19-42 4(4)(c) provided that the bonus provision contained in Section 19-42 4(3)(b)( 03) shall not be available ( 02) If the total sign area of all signs on the property exceeds the total sign allowance as allowed hereunder on the date of - 8 - the final adoption of this Ordinance the owner of the property shall file with the Building Inspector a plan for bringing the total sign area into conformance with the provisions of ( 01 ) above within a period of one year after the final adoption of this Ordinance which shall include a binding commitment to reduce the copy on all flush wall signs with backing within a period not to exceed three years after the final adoption of this Ordinance and to remove replace or modify all other signs on the property not in conformance with this Ordi- nance with a period not to exceed six years after the final adoption of this Ordinance in accordance with the provisions of (d) below (d) All other non-conforming signs shall be removed or made to con- form to the provisions of this Ordinance within six years after the effective date of this Ordinance Any non-conforming sign which has been damaged by fire wind or other cause in excess of fifty per cent of its original cost shall not be restored except in conformance with the provisions of this Ordinance Section 10 That Section 19-49 26 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958 as amended be and the same hereby is amended to read as follows 26 Signs Any writing (including letter work or numeral) pictorial re- presentation-(including illustration or declaration) form (including a shape resembling any human animal or product form) emblem (including any device symbol trademark object or design which conveys a recog- nizable meaning identity or distinction) or any other figure of similar character which is a structure or any part thereof or is written - 9 - painted projected upon printed designed into, constructed or otherwise placed on a building board plate, or upon any material object or device whatsoever which by reason of its form color working stereotyped design or otherwise attracts or is designed to attract attention to the subject thereof or is used as a means of identification advertisement or announcement Portable signs shall be considered signs for the purpose of this Ordinance if allowed to remain continuously on one property for more than one hundred s,xty- eight hours Signs do not include the following (1 ) flags pennants or insignia of nations or an organization of nations states cities fraternal religious and civic organizations or any educational insti- tutions except when such flags are used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device (2) placards banners pennants merchandise pictures or models of products or services incorporated in a window display (3) works of fine art which in no way identify a pro- duct or business and which are not displayed in conjunction with a com- mercial enterprise which enterprise may benefit or realize direct com- mercial gain from such display (4) one nameplate per public entrance per business of no more than two square feet per face which is suspended under a canopy (5) temporary decorations or displays clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with national local or religious holiday celebrations (6) signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located or from any public thoroughfare or right of way (7) traffic and other official signs of any public or governmental agency (8) on site traffic directional signs which do not exceed four square feet per face of six feet in height and which do not carry any commercial message or identification (9) un- lighted traffic directional signs of no more than five square feet per face which are not visible from any adjoining property zoned R-E R-L-M R-L R-P R-M or R-M-P or (10) temporary interior paper window signs - 10 - Section 11 That Section 19-49 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958 as amended be and the same hereby is amended by adding thereto the following definitions in appropriate alphabetical order and by renumbering all sub-paragraphs under said section to accommodate such additional definitions SIGNS, CLASSES OF Flush Wall Sign Any sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building with the sign face in a plane parallel to the plane of said wall and which does not extend more- than twelve inches from the building fascia Free-Standing Sign A detached sign which is supported by one or more columns uprights, poles or braces extended from the ground or from an object on the ground or a detached sign which is erected on the ground provided that no part of the sign is attached to any part of any build- ing structure or other sign Ground Sign A type of free-standing sign which is erected on the ground and which contains no free air space between the ground and the top of the sign Permanent Sign A sign which is permanently affixed or attached to the ground or to a structure Portable Sign A sign which is not permanently affixed or attached to the ground or to any structure or a sign mounted upon painted upon or otherwise erected upon a vehicle van truck automobile bus, railroad car a tractor-trailer or other vehicle whether or not such vehicle is in operating condition Projecting Wall Sign Any sign other than a flush wall sign which pro- jects from and is supported by a wall or a building Roof Top Sign A sign erected upon or above a roof, or above a parapet wall of a building Sign Without Backing Any word letter, emblem, insignia, figure or - 11 - similar character or group thereof that is neither backed by incorporated in or otherwise made a part of any larger display area Sign With Backing Any sign that is displayed upon, against or through any material or color surface or backing that forms an integral part of such display and differentiates the total display from the background against which it is placed Wind Driven Sign Any sign consisting of one or a series of two or more banners flags pennants ribbons spinners streamers captive balloons or other objects or material fastened in such a manner as to move upon being subjected to pressure by wind or breeze SIGN FACE The surface of the sign upon against or through which the message is displayed or illustrated BUILDING FASCIA That frontage of a building which faces and is parallel to or most nearly parallel to a public or private street There can be only one building fascia for each street upon which a building faces SIGN ILLEGAL Any sign which was erected in violation of any of the ordinances of the City of Fort Collins governing the same at the time of its erection and which sign has never been in conformance with such ordinances including this ordinance, and which shall include signs which are posted nailed or otherwise fastened or attached to or painted upon structures utility poles trees fences or other signs SIGN LEGAL NON-CONFORMING Any sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the enactment of this Ordinance and any amendments thereto and which does not conform to all the applicable regulations and restrictions of this Ordinance FOR SALE or FOR RENT SIGNS A sign indicating the availability for sale rent or lease of the specific lot building or portion of a building upon which the sign is erected or displayed LIGHTING INDIRECT This term when applied to the lighting of signs shall mean reflected light only from a concealed light source outside - 12 - the sign face which reflects from the sign face only or from the sign face and sign copy PUBLIC USE Uses which are owned by and operated for the public.by school districts or by city, county, state or federal governments SEMI-PUBLIC USE Uses operated by recognized religious, philanthropic, educational or eleemosynary institutions on a not for profit basis and in which goods, merchandise and services are not provided for sale on the premises GRADE The elevation of the center line of the street at the center of the property " Section 12 It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that this Ordinance and every provision thereof shall be considered separate and that the invalidity of any section, clause, provision or part or portion of any section, clause or provision of this ordinance shall not affect the validity of any other portion of this Ordinance Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 28th day of October , A D 1971 , and to be presented for final passage on the 18th day of November , A D 1971 i yor ATTEST /I City Clerk- Passed and adopted on final reading this 18th day of November, A D 1971 ATTEST or City Cler - 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