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HomeMy WebLinkAboutG38-98 4 . Ordinance No. G38-98 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19 . 50 ENTITLED "SIGNS" AND CHAPTER 19 . 90 ENTITLED "SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS" OF THE ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976 , AS AMENDED WHEREAS, the City of Elgin is regulating the placement of signs to ensure they are compatible with their surroundings and to prevent the public from being endangered or distracted by the unsafe or indiscriminate use of signs; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has determined it is necessary to regulate the placement of signs to preserve order and cleanliness, to avoid the appearance of clutter and to prevent visual blight; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has determined it is necessary to regulate the placement of signs to preserve the character of its residential neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has determined it is necessary to regulate the placement of signs to ensure that the City remains an attractive place to live and work, and to protect and maintain property values; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has determined it is necessary to regulate the placement of signs to reduce the traffic hazard caused by signs that distract motorists and impair drivers ' sight lines; and WHEREAS, the City of Elgin has determined it is necessary to regulate the placement of signs to protect the health, safety, welfare, morals, convenience, and comfort of the public . NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS : Section 1 . That Chapter 19 . 50, Section 19 . 50 . 060 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, be and is hereby amended to read as follows : 19 . 50 . 060 SIGNS REGULATED WITHOUT A PERMIT. The following "signs" [SR] may be placed in any zoning district without a permit or a fee: "construction signs" [SR] , "construction project signs" [SR] , "contractor signs" [SR] , "garage sale signs" [SR] , "historic markers" [SR] , "holiday decorations" [SR] , "interior signs" [SR] , "no trespassing signs" [SR] , "non-commercial opinion signs" [SR] , "political campaign signs" [SR] , "promotional window signs" [SR] , "public signs" [SR] , Agirsk- "public utility signs" [SR] , "real estate signs" [SR] , and "window displays" [SR] . The placement of any "sign" [SR] enumerated in this section on a "zoning lot" [SR] shall not be considered when applying the provisions of Section 19 . 50 . 080, Section 19 . 50 . 090 and Section 19 . 50 . 095 of this chapter. Section 2 . That Chapter 19 . 50, Section 19 . 50 . 070 (A) of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976 , as amended, be and is hereby amended to read as follows : A. Residence and Residence Conservation Districts . Any sign regulated without a permit, as enumerated in Section 19 . 50 . 060 of this chapter, and the following "freestanding signs" [SR] and "wall signs" [SR] shall be the only signs allowed in the SFR1 Single Family Residence District, the SFR2 Single Family Residence District, the TFR Two Family Residence District, the MFR Multiple Family Residence District, the RC1 Residence Conservation District, the RC2 Residence Conservation District, and the RC3 Residence Conservation District, with the noted exceptions : Section 3 . That Chapter 19 . 50, Section 19 . 50 . 070(B) of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended, be and is hereby amended to read as follows : B. Community Facility, Business and Industrial Districts . Any sign regulated without a permit, as enumerated in Section 19 . 50 . 060 of this chapter, and the following "freestanding signs" [SR] and "wall signs" [SR] and sign characteristics shall be the only signs and sign characteristics allowed in the CF Community Facility District, the RB Residence Business District, the NB Neighborhood Business District, the AB Area Business District, the CC1 Center City District, the CC2 Center City District, the ORI Office Research Industrial District, the GI Industrial District, and the CI Commercial Industrial District, with the noted exceptions : Section 4 . That Chapter 19 . 90, Section 19 . 90 . 675 ( 32 ) of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976 , as amended, be and is hereby amended to read as follows : Political Campaign Signs . "Political Campaign Sign" shall mean a sign announcing candidates seeking public office, or public or political issues contained on a ballot and any information pertinent thereto. No political campaign sign shall exceed 32 square feet in surface area, or exceed ten feet in height. No political campaign sign shall be displayed more than 60 days prior to an election. Any sign permitted by this paragraph may be used, in the place of any other use permitted by this paragraph, as a "non-commercial opinion sign" [SR] . Political campaign signs shall be removed within seven days subsequent to the election. Section 5 . That Chapter 19 . 90 entitled "Supplementary Regulations" of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976 , as amended, be and is hereby amended by adding the following new paragraph to Section 19 . 90 . 675 : Non-commercial opinion sign. A sign expressing an opinion or other point of view which does not advertise any product, good, business or service. Such signs are only permitted on private property and may be placed only upon the approval of the property owner. Such signs shall not exceed six ( 6 ) square feet in surface area and shall not be placed less than five ( 5) feet from any other privately owned property. Not more than one non-commercial opinion sign shall be displayed for each individual "street lot line" [SR] . Section 6 . That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are hereby repealed. Section 7 . That nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance hereby repealed; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this ordinance. Section 8 . That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect immediately after its passage in the manner provided by law. Kevin Kelly, May Presented: April 22 , 1998 Passed: April 22 , 1998 Omnibus Vote: Yeas 6 Nays 0 Recorded: April 23, 1998 Published: Attest: Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk