1899_00001ORDINANCE NO.1899
ANORDINANCE AMENDINGCHAPTER 18.56 OF THE MOSES LAKEMUNICIPALCODEENTITLED"SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS"
THE CITYCOUNCIL OF THE CITYOF MOSES LAKE,WASHINGTON DOORDAINAS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.Chapter 18.58 oftheMosesLake Municipal Code entitled "Signsand Billboard"is amended asfollows:
18.56.015 Definitions:The following definitions shall applyforthepurpose of thiscode:
A."Abandoned sign"means a sign thatnolonger correctly identifies,exhorts,or advertisesanyperson,business,lessor,owner,product,or activity conducted or available on thepremiseswheresuchsignislocated.
B."AwningSign"means a sign paintedor printedon an awning.
C."Billboard"means an outdoor advertisingsignor poster panel which advertises products,businesses,andlor services not connected withthesite on which thesign is located,andwhichsignisasubstantialpermanentstructurewithdisplayservicesofatypewhicharecustomarilyleasedforcommercialpurposes.
D."Building"means a roofed and walledstructure built for permanent use.
E."Change"means therelocation ofa signor thereplacement offiftypercent (50%)or moreofthestructuralmaterialinthesignarea.Normal maintenance and a change of name arenotchangeswhichrequireapermit
F."Changeable Copy Sign"means a sign on whichthe copy changes automatically on alampbank,throughmechanical means,or onwhich copy is changed manuallyin the fieldwithchangeableletters.
G."Development Site"meansan undividedparcelof land or twoor morecontiguous parcelsoflandundercommonownershiporcontrol.For purposes of this chapter,the term"contiguous"means parcels of land that have substantial common boundaries withoutinterveningpublicright-of-way.
H."Districts"sign overlay (see map on file inthe Community Development Department):
1.Area 1
2.Area 2
3.Area 3
I."Double-faced sign"means a sign thathas advertisingcopyon opposite sides ofa singledisplaysurfaceorsignstructure.
J."Electrical sign"means a signorsignstructureinwhich electrical wiring,connectionsand/orfixturesareusedaspartofthesign.
K."Facade"means theentirebuildingfront or street wallface ofa buildingextending from thegradeofthebuildingtotheparapetoreavesandtheentirewidthofthebuildingelevation
L."Flashing Sign"means a sign or sign structure or portionthereofwhich changes lightintensityorswitchesonandoffinaconstantpattern.Changing message centers shallnotbeconsideredflashingsigns.
M."Free StandingSign"means a sign attached tothe groundby a sign structure and sup-ported by uprightsplacedon or intheground.
N."Freeway Interchange Area"means the freeway interchange area ofInterstate 90 (1-90)
O."Ground Sign"means a signoflimitedheight constructed andaffixedona foundation uponorintheground.
P."Incidental Sign"means a small non-electricinformation sign sixteen (16)square feet orlessinarea,including both sides of sign,whichpertains togoods,products,services,orfacilitieswhichareavailableonthepropertywherethesignoccursandisintendedprimarilyfortheconvenienceofthepublicwhileonthepremises.The signshallnot exceed four feet(4')in height and twofeet (2')înwidth at thebase.
Q."Institutional Sign"means a sign to identifyeducational,civic,and religious institutions.
R."Landscaping"means the planned use of trees,shrubs,and other plant materials inconjunctionwithasignandotherdecorativefeatures.
S."Marquee"means a permanent structure attached to,supported by and projecting from abuildingandprovidingprotectionfromtheweatherelements,but does not include aprojectingroof.For the purpose of this ordinance,a free standing permanent roof-like
structure providingprotectionfromtheelements willalso be considereda marquee.This
also includes canopies.
T."Neighborhood IdentificationSign"meansa signfortheidentification ofa particular residen-
tialarea or development
U."Neon Sign"means a symbol,logo,or message comprisedofilluminated neontubingusedtoattractattentionforadvertisingpurposes.Neon signs shallnotflash,oscillate,or revolve.
V."Off-Premise Directional Sign"means a permanently installed sign which provides direction-al information toa business service located in the Moses Lake area and is not located onthesamepropertyasthebusiness.
W."Off-Premise Sign"means a sign or sign structures advertising an establishment,merchan-dise,service,or entertainment which is not sold,produced,manufactured,or furnished atthepropertyonwhichthesignislocated.
X."On-PremiseDirectionalSign"means a permanentsign thatdirects thepublic toa specificplacesuchasanentrance,exit,or parking or service area.
Y."On-Premise Sign"means a sign identifying a business or products soldon a lot,parcel,
tract,or plot of land togetherwith the buildings and structures located thereon.
Z."Portable Sign"means a sign made ofany material,whichby its design is readilymovableandisnotpermanentlyaffixedtotheground,structures,or buildings.
AA."ProjectingSign"means a sign which is attached to and projects morethanone foot (f)from a structure,building face,or marquee.
BB."Readerboard"means a signface consistingoftracks holding readilychangeable lettersallowingfrequentchanges.
CC."Revolving Sign"means a sign which rotates or turnsin a circular pattern.
DD."Roof Sign"means a sign supportedby and erected on and above a roof or parapet of abuildingorstructure.
EE."Shopping Center"means a development site containing four or more commercial
businesses in one building totalinga minimum of 50,000 square feet ofgross floor area.A shoppingcenter is characterized by a planned,unified site and marketing design under
one management control.
FF."ShoppingCenter Identification/Directory Sign"means a free-standing signthatis located
within a shopping center,intendedtobe seen from public right-of-way,includesthenameoftheshoppingcenterandmayincludeanintegrateddirectoryofoneormoreofthebusinessesthatarelocatedwithintheshoppingcenter.
GG."Sign"means any visualcommunicationdevice,structure,or fixture whichis visible from
any right-of-way and is intended toaidtheestablishmentinquestion inpromotingthe sale
ofproducts,goods,services,events or toidentifya building,using graphics,letters,figures,
symbols,ortrademarks.Painted walldesignsorpatterns which do not represent a product,service or registered trademark,orwhich do not identifythe user,shallnot be considered
signs.Ifa design or pattern is combinedwith a sign,only that partofthedesign or patternwhichcannotbedistinguishedfromthesignwillbeconsideredaspartofthesign.
HH."Temporary sign"means anysignoradvertisingdisplay constructed of cloth,canvas,light
fabric,paper,cardboard,or other light materials,with or without frames,intended to be
displayedfor a limitedtimeonlyand not permanentlyattached toa building or site.
II."Wall sign"means a signattached or erected parallel toand extending not more thanonefoot(1)from the facade or face of any building to which it is attached and supportedthroughoutitsentirelength,with the exposed face of thesignparallel tothe plane of said
wall or facade.
18.56,020 Building Permit:
A.Unless otherwise provided in thischapter,all signs shall require a building permit and
paymentof fees as stipulated by the current Uniform BuildingCode.Applications for abuildingpermitforasignshallbemadetotheBuildingOfficialonformsprescribedbytheCommunityDevelopmentDepartment.
B.Building Permit requirements:
1.Two (2)site plans showingthe location oftheaffected lot,building(s)and sign(s).
2.Two (2)copies of a scale drawing of the proposed sign or sign revision,including
size,height,copy,structural,footing details,method ofattachment,andillumination.
3.The BuildingOfficialmaywaive thesubmissionofplansand specifications when thestructuralaspectisofminorimportance,
18.56.060 Reader Boardand Portable Signs:Reader boards and portable signs may be used for grandopenings,specialsales orpromotions,andspecialevents.Suchsigns maybe erected thirty(30)days priorto an event and shall be removedwithin five (5)days following thespecial event,grandopening,or sale.
Reader board and/or portable signs utilizedin connection with a licensed business,licensedtemporaryoritinerantbusiness,excludinglicensed,tax-exemptnon-profitcompanies,shallobtainasignpermitfromtheCommunityDevelopmentDepartmentThefollowingscheduleshallbeutilizedtodeterminethesignpermitfeeasrequiredbythissection:
A.Asign permitforsigns in thissectionshallbe issued for uptosixty(60)days for thefee ofOtwenty-fivedollars ($25).A sign permit shall notbe issued after the sixty(60)day periodtothesameapplicantforuseatthesameaddressuntilaperiodofthirty(30)days haspassed.After thethirty(30)days has passed another permitforthe use ofa sign in thissectionmaybeissuedforasixty(60)dayperiod upon payment ofanothertwenty-fivedollar($25)permitfee.
B.Signs under thissectionshall have no blinkingor flashing lights.
18.56.080 On-Premises Signs:On-premisessignsshallbepermitted inthe commercial andindustrial zonesofthecityincompliancewiththeprovisionsofthischapter.
A.Aspecial signoverlaydistrict is adopted and portrayed on a map on file in the CommunityDevelopmentDepartment.The standards ofthischapter shall be applied as defined inthespecificoverlayareas.
B.SignSize:Businesses withfrontages ofless thanthirty-twofeet (32')mayconstructa signwithanareanottoexceedthirty-two(32)square feet.Onlyone (1)face of a doublefacesignwillbeconsideredincomputingitssignfacesize.The totalarea of signs shall notexceedthefollowingratios:
1.Area 1:One square foot (1')of area for each lineal footof developed businessfrontagealongthestreetorsidetowhichthesignisdirected,with a totalarea nottoexceedonehundredfiftysquarefeet(150').
2.Area 2:One and a half square feet (1.5')ofarea for each lineal foot of developedbusinessfrontagealongthestreetorsidetowhichthesignisdirected,with a totalareanottoexceedonehundredfiftysquarefeet(150').
3.Area 3:Two square feet (2')of area for each lineal foot of developed businessfrontagealongthestreetorsidetowhichthesignisdirected,witha totalarea not toexceedfivehundredsquarefeet(500').
C.Sign Height:Roof mounted signs projecting upward and not beyond the wall of thestructureshallnotprojectmorethantenfeet(10')above the building containing thebusinesswhichthesignidentifiesandshallnotexceedtheheightstandardsofthezoneinwhichthebuildingislocated.Free standing signs shall not exceed an overall height oftwenty-fivefeet (25')except as may be permitted by thischapter.Signsprojecting outwardbeyondthewallofabuildingshallnotexceedtheheightofthesurfacetowhichthesignismountedoranoverallheightoftwenty-fivefeet (25'),whichever is less.
D.Signs Exceeding Permitted Size and Height:On-premises signs may be permitted toexceedtheheightand/orsignface size standardsofthischapter subjecttothereviewandapprovalofthePlanningCommissionafterithasbeenshownthatthesignwouldnotadverselyaffectadjacentusesandtheextraheightorsignfacesizeisessentialforthesigntobevisible.
E.Signs Projecting OverCity Right-of-Way:Signs projecting outward beyond thewall of abuildingtowhichtheyaremountedshallnotprojectoutovercityright-of-way except intheC-1 Zone,CentralBusiness District,and on existingbuildings in theC-2 Zone,General
Commercial and Business,thathave no front yard set back from city right-of-way.Signsprojectingoutwardbeyondthewallofthebuildingtowhichtheyareattachedmayprojectoutoverthepublicsidewalknotmorethaneightypercent(80%)of thedistance betweenthepropertylineandthecurbline.AIIsigns projecting over city right-of-way shall be aminimumofeightandonehalffeet(8 ½')from finished grade levelexcept for signsattachedtotheundersideofacanopyorotherarchitecturalprojectionwhichmaybeaminimumofsevenandonehalffeet(7½')from finished grade level.
F.Freeway/Freeway Interchange Signs:Freewaylfreeway interchange signs shallbe definedasasigndesignedandplacedtoattracttheattentionoffreewaytraffictravelingon1-90oroftrafficenteringorexiting1-90at a freeway interchange.On-premises freeway/freewayinterchangesignsareallowedinthecommercialandindustrialzoneswithinonethousandfeet(1,000')ofa freeway interchangeor withintwo hundred fiftyfeet (250')of a freewayright-of-way.On-premises freeway/freewayinterchange signs shall not exceed forty-fivefeet(45')in height or a sign face size,one face,of five hundred (500)square feet,exceptthatthePlanningCommissionmaypermitfreeway/freeway interchange signs exceedingforty-fivefeet(45')inheight and/ora signface size,oneface,exceedingfive hundred (500)square feet upona findingthat theextra height and signface area is essential to thesignbeingseenbyfreewayorfreewayinterchangetrafficandthatthesignwouldnotadverselyaffectadjacentornearuses.On-premises freeway/freeway interchangesigns shall be in
compliance with all local,federal,and state regulations for such signs.A copy of theWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportationSignPermitorcertificationfromtheWSDOTconfirmingthatanyproposedfreewaylfreewayinterchangesignisincompliancewithallstateregulationsshallberequiredtoaccompanyanapplicationforacitysignpermitand/or an application for a conditional use permit for a freewaylfreeway interchange sign.
G.ShoppingCenter Identification Sign:Each shoppingcenter is limitedto one freestandingsignwhichshallbeashoppingcenteridentification/directory sign thatshall be located in
a landscaped area.The totalsign area for a shopping center identification/directory signshallnotexceedatotalofonehundredfifty(150)square feet
18.56.140 Interpretations and Rulings:Recognizingthattheremaybeambiguitiesin anychapterand thatitmaybenecessarytoobtainaninterpretationorrulingregardingintent,interpretation,ordefinition,the Community Development Director may forward a request to the PlanningCommissionforaninterpretationorrulingregardingtheapplicationoftheprovisionsofthischaptertoanyexistingorproposedsign.
Section 2,The City Council declares that an emergency exists and this ordinance shall take effect
immediately as provided by law upon one reading if 2/3 of theentire City Council present vote in favor of
passage.
Adopted by the CityCounciland signed by its Mayor on December 28,1999.
Mayor
ATT :
inance Director
A A
Cly Attorney
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