05/24/2005 Ordinances 8978
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ORDINANCE NO. 8978
An ordinance to amend Chapter 31 of the Grand Island City Code; to amend
Section 31-1 pertaining to definitions; to add Section 31-25.1 pertaining to development signs; to
amend Section 31-42 pertaining to legal nonconforming signs; to repeal Sections 31-1 and 31-42
as now existing, and any ordinance or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; and to provide for
publication and the effective date ofthis 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 Sifm. Any sign executed upon or composed of any flexible fabric.
Develovment Sirm. A ground sign whose purpose is to identify business located within a retail subdivision
or commercial development.
Directional Sif!n. 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 Sign. Any sign 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 Sif!n. 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.
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.
Approved as to Form l:I
May 25, 2005 l:I City Attorney
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ORDINANCE NO. 8978 (Cont.)
Off -Premise Outdoor Advertisinf! 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.
Proiecting 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.
Real Estate Sign. Any sign which advertises the sale or lease of the property upon which the sign is located.
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-Tvpe 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.
SECTION 2. Section 31-25.1 is hereby added to the Grand Island City Code to
read as follows:
~25-25.1. Development Signs
Development signs shall be allowed under the following conditions:
(A) Only allowed on subdivisions of twenty (20) acres or more that front on at least one side on a street
classified as a maior arterial or higher.
(B) Limited to one per street frontage of the development.
(C) Limited to thirty (30) feet in height or the height specified in the zoning classification. whichever is the
most restrictive.
(D) Limited to no more than two hundred (200) square feet in area. Double faced signs shall be calculated
on the largest side only.
(E) Development signs shall be separated a minimum of fifty (50) feet from all other signs. and shall be at
least five (5) feet from all property lines.
(F) A minimum of ten percent (10%) of the sign face shall identifv the development with the remaining
square footage advertising tenants within the development and within five hundred (500) feet of the sign.
(G) Development signs as dermed in this chapter shall not be classified as billboards or off-premise signs
for the purpose of spacing of off-premise signage on other properties. provided they meet the provisions specified.
(H) No signs defined as billboards shall be allowed within the subdivision if the provision of development
signs is utilized.
SECTION 3. Section 31-42 of the Grand Island City Code is hereby amended to
read as follows:
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ORDINANCE NO. 8978 (Cont.)
~31-42. Legal Nonconforming Signs
Any off-premise sign lawfully erected and in existence on the effective date of this ordinance which does
not meet the requirements of this ordinance may be maintained as a matter of right as a legal nonconforming sign.
The sign may be maintained and repaired provided the degree of nonconformity is not increased. If for any reason
the sign is damaged to the extent that the repairs are equal to or exceed fifty percent (50%) of the physical
components of the sign it may not be repaired or replaced unless it will comply with all requirements of this Article.
SECTION 4. Sections 31-1 and 31-42 as now existing, and any ordinances or
parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be, and hereby are, repealed.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall be in force and take effect from and after
its passage and publication, within fifteen days in one issue of the Grand Island Independent as
provided by law.
Enacted: May 24,2005.
Attest:
QS\(}L ffi~
RaNae Edwards, City Clerk
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