3.24.10 Off-Premise Advertising Structures

3.24.10.1 Prohibition of New Off-Premise Signs Except for off-premise public information and logo signs meeting the size, shape, color, and other requirements described below in sub-paragraph 3.24.10.2, no permits shall be issued for the construction of off premise signs or outdoor advertising structures. All lawfully existing off-premise signs and outdoor advertising structures at the time this code is adopted are nonconforming uses in all zones of the Town. 3.24.10.2 Public Information and Logo Signs Off-premise public information signs are permitted pursuant to this section for the purpose of directing the traveling public to points of interest, historical sites, and other locations of interest, approved as such by the planning commission. Off-premise “logo" signs are permitted under this section for the purpose of directing the traveling and general public to business establishments which provide lodging, food, camping, gas, or other services. Identified by the State of Utah Department of Transportation as the "Logo Sign Program," these signs shall comply with the following regulations: (a) Logo Sign Program. In constructing and maintaining a logo sign program of signs, the owner and installation contractor shall comply with and adhere to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, and to UDOT Policy and Procedure. All signs that will be placed within the Town, must be approved by the Town planning commission prior to installation. (b) Logo Structures. All logo structures shall conform to specifications as shown in the Utah Department of Transportation approved drawings or must be approved by the Planning Commission. Directional signs shall not exceed 42" x 48" in size, and accommodate no more than two businesses . (c) Placement. Placement of logo signs within the Town of Amalga shall follow the guidelines outlined in any applicable contracts with the State of Utah, department of transportation. Contractors shall obtain the necessary approval and permits from the Town. (d) Height. No sign shall exceed 12 feet from ground level. (e) Offset. In general, the offset (location) of the sign shall be setback equal to existing signage in the right of way. If no other signage exists, offsets shall be no less than 8 feet. All locations must be reviewed and approved by the Town for traffic safety. (f) Design. Business logo sign design shall consist of the business name, trademark, or symbol, provided it does not resemble any traffic sign, symbol, or device. The business symbol, name, etc. must be consistent on all business signs for that business. Business logos will contain no supplemental advertising and be uniform in size. The size of the logo plates shall be 18" x 24". (g) Number. There may not be more than one directional sign per type, (camping, gas, lodging, food, etc.) per each location. (h) Removal. If any business which is participating in logo sign program closes, the logo for said business must be removed within 15 days from closure of said business. If said sign(s) are declared to be a traffic hazard, they must be removed as determined by the Town Engineer. Failure to remove the sign within the fifteen (15) day period shall be unlawful, the sign shall be a nuisance, and the sign thereafter may be removed by the Town and the expense of removal charged to the owner. 3.24.10.3 Acquisition of Interests Amalga Town may acquire title to off-premise non-conforming signs or outdoor advertising structures by gift, purchase agreement, exchange, or eminent domain, and shall have the right to amortize off-premise non-conforming signs as permitted by state or federal law. 3.24.11 Non-conforming Signs (a) On-premise signs. All on-premise or appurtenant signs which have been made non-conforming by the adoption of provisions contained within this code shall be subject to the following regulations: (1) Unsafe Signs: Any sign or portion thereof declared unsafe by a proper public authority must be restored to a safe condition or removed within thirty (30) days of mailing or otherwise given notice of the unsafe condition. (2) Alterations: A non-conforming sign shall not be reconstructed, raised, moved, placed, extended, or enlarged unless said sign is changed so as to conform to all provisions of this Code. Alterations shall also mean that changing of the text or message that the sign is conveying from one (1) use of the premise to another use of the premise and the changing of the ownership of the sign when that ownership necessitates a change in the text or message of the sign. Alterations shall not be interpreted to include changing the text or copy on off-premise advertising signs, theater signs, outdoor billboards or other similar signs which are designed to accommodate changeable copy. (3) Restoration: Non-conforming signs which have been allowed to deteriorate or which have been damaged by fire, explosion, act of God, act of a public enemy, or damaged by any other cause, to the extent of more than sixty (60) percent of its assessed value shall, if repaired or rebuilt, be repaired or rebuilt in conformity with the regulations of this Code or shall be removed. (b) Off-premise signs. All off-premise signs which are made nonconforming uses by the provisions of this Code shall be subject to the following: (1) Unsafe Signs: Any sign or portion thereof found or declared unsafe in a manner provided by law, which may be repaired without violating (b) below, must be restored to a safe condition within thirty (30) days after the owner is given notice of the unsafe condition. Any sign not repaired as required and permitted by this subsection is unlawfully maintained and subject to the provisions of this section. (2) Alterations: All off-premise signs and their supporting structures shall be kept in good appearance and condition with normal maintenance and repair (example: painting), but it shall be unlawful to reconstruct, raise, move, place, extend, or enlarge such signs or the structure supporting such signs. Any sign altered contrary to the provisions of this subsection is unlawfully maintained and subject to the provisions of this section. (3) Deterioration and Abandonment: A non-conforming offpremise sign or sign structure that ceases to be used for sign purposes for a period of one year shall be deemed abandoned on the ground that the non-conforming use has been abandoned, the non-conforming use has substantially changed, and/or such other grounds as may be appropriate. Any sign or sign structure which is abandoned or in an unreasonable state of repair is unlawfully maintained and subject to immediate revocation of its permit and removal pursuant to the provisions of this Code. (4) Termination of Non-conforming Signs. Except where preempted by federal law, a sign permit for an existing off-premise non-conforming sign shall terminate and the sign shall be removed pursuant to the provisions of this Code on the date the owner of the sign has been able to recover or amortize the fair market value of the sign pursuant to State law. Using relevant information including but not limited to, information provided by the sign owner in the sign permit application, relevant aesthetic and traffic engineering information, and amortization periods used by other jurisdictions, the Town may establish an amortization period and condemnation value for each nonconforming sign as of the date of adoption of this Code that balances the harm to the owner against the public good, without imposing an undue burden upon the owner. The amortization value may not be less than the condemnation value, but no more, and shall take into consideration the cost of operation to the owner over the amortization period. A sign maintained after expiration of the related permit, as described in this subjection, is unlawfully maintained and subject to revocation of its permit and removal.