15.14.450 Signage.
A. Policies.
1. Signs should be designed and placed so that they are compatible with the aesthetic quality of the existing shoreline and adjacent land and water uses.
2. Signs should not block or otherwise interfere with visual access to the water or shorelands.
B. Regulations.
1. Sign Size, Location, and Lighting Standards.
a. Prohibited Signs. The following types of signs are prohibited:
i. Off-premises detached outdoor advertising signs;
ii. Commercial signs for products, services, or facilities located off-site;
iii. Any signs or other devices which flash, blink, flutter, rotate, oscillate, or otherwise purposely fluctuate in lighting or position, in order to attract attention through their distractive character. Highway and railroad signs are exceptions, as are pennants, banners, and other devices of seasonal, holiday, or special event character which may be utilized on a temporary basis based on town standards;
iv. Signs placed on trees or other natural features, unless the town’s shoreline administrator finds that these signs are necessary for public safety reasons.
b. Allowable Signs. The following types of signs may be allowed in all shoreline environments:
i. Water navigational signs, and highway and railroad signs necessary for operation, safety and direction;
ii. Public information signs directly relating to a shoreline use or activity. Public information signs shall include public park signs, public access identification signs, critical area buffer signs, and warning signs;
iii. Off-premises, free-standing signs for community identification, information, or directional purposes;
iv. National, site, and institutional flags or temporary decorations customary for special holidays and similar events of a public nature;
v. Temporary directional signs to public or quasi-public events if removed within 10 days following the event.
c. All signs shall be located and designed to avoid interference with vistas, viewpoints, and visual access to the shoreline. No signs shall be placed in a required view corridor.
d. Over-water signs or signs oriented at the water are prohibited.
e. Lighted signs shall be hooded, shaded, or aimed so that direct light will not result in glare when viewed from surrounding properties or watercourses.
f. Signs shall meet the applicable size standards adopted by the town.
g. Temporary or obsolete signs shall be removed within 10 days of elections, closures of business, or termination of any other function. Examples of temporary signs include: real estate signs, directions to events, political advertisements, event or holiday signs, construction signs, and signs advertising a sale or promotional event.
h. Signs that do not meet the policies and regulations of this section shall be removed or shall conform within two years of the adoption of this SMP.
i. The maximum area of individual sign faces shall be consistent with town standards.
j. Signs required by law shall not be subject to limitations with respect to the number, location, and/or size; provided, that they are the minimum necessary to achieve the intended purpose. Signs required by law include, but are not limited to, official or legal notices issued and posted by any public agency or court, or traffic directional or warning signs.
k. Freestanding signs authorized by this SMP are subject to the shoreline and critical area buffers and vegetation conservation standards in SPMC 15.14.320 and Appendix B. Building-mounted signs are subject to shoreline buffers and other setbacks applicable to buildings. Height of wall signs shall be measured in accordance with applicable town standards. [Ord. 580 Att. A § 5.11, 2019.]