2008-48 AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE - SIGNAGE

Home Browse Search

. k f ♦ • ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM Memo No. 08-87 ' July 16, 2008 TO: Honorable Mayor Michael T. Carrigan and City Council FROM: John A. Smith, Interim City Manager ' Greg C. Crowe, Assistant City Manage Suzan M. Stickle, Senior Planner S�LS Stephanie E. Ashe, Historic Preservation Planne� SUBJECT: Amendments to Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance#3512) SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the amendments to the City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance #3512) as proposed. The City Plan Commission voted 11-0 to recommend approval of this petition with conditions at the July 3, 2008 hearing; the minutes of the meeting are attached. As Electronic Message Units have become a more common form of advertising, Staff recognized the need to reevaluate the current rules and regulations. Additionally, Off-Premise Electronic Message Unit Signs have also become a more common form of advertising along highways and thoroughfares. Prior to finalizing , changes, Staff inet with Lamar Outdoor Advertising and Bendsen Signs and Graphics, both of whom were involved in the process and agreed with the changes. BACKGROUND: The current City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance was adopted in May of 2002. Since the time of adoption, Staff has discovered certain necessary changes, discrepancies and omissions as the new ardinance has been implemented, specifically in Section XXV. Signage. The following changes to the �, ordinance are proposed. �� Amend SECTION IL (Definitions)by adding: `BACKGROLTND: The display representing the animation or graphics which lie behind the text and ' are less prominent in nature." �, "CORE AREA: Area bounded by Pershing Road/Illinois Route 121, 22"d Street, Lake Shore Drive, South Side Dnve, and Oakland Avenue/Illinois Route 48." "FOREGROUND: A part of the message which is nearest the front of the display and is prominent in II nature." � "MESSAGE: The complete configuration of text,numerals, graphics, or animation displayed in the background and foreground within electronic message unit signs and off-premise electronic message unit signs." �� "SIGN, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE iJNIT: Shall mean a sign displaying text, numerals, graphics, or animation indicating the names of persons associated with events conducted upon or products or services offered upon the premise where the sign is maintained; is illuminated internally by means of electric bulbs, LCD ar other similar methods; and is controlled electronically with the ability to be programmed to change." 'I "SIGN, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE LTNIT MONUMENT STYLE: A monument style sign structure I in which the electronic message unit is framed by a stone and/or masonry material. No electronic � message unit shall sit on top of the stone and/or masonry material without the stone and/or masonry ' covering the entire unit."