HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02 111
FEE# 20140 0852
OFFICIAL RECORDS 4,01.41,
OF MOHAVE COUNTY ig
CAROL MEIER, a.:0.: ►
COUNTY RECORDER +�,i/da
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07/15/2014 01:44 PM Fee: $0.00
PAGE: 1 of 6
MOHAVE COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 2014-02
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MOHAVE COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION
31.11.4, SIGN ORDINANCE, OFF-PREMISE SIGNS, REGARDING PROVISIONS FOR THEIR
LOCATION, MINIMUM SEPARATION, AND RELATIONSHIP TO DESIGNATED SCENIC
ROUTES AND VISTAS.
WHEREAS, at the regular meeting of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors held on July 7,
2014 a public hearing was conducted to determine whether approval should be granted to amend the
Mohave County Zoning Ordinance Section 31.H.4, Sign Ordinance, Off-premise Signs, regarding
provisions for their location, minimum separation, and relationship to designated scenic routes and
vistas, as requested by the Mohave County Development Services Department, and
WHEREAS, the stated intent of Section 31.H.4 is to "permit off-premise signs within
established commercial and industrial areas." This is consistent with the Arizona Department of
Transportation (ADOT) billboard regulations for locations along highways under ADOT jurisdiction,
although the Mohave County regulations are more restrictive than the ADOT regulations in some
respects, and
WHEREAS, the Department is approached on a fairly regular basis with proposals to install
new off-premise signs (billboards), however, most of the locations that would allow a billboard under
the current ordinance are already taken. To allow additional billboards would require some changes to
the ordinance. Considering the marketing and advertising potential of billboards and the associated
economic benefits, the Department is seeking guidance about whether or to what extent the relevant
portions of the ordinance should be changed. Discussion of this issue with the Zoning Ordinance
Review Committee is anticipated to take place prior to the Commission meeting, but a broader
discussion has been requested by a recent potential applicant, and
WHEREAS, questions raised include the following:
1. On four-lane divided highways such as Interstates 15 and 40, and Highway 93 should the
spacing requirements and limitation on the number of signs be changed in Section
31.H.4.c.4 from "facing the same traffic flow" to "on the same side of the highway".
Many billboards are back-to-back and face both traffic flows, thus limiting the distance
and number on both sides of the highway. If the change is appropriate should it be
limited to four-lane divided highways or are there other locations that the change would
be appropriate?
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-02 PAGE 2
2. Billboards are prohibited outright in designated scenic routes. Would it be appropriate to
allow them in established commercial areas within those scenic routes? Examples might
be in the area of the truck stops at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Highway 95, and
on Highway 93 at the commercial developments north of White Hills Road. Specifically,
the northern portion of Highway 93 is a scenic route with billboards currently prohibited.
However the conditions have changed in recent years with the improvement of the
formerly two-lane highway into a four-lane highway on a 17-mile stretch south of
Hoover Dam and with the construction of the four-lane bridge near Hoover Dam; thus
creating more interest in commercial developments along the highway.
3. Are the current designated sign-free areas still appropriate?
4. Should provision be made for off-premise signs, perhaps not full-size billboards, within a
specified distance of a business to inform travelers that they are approaching a business,
like "XYZ restaurant 1 mile" or something similar? These would be restricted by ADOT
rules along state controlled highways.
5. Is the current minimum separation of 2,000 feet and the limitation of two per linear mile
still appropriate?
WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordinance Review Committee has reviewed this issue and recommends
the amendments outlined below.
WHEREAS, proposed new language to be added has been bolded and underlined. The
language to be deleted has been struc-k. The plain text is existing language that is not proposed to be
changed, and is provided for contextual reference.
WHEREAS, at the public hearing before the Mohave County Planning and Zoning Commission
on June 11, 2014,the Commission recommended APPROVAL for this Ordinance, and
WHEREAS, the notice of hearing was published in the Kingman Daily Miner, a newspaper of
general circulation in Kingman, Mohave County, Arizona, on June 22, 2014, and was posted on June 20,
2014, as required by Arizona Revised Statutes and the Mohave County Zoning Regulations.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Supervisors, at their regular
meeting on Monday, July 7, 2014, APPROVED this Ordinance as recommended by the Mohave County
Planning and Zoning Commission and outlined herein.
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-02 PAGE 3
Amend Section Section 31.H.4, Sign Ordinance, Off-premise Signs, of the Mohave County Zoning
Ordinance as follows:
31.11.4
4. Off-premise signs. Except as provided in these Regulations, it is the policy of the Board
of Supervisors and Planning and Zoning Commission of Mohave County to permit off-
premise signs to be located in viable commercial areas and to discourage the rezoning of
lots and parcel for the sole purpose of installing off-premise signs. It is also understood
that signs displaying noncommercial messages as defined herein shall not require
placement in commercial areas as the intent of their installation shall be for the purpose
of increased opportunities for public communication. The intent of this regulation is to
permit off-premise signs within established commercial and industrial areas. The
purpose of this regulation is to establish basic standards and criteria pertaining to manner,
place, and maintenance of off-premise signs in Mohave County. Off-premise signs shall
be permitted in accordance with the specific standards set forth in this section as well as
to include the general provisions for freestanding signs which are intended to regulate on-
premise signs.
a. Required zoning use permit and state approval. Sign locations for off-premise
signs shall be allowed only with an approved Zoning Use Permit. For off-premise
signs fronting State Highways (93, 68, 66, 95, Interstatel5 and Interstate 40),
approval of sign locations by the Arizona Department of Transportation is
required after the issuance of the Zoning Use Permit and prior to sign permit
approval by the County.
b. Required zoning classifications. Off-premise signs shall be permitted only on lots
and parcels properly zoned C-2H (Highway Commercial), C-M (Commercial
Manufacturing), C-MO (Commercial Manufacturing/Open Lot Storage), M
(General Manufacturing), and M-X (Heavy Manufacturing). In addition, off-
premise signs shall be permitted on lots or parcels properly zoned C-2 (General
Commercial) along State Highways (93, 66, 95, 68, Interstate 40 and Interstate
15) unless the area has been designated as a sign free area as per Section
31.H.4.d.2 of these Regulations. - •-• - • • . • . •- • • •
., . -- . • . -. In the event that a lot or parcel fronts on
more than one (1) public right-of-way, only one (1) off-premise sign shall be
allowed on either street frontage. (Corrected with BOS Resolution 2010-208,
Ordinance No 2010-17)
c. Standards and criteria for off-premise signs. Off-premise signs proposed for
installation shall conform with the standards and criteria set forth in the following:
1) Sign area. In all cases, off-premise signs shall have a maximum sign area of
two hundred fifty (250) square feet except on Highway 93, Interstate 15 and
Interstate 40 and certain arterials where the Board of Supervisors designates
a more restrictive maximum sign area. Off-premise signs with a total area
not to exceed six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet or 14' x 48'may be
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-02 PAGE 4
allowed on Interstate 40, Interstate 15 and Highway 93, unless the Board of
Supervisors has designated the area as a sign-free area as per Section
31.G.4.c(6)(b) 31.G.4.d.2. If a sign has two (2) sign faces, the total
permitted sign area may not exceed twice the sign area permitted for one (1)
sign face. If one (1) or more signs are combined into one (1) sign face, the
maximum permitted sign area shall not exceed what is permitted for one (1)
sign face in the specific location.
2) Sign height. The maximum height for signs with a sign face measuring up to
two hundred fifty (250) square feet is thirty-five (35) feet above the grade of
the highway. The maximum height for signs with a sign face measuring up
to six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet is forty-five (45) feet above the
grade of the highway. The maximum sign height includes any portion of the
sign structure, sign face, and any decorative embellishments attached to the
sign structure.
3) Setback and vertical clearance. The minimum setback of any portion of the
sign area measuring up to two hundred fifty (250) square feet is ten (10) feet
from the edge of the public right-of- way. These signs shall have a minimum
eight (8) feet vertical clearance measured from the street grade of the nearest
driving lane to the lowest line of the sign area. Except when a freestanding
off-premise sign projects over a vehicular traffic area, such as driveway and
parking lot aisles, the minimum vertical clearance shall be eighteen (18) feet.
A minimum setback of any portion of the sign area or structure for 14' x 48'
signs shall be twenty (20) feet from the edge of the public right-of-way.
These signs shall have a minimum vertical clearance of eighteen(18) feet.
4) Spacing. A minimum of five hundred (500) feet
between off-premise signs facing the same traffic flow in the same street or
freeway shall be required in all cases. • . - - • •, - -
!.. .. . . . •• . - - - ..
At the intersection of two (2) streets, double-faced signs at right
angles to and facing traffic at Street "A" may be situated closer than two
thousand (2 000) five hundred (500) feet to a similarly positioned sign
across the street at right angle to and facing traffic on Street "B" (see Figure
1).
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-02 PAGE 5
FIGURE 1
STREET
B
1 A
STREET
A
In the event that an off-premise sign is located at the corner of a lot or
parcel with two (2) street frontages, the sign is counted twice for the
purpose of establishing the spacing for off-premise signs in each street
frontage ., . - . . ' • _ -- - .. . .. . . . ..
••• -. All off-premise signs shall have a minimum
spacing of fifty (50) feet from any on-premise sign structure located along
the same linear street frontage.
5) Prohibited signs. All prohibited signs outlined in Section 31.D.2 of these
Regulations will be applied accordingly. In addition, changing signs as
defined in this ordinance are prohibited for use as off-premise signs. Off-
premise signs are also prohibited within public rights-of-way and in other
zones, except as provided by these Regulations.
d. Prohibited areas. Except as provided in these Regulations, all off-premise signs
shall be prohibited at any of the following locations:
1) Less than one hundred (100) feet measured from the nearest residential
property line located in any residential zoning district.
2) Designated "Sign Free" areas where gradual and eventual elimination
rather than expansion of nonconforming off-premise signs and structures
will be undertaken and no new signs will be installed as follows:
: designated
areas on Highway 95 approaching Lake Havasu City, along Interstate 40
in the Yucca area (Sections 12 and 13, Township 17 North, Range 18
West), and in any area designated in the Mohave County General Plan as a
Scenic Route or Vista, except Highway 93 north of Pierce Ferry Road.
These designated areas would not preclude the establishment of
noncommercial signage or temporary signs if established by zoning use
permit and approved by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
3) Within five hundred (500) feet at the beginning or end of the pavement of
the exit or entrance of a traffic interchange.
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-02 PAGE 6
4) Less than one thousand(1,000) feet from the exterior boundary of any
Federal, State, County, or City historic district,park or monument.
5) Additional areas may be designated by the Board of Supervisors in a
similar manner as an amendment to these Regulations.
e. Method of installation. Each off-premise sign shall be erected as a freestanding
sign as defined in these Regulations. No off-premise sign shall be erected on the
wall or roof. The name of the maker, the date of erection, and the permit number
shall be permanently affixed to each sign installation. Such information shall be
clearly legible and located in a conspicuous place on each sign.
f. Maintenance. Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good
structural condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts,
repainting, cleaning and other acts necessary for the maintenance of the sign.
Any sign or sign structure which is damaged or deteriorated to an extent that the
replacement cost of repair equals fifty (50) percent or more of the replacement
value of the sign if sound, shall either be rebuilt or replaced in conformance with
the standards and requirements of these Regulations, or be removed all together.
Any sign which is not maintained or replaced if damaged more than fifty (50)
percent or more of the replacement value shall forfeit its zoning use permit after
thirty(30)days of written notice.
g. Sign removal. The Zoning Inspector shall cause the repair or removal of any sign
that endangers the public safety, such as materially dangerous, electrically or
structurally defective sign, or an abandoned sign. Should the Zoning Inspector
determine that the sign or sign structure causes eminent danger to the public
safety, contact shall be made with the owner to require immediate removal or
correction.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 7th DAY OF JULY, 2014
MOHAVE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MOHAVE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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