G66-04 CITY OF ELGIN
ORDINANCE NO. G66-04
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 19, ENTITLED "ZONING"OF THE
ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976
AS AMENDED
(Master Signage Plans)
PASSED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ELGIN
ON THIS 28th DAY OF JULY 2004
Published in pamphlet form by authority of the City
Council of the City of Elgin, Kane and Cook
Counties, Illinois, on this
4th day of August 2004.
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elak
STATE OF ILLINOIS )
ss.
COUNTY OF KANE )
CERTIFICATE
I, Dolonna Mecum, certify that I am the duly appointed and acting municipal clerk
of the City of Elgin, Cook and Kane Counties, Illinois.
I further certify that on July 28, 2004, the Corporate Authorities of such
municipality passed and approved Ordinance No. G66-04, which provided by its terms that it
should be published in pamphlet form.
The pamphlet form of Ordinance No. G66-04, including the Ordinance and a
cover sheet thereof, was prepared, and a copy of such Ordinance was posted in the municipal
building commencing on August 4, 2004, and continuing for at least ten days thereafter. Copies
eibk of such Ordinance were also available for public inspection upon request in the office of the
municipal clerk.
DATED at Elgin, Illinois, on August 4, 2004.
'i9194-)4-1--(12
Municipal lerk
(SEAL)
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Ordinance No. G66-04
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 19, ENTITLED "ZONING" OF THE
ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976, AS AMENDED
(Master Signage Plans)
WHEREAS, written application has been made to amend the Elgin Zoning Ordinance
provisions pertaining to master signage plans; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Commission held a public hearing
concerning the proposed amendment after due notice in manner provided by law; and
WHEREAS, the Planning and Development Commission has submitted its written
findings and recommendation that the requested amendment be granted; and
WHEREAS, the City Council concurs in the findings and recommendation of the
Planning and Development Commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS:
Section 1. That chapter 19.50 entitled "Signs," of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as
amended, be and is hereby further amended by amending section 19.50.150, entitled "Master
Signage Plan,"to read as follows:
"19.50.150: MASTER SIGNAGE PLAN
"Master signage plans" [SR] may be established to provide an opportunity for unique
signage which may not conform to all of the provisions of the other sections of this
Chapter. The City Council shall have the authority to pass an ordinance granting a master
signage plan, subject to the provisions of this Section. "Master signage plans" [SR] shall
be subject to the provisions of Chapter 19.65 of this Title and this Section.
A. Standards. The granting of a "Master Signage Plan" [SR] shall be contingent on
the extent to which affirmative findings are made with respect to each of the
following standards:
1. No allowable departure from the requirements of this Chapter shall be granted
unless it has been found that the requested departures are mitigated through an
equivalent and more restrictive application of other regulations of this Title or
Chapter. The standards for conditional uses listed in Section 19.65.030 of this
Title need not be considered.
2. Site Characteristics. The suitability of the subject property for the master
signage plan with respect to its size, shape and any existing improvements.
3. Surrounding Land Use and Zoning. The suitability of the subject property for
the master signage plan with respect to consistency and compatibility with
surrounding land use and zoning.
4. Architectural Style. Each sign shall be designed to relate to the architectural
style of the main building or buildings upon the site, and to the extent not
inconsistent with such style, to existing improvements upon lots adjacent to the
site; provided that signs located on any isolated commercial site containing a
gross floor area of less than ten thousand square feet within one or more buildings
and located within a predominantly residential area shall be compatible with the
residential character of such area and consistent with other sign types permitted in
residential districts.
5. Relationship to Buildings. Consistent with the architectural style, each sign
shall be designed to incorporate at least one of the predominantly visual
horizontal and vertical elements of the main building or buildings on the site, such
as the type of construction material, color, or other design details; and any sign on
a building shall have dimensions which are proportional to and visually balanced
with the building facade of the side of the building upon which such sign is
located.
6. Relationship to Other Signs. Each sign shall be well related to all other signs
on the site by the incorporation of not less than four of the following seven
elements:
a. Materials;
b. Letter style of sign copy;
c. Color;
d. Illumination;
e. Method used for structural support or attachment;
f. Technical details of sign construction; and
g. Shape of entire sign and its several components.
7. Sign Copy. The sign copy for a sign shall not exceed forty percent of the sign
area.
8. Signs Affixed to Buildings. The sign area for any sign affixed to a building
shall not exceed ten percent of the building facade upon which such sign is
located, except that an applicant for a "master signage plan" [SR] may, subject to
the approval of the City Council, designate one or more enterprises, which
collectively occupy more than fifty percent of the usable floor space within the
main building upon the site, as a "main tenant" or "main tenants" of the site.
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Each main tenant may have a sign with an area not to exceed fifteen percent of the
en- building facade of the building side upon which such sign is located.
9. Signs Affixed to Buildings Above Eave Line. Any sign located above a
building facade (eave line) shall be integral with the building and also an integral
design feature of the building.
10. Signs Affixed to Buildings Below Canopy. Any sign located beneath a
canopy, arcade, marquee or other similar building projection shall not contain
more than three square feet in sign area and shall be located on a building
frontage proximate to an entrance to the building in regular use by the general
public.
B. Allowable Departures: Allowable departures from the other sections of this
Chapter, which may be granted through a master signage plan may include the
number of signs, the location of signs, sign area, illumination and motion, or any
other sign characteristic. Allowable departures from the other sections of this
Chapter which may be granted through a master signage plan shall not include
being granted permission for a "sign" [SR] prohibited by Section 19.50.050 of
this Chapter, as amended, or permission for a type of sign not allowed in the
zoning district of the property upon which a sign is proposed to be erected, placed
or maintained.
C. Required Documentation: A master signage plan shall contain the following
documentation:
1. Site Plan: A site plan showing the locations of all structures, buildings, parking
lots, driveways, landscaped areas, and the location with dimensions of all existing
and proposed signs in relation to structures, buildings, property lines, and rights of
way associated with the zoning lot. The site plan shall be drawn at a graphic
engineering scale of not less than one inch equals fifty feet (1"= 50").
2. Sign Sketch: A sketch with dimensions of all existing and proposed signs
referencing their location on the site plan and a list of all signs specifying type,
size and number.
3. Statement Of Purpose And Conformance: A specific written statement
addressing the nature of and the reasons for the requested master signage plan and
demonstrating conformance to the standards for master signage plans.
4. Other Required Documents: The required documents for a conditional use
pursuant to Section 19.65.040 of this Title, except the statement of purpose and
conformance, and the site plan.
D. Findings required prior to approval. The Zoning and Subdivision Hearing Board
shall recommend the approval or denial of a proposed master signage plan to the
City Council. The Zoning and Subdivision Hearing Board's recommendation
shall be contained within a written findings of fact which shall set forth with
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particularity in what respects the proposal conforms to the standards for master
'/e► signage plans.
E. Approval. The Zoning and Subdivision Hearing Board may recommend and the
City Council may require appropriate and reasonable conditions to any approval
of a "master signage plan" [SR], including, but not limited to, conditions which
alter sign configurations, reduce the sign area, relocate signs upon the lot or
buildings, or require other design modifications.
F. Conformance To Plans: Subsequent to the approval of a "master signage plan"
[SR], no sign shall be erected, placed, painted, or maintained, except in
conformance to such plan. The "master signage plan" [SR] may be amended,
subject to the provisions of this Section."
Section 2. Severability. If any provision, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of
this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall for any reason be
adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, said judgment
shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this ordinance and the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances, but shall be confined in its operation to the
provision, clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered and to the person or circumstances
involved. It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent of the City Council that this ordinance
would have been adopted had such unconstitutional or invalid provisions, clause, sentence,
,k paragraph, section or part thereof not been included.
Section 3. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this
ordinance be and are hereby repealed.
Section 4. That this ordinance shall be in full fo and effect upon its passage and
publication in the manner provided by law.
)//
Robert Gilliam, Mayor Pro Tem
Presented: July 28, 2004
Passed: July 28, 2004
Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 5 Nays: 0
Recorded: July 29, 2004
Published:
Attest:
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk
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