Tuesday March 19th, 2024 7:41AM

Cornelia posts revised sign ordinance, extends moratorium

CORNELIA - The Cornelia City Commission has extended its moratorium on freestanding sign permits until Oct. 7.

The move came during a called meeting Thursday night and followed a public hearing on the proposed sign ordinance and overlay districts.

City Attorney Steve Campbell was the only person who spoke during both the public hearing on the proposed sign ordinance and the public hearing on the proposed overlay districts. No members of the public were present at the meeting.

The revised ordinance contains minor changes that keep it in compliance with recent changes in law and in line with court decisions, Campbell said.

Contained in the ordinance are various sign definitions, including some that apply to freestanding signs.

A monument sign is defined as a free-standing sign with a solid base with no open spaces between the ground and the sign of at least four feet in width constructed with brick, rock, concrete or similar material with a sign face no wider than 120 percent of the width of the base. Monument signs shall not be supported by visible columns, uprights, poles or braces and shall be continuous solid construction without holes, gaps or spacing.

A pole sign is defined as a free-standing structure with a sign face supported above the ground by one or more poles.

A pylon sign is defined as a free-standing sign face mounted above ground on one or more support structures in the shape of a cone or rectangle or similar shape which is larger at or near its base and tapers to the apex.

In the Downtown Overlay District, ground or monument signs are prohibited. In the North Main Overlay District and the Level Grove Overlay District, one monument sign is permitted on each parcel or lot.

The overlay districts are defined on a color map, with the Level Grove Overlay District following Level Grove Road to the area of Ingles and the North Main Overlay District following North Main Street/Veterans Memorial Drive to Camp Creek Road.

The new maximum sign area allowed is no more than 64 square feet.

In comparison, Campbell said the freestanding sign on Veterans Memorial Drive near Image Emporium is 100 square feet.

Generally prohibited signs in all zoning districts of the city, except as specifically exempted, include: abandoned signs, animated signs, inflatable signs, portable signs, roof signs, sidewalk signs; pennants, streamers and windblown devices; signs that imitate an official traffic sign or sign; trailer signs; strobe lights attached to or included in any sign; signs attached to or painted on vehicles of any type that are conspicuously parked for more than 48 hours on commercial property in proximity to a street so as to have an effect similar to that of a sign; signs attached to fences; and signs on vacant lots.

Under the ordinance, existing nonconforming signs that meet all requirements of the ordinance when erected may stay in place until one of the following conditions occurs:

1) A sign that ceases to be used or maintained at its location;

2) The deterioration of the sign or damage to the sign makes it a hazard; or

3) The sign has been damaged to such extent that repairs equal to or exceeding 50 percent of the sign's current replacement value, as determined by independent appraisal and accepted by the zoning administrator, are required to restore the sign.

4) No conforming sign will be permitted to be erected on the same property with an existing nonconforming sign until the nonconforming sign has been removed or made to conform to the provisions of the ordinance.

The commission voted unanimously to post the proposed ordinance. Consideration of whether to adopt the ordinance is scheduled for the city commission's Oct. 6 meeting.

A full copy of the ordinance is available for review at Cornelia City Hall.

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