G38-98 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