08/23/2011 Ordinances 9316ORDINANCE NO. 9316
An ordinance to amend Chapter 31 of the Grand Island City Code; to amend
Sections 31 -1; 31 -10; 31 -12; 31 -13; 31 -22; 31 -24; 31 -25; 31 -32 and 31 -33 pertaining to signs; to
repeal Sections 31 -1; 31 -10; 31 -12; 31 -13; 31 -22; 31 -24; 31 -25; 31 -32 and 31 -33 as now
existing, and any ordinance or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; and to provide for
publication and the effective date of this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA:
SECTION 1. Section 31 -1 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
§31 -1. Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively
ascribed to them by this section.
Back -to -Back Sign. An off - premise sign consisting of two sign facings oriented in opposite directions with
not more than two faces per sign facing.
Cloth Sign. Any sign executed upon or composed of any flexible fabric.
Development Sign. A ground sign whose purpose is to identify business located within a retail subdivision
or commercial development.
Directional Sign. A sign erected for the convenience of the public, such as for directing traffic movement,
parking, or identifying restrooms, public telephones, walkways and other similar features or facilities, and bearing
no advertising message.
Double Faced Sign. An off - premise sign with two adjacent faces oriented in the same direction and not
more than ten (10) feet apart at the nearest point between the two faces.
Facing. That portion of an off - premise sign upon which advertising is affixed or painted and visible in one
direction at one time.
Flat Sign. Any sign so attached to a building or other structure that it projects beyond the building line, but
extends parallel or substantially parallel thereto.
Free Standing Yard Sign. Any sign 15 square feet or less that shall have as its supports, wood or steel
columns, pipe, angle iron framing, or any other combination of these materials, other than ground signs as defined
herein.
Ground Sign. Any sign which is supported by uprights or braces placed upon or extending into the ground.
Horizontal Sign. Any sign whose horizontal dimension is greater than its vertical dimension, or whereon
the subject matter is so placed that it reads at an angle less than forty -five degrees with a horizontal line.
Mobile Sign. Any sign structure designed and constructed to be moved by means of wheels or skids which
proposes any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, or illustration used to advertise or promote the
interests of any person when the same is placed out of doors in view of the general public. This shall not include
signs anchored or attached to vehicles or trailers parked and used primarily as a static advertising display, visible
from the public right -of -way.
Approved as to Form I ,
August 22, 2011 i i City
ORDINANCE NO. 9316 (Cont.)
Multi -faced Sign. An off - premise sign comprised of sections which rotate to display a series of
advertisements, each advertisement being displayed for at least six (6) seconds continuously without movement; the
duration of movement of sections between advertisements not exceeding two (2) seconds.
Official Sign. A sign erected by a governmental agency or its designee, setting forth information pursuant
to law.
Off — Premise Outdoor Advertising Sign. A sign, including the supporting sign structure, which is visible
from a street or highway and advertises goods or services not usually located on the premises and/or property upon
which the sign is located; also called "billboard." The following shall not be considered an off - premise sign for the
purposes of this Chapter: (1) directional or official signs authorized by law; (2) real estate signs; (3) on- premise
signs.
On- Premise Sign. A sign which advertises the primary goods or services or taking place upon the premises
on which the sign is located.
Projecting Sign. Any sign attached to a building or other structure and extending beyond the building line
either perpendicularly or at any angle other than parallel thereto.
Roof Sign. Any sign which is supported by uprights or braces placed upon or extending into the roof of any
building or other structure.
Sign. Any device composed of one or more letters, words, pictures, figures, characters, symbols or
emblems, or any combination or grouping thereof which prefigures, typifies, or represents one or more ideas.
Transparent Sign. Any sign illuminated from within and made of glass or similar material containing
opaque lettering upon a translucent letter upon an opaque ground.
V -Type Sign. Any off - premise sign structure which consists of multiple sign facings placed at angles of
each other, oriented in different directions and not exceeding twenty (20) feet apart at the nearest point to each other.
Vertical Sign. Any sign whose horizontal dimension is less than its vertical dimension, or whereon the
subject matter is so placed that it reads at an angle of forty -five degrees or greater with a horizontal line.
Wall Sign. Any sign which is painted or otherwise directly depicted upon a wall.
Amended by Ordinance No. 8866, effective 11 -19 -2003
Amended by Ordinance No. 8978, effective 06 -08 -2005
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09/13 -2011
SECTION 2. Section 3 1 -10 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
§31 -10. Clearance; High Voltage Power Lines
It shall be the responsibility of the sign installer to contact the City Utility to determine the required
clearances from high voltage lines.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09 -13 -2011
SECTION 3. Section 31 -12 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
§31 -12. Sign Elevation
Except as provided in §31 -10 and §31 -11, the lowest part of any sign, including any grillwork thereon,
shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk or driving surface.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09 -13 -2011
SECTION 4. Section 31 -13 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
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ORDINANCE NO. 9316 (Cont.)
§31 -13. Signs In Public Right -of -Way
(1) No sign shall project into the public right -of -way of any street, alley, or sidewalk, including the air space above
such right -of -way, except as provided in this section.
(2) Signs may project into the public right -of -way, including the air space right -of -way only within that business
district of the City which is within the following described area:
Beginning at a point of beginning, being the intersection of the centerline of Clark Street and the centerline
of the alley located one -half block North of Fourth Street; thence northeasterly along the centerline of said
alley to the West right -of -way line of Cherry Street, now vacated; thence southwesterly along said right -of-
way line extended to the centerline of the alley located one -half block south of First Street; thence
southwesterly along the centerline of said alley to the centerline of Sycamore Street; thence southerly along
the centerline of Sycamore Street to a point located on the easterly extension of the south lot line of Lot 3
of Westervelt Subdivision; thence westerly along said lot line and extension to the centerline of Pine Street;
thence southerly along the centerline of Pine Street to the centerline of Koenig Street; thence westerly and
southwesterly along the centerline of Koenig Street to the centerline of Cedar Street; thence northwesterly
along the centerline of Cedar Street to the centerline of the alley one -half block south of First Street; thence
southwesterly along the centerline of said alley to the centerline of Clark Street; thence northwesterly along
the centerline of Clark Street to the point of beginning.
(3) Any sign which projects into the public right -of -way in said business district must:
(A) Be a projecting sign attached to a building, building canopy or awning;
(B) Extend not more than ten (10) feet from such building;
(C) Not extend beyond a perpendicular line three (3) feet back of any street curb line or alley line.
(D) Maintain at least 8' -0" clearance above the sidewalk surface.
(4) All signs which extend into or over the public right -of -way are maintained solely at the sufferance of the City.
The City reserves the right and power to require the removal of any such sign at its sole discretion.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09 -13 -2011
SECTION 5. Section 31 -22 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
§31 -22. Reserved.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09 -13 -2011
SECTION 6. Section 31 -24 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
§31 -24. Flat Signs
No flat sign shall extend beyond any building line more than fifteen inches; provided, that nothing herein
contained shall prohibit the erection of a flat sign on the outer edge of a marquee, provided the same is securely
fastened and is not higher than the base of windows to the rear thereof.
Flat signs shall not extend beyond the top or ends of the wall surface on which they are placed.
Flat signs or signs enclosed in cases used for building directories or theater advertisements, not extending
beyond the building line more than three inches, shall be permitted at any height. Flat signs denoting places of
entrance and exit, and those used for public safety shall also be permitted at any height. "The area of flat signs shall
not exceed thirty percent of the building fagade upon which it is placed.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09 -13 -2011
SECTION 7. Section 31 -25 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
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ORDINANCE NO. 9316 (Cont.)
§31 -25. Ground Signs
(1) Dimension Limitation: All ground signs shall be subject to the following:
(A) For each foot of height over thirty (30) feet, there shall be a corresponding one foot of setback
from the property line;
(B) Lighting reflectors attached to the top of a sign may project above the top and beyond the face of
such sign, and shall be excluded from all measurement requirements established by this subsection.
(2) Height Limitation: Ground signs which exceed fifty (50) feet in height, measured from the ground level at the
base of the sign to the top of the sign, shall be subject to the following:
(A) No permit shall be issued by the chief building official until such issuance has been authorized by the
mayor and city council.
(B) The applicant for the permit shall submit the following to the chief building official for review and
consideration by the mayor and city council:
(i) A drawing showing the height, width, elevations, and electrical details of such sign;
(ii) Clear and convincing evidence that if the sign does not exceed fifty (50) feet in height the
owner will suffer undue hardship and that said hardship is not shared generally by other properties in the
area;
(iii) Clear and convincing evidence that the proposed sign will not be a substantial detriment to
adjacent properties and the character of the surrounding area will not be changed by the erection of the
proposed sign.
(C) Ground signs exceeding fifty (50) feet in height shall be erected only on tracts of real estate adjacent to
state and federal highways and occupied by the business premises advertised by the sign.
(D) No permit shall be issued for any sign exceeding one hundred (100) feet in height, measured from the
ground level at the base of the sign to the top of the sign.
(E) In lieu of the permit fee set forth in this chapter, upon the granting of a permit for erection or moving of
a sign exceeding fifty (50) feet in height, the applicant shall pay a fee of $250.00 to the City.
(F) All other provisions of the Grand Island City Code pertaining to signs which are not inconsistent with
this section shall apply to ground signs exceeding fifty (50) feet in height.
(3) Number Limitations: There may be only one ground sign allowed for each one hundred (100) lineal feet or
fraction thereof of street frontage for any one lot or tract. Notwithstanding this limit, any lot that fronts on more than
one street may have at least one sign on each street.
(4) Location Limitations:
(A) No signs may be placed in city right -of -way.
(B) At street intersections, no signs may be placed within the triangle formed by the intersections of
maintained roadway, whether paved or graveled, of two intersecting streets and the line extended joining points
measured thirty feet on each property line from the point of said property lines intersection, unless:
(i) said signs are on posts with a width or diameter not greater than 18 inches; and
(ii) the bottom of said signs are not less than eight feet from the ground or the tops are no higher
than twenty -four (24) inches from the ground.
(5) The formula for determining the allowable area for ground signs shall be as follows: Four square feet of sign for
each one foot of frontage on the lot where the sign is to be placed. In any event, the maximum square footage of any
ground sign shall not exceed 800 square feet per side, regardless of frontage feet.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09 -13 -2011
SECTION 8. Section 31 -32 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
§31 -32. Mobile Signs
(1) General. The placement of mobile signs shall be in accordance with all requirements of the Grand Island City
Code. Furthermore, no mobile sign shall be placed or used at any location except as allowed in this section, and
only after obtaining a permit therefor from the City building department.
(2) Permit, Types, Duration; Fee; Application
ORDINANCE NO. 9316 (Cont.)
(A) 45 Day Permit: A permit to allow one mobile sign per business to be located at a specific property
location for no more than forty -five (45) days from the date of issuance, during any calendar year. No sign
authorized by a 45 Day Permit shall be located closer than one hundred (100) feet of any other sign allowed by
a 45 Day Permit. Properties with less than one hundred (100) feet of street frontage shall be entitled to one 45
Day Permit per calendar year. The fee for a 45 Day Permit shall be in accordance with the City of Grand Island
Fee Schedule.
(B) Special Event Permit: A permit to allow any number of mobile signs at any one property location for a
period not to exceed four (4) days. The fee for a Special Event Permit shall be in accordance with the City of
Grand Island Fee Schedule. Special Event Permits shall only be issued in the spirit of the following examples
of truly special events: a grand opening sale, a special holiday or seasonal sale, anniversary sale, going out of
business sale. There shall be a minimum of one day between special events.
(C) Application Contents: The application shall describe in detail all positions where the sign will be placed
on the location, the dimensions of the sign, and the type of permit being sought.
(3) Design. Mobile signs may be constructed of any material meeting the requirements of this Code and shall be so
designed that the structural frame will resist wind loads of twenty -five (25) pounds per square foot when anchored to
the ground. The measured height of the face of a mobile sign shall not exceed six feet (6). Mobile signs shall be so
designed that the sign when placed upon the ground shall not rest upon any wheels. The wheels shall only be utilized
in moving the mobile sign from site to site. Mobile signs shall be anchored to the ground or ground - surfacing
material in a manner approved by the building official.
(4) Electrical. Mobile signs utilizing electrical equipment in connection with illuminating the mobile sign shall
have all such equipment installed in accordance with the Grand Island Electrical Code. All electrical connections to
mobile signs shall be made with a type S or SO or STO flexible 12 -3 cord and plugged into an approved 120 volt
grounded electrical outlet protected with a FGCI receptacle or breaker with a capacity of not less than 15 amperes
nor more than 20 amperes. The distance between the electrical outlet receptacle and the mobile sign shall not exceed
50 feet and the cord shall not be placed upon any ground or ground - surfacing that is specifically designed to
accommodate pedestrian traffic or vehicular traffic of any sort.
(5) Anchoring Requirements All mobile signs must be weighted with ballast or anchored in the following manner:
(A) Such weight or ballast must be a minimum of five pounds of weight for each square foot of sign face.
Mobile signs shall be weighted in a manner approved by a building department official.
(B) Anchored at each position used by a minimum of four anchors which meet the following specifications:
(1) If anchored in concrete, the anchors shall extend to a depth of at least four inches (4 ") and shall
be at least one half inch (1/2 ") diameter, or
(2) If anchored in asphalt, the anchors shall extend to a depth of at least three feet (3') and shall be
at least one half inch (1/2 ") diameter; or
(3) If anchored in dirt, the anchors shall extend to a depth of at least three feet (3') and shall be
either metal spikes with a diameter of at least one half inch (1/2 ") or wooden spikes with dimensions of at
least two inches by two inches (2 "x2 ").
(4) The anchoring of any mobile sign must be approved by a building department official.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09-13-2011
SECTION 9. Section 31 -33 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
§31 -33. Free Standing Yard Signs
(1) Free Standing Yard signs shall be free standing and shall not be in excess of fifteen (15) square feet in size.
(2) Free Standing Yard signs shall be exempt from Section 31 -5 Permits.
(3) Free Standing Yard signs shall not be allowed on any public property or right -of -way.
(4) Free Standing Yard signs at street intersections shall not be placed within the triangle formed by the adjacent
property lines of the two intersecting streets and the line joining points thirty (30) feet distant along property lines
from their point of intersection.
(5) It shall be unlawful to erect free standing yard signs at any time in violation of the Grand Island City Code.
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ORDINANCE NO. 9316 (Cont.)
(6) The Chief Building Official, or his/her designee, shall be authorized to seize and remove all signs in violation
of this section, and dispose of the same without notice.
(7) The city clerk shall provide copies of this section of the Grand Island City Code to the Hall County Election
Commissioner for distribution to all candidates for political office and persons using political free standing yard
signs within the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Grand Island, or other interested persons.
(8) Free Standing Yard signs utilized to advertise an event shall be removed no later than five (5) days after the
event.
Amended by Ordinance No. 9316, effective 09 -13 -2011
SECTION 10. Sections 31 -1; 31 -10; 31 -12; 31 -13; 31 -22; 31 -24; 31 -25; 31 -32
and 31 -33 as now existing, and any ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be, and
hereby are, repealed.
SECTION 11. That this ordinance shall be in force and take effect from and after
its passage and publication in pamphlet form within fifteen days as provided by law.
Enacted: August 23, 2011.
Attest:
\a.a t,ow.�
RaNae Edwards, City Clerk
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