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Home My WebLink About2000-03-24 EC MEMOMEMORANDUM TO: Nancy Reid , Assistant City Attorney FROM: Lou Ellis , City Clerk/Election Commission Member DATE: March 24 , 2000 SUBJECT: ELECTION SIGNS At the March 23 , 2000 Englewood Election Commission meeting the issue of restrictions on election signs was discussed. The Commission has struggled with this issue in the past, specifically the restriction of two election signs per lot. Elections have changed since that restriction was adopted and with the advent of coordinated elections a ballot may contain candidates not only for Municipal Elections, but School Board Elections and Special District Elections and numerous State , County and local ballot issues. Also, defining a "lot" for purposes of enforcing the Code has been very difficult. The Commission discussed the Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation "that there should be no limit on the number of election signs that may be placed at any one street address, but that the total square footage limitation currently cited for election signs shall remain in force." One of the greatest concerns with the use of "street address" was how we would handle apartment buildings in order to make this fair. We discussed adding a definition of "street address" to the Code. The more we discussed this, the more complicated it became. In order to simplify the election process, and to encourage voter participation , the Election Commission approved the following recommendation: "That only the size of election signs be regulated (not the number of signs) and that each sign be no larger than three (3) feet by four (4) feet in both residential and commercial areas ." The Commission discussed the fact that we may be dealing with a proliferation of election signs , but they did not see a reason to restrict the number. They felt that restricting the number of days election signs can be posted was suffi ien . A 1 d P ifl1.. ri me on ecyc e aper.~~ POLITICAL SIGNS Signs in support of a candidate for office must be in compliance with both local and federal/state laws: Federal/State No signs advertising a political candidate may be installed in the right-of-way for a State or Federal highway . In Englewood , this would apply to Broadway south of U.S . 285, Federal , Santa Fe , Belleview, University and U.S. 285. [CRS 43 -1-417 (3) (a)] Englewood Election Signs . Election signs shall not be posted before 45 calendar days prior to the election and shall be removed by 15 calendar days following the election . Perm ission of the owner of the property is required . Unauthorized signs must be removed upon request. Such signs are limited to wall, window and ground signs , and shall not be a banner. It shall be the responsibility of the candidate to remove signs by the stated deadline. In resident ial zone districts , there shall be no more than two (2) elect ion signs per each lot ; they shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet of total sign area , and shall be no more than six (6) feet in height above grade . In Commercial and Industrial Zone Districts , there shall be no more than two (2) per each street frontage; they shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet of total sign area . [§16-4-19-5 B, 1985 Englewood Municipal Code] DRAFT 2/8/00 ORDINANCE NO._ SERIES OF 2000 BY AUTHORITY ABILL FOR COUNCIL BILL NO . INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER~~~~~~- AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 16, CHAPTER 4, SECTION 19 AND CHAPTER 8, SECTION 1, OF THE ENGLEWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE 1985 , PERTAINING TO THE ENGLEWOOD SIGN CODE. WHEREAS , ; and WHEREAS , ; and WHEREAS , ; and WHEREAS ,; NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD , COLORADO , AS FOLLOWS : Section 1. The City Council of the City of Englewood , Colorado hereby amends Title 16, Chapter 4, Section 19, of the Englewood Municipal Code 1985, to read as follows: 16-4-19: SIGN CODE: 16-4-19-1: GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE : The City Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council recognize that signs are a necessary means of visual communication for the convenience of the public, and that it is the right of those concerned to identify their businesses, services or other activities by the use of signs. However, the Commission and Council are also aware that citizens of Englewood are concerned about adopting and enforcing sound environmental practices, including the strict control of signs, and limiting signs to those which are accessory and incidental to the use on the premises where such signs are located. THE COMMISSION AND COUNCIL ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF SPECIALIZED AREAS OF THE CITY , SUCH AS THE SOUTH BROADWAY COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR, MAY BE ENHANCED BY PERMITTING DIFFERENT SIZES AND TYPES OF SIGNAGE THAN Total liability in any one accident ................................. 300 ,000.00 Property damage ............................................................. 50,000.00 16-4-19-4: PERMIT INCENTIVE FOR GRO UP SIGNS: IN AREAS OUTSIDE THE SOUTH BROADWAY SIGN AREA, persons submitting a plan for all signage which is designed as an integral part of a new or existing development occupying no less than twenty-four thousand (24,000) square feet of lot area, may be granted a twenty-five percent (25 %) increase in number of signs or maximum square foot are a subject to the approval of the Director of the Department CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE. 16-4-19-5: SIGNS NOT SUBJECT TO PERMITS: The following signs displayed for noncommercial purposes, may be erected and maintained in all zone districts without a permit. Such signs shall be in addition to all other signs permitted in any zone district, providing such signs do not require direct electrical wiring, and conform to setbacks and other physical characteristic requirements of the designated zone districts . Even though permits are not required for the following signs , wall signs shall be located only in the signable area, and window signs shall be counted toward the twenty- fiv e percent (25 %) maximum coverage . This· res triction shall not apply to holiday decorations, or to short-term advertising as provided in subsection 16-4-19-10E6. No permit shall be required to carry out maintenance to a conforming sign if no structural changes are made . A. Bulletin Boards. Bulletin boards for public, charitable or religious institutions, which are not over twelve (12) square feet in area, and which are located on the premises of said institutions . B. Election Signs. Election signs shall not be posted more than forty -five (45) calendar day s prior to the election to which the sign relates, and shall b e removed within fifteen (15) cale ndar days following the election to which the sign relates. Such signs a r e limited to wall, window and ground signs , and shall not be a banner of paper or cloth. In residential zone districts, there shall be no more than two (2) election signs per each lot STREET ADDRESS ; they shall not exceed twelve (12 ) square feet of total sign area , and shall be no more than six feet (6') in height above grade. In commercial and industrial zone districts, there shall be no more than two (2) per each street frontage; they shall not exceed twenty-four (24) squa re feet of total sign area . C. Flags. Flags of nations or an organization of nations, states and: cities . NOT EXCEEDING THIRTY-FIVE SQUARE FEET (35 ') MAXIMUM IN AREA. D . Holiday Decorations. Signs in the nature of decorations, clearly incidental and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday; provided that such signs shall be displayed for a period of not more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days. Such signs may be of any type, number, area, height, location, illumination, or animation, and shall be located so as not to conflict with traffic regulatory devices and are not subject to the maximum window coverage of twenty-five percent (25%). 5