VILLAGE OF BLOOMFIELD
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-O-05
Date: April 7, 2014
An ordinance to repeal and replace Division 8. Signs, Sections 27.110, 27.111, 27.122 Sign Illumination and the re-numbering of Sections 27.122 Modification for an Off Premise Sign Location and 27.123 to 27.123 and 27.124, respectively, of the Village of Bloomfield Municipal Code.
Section One: The Village of Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wisconsin Board does hereby repeal and replace Division 8, Signs, Sections 27.110 and 27.111 of the Village of Bloomfield Municipal Code, to read as follows:
“DIVISION 8. SIGNS.
Sec. 27-110. Purpose.
Depending on their size, number and character, signs either provide useful information or detract from the quality of life for residents and attractiveness of the town municipality. Large and tall signs threaten scenic beauty and distract motorists. Therefore, the purpose of this division is to protect public health, safety and welfare and specifically to promote the safety of public travel on roads. In addition, it is the intent of the Village of Bloomfield to limit the size, type and location of signs in order to minimize their distracting effect on drivers and thereby improve traffic safety. This division is authorized, in part, by Wis. Stats. 60.62 and 62.23.
Sec. 27-111. General Requirements.
(1) All signs are prohibited in any zoning district, except as provided by ordinance.
(2) Back-to-back signs shall constitute one sign within the meaning of this Division.
(3) All parts of a sign shall meet the setbacks as provided herein.
(4) All signs are prohibited from being illuminated except those specifically provided for in this ordinance.
(5) No sign shall contain, include or be illuminated by a flashing or moving light or be composed of any animated part, except as exempted under law.
(6) Illuminated signs shall be effectively shielded so as to prevent beams of light from being directed on any adjoining property or portion of a street or road or to impair the vision of any motorist. All such signs shall conform to the electrical code.
(7) No sign shall resemble, imitate or approximate the shape, size, form or color of traffic or railroad signs, signals or devices. No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility.
(8) No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
(9) No sign shall encroach in any street or highway right-of-way.
(10) In the case of signage not enumerated, the provision governing a sign that is similar shall apply.
(11) Billboards are prohibited within 2,000 feet of any state designated rustic road.
(12) The owner of any sign shall keep it in sound condition, well maintained and in good appearance and repair and shall maintain the premises on which the sign is located in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition, free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish, refuse, debris and weeds.
(13) Abandoned signs shall be promptly removed by the owner of the property upon which said abandoned sign is located.”
Section Two: The Village of Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wisconsin Board does hereby repeal and replace Division 8, Signs, Sections 27.122 Sign Illumination of the Village of Bloomfield Municipal Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 27-122. Sign Illumination.
All illuminated sign applications require the applicant to provide the manufacturer’s specifications verifying compliance with the following illumination sign requirements:
(1) Electrical permits. All signs in which electrical wiring and connections are to be used shall comply with all applicable provisions of the State Electrical Code. No permit for the erection of a sign shall be granted prior to approval and issuance of a valid electrical permit for that sign.
(2) Voltage Displayed. The voltage of any electrical apparatus used in conjunction with a sign shall be conspicuously noted of that apparatus.
(3) Electrical illumination. A building or structure, along with signs, awnings and canopies attached to the building or structure, may be illuminated externally, provided that the light source is designed, located, shielded, and maintained in such a manner that it is fixed and not directly visible from any adjacent public rights-of-way or surrounding premises.
(4) Internal illumination. Internally illuminated signs shall permit light to shine fully through the lettering and graphic element of the sign. The background for such lettering and graphic shall be opaque or translucent and shall transmit light at a level substantially less than that transmitted through the lettering and graphics. If the contract between the lettering or graphic elements and background does not permit adequate legibility, a translucent white border of up to one inch in width may be place around said lettering or graphic elements.
(5) Brightness Limitation. In no instance shall lighting intensity of any illuminated sign exceed:
a. Three foot candles at the front lot line and one foot candle at all other lot lines, measured three feet above the surface of the ground.
b. Seventy-five foot candles measured perpendicular to the face of the sign from a distance equal to the narrowest dimension of the sign. When the sign is located on a lot adjoining a property used exclusively for residential purposes, this limit is reduced to fifty candles.
(6) Glare. All artificial illumination shall be designed, located, shielded, and directed so as to prevent the casting of glare or direct light upon adjacent public rights-of-way or surrounding property.
Section Three: The Village of Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wisconsin Board does hereby renumber Division 8, Signs, Sections 27.122 Modification for an Off-Premises Sign Location and 27.123 of the Village of Bloomfield Municipal Code, to the following Section Numbers:
Sec. 27-122.
Sec. 27-123. Modification for an Off-Premise Sign Location.
Sec. 27-123.
Sec. 27-124. Enforcement and Penalties.
Section Four: Pursuant to Secs. 66.0103 and 61.50(1) and (3), Wis. Stats., this ordinance shall be effective the day after its publication subsequent to its adoption. Adopted this 7th day of April 2014.
______
Kenneth H. Monroe,
Village President
Attest:______
Cynthia L. Howard, Village Clerk
Passed: April 7, 2014
Published: April 17, 2014