Fiscal Note
There may be a minimal increase in General Fund revenues derived from permit fees.
Title
Creating Sec. 31.04(3)(j) to allow approval of historic legacy signs by the Urban Design Commission and creating criteria for such approval, amending Sec. 31.03(2) to create a definition of legacy sign, amending Sec. 31.043(4)(b)2. regarding additional sign code approvals and comprehensive design review, repealing and recreating Sec. 31.045(3)(e) and amending Sec. 31.07(1) of the Madison General Ordinances regarding signs posted to or affixed directly to a wall.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: Currently, the City’s Landmarks ordinance allows signs to be painted directly on a wall on landmark buildings or in historic districts to recreate a historical sign or create a new one that looks historical. This is only available on landmark buildings or in historic districts. There is interest in allowing historic signs to be restored on buildings that aren’t landmarks and are outside historic districts, if the applicant can prove pre-1940 historical existence of the sign or one like it. This ordinance amendment would allow the Urban Design Commission to approve the recreation of a known historical sign or a sign that includes a business name, logo, product, or an accessory use in the building in question, called a “Legacy Sign.” The prior signage must pre-date 1940. The UDC would review an application for a legacy sign using the existing process for “additional sign code approval” and the criteria established in this ordinance. This ordinance also clarifies that an “additional sign code approval” can be combined with a Comprehensive Design Review, eliminates the prohibition against signs “posted directly on a wall,” and corrects a cross reference to the Landmarks ordinance.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Subdivision (j) of Subsection (3) entit...
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