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SIGN REGULATIONS (B)
ORDINANCE NO. 0-02-30; PETITION NO. 30TCH-02 PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending Article IX , Division 1, of the Land Development Code of the City of Gainesville, relating to sign regulations; eliminating redundancies and providing consistencies within the Land Development Code; amending sec. 30-23, adding a definition; amending sec. 30-315, providing clarification; amending sec. 30-316, providing that an application be filed with the city for banners; prohibiting banner signs; providing clarification; allowing signs for specific uses; providing for additional exemptions; amending sec. 30-317, allowing one on-site, non-illuminated wall or ground mounted sign at main entrance; amending sec. 30-318, providing for monument signs in and for single and multiple occupancy developments; amending sec. 30-319 relating to political signs by eliminating numerical restrictions on signs per lot; providing additional restrictions; amending sec. 30-322, providing that a permit is not required to erect a political sign; amending sec. 30-323, providing for clarification; amending sec. 30-324, adding limitations and removal of nonconforming signs; amending sec. 30-325, providing for clarification; amending sec. 30-326, providing for clarification; amending sec. 30-327, extending the time period for filing appeals; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
This petition is part of the overall update of the City's Land Development Regulations. Specifically, these amendments are proposed for the sign regulations in Division 1 of Article IX. A summary of the major changes includes:
1. Adding a definition for monument sign.
2. Adding public vertical pole banners and neighborhood entrance signs of 6 square feet or less to the signs exempt from the chapter.
3. Adding cross-references to signs that are under special regulation and that have specific sign provisions in other areas of the code.
4. Adding a size incentive of 20 percent to install a monument sign as opposed to another type of ground-mounted sign.
5. Lowering the maximum height of a ground-mounted sign from 18 feet to 10 feet.
6. Adding text to clarify how signage on service station canopies are treated.
7. Adding neighborhood signs to section on permanent development identification signs.
8. Revise Section 30-319 concerning political signs by eliminating the numerical restrictions on signs per lot.
9. Adding text on when a sign structure must be removed.
The other changes involve housekeeping items such as moving paragraphs from one section to another, re-lettering and renumbering some sections to match the City formatting hierarchy, and eliminating the duplication of numbers. Illustrations have been added to clarify some of the major concepts in the Division. The proposed changes are intended to make the sign regulations clearer and easier to understand while ensuring that signs remain compatible with the aesthetic vision of the community.
Public notice was published in the Gainesville Sun on April 30, 2002. The Plan Board held a public hearing May 16, 2002. Planning Division staff recommended that the Plan Board approve the petition. The Plan Board recommended that the City Commission approve Petition 30TCH-02 PB. Plan Board vote 5-0