Area of Sign. Shall mean the total
area within the extreme perimeter of the attraction area intended to draw
attention to the sign, including all open spaces and supports which the sign
rests upon if said supports are designed to attract attention to the sign. The
area of the sign with two (2) faces approximately opposed,
shall be that of the larger face if such condition prevails; but, if the angle
between the planes of the faces exceeds forty-five (45) degrees, the total area
of the faces shall be considered the sign area. For multi-sided or circular
signs, the area shall be the total projected area.
Billboard. Shall mean any free
standing sign, signboard or outdoor advertising display which is used for advertising
purposes or display purposes, except advertising displays used exclusively:
(1) To advertise the
sale or lease of the property upon which such advertising displays are to be
placed;
(2) To designate the
name of the owner or the occupant of the premises upon which such advertising
display is placed, or to identify such premises; or
(3) To advertise goods
manufactured, goods produced, goods for sale or services rendered on the
property upon which such advertising display is placed.
Building Line. Shall
mean the general outer surface not including cornices, bay windows, or other
ornamental trim, of any main exterior wall of the building.
Arterial Street. Shall
be deemed to mean a roadway that brings traffic to or from an expressway and
serves traffic within or through the city. For the purpose of this
article, only Highway 377 and
(a) Approval by City Council.
(1) No billboard may be
constructed unless a sign permit therefore has been issued with the approval of
the city council of the City of
(2) In making its
determination, the city council shall consider, among other factors, whether or
not the issuance of the permits:
(A) will
be materially detrimental to the public welfare;
(B) will
substantially interfere with the orderly development of the city;
(C) will
be compatible with the development of property of other persons located in the
vicinity thereof; and
(D) will
comply with the provisions of this article.
(3) Applications
therefore shall be filed and processed as provided for in Section 4.103 of this
article.
(b) Billboard Advertising Permit. No billboard may be maintained or erected
within the city unless the owner or lessee of the billboard has obtained a
billboard advertising permit from the director of public works, or his duly
authorized representative. The director of public works and parks shall supply
the permit application form. The permit fee shall be as set forth in the fee
schedule of this code as now or hereafter amended. The billboard advertising
permit shall be valid for a period of one year, but shall automatically terminate
if the sign is not maintained within the requirements of the city codes and
state regulations or if it is removed for any reason. Billboard advertising
permits are not transferable.
(c) Zoning. A
billboard may only be placed adjacent to an arterial street as defined in Section
4.102, in all zoning districts except SFA, SF-6, D and MF.
(d) Maximum Area.
(1) No single-faced
billboard shall be larger than seven hundred (700) square feet in area.
(2) No one face of a
double-faced or V-shaped billboard shall exceed seven hundred (700) square feet
in area.
(e) Maximum Height. The maximum height of billboards shall be
fifty feet (50') measured from the ground to the overall top. Approval for
higher billboards may be granted by the city council in those cases where it
will reduce clutter and fit in more compatibly with the surrounding terrain and
structures. No billboard shall be located on the roof or wall of a building.
(f) Billboard Location and Position.
(1) Billboards shall be
erected only on private property and shall not project over any public property
or right-of-way. The billboard single post shall be located within one hundred
feet (100') of the arterial street right-of-way line. No sign, other than an
exempt sign, may be erected within five (5) feet of any highway right-of-way
line.
(2) Billboards shall be
positioned such that the primary viewing angle is from the adjacent street or
highway.
(g) Billboards Adjacent to Residential Areas.
(1) A billboard shall
not be located closer than one hundred feet (100') from any residential zone
boundary or property line.
(2) A billboard shall
not be located closer than one hundred feet (100') from the property line of
any public recreation area, public or parochial school, public library or
church.
(h) Structure.
(1) From the effective
date of this article, all new billboards shall be of single post construction.
(2) All billboards
shall comply structurally to the City of
(i) Minimum Distance Between Billboards.
A minimum distance of three thousand
feet (3,000') in all directions shall be maintained between any two (2)
billboards, as the same now or hereafter shall be established, on the following
listed streets and roadways and as the same now exist or hereafter shall be
extended within the city limits of the City of Watauga:
(1) U.S. Highway 377,
also known as
(2)
(3) Watauga Drive, also
known in certain areas as
The above specified distance contemplates distances in relation to
those already existing billboards located outside the city limits of the City
of Watauga and further contemplates distances in relation to locations on
streets and highways other than the street or highway where such billboard is
located, including but not limited to intersecting streets and highways.
(j) Illumination.
(1) Any illumination
used on a billboard shall be of an indirect type and shall not face toward any
residential building.
(2) No flashing or
intermittent lights shall be used to illuminate a billboard.
(1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Section 14N; Ordinance
adopting Code)