Fiscal Note
No noteworthy fiscal impact is anticipated.
Title
CHARTER ORDINANCE Creating Section 31.045(3)(c)4. and Section 31.07(5)(f) of the Madison General Ordinances to allow Government Building Identification Signs and Decorative and Promotional Banners on a wall surface of a government building that projects into the highway right-of-way.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This Charter ordinance creates two new types of signs that can be displayed on the wall of a government building that projects into the highway right-of-way. This Charter ordinance would only apply to government buildings in the C4 Central Commercial district. Currently, with very limited exceptions, signs that project into the highway right-of-way are prohibited by city ordinance and state law. Under state law, the definition of “highway” includes city streets, sidewalks and terrace areas. This ordinance creates an exception to the City’s ban on signs in the right-of-way so that a government building can display two different types of signs on architectural features that project into the right-of-way. The first is a Government Building Identification Sign. A sign bearing only the name of a government building that is open to the public may be approved by the Urban Design Commission (UDC) to be displayed outside the selected signable area on a wall surface that projects into the right-of-way. The UDC must find the sign is necessary for identification and wayfinding purposes, apply other criteria established in this ordinance as well as the existing “Urban Design Guidelines for Downtown Madison” required for the C4 district. This ordinance also authorizes decorative and promotional banners to be hung on the wall of a government building that projects into the right-of-way. Decorative banners contain no message or logo and are displayed for the purpose of adding color and interest to the surroundings or to the building to which it is attached. Promotional banners display a noncommercial ...
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