Fiscal Note
No significant fiscal impact is anticipated.
Title
CHARTER Creating Section 31.04(6) of the Madison General Ordinances to declare the City’s intent not to be governed by Wis. Stat. § 86.19 with respect to certain signs that project from a building into the highway right-of-way.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This Charter ordinance amends the sign code to make it clear that certain signs that, by the nature of their design or placement, project into the air space above the highway right-of-way, are legal. Currently state law prohibits advertising in the highway right of way. City streets are considered “highways” and the boundaries of the right-of-way extend to the edges of the sidewalk. The City sign code allows limited signage on awnings and canopies attached to buildings, some of these structures project into the right-of-way. The sign code also allows “projecting signs” which may project perpendicularly from the building into the right-of-way, and wall signs mounted parallel to a wall at a distance of up to 15 inches. Finally, the sign code allows certain decorative and promotional banners to be displayed on pedestrian overpasses. This Charter Ordinance is intended to ensure such signs do not run afoul of State law. Each of the sign types affected by this Charter Ordinance are attached to a building and will not touch the surface of the sidewalk, nor project over vehicular roadways. This Charter ordinance declares the City’s intention not to be governed by Wis. Stat. § 86.19, to the extent that statute would prohibit the City from approving the signs described herein. This Charter Ordinance should be considered at the same time as a companion ordinance (Legistar File # 28399) which makes non-charter amendments to the sections on canopy signs, awning signs, projecting signs, wall signs, and decorative and promotional banners.
***********************************************************************************
The Common Council of the City of Mad...
Click here for full text