Sponsor
Alderman DeHahn
Title
Ordinance 11-14
To amend, repeal and/or recreate subsections of Sec. 114-1028 and 114-1 of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine, Wisconsin.
The Common Council of the City of Racine, Wisconsin, do ordain as follows:
Part 1: Amend subsection (e) of Sec. 114-1028 by inserting at the beginning of that subsection before the word "No" the words "Unless otherwise permitted in this section," and then revising the word "No" to "no."
Part 2: The following subsection shall be created in Sec. 114-1028 of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine to read as follows:
"(i) In an area bounded by the Root River to the north and west, Sam's River Road to the east, and Water Street to the south, roof signs may be permitted but are subject to the following allowances:
1. One such sign per building by right and only displaying one name (i.e. the name of the major tenant, or the development or building name). The applicant shall submit an application and supporting materials to the Downtown Area Design Review Commission for review and approval.
2. Two such signs may be permitted per building if a conditional use permit is first obtained. Prior to the review of the Plan Commission, the applicant shall submit an application and supporting materials to the Downtown Area Design Review Commission for review and recommendation.
3. Roof signs shall be composed of individual letters, internally or externally illuminated. No flashing, traveling, animation, scrolling, pulsing, or intermittence of the message or figures is permitted.
4. Roof signs shall not extend more than 10 feet above the average height of the roof surface.
5. Total roof sign square footage shall be calculated in accordance with the standards of the zoning district in which it is located. The total square footage of all roof signage on a building shall not exceed this number.
6. Roof signage described in Sec 114-1028(i) shall be calculated independently of signage which is otherwise permitted in the zoning district."
Part 3: To repeal and recreate Sec. 114-1038 (c) (1) of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine as follows: "No more than an aggregate area equaling 50% of all street level street façade windows may be covered by window signage."
Part 4: To repeal and recreate Sec. 114-1038 (c) (3) of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine as follows: "To calculate the amount of window signage allowed, measure the area of all the street level street façade window sections and multiply by 0.50. This calculation will provide the amount of window signage allowed. (For example: two street level street façade windows measuring 10 feet by 10 feet would equal 200 square feet of window area. Multiply 200 by 0.50, and the allowed window signage could total up to 100 square feet. This amount of signage may be applied to both windows, or one window, as long as the total amount of window signage does not exceed 100 square feet)."
Part 5: To repeal and recreate Sec. 114-1038 (c) (5) of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine as follows: "Signage allocations shall not be calculated by including other building elevations or facades that are not street level street façade. Signage allocations shall not be shared or transferred between businesses occupying separate tenant spaces or buildings."
Part 6: Amend Sec. 114-1 (b) of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine in the appropriate alphabetical order by adding the following definition: "Seasonal business, for the purposes of Section 114-1038, means an establishment operating from within a permanent building that totals less than 1000 square feet in floor area, that operates only during a specific time period of the year and is dormant or closed during the other time periods of the year, and where customers do not have access to the interior of the building when receiving goods or services."
Part 7: Amend Sec. 114-1 (b) of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine in the appropriate alphabetical order by adding the following definition: "Reciprocal window signs, are those window signs displayed by a business for which there is an agreement entered into with another businesses to offer special services, products or pricing to each other's customers in exchange for proof of good or services purchased at each other's business. Such window signage shall not be considered to be advertising signs as defined and regulated by this Chapter."
Part 8: Amend Sec. 114-1038 (a) by adding the following subsection:
"(7) A seasonal business, as defined in Sec. 114-1 (b) of this chapter, operating at their current location prior to August 19, 2014, shall be exempt from compliance with Sec. 114-1038."
Part 9: Repeal Sec. 114-1038 (a)(3) of the Municipal Code of the City of Racine in its entirety as follows:
"Reciprocal Signs: an owner of a business property may themselves, or give permission for a tenant, to enter into reciprocal product or service agreements with other businesses to host window signage advertising a guest businesses name, goods or services not offered by the host business. As a hypothetical, "Tom's Gas and Snacks" on Douglas Avenue enters into an agreement with "Gold Touch Breaks and Mufflers" on Green Bay Road to display a window sign announcing "Buy $30 of snacks at Tom's and get a free break system analysis at Gold Touch." For the purpose of this Article, reciprocal signs as permitted in this Section shall not be considered advertising signs as defined in Sec. 114-1.(b) or as regulated by Division 3. of this Article".
Part 10: This ordinance shall take effect upon passage by a majority vote of the members-elect of the City Common Council and publication or posting as required by law
Passed by the Common Council:
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Approved:
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Mayor
Attest:
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City Clerk
Fiscal Note: N/A