No. 13-79

ORDINANCE NO. 561-13

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING Cathlamet MUNICIPAL CODE (CMC) TITLE 18 – ZONING: CHAPTERS 18.25 AND 18.30 – PROVIDING FOR SIGN AND SIDEWALK RESTRICTIONS WITHIN COMMERCIAL AND COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL ZONES IN THE TOWN; AND PROVIDING FOR A DEFINITION OF SIGNS WITHIN EACH ZONING DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF Cathlamet, WASHINGTON.

WHEREAS, the Town of Cathlamet has established zoning laws to provide orderly development, insure public safety, establish and protect rights and values of property owners and bring reliability to the development of properties within the physical limits of the Town; and

WHEREAS, the Cathlamet Town Council, in consultation with and in consideration of the recommendations of the Town’s Planning Commission, has determined that the existing Cathlamet Municipal Code (CMC) Title 18, the Town’s zoning law, would be improved by specifying restrictions for signs located in the Town’s Commercial and Commercial/Industrial zones;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CATHLAMET:

The following definition is added to Chapter 18.10 of the Municipal Code: “Sign” means a medium for visual communication, including its structure and component parts, to convey a message or advocacy for a product, place, activity, business, event, good, service, religion, or land use.

The following restrictions are added to Chapter 18.25 (Commercial District) and Chapter 18.30 (Commercial/ Industrial District) to create restrictions for signs and sidewalks within those two zoning districts:

  (1) No private signs, exhibits, benches or other objects may be placed on a sidewalk unless such object extends no more than three (3) feet from the building and there is at least four (4) feet of free passage.

  (2) Private or commercial signs will not exceed a total of twenty-four (24) square feet per premises on or attached to exterior walls. Additional non-commercial external signs for public safety are allowed to a limit of an additional twelve (12) square feet.

  (3) No sign may extend above the roofline or parapet. Extension of blade signs may not exceed four (4) feet from the premises and must be located above the ground story of the premises.

  (4) Private banners and signs may not extend across any town right-of-way unless approved under a Conditional Use permit.

  (5) Externally illuminated signs are allowed at all hours but internally illuminated signs on the exterior of the premises must be turned off during non-operating hours. External neon, LED or similar illuminated signs, or flashing signs are not allowed. Neon, LED or similar illuminated signs, and internally illuminated signs are allowed as window displays provided that they are turned off during non-operating hours.

  (6) Pole signs are allowed provided that they are a minimum of one story high and provided the premises has a minimum of twenty (20) foot setback and one parking space for each two hundred (200) square feet of public area within the premises. The square foot limitation of twenty-four (24) square feet applies to cumulative area of pole signs with exterior signs.

  (7) Signs that move may be allowed under a Conditional Use permit. Signs that must exceed the area restrictions of this provision because of unique circumstances associated with distances, topography, location or obstructions may be allowed under a Conditional Use permit. Signs in furtherance of events sanctioned by the Town Council may be allowed under a Conditional Use permit.

  (8) Those requirements for turning off internally illuminated and neon, LED or similar illuminated signs during non-operating hours shall apply to any lawfully erected non-conforming sign, even though already installed at the time of the passage of the ordinance. Alteration, enlargement, replacement, or modification of a lawfully erected non-conforming sign renders such sign illegal and requires conformance with the new ordinance.

This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force on five days after passage and publication.

The full text of this ordinance is available for reading at the Town Hall and will be mailed upon request. Requests should be directed to the Town of Cathlamet, P.O. Box 68, Cathlamet, WA 98612.

Passed first reading: 5/20/2013.

Passed second reading: 6/17/2013.

Passed third and final reading: 7/15/2013

ATTEST: Tina Schubert, Clerk-Treasurer

Approved as to form: Heidi L. Heywood, Town Attorney

Publish July 18, 2013