§ 714.05. Special conditions.

There exist unique conditions that require greater diligence due to their ability to more greatly harm the public good by creating unsafe, unsanitary or unkempt conditions. As such, the City hereby imposes additional regulations and standards on the following types of signage. Unless otherwise noted, permits are required for all signs in this section.

A.

Shopping Centers. In shopping centers and shared commercial buildings, individual tenants are entitled to wall, canopy and under canopy signage utilizing those standards noted previously in this section, calculated by tenant space. Individual tenants are not entitled to any freestanding signage on the premises, however, the property owner or manager may request 1 freestanding, monument based, sign for each property line which abuts public right-of-way provided the sign area is located at least 5 feet from any property line for a distance of at least 75 feet. The Public Works Director or his/her designee may require additional setback distances based upon site conditions for traffic safety. In instances where a shopping center has over 100,000 square feet of floor area and has multiple entrances, the property owner or manager may request 1 additional sign on a single road frontage, provided that both signs are located at entryways and that the entryways are located at least 300 feet apart. The maximum size of the sign shall be based upon the gross square footage of the shared center (exclusive of outparcels) as shown in Table I:

TABLE I. DETACHED SIGNS STANDARDS FOR SHARED COMMERCIAL SPACE

Size (sq. ft.)	Roadway Type*	Maximum Sign Height (ft.)	Maximum Sign Face (sq. ft.) **
< 50,000	Arterial	15	110
	Tier A***	8	110
	Collector/Industrial	10	70
	Local	8	40
50,000 to 100,000	Arterial	20	130
	Tier A***	8	130
	Collector/Industrial	10	80
	Local	8	50
> 100,000	Arterial	20	160
	Tier A***	8	160
	Collector/Industrial	15	120
	Local	8	60

 

  *As defined on the Official Thoroughfare Map of the City

 **Sign structures are limited to 100% of the allowable sign face

***As defined on the Official Zoning Map of the City

B.

Standard Informational Signs. Standard informational signs are permitted in all single-family residential districts subject to the following standards. Each residence shall be permitted 2 standard informational signs on the lot at all times, provided that during the period commencing with the qualification of candidates through the date of final determination of all candidates and issues from each election, a residence may erect an unlimited number of standard informational signs meeting the standards of this division. Each standard informational sign shall be set back from the right-of-way at least 1 foot, shall measure no greater than 6 square feet in sign area, be erected to a height of no more than 4 feet, and shall be composed of metal, plastic, laminated cardboard or other durable and waterproof material. Standard informational signs meeting these same standards are permitted on other residentially zoned properties, excluding multi-family zoning districts.

C.

Gas Stations with Canopy Covering Pumping Area. Gas stations that incorporate a canopy covering the pumping area may place signage along the canopy eaves. Such signage may be placed on no more than 3 sides and is limited to 10 square feet per side. Signs forming an integral part of a gasoline pump do not require a permit.

D.

Official State Emission Station. Each official state emission station shall be allowed to display signs meeting the standards of the Georgia Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Act, O.C.G.A. § 12-9-40 et seq. No sign shall exceed 36 inches by 48 inches. Such signs shall be mounted as a wall sign in accordance with Section 714.04B., or shall be located as a freestanding sign in accordance with Section 714.04E. All provisions of the "Georgia Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Act" (O.C.G.A. 12-9-40 et seq.) shall be satisfied.

E.

Temporary Signs. Temporary signs shall be allowed in nonresidential districts and multi-family districts for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days and are further limited to 60 total days annually at any location:

1.

Only one temporary sign may be displayed on a lot at a time.

2.

The permit number and expiration date shall be affixed to each permitted temporary sign.

Temporary signs shall be removed immediately upon permit expiration.

3.

Temporary signs may only be located upon a building face that abuts a public street or designated access drive.

4.

Detached signage will not be permitted as temporary signs.

5.

In shopping centers and shared commercial buildings, individual tenants may be entitled to 1 temporary sign to be displayed on a building face which abuts a public street or designated access drive.

6.

A permit must be obtained for all temporary signs.

7.

Banners shall be subject to all dimensional standards that apply to wall signage and are only allowed as temporary signs.

8.

Detached signage in conjunction with seasonal sales may be permitted from November 15—January 1. Such signage shall be limited to 8 feet in height, 50 square feet in area and shall be located at least 12 feet from any property line.

9.

Inflatable advertising device(s) greater than 2 feet in diameter will only be permitted on roofs of buildings (less than 35 feet in height above the roof from its highest point). Approval from the Fire Department is required for any gas-filled figure.

F.

Weekend Standard Informational Signs (WSJS).

1.

Purpose. Many people travel to, from, and through the city on a daily basis. During the weekday rush hours when the majority of people on the roads are commuting to or from work, roads are often nearly beyond their capacity. Traffic hazards and distractions must be minimized. However, people at times need the benefit of directional signs to help find their destinations, particularly destinations of a temporary or time limited duration. Properly regulated, such directional signs may actually aid the flow of traffic while limiting the negative impact of such signs on the aesthetic qualities of an area. The following regulations recognize the difference in weekday and weekend traffic and are intended to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents, visitors and businesses of the city, including the aesthetics of the community. Improperly located weekend standard informational signs are hereby determined to pose an immediate safety threat and traffic hazard to members of the public traveling on City roads.

2.

Weekend standard informational signs (WSIS) are allowed in nonresidential districts subject to the following standards.

3.

Permitting. All WSIS shall be required to obtain a permit for each location. The permit shall be available through the City's Department of Development Services and shall require at a minimum:

a.

Property owner's permission to install the WSIS.

b.

Permit identification on sign. Each permit for a WSIS shall include a 24-hour contact number. Each WSIS must affix a permit sticker provided by the Department of Development Services.

c.

Construction. WSIS shall not exceed 6 square feet of sign area and 4 feet in height and may be double-faced. WSIS shall be mounted on an independent single or double pole device. WSIS shall not be affixed in any manner to trees, natural objects, streetlight poles, utility poles, or other sign structures. WSIS shall be made of metal, plastic, laminated cardboard or some other durable and waterproof material. No sign shall be made of paper.

d.

Location. There shall be only 1 WSIS for any given place, activity or event per 300 feet of road frontage, and within a 3-mile radius of the ultimate location to which it provides direction. No WSIS shall be located closer than 14 feet from the back of curb or edge of pavement, or 1 foot behind the right-of-way, whichever ensures that the WSIS is not within the right-of-way.

e.

Time allowed. WSIS shall be allowed from 3:00 p.m. on Friday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. It shall be the responsibility of the sign owner to remove all WSIS, including stakes, anchoring or pole devices, etc. prior to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

f.

Expiration. Permits issued for WSIS shall expire 6 months from the date of issuance or upon the earlier completion of the event or activity for which the WSIS was erected.

G.

Signs Erected at Entrances to Subdivisions. Signs may be erected at the entrances to subdivisions as follows. Such signs may be freestanding monument signs or they may be incorporated into an entrance wall or fence. Such signs shall not exceed 8 feet in height, shall not have a sign face greater than 64 square feet, and shall be located at least 5 feet from any property line. The Public Works Director or his/her designee may require additional setback distances based upon site conditions for traffic safety. Permits are required for signs at the entrance to subdivisions.

H.

Signs in Glover Park. No additional signs, monuments or memorials shall be erected, authorized or permitted in Glover Park (The Marietta City Square). Any existing sign, monument or memorial in place prior to September 1, 1993 shall be permitted to remain, provided it is not changed, modified or expanded. This section is adopted due to the space limitation of the square and to allow citizens to enjoy the natural surroundings of the square.

I.

Vehicular Signs. Vehicular signs shall conform to the following restrictions:

1.

Vehicular signs shall contain no flashing or moving elements.

2.

Vehicular signs shall not be attached to a vehicle so that the driver's vision is obstructed from any angle.

3.

Signs, lights and signals used by authorized emergency vehicles shall not be restricted.

4.

Commercial vehicles with signs may not be parked within 50 feet of the public right-of-way in a manner as to serve as additional signage for the establishment, except when actively servicing a customer site.

J.

Planned Office Park, Industrial Park or Residential Subdivision. In a planned office park, industrial park or residential subdivision where right-of-way is dedicated to the City, signage in compliance with all other district regulations will be allowed in the right-of-way median, provided:

1.

All such signs are shown on any submitted and amended plats.

2.

A permanent maintenance agreement acceptable to the City as approved by the City Council shall be filed with the Clerk of Superior Court at the time of the final plat indicating how the sign will be maintained, and that the sign may be removed by the City at the property owner expense if it is not maintained.

3.

All signs shall be located within a median on the main interior street within the development.

K.

Single-Family Residential Zoning Districts. In addition to the allowance for standard informational signs within single family residential zoning districts, any nonresidential use within such districts may incorporate wall signage subject to the following restrictions:

1.

The number of building faces that may contain wall signage shall be equal to the number of property lines that abut public roadways for a minimum of 50 feet.

2.

No more than 10% of any wall face may contain wall signage with a maximum of 12 square feet allowed.

3.

No wall sign may extend above the parapet wall.

4.

Signs in residential zones shall not be internally illuminated but may use external illumination to provide adequate visibility.

L.

Places of assembly, parks and Cemeteries. On parcels where places of assembly, parks and cemeteries are established on properties zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, RM-8, RM-10 or RM-12, freestanding monument signs are permitted provided such signs may not exceed 32 square feet in sign area nor 8 feet in height. For each property line that abuts public right-of-way for a distance of at least 75 feet, 1 freestanding monument sign is permitted provided it shall be at least 5 feet from any property line. Such signs shall not be internally illuminated but may use external illumination to provide adequate visibility.

(Ord. No. 7867, 1/13/2016, § 1)