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Home My WebLink AboutA003 - letter from Barber's Metal Fabricating dated November 21, 1995 11,'21 95 TUE 10: 38 FAX 515 -93-9 2-9.98 BARBER'S METAL FABR Z001 Q d � N(1V 2 11995 CITY CLERK CITY OF AMES,IOWA , November 21 , 1995 Mayor Larry Curtis and Ames City Council Members, I will be unable to attend the council meeting tonight, but wanted to provide you with some thoughts regarding the possible ordinance for billboards. As you know, I am involved with a small business on East Lincolnway. Our business is located in an area that is zoned for industrial use. Through the years, we have made significant improvements to our properties. These improvements have been made following the regulations established by the City of Ames. At times, the regulations were cumbersome, but city staff has explained the reasoning behind the various rules and we have complied. Overall, I believe that the regulations provide protection to various property owners and strive to enhance our business areas in Ames. Obviously, I am very concerned with the possibility that the city staff has proposed to ban billboards except in our industrial area. References have been made regarding the "visual pollution" of billboards, and yet, it appears that this type of visual pollution is acceptable in Ames' industrial areas. Ames does not have a "typical" industrial area, with large factories and smokestacks. The industrial areas tend to attract high-tech companies, with attractive buildings. The main industrial area in Ames is along East Lincolnway and Dayton Avenue. Although it is seldom recognized as such, it is, indeed, an entryway into Ames. Many of the business owners have invested their time and money to present an attractive site location. I would ask you to carefully consider any ordinances that would encourage "visual pollution" along a major entryway to Ames and relegate some of your largest individual property taxpayers to a second-class status. 4"41&4_�� Annette Jensen Barber's Metal Fabricating 1226 Idaho Ct. 1914 E. Lincolnway Ames Ames 20.40 Sign Dimensions and Clearance within seven(7)days following the election. A. Computation of area of individual signs shall include the combina- 7.Any sign erected by an official government agency lion of the writing,emblem,illustrations or other display,together with any background material or color forming an integral part of the display, B. For any lot or building which the owner proposes one or more signs but not including the supporting framework. On a multi-faced sign the to be erected that requires a permit the following plans drawn to scale area is computed from only one face so long as the distance between the must be submitted: two sign faces does not exceedthree(3)feet.The total combined area of 1.Dimensions of the sign and,if applicable,the dimensions of the all building signs shall not exceed twenty-five(25)%of the wall area to wall surface to which the sign will be attached which the signs are attached(refer to Table 20-2). 2.Dimensions of the sign support structure 3.The maximum and minimum height of the sign B. Computation of height shall be measured from average ground level, 4.Location of the sign in relation to face of the building rH exclusive of any filling,berming,mounding,or excavating solely for the 5.Location of the sign in relation to the boundaries of the lot )CK purpose of locating the sign,to the highest Point of the sign or su pport 6.Optional: Design guidelines including color scheme,lettering, structure,whichever is tallest(refer to Table 20-2). lighting and material. C. The following signs may be located in these zones: 20.70 Miscellaneous Restrictions A. No animated signs or ones that use movement to attract the attention TABLE 20-1 Permitted Sign by Type and Zoning of the public are permitted with the exception of time and temperature signs. SIGN TYPE A A A G R R R R C I I 1 2 R B 1 2 3 M 1 2 B.No sign that may be confused with an official traffic sign shall be C H erected. Freestanding C. Inflatable signs,tethered balloons ,w _ d. g pennants,and strings of lights not Billboard N N N N N N N N P P P permanently attached to a rigid background are all prohibited. Portable N P N N N N N N P P P Ffixtwr-es uminated signs shall be shielded so that no direct light or signifi- Residential A N A P A A A A N N N lare shall be cast into a residential use or district All lighting Temporary N P N N N N N N P N N used to illuminate an outdoor sign shall be mounted on the top Other P P N N N N N N P p p sign Aructunt to minimize light pollution. No flashing beacons prmitted. Illuminated signs are permitted in commercial and indus- Building trial districts only. Marquee N N N N N N N N P P P 20.80 Maintenance , Identification A A A A A A A A A A A A.All signs shall be property maintained in good structural condition at Projecting N P N N N N N N P P P all times. Suspended N P N N N N N N P N N 20.90 Nonconforming Signs effective use A. Signs that do not conform to these regulations shall not be altered or to create an Wall N P N N N N N N P P P enlarged in any way to aggravate the nonconforming condition. Also, >protect and A=Allowed without permit the sign can not be moved or replaced unless to bring the sign into con- P=Allowed with permit formity. N=Not allowed B. If the nonconforming sign is destroyed by natural causes and is re- in the county placed it must be within the stipulations of these regulations. The mes- mptions,and TABLE 20-2 Number,Area,Clearance,and Height Criteria sage of the nonconforming sign may be changed but can not create any new nonconformities. SIGN TYPE NUMBER MAJQMUM MIND" MAXIMUM AREA CLEARANCE HEIGHT 20.100 Enforcement an enforce- Freestanding A. Any violation or attempted violation of these regulations maybe Billboard 1/lot 300 s It NA 35 ft restrained or corrected by an injunction or other proceedings in compli- ance with state law..Any violation of these regulations is a violation of her districts, Portable 1/lot 20 sq.ft. NA 4.5 fL the zoning ordinance of this county and the corrective measures shall standards set include: Residential 1Qot 4 sq.fL NA NA 1.Issuance of a stop-work order for all signs on the zoned lot,or an ular lot with- Temporary 1/lot 3 sq.ft. NA 4.5 R. injunction for removal or correction of the nonconformity. these regula- Other 1/lot 16 sq.fL NA 20 ft. 2.In case that the nonconformity poses an immediate danger to the public health,taking measures are available to the county under section ;ulations and Building 23.5d of the Story County Zoning Ordinances for such circumstances. Marquee I lbuilding 25%of total 12 fL below roof-line surface of Chapter 21 rms shall be building face which attached NONCONFORMING USES urge of light- Identification I/building 2 sq.ft. NA NA 21.10 Statement of Intent Projecting I/buddin 25%of total 12ft. below roof-line A. WithmthevanousdistnctsestablishedbythisOrdinanceorbyamend- n[on selling J 8 8 surface of ments that may later be adopted,there exist structures,use of land,use building of structures,or use of land and structures in combination,which were my building. g face :ciure that is which attached lawful P Pt prior to the adoption of this Ordinance but which would be pro- hibited,regulated,or restricted under the provision of this Ordinance.It he ground. Suspended 1/entrance. 2 fL by I ft 9 R NA is the intent of this Ordinance to permit these nonconformities to con- rith only the tinue until the are removed,but not to enwara Wall 1/building 25%of total NA below roof-line Y g^their survival. It is surface of further the intent of this Ordinance that such nonconfotmities shall not ling over an building face be enlarged upon,expanded or extended :onform with which attached 21.20 Nonconforming Structures A. Where a structure exists at the effective date of adoption or amend- or products 20.90 Permit Requirements ment of this Ordinance which could not be built under the terns of this A.Any sign that is to be erected,modified,or placed on a lot or building Ordinance by reason of restrictions on area,id coverage,height,yards, premises of that does not meet the criteria in section 20.6 must obtain a permit. The or other characteristic of the structure or its location on the lot,such owner of such sign shall secure a sign permit prior to the sign being structure may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful,sub- from a rope, erected,constructed,reconstructed,moved,enlarged,altered,or illumi- ject to the following provisions: message,de- nated. 1 1.No such structure may be enlarged or altered in a way which in- creases its nonconformity. :o a structure B.No sign shall be erected in the public right-of-way unless done so by 2.Should such structures be destroyed by any means to an extent of heels. Also, a licensed government agency. sixty(60)percent or more of its fair market value at the time of destruc- eryday busi- tion,exclusive of the foundation,it shall not be reconstructed except in C.No permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance. If the structure is less wall and ex- unless such sign is in conformity with these regulations and an approved than sixty(60)percent destroyed above the foundation,it may be recon- ill. signage plan if required. structed provided this is done within six(6)months of such happening. I for residen- ;e except ad- 20.60 Permit Exceptions 21.30 Nonconforming Use of Land premises. A.No sign may be erected,constructed,reconstructed,moved,enlarged, A. The lawful use of land upon which no building or structure is erected s, words, or altered,or illuminated without obtaining a permit with the exception of: or constructed,which becomes nonconforming under the terms of this tify a person 1.Works of art not containing a commercial message Ordinance as adopted or amended,may be continued so long as it re- public. 2.Memorials and plaques in cemeteries mains otherwise lawful,subject to the following provisions: he underside 3.All signs designated in Table 20-1 as"Allowed without permit"(A) 1.No such nonconforming use shall be enlarged or increased nor 4.Holiday lights with no commercial message between November extended to occupy a greater area of land than was occupied at the effec- tly mounted 15 and January 15. tive date of adoption or amendment of this Ordinance. 5.Signs located inside a building which cannot be read 3 feet from 2.No such nonconforming use shall be moved in whole or in part to six inches of the outside edge of the lot. any other portion of the lot or parcel which was not occupied by such use rectly on the 6.Temporary signs with political advertisements not to exceed a to- at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this Ordinance. tal surface area of thirty-two(32)square feet. Signs may be erected not 3.Lf any such nonconforming use of land ceases for any reason for a more than forty-five(45)days before the election and must be removed period of more than six(6)months,any subsequent use of such land PAGE.15