City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  April 2, 2007

Item No.:        

Recommendation: That the Council adopt Ordinance No. 2453  repealing and recreating Sections 17.0707 and17.0709 and repealing Section 17.0705(j) of the Municipal Code pertaining to temporary signs.

Background:  The Zoning Administrator has been working with the Plan Commission on changes to the City’s temporary sign ordinance. 

Currently our ordinance allows for unlimited number of temporary signs to be displayed for no more than 30 days in a calendar year and caps the size of a temporary sign at 32 square feet. The enforcement of this code is difficult due to no City notification of erected signs.

In looking at temporary signs, the most common issues are determining how long a sign is displayed, determining the square footage of a sign, and having signs located in the rights-of-way.  Without having a process in which to document when temporary signs are erected, their size, and location it is difficult to enforce the current ordinance. In addition, since business owners do not have to apply for a permit or contact the City regarding temporary signs, they are unaware of any ordinance pertaining to temporary signs. As a result, temporary signs are never removed, exceed the 32 square foot area cap, and located in the rights-of-way. By updating the temporary sign ordinance to a permitted process, the City improves its ability to inform business owners of the regulations regarding temporary signs and its ability to efficiently enforce the ordinance.

Attached with this report are the proposed ordinance revisions created by Planning staff and Commissioners Dickmann and Peterson as well as drafts of the temporary sign brochure and applications.

In order to provide the Council with an idea of how other communities are handling temporary signs, what follows is a summary of what some communities are doing with regards to temporary sign regulation.   

City of Franklin, Wisconsin

The City of Franklin has a temporary sign permitting process. Here are some specifics for temporary sign permitting process:

1.         Temporary signs cannot exceed 32 square feet in area.

2.         Temporary sign permits are limited to 30 days per permit application.

3.         Signs not removed on or before permit expiration will count against future sign applications.

4.         No more than 3, 30-day permits will be issued in a calendar year.

5.         Lighting for temporary signs if illuminated shall be continuously illuminated. No flashing or chasing lights.

6.         Lights shall not be red, amber, or green in color.

7.         Wiring used for temporary signs shall comply with the Franklin electrical code.

8.         A $50 fee is required for each 30-day time permit.

City of Greenfield, Wisconsin

The City of Greenfield has a temporary sign permitting process. Here are some specifics for temporary sign permitting process:

1.         $50 Permit fee.

2.         Temporary Signage for nonprofit organizations.

a.         Signs shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.

b.         Signs shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from front or side lot line(s).

c.         Signs shall not exceed 6 feet in height.

d.         Signs shall not be illuminated.

e.         Only one sign permitted per premises per street frontage

f.          May be displayed for only 14 days. Permit is required.

g.         Maximum of 4 permits per year.

3.         Seasonal and other temporary signs.

a.         Permit required.

b.         A sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.

c.         Signs shall be set back a minimum of 5 feet from front or side lot line.

d.         Signs shall not exceed 6 feet in height.

e.         Only one sign permitted per business site.

f.          A sign may be single or double-faced.

g.         A sign may be freestanding.

h.         Signs shall not be illuminated.

i.          A permit for a seasonal sign shall expire after 30 days.

j.          Maximum of 4 permits per year.

4.         Banners.

a.         Permit required.

b.         Banners shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.

c.         Banners shall not be freestanding.

d.         Banners shall not be illuminated.

e.         Not more than one banner may be displayed at any time.

f.          Permits for banners shall expire after 14 days.

g.         Not more than 4 permits per business per calendar year; permits may not be consecutive and at least 30 days shall have elapsed between permits.

h.         Banners are not permitted on-sites with changeable copy signs.

i.          Not permitted in multiple-family resident (MFR) district.

City of Brookfield, Wisconsin

The City of Brookfield has a temporary sign permitting process. Here are some specifics for temporary sign permitting process:

1.         Banners or temporary signs of 30 sq.’ or less can displayed for 30 days at the site of the sale or special event with a permit.

2.         The fee for this type of permit is $25.00.

3.         You can have four banners/temporary signs per year.

Fiscal Impact:  The amendment of this zoning code would have a negligible fiscal impact.

Prepared by:                                                               Respectfully submitted,

Doug Seymour, AICP                                                 Patrick DeGrave

Director of Community Development                         City Administrator

Fiscal Review by:

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk