ORDINANCE NO. 9125

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS, AMENDING CHAPTER V, ARTICLE 18,  SECTIONS 5-1805 and 5-1835 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS, 2015 EDITION, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, PERTAINING TO SIGNS, AND REPEALING EXISTING SECTIONS 5-1805 AND 5-1835.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter V, Article 18, Section 5-1805 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, 2015 Edition, and amendments thereto, is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-1805             SAME; EXEMPTIONS.

                        A permit shall not be required for the following listed signs. These exemptions, however, shall apply only to the requirement for a permit and shall not be construed as relieving the owner of such sign from the responsibility for its erection and maintenance in a safe condition:

(A)       Real estate signs not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area which advertises only the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which such signs are located.

(B)       Professional name plates not exceeding one square foot in area.

(C)       Bulletin boards not over twelve (12) square feet in area for public charitable or religious institutions when located on the premises of such institutions.

(D)       Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building or dwelling and not exceeding one (1) square foot in area.

(E)       Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.

(F)       Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger, temporary or emergency signs.

(G)       Signs of community interest which are approved by the City Commission.

(H)       Political signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area, which that make known the name of a political candidate and information concerning a political campaign of any nature.  No political sign shall be placed in or on the public right-of-way.  No political sign shall be placed or erected in or on any private property without the express permission of the owner or occupant of such property. No political sign shall be placed in or on the public right-of-way more than forty-five (45) days before any election, nor shall such signs be permitted to remain in the public right-of-way more than two (2) days after any election. Any political sign placed in the right-of-way shall not, for safety reasons, exceed eight (8) square feet in size, shall not impede sight lines or sight distance of traffic as determined by the Building Code Official, and shall otherwise comply with Section         5-1818 of this Article, as amended.

(I)         Mobile Signs, as permitted in Section 5-1821 of this Article.  (Ord. 5085, Sec. 35; Ord. 6581, Sec. 5)

(J)        Temporary double-sided and A-Frame type freestanding signs advertising for an adjacent business. The size of the sign shall not exceed 32 inches wide and 48 inches tall above the adjacent sidewalk. The sign shall be located within twelve (12) inches of the building where the advertised business exists and shall be on private property except in the CD zoning district where said sign may be located in the right-of-way. A minimum of six (6) feet of unobstructed sidewalk clearance for pedestrian walkway shall be maintained. One sign shall be permitted per public entrance and shall be located within close proximity of the public entrance. Signs shall not be illuminated or contain any digital display and shall not be displayed during non-business hours. Signs shall be constructed of durable, sturdy material (no banners, flags, streamers, balloons, or other moving parts) and shall be maintained in good repair. (Ord. 8830)

SECTION 2. Chapter V, Article 18, Section 5-1835 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, 2015 Edition, and amendments thereto, is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-1835           TEMPORARY SIGNS.

(A)       Materials and Area Limitations. No temporary sign shall exceed sixty (60) square feet in area. If the sign is to be located on a tract or lot having a front footage in excess of one hundred (100) feet and is the only sign to be located on the tract, additional square footage may be allowed on each side of the sign equal to thirty percent (30%) of the front footage in excess of the first one hundred (100) feet up to a maximum of ninety (90) square feet.  No political sign shall exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area. A sign in excess of sixty (60) square feet shall be made of rigid materials approved by the Planning and Development Services Director, or his or her designee.

(B)       Projecting from Wall over Public Property.  No temporary sign, except one approved by the Governing Body, shall extend over or into any street, alley, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare a distance greater than four (4) inches from the wall upon which it is erected and shall not be placed or project over any wall opening.

(C)       Anchorage and Support.  Every temporary wall sign shall be attached to the wall with wire or steel cables; no strings, ropes, or wood slats for anchorage or support purposes shall be permitted.

(D)       Duration of Permits.  No more than one permit for a temporary sign shall be authorized per year for erection and maintenance of such signs for any business commercial establishment, multi-shop commercial area, or industrial development. No temporary sign permit shall be authorized for a period exceeding thirty (30) days.

(E)       Advertising Permitted.  The advertisement contained on any temporary sign shall pertain only to the business industry or use conducted on or within the premises on which such sign is located except as provided in Section 5-1805 of this Article.  (Ord. 5559)

SECTION 3. Existing Chapter VI, Article 6, Section 6-108.17 of the Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, 2015 Edition, and amendments thereto, is hereby repealed in its entirety, it being the intent of the Governing Body that Section 1 of this Ordinance supersede it.

SECTION 4. If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional or is otherwise held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not affect the validity of any remaining parts of this ordinance.

SECTION 5. This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and effect immediately following its adoption and publication as provided by law.

PASSED by the Governing Body of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, this ____ day of June, 2015.

APPROVED:

_____________________________

Jeremy Farmer

                                                                                    Mayor

ATTEST:

__________________________________

Diane Bucia

Acting City Clerk

APPROVED AS TO FORM:                   

__________________________________                      

Toni R. Wheeler                                                        

City Attorney

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NOTICE TO PUBLISHER

Publish once and return one Proof of Publication to the City Clerk and one to the City Attorney.