HomeMy WebLinkAbout134-08 - Ord. Adding and Revising County Code Title 17 Signs and Repeal Chapter 12.44 Political SignsP[ ENA
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REPEAL of MASON CCIJ\TY CO
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CODE (and
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RD N NCL ADD NG the Mason County Code (ard Development Regulations) Tite '7
C ri apter " 7.03 sections ' 7. 03.200 ti rough ' T. 03 0 203 ana Chapter 17.05 section ` 7. 05.025;
REVQSUNC the Mason County Coce (ad Deveooment Reguations) Tite 17, Chapter ' 7.03
sections 17003.020 and 17.03.021, Chapter ' 7.04 sec ions ' 7.34.22, 17.04.222, 17.04.232,
do O40242, 1 /. 04. 325, ' 7. 04. 3 35, 17. 04. 345, ' 7. 04a 355, ` 7.'4. 365, 17. 04.405, 17. 04. 505,
` 7.04.605, 17. 04. 615 and ' 7.04.705; ADJ NG and REVGSi \G Mason County Coce ,and
Development Regulations) Chapter ' 7.06 c]efinitions; and RE'J E.ALNC Mason County Code �_� it.,e
'2 Chapter `2044 (a,, sections)
WHIETEAS under the authority of the Pann'i
State Growth Management Act (RCW 370 70A)
revise its develpment regu,ations; aid
VV J
ac
ng Eiabsing Act (RCW 36.7C) and the Washington
Mason County is taking ,egis
,alive act t'n o i o
REASS, the Maso l Casnty Code (anc Development Reguations; does lot
cress the development and regulation
of signs in the rural areas of the c
adeq i ate y
unty; and.
WFf1E EAS, the Mason County Code (and Jeve opment Regulations) was amended to inc
new sections regarding ntent of sign reguations, Exemptions to the sign regulations,
Prohibited signs, \onconforming signs, and Temporary signs; and
HIEREAS7 the Mason County Code ih
Signs on County Roads and is no tonge
ra
f
d
ide
2 Chapter 12 044 (ad sections) addresses Poutrcal
p
„icable to Mason County; and
WH EAS, on „uly 21, 2008 aid again on September 15, 2008 the Mason County P,arthitig
Advisory Commission held workshops about the proposec ame-sdmencs to the Mason County
Coce (and Development Regulations); any
WHEREAS, on October 20, 2008 Mas n County Planning Advisory Commission hea Public
Hearing and passed a motion to recommend approva, of said amendments to the Board of
County Commissioners, and
WHEREAS, the Mason County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing about the
proposed amendments on December 16, 2008 to consider recommendations of the Planning
Advisory Commission, the testimony of the Mason County Department of Co munity
Development and Mason County citizens; and
T HEREBY o RDA _ND, the Mason County 8oarc o County
Commissioners hereby approves anc ADOPTS adding to the Mason County Code (and
Development Regu,ations) Tite '7 Chapter 17003 sections 17.03.200 through 17.03.203,
Chap l.er ' 70 05 secti n ' 70 05 0 025 and revising the Mason County Code (and DeveL opment
Regu.ations j Tite te '7, Chapter 17.03 sections ' 7.03.020 and ' do03.02' , Chapter ' 7.041 sections
'7.04.2'2, '7.04.222, `7.04.232, 17.04.242, '70C40325, '7.04.335, 17.04.345, `7.04.355,
17. 04. 365, ` 7.04.405, ' / O4o 505, 17. 0.605, ' 7. 04. 6' 5 and ' 70 04. 705 and Chapter ' do 06
adding and revisi Tag defi iitions as described oy A1FACT M \q T A; and R PEALS the Mason
County Code Tite 12 Chapter ' 2.44 (asections) Poltica? Signs on County Roacs as described
byArACAM N1 3
E o this day of December 2008
Boar° of Commissioners
Mason County, Was 'rri� gton
A1F
ES!:
�&'e4
ttnitAds.,
Rebecca S. Rogers, Cerk of -the Board
BOARD OF COU
MASON COU\
She,do
\TY COMMISSIONES
TY, WAS' I \GTO
C
air
Rcss Gallagher, Comm
ssioner
44,4 di, 1 rat" ii:2
ynda Ring Erickson, Commissioner
ATTACHMENT A
Proposed Revisions to the
Mason County Code and Development Regulations
Title 17
Sections relating to SIGNS
FIGURE 17.03.020
Description
Use
of
Classification
Land
Use
(U)
Growth
Urban
Areas
Resource
Areas
Agricultural
Resource
Lands
Signs
X
X
X
17.03.021 Cottage Industries
Unless noted by an asterisk (*) any use shown in FIGURE 17.03 020 is permitted in any development area
as a homebased occupation, or as a cottage industry. The activity shall comply with the criteria in RU-
524A, and shall be required to obtain a special use pei nit unless they comply with the following
standards
E. There shall be no alterations to the outside appearance of the buildings or premises that are not
consistent with the residential use of the property, or other visible evidence of the conduct of such cottage
industry, other than one sign no larger than 12 square feet.
17.03.200 Intent of sign regulations.
The intent of the sign regulations is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health,
property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the size, design, construction location
electrification and maintenance of all signs and sign structures; to preserve and improve the appearance of
the county as a place in which to live and as an attraction to nonresidents who come to visit or trade; to
encourage sound signing practices as an aid to business and for public information while preventing
excessive and confusing sign displays, aesthetic clutter, destruction of the environment and signs that
pose a hazard to the public.
17.03.201 Exemptions to the sign regulations.
The following are not to be regulated as signs or are exempt signs in the Development
Regulations.
A. The flag, emblem or insignia of a nation or other governmental unit or nonprofit
organization subject to the guidelines concerning their use set forth by the government or
organization that they represent;
Traffic or other County signs, signs required by law or emergency, railroad crossing
signs, legal notices and signs erected by government agencies to implement public
policy
C. Signs of public utility companies indicating danger or which serve as an aid to public
safety or which show the location of underground facilities or of public telephones;
D. Signs located in the interior of any building or within an enclosed lobby or court of any
building or group of buildings, which signs are designed and located to be viewed
exclusively by patrons of such use or uses;
h. Temporary signs or decorations, which are clearly incidental and customary and
commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday;
F "No trespassing," "no dumping,' `no parking," "private," signs identifying essential
public needs (i.e. rest rooms, entrance, exit telephone, etc.) and other informational
warning signs, which shall not exceed three square feet; and
G. Sculptures, fountains, murals, mosaics and design features that do not incorporate
advertising or identification.
ATTACHMENT A
17.03.202 Prohibited signs
The following signs or displays are prohibited in all rural areas of the county and the Shelton
UGA:
A. Roof signs;
B. Banners or signs over and/or across county roads;
C. Signs located in county right-of-way unless otherwise approved with a road -use pen lit
from the Public Works Department. Except for temporary signs in accordance with the
following restrictions:
1) Signs shall not be posted in a manner or location, which may cause visual obstruction
or visual safety hazard for traffic especially in and around intersections, driveways and
other access points.
2) Signs shall not be placed in a location typically used by motor vehicles in a lawful
manner (road shoulders).
3) Signs shall not be placed in a location, which may impede pedestrian, bicycle, or
handicapped travel or access.
4) Signs shall not be placed within drainage areas and other areas maintained by the
County Public Works Depaitiuent.
5) Signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet in size.
D. Signs shall not be posted on trees including in county right-of-way.
E. Animated or flashing signs, provided that changing message center signs may be allowed
when the image and/or message remains fixed for at least 5 seconds and that the only
animation or appearance of movement allowed is the transition from one message and/or
image to another by the scrolling on and/or off of the message and/or image;
F. Signs which, by reason of their size, location movement, content, coloring or manner of
illumination may be confused with or construed as a traffic control sign, signal or device,
or the light of an emergency or radio equipment vehicle, or which obstruct the visibility
of traffic or street sign or signal device from the traffic intended to be served by the sign,
signal or device;
G. Advertising Vehicles. Signs that are attached to or placed on or in a vehicle or trailer
parked on public or private property such that the primary use or intent becomes
advertising. This provision is not to be construed as prohibiting the identification of a
film or its principal products on a vehicle operating during normal course of business;
H. Signs attached to utility poles or any other publicly owned structure;
I. Off -premises signs except for temporary signs as allowed in Section 17.05.025. An off -
premises sign shall not include a sign located on private property, other than the property
where the business (business commodity, service or entertainment conducted sold or
offered) is located provided that: 1) the sign is placed with the property owner's consent;
2) the business does not have frontage on a collector road; and 3) the sign is placed for
visibility from the collector road nearest to the business.
J. Any county official may confiscate signs wrongfully placed in the right-of-way or off -
premise signs located in trees.
17.03.203 Nonconforming Signs.
Nonconfoiining signs (those that were permanently installed and legally erected prior to the adoption of
this Code) shall be allowed to continue in use for up to twenty years from the adoption of this code
(December 16 2008) so long as they are continuously maintained, are not relocated, and are not
structurally altered or made more nonconfoiining in any way.
Signs located in trees shall have until January 1, 2009 to be removed. Signs that aren't removed by
January 1, 2009 will be considered a violation subject to fines and enforcement under Title 15 Chapter
15.13.
ATTACHMENT A
Permanent signs located within any part of the county right -of way shall have until January 1, 2009 to be
removed Signs that aren t removed by January 1, 2009 will be considered a violation subject to fines and
enforcement under Title 15 Chapter 15.13.
Nonconfoiining signs listed on a historical register shall be allowed to continue so long as they are
continuously maintained and are not structurally altered or made more nonconforming in any way, with
exception of improving structural integrity.
17.04.212 Uses Permitted.
D. Signs are permitted not to exceed 12 square feet in size and 6 feet in height except for temporary signs
permitted by section 17.05 025. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are not allowed.
17.04.222 Uses Permitted.
D. Signs are permitted not to exceed 12 square feet in size and 6 feet in height except for temporary signs
permitted by section 17.05 025. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are not allowed
17.04.232 Uses Permitted.
D. Signs are permitted not to exceed 12 square feet in size and 6 feet in height except for temporary signs
permitted by section 17.05.025. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are not allowed.
17.04.242 Uses Permitted
D. Signs are pettnnitted not to exceed 12 square feet in size and 6 feet in height except for temporary signs
permitted by section 17.05.025. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are not allowed.
17.04.325 Signs.
Signs are limited to: 1) a sign attached to the building with an area not to exceed 10 percent of the area of
the building face, and 2) a detached sign with an area size not to exceed 10 percent of the building face,
that is free-standing, and with a height maximum of 25 feet or height of building, whichever is less
Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are
not allowed.
17.04.335 Signs.
Signs are limited to: 1) a sign attached to the building with an area not to exceed 10 percent of the area of
the building face, and 2) a detached sign with an area size not to exceed 10 percent of the building face,
that is free-standing, and with a height maximum of 25 feet or height of building, whichever is less.
Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03 203 are
not allowed.
17.04.345 Signs.
Signs are limited to: 1) a sign attached to the building with an area not to exceed 10 percent of the area of
the building face, and 2) a detached sign with an area size not to exceed 10 percent of the building face,
that is free-standing, and with a height maximum of 25 feet or height of building, whichever is less.
Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are
not allowed.
17.04.355 Signs
Signs are limited to: 1) a sign attached to the building with an area not to exceed 10 percent of the area of
the building face, and 2) a detached sign with an area size not to exceed 10 percent of the building face,
that is freestanding, and with a height maximum of 25 feet or height of building, whichever is less.
Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are
not allowed.
ATTACHMENT A
17.04.365 Signs.
Signs are limited to: 1) a sign attached to the building with an area not to exceed 10 percent of the area of
the building face, and 2) a detached sign with an area size not to exceed 10 percent of the building face,
that is free-standing, and with a height maximum of 25 feet or height of building, whichever is less
Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are
not allowed.
17.04.405 Signs.
One monument sign, 10-foot height and 140 sq ft. size limit; one wall sign that faces towards street or
public access, 40 sq ft size limit, and no more than 10 percent of wall area. Temporary signs permitted by
section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03 203 are not allowed.
17.04.505 Signs.
One monument sign, 10-foot height and 140 sq ft. size limit; one wall sign that faces towards street or
public access, 40 sq ft size limit, and no more than 10 percent of wall area. Temporary signs permitted by
section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are not allowed.
17.04.605 Signs.
Signs are limited to: 1) a sign attached to the building with an area not to exceed 10 percent of the area of
the building face, and 2) a detached sign with an area size not to exceed 10 percent of the building face,
that is free-standing, and with a height maximum of 25 feet or height of building, whichever is less
Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03 203 are
not allowed.
17.04.615 Signs.
Signs are limited to: 1) a sign attached to the building with an area not to exceed 10 percent of the area of
the building face, and 2) a detached sign with an area size not to exceed 10 percent of the building face,
that is free-standing, and with a height maximum of 25 feet or height of building, whichever is less.
Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed. Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are
not allowed.
17.04.705 Signs.
Reviewed as part of Special Use Permit. Temporary signs permitted by section 17.05.025 are allowed.
Signs prohibited by section 17.03.203 are not allowed.
17.05.025 Temporary Signs.
Temporary signs are those signs associated with a particular event or short-term activity — such as but not
limited to, agricultural or garage sales signs, grand opening displays, festival, carnival or parade signs,
political signs and real estate signs— which are to be removed within 10 days when the event or activity
ends Temporary signs are allowed in all rural areas of the county and the Shelton UGA subject to the
following limitations:
A. Signs shall not be placed within the county right-of-way unless otherwise approved with a
road -use permit from the Public Works Department, and with adjacent property owner's
permission, except as allowed under section 17.03.202 C.
B. Signs shall not be posted in a manner or location that may cause visual obstruction or a visual
safety hazard for traffic especially in and around intersections, driveways and other access
points.
ATTACHMENT A
C. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to remove a temporary sign within 10 days after
such sign is no longer serving its purpose including, but not limited to; the end of an event,
meeting, festival, carnival or parade; the sale lease, or rent of property; the end of an annual
election cycle; the end of any type of sale.
D. County Officials shall have the authority to remove signs when not placed in accordance with
this section.
17.06 Definitions
Accessory building or use. Any building or use which:
A. Is subordinated to, and serves a principal building or principal use; and
B. Is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal building or principal use served; and
C. Contributes to the comfort, convenience or necessity of occupants of the principal building or principal
use served; and
D. Is located on the same lot as the principal building or principal use served, with the single exception of
such accessory off-street parking facilities as are permitted to locate elsewhere than on the same lot with
the building or use served.
Accessory uses include signs that are related to and support a business or activity.
Agricultural sales sign. A usually seasonal sign used to announce and/or direct the public to a sale of
locally grown agricultural products.
Animated sign. Any sign which includes action or motion or the optical illusion of action or motion, or
color changes of all or any part of the sign facing, requiring electrical energy, or set in motion by
movement of the atmosphere.
Billboard. The same as an off -premises sign.
Building Size. Determined by measuring the building footprint from the outside walls. Does not include
roof overhangs up to 2'. Roof overhangs larger than 2' from outside wall will be included in the overall
size of the building.
Changing message center sign. An electrically or electronically controlled sign where different
automatic changing messages are shown on the same lamp blank.
County. Mason County, Washington.
Construction sign. Any sign used to identify the architects, engineers, contractors or other individuals or
firms involved with the construction of a building and announce the character of the building or the
purpose for which the building is intended.
Flashing sign Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source or which includes the
illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation or an externally mounted intermittent light
source.
Garage sale signs (yard sales, moving sales, patio sales). Temporary signs used to announce and/or
direct the public to a sale of used items
Height. Height shall be measured using average grade level. The average of the natural or existing
topography of the portion of the lot, parcel, or tract of real property which will be directly under the
proposed structure and shall be determined by averaging the ground elevations at the midpoint of all
exterior walls of the proposed structure.
Off -premises sign. A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment
conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located
On -premises sign _Any communication device, structure or fixture that is intended to aid in identification
and to advertise and/or promote a business, service, activity, interest or view at the location on which the
sign is located.
Political sign A sign advertising a candidate or candidates for public elective office, or a political party,
or sign urging a particular vote on a public issue decided by ballot.
Real estate signs. Any sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of land or buildings.
ATTACHMENT A
Roof sign. Any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet of a
building.
Sandwich board sign. An ` a -framed" portable sign measured by height X width.
Sign Any communication device, structure or fixture that is intended to aid in identification and to
advertise and/or promote a business service, activity or interest. For the purpose of this chapter, a sign
shall not be considered to be building or structural design, but shall be restricted solely to graphics,
symbols or written copy that is meant to be used in the aforementioned way.
Structure. Anything constructed in the ground, or anything erected which requires location on the
ground, or is attached to something having location on or in the ground, but not including fences or signs
six feet or less in height, driveways, or other paved areas.
Temporary sign. Those signs associated with a particular event or short-teiul activity — such as but not
limited to; agricultural or garage sales signs, festival carnival or parade signs, political signs and real
estate signs which are to be removed within 10 days when the event or activity ends
ATTACHMENT B
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Chapter 1.2.44 POLITICAL SIC1\S ON COUNTY R.OA DS
12.44.010 Findings.
12.44.0'10 Definitions.
12.14.040 Failure to remove
The control of signs on the right of way areas of county roads in Mason County is declared to bc:
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travel.. (Ord. 86 83 § 1 1983).
As used in this chapter:
Afr
Mason County and shall include any pri:nm y or
Secondary state highway.
Election for which it is intended" means the specific primary
the candidate Qi i.
)r special election'at- wvhuch
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12.44.040-Failure to remove Violati
If the candidate or campa:
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esed herein upon con fiction, an