§ 159.182. FINDINGS.

(A) Signs are an essential element of any city. Their location, number, size, design, and relationship to each other and to other structures has a significant influence upon a community's appearance and welfare, and the resultant effect upon a viewer's perception of the city. Signs serve a useful purpose in communicating a message, whether commercial or otherwise.

(B) Where signs are not properly regulated, they contribute to visual clutter, confusion, aesthetic blight, and create an unpleasant impression. They may cause traffic hazards and impede rather than enhance commerce. In such situations, such signs may fail to achieve their original objective of communication. Failure to appropriately regulate signs adversely affects the public health, safety, and welfare.

(C) Property and facilities located within the public right-of-way, such as utility poles, benches, hydrants, bridges, sidewalks, traffic sign posts, and similar structures are not by tradition or designation a forum for communication by the general public. The city wishes to preserve these structures for their intended purpose, which is the safe, efficient, and pleasant movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and the safe operation of the utility system.

(D) The regulations and prohibitions of this chapter are necessary to preserve items and structures located within the public right-of-way for their intended purposes, and to prevent the visual clutter, blight, and traffic hazards caused by signs.

(Prior Code, Ch. 300 § 727.03) (Am. Ord. 7494, passed 5-29-2001)