19960326 1996-3ORDINANCE NO. _1996-3
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE II DIVISION 7 OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA PERTAINING TO THE
PERMITTED LOCATION OF SIGNS, THE REGULATION OF
WINDOW SIGNS, TEMPORARY SIGNS, AND PROHIBITED SIGNS.
WHEREAS, the regulation of signs within the City is necessary to
promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community by
protecting property values; minimizing visual distractions to motorists,
and eliminating signs that confuse or obstruct the vision necessary for
traffic safety; protecting and enhancing the appearance and economic
vitality of the City; providing for signage that is adequate but not
excessive; encouraging the compatibility of signs with the sites and
buildings to which they are associated; and supporting and
complementing the City's Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the existing regulations addressing signs in the City,
as contained in Article II, Division 7, of the Code of the City of Fairfax,
Virginia do not adequately facilitate those objectives; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully considered the
recommendations of the Planning Commission and Staff, and
testimony received at public hearing;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of
the City of Fairfax, Virginia, that Article II, Division 7 of Chapter 26 of
the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia be and hereby is amended as
follows:
Section 26-43 (a)(3) is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"(3) Signs shall be set back from the right-of-way as specified in Table
I, Table II or Table III of this division. If, however, at the time of sign
permit application the comprehensive plan indicates an expanded
right-of-way for the purpose of constructing or expanding public
improvements, then the sign owner shall relocate such sign the
required distance from the expanded right-of-way location, at his
expense, within ninety (90) days of completion of that portion of the
construction or expansion adjacent to the sign location."
Section 26-43 (a)(8) is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"(8) Ground-mounted signs shall be set back as provided in Table II
except as specifically qualified herein."
Section 26-44 (a) Signs Permitted, Table II is hereby amended to read in
its entirety as follows:
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Street
Classification
Arterial
Collector
"Table II
Regulations for Ground-Mounted Business Signs
Total Maximum Maximum Front Side
Area Height Setback Setback
.5 sq.ft./linear ft. of 6 ft.
building frontage
to max. of 50 sq.ft.;
or
.5 sq.ft./linear ft. of 6 ft.
building frontage
to max. of 40 sq.ft.
20 ft. 10 ft.
10 ft. 10 ft.
.5 sq.ft./linear ft. of 6 ft.
20 ft. 10 ft.
building frontage
to max. of 40 sq.ft.;
or
Local
.5 sq.ft./linear ft. of
building frontage
to max. of 35 sq.ft.
6 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft.
.5 sq.ft./linear ft. of 6 ft.
10 ft. 10 ft.
building frontage
to max. of 25 sq.ft.
*In addition to minimum setback requirements, each sign must
provide sufficient sight distance as determined by the Zoning
Administrator."
The title of Table III contained in Section 26-44(a) is hereby amended to
read in its entirety as "Table III Old Town Fairfax Historic Overlay
District Sign Regulations."
Section 26-44(b)(1) is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"(1) Window Signs. Permanent and temporary signs may be displayed
on or adjacent to the interior windows of establishments in the "C" and
'T' districts and commercial uses located in "planned development"
districts, provided that all window signs shall be located within a
contiguous area composing no more than twenty-five (25) percent of
the area of each window. The total area of window signs shall not
exceed fifty (50) percent of the maximum permitted building mounted
sign area for that business"
Section 26-45(d) is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
(d) Business openings and sales events signs. Signs, including banners,
advertising special sales events; provided such permits shall be limited
to ten (10) consecutive days' duration and six (6) events per year for any
one business establishment. Signs, including banners, not to exceed
thirty-two (32) square feet for business establishments; provided such
permits shall be limited to three (3) months' duration per opening sign
and to one months' duration per closing sign. No moving signs or
devices as described in section 26-46 (c) shall be permitted for business
openings and sales events.
Section 26-45(g) is hereby deleted in its entirety.
1996-3
Section 26-46(c) is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"(c) Moving signs or devices intended to attract attention, all or part of
which are intended to move, including but not limited to flags
(including pennants), balloons, propellers, and discs except as provided
for in section 26-48.1(d) and (m)."
Section 26-48.1(i) is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"(i) Banners and nonilluminated signs posted by civic, fraternal
charitable or public service organizations provided that such banners
and nonilluminated signs shall be limited to ten (10) consecutive days'
duration and six (6) events per year for any civic, fraternal, charitable or
public service organization. Such signs or banners shall not exceed
thirty-two (32) square feet in area.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 26-43(a) which regulate sign
location, such signs may be no closer than eight (8) feet from the street
curb or the edge of street pavement in the absence of a curb subject to
the approval of the city manager or his designee to ensure vehicular
and pedestrian safety."
Section 26-48.1(j) is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"(j) Signs advertising the name, place and time of city-sponsored
holiday celebrations, fairs, festivals, and similar events, provided that
such signs shall be posted for no more than thirty (30) consecutive days,
and no more than sixty (60) days within any year. Signs advertising
charitable and public events and holiday celebrations may be permitted
in public rights-of-way if the city manager or his designee determines
that the public safety will not be compromised, and the design and
placement of such signs are consistent with the goals, objectives, and
strategies contained in the Comprehensive Plan and any other adopted
City policy. In addition to the name, place and time of such event, such
sign may include the name and logo of any commercial sponsor,
provided that such name and logo constitute no more than ten (10)
percent of the total sign area."
This Ordinance shall become effective as provided by law.
Planning Commission Hearing:
March l l, 1996
City Council Hearing: March 26, 1996
Adopted:
March 26, 1996
Mayor
Date
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ATTEST: