§ 19.04.022. Words and terms defined.
For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms, phrases and words shall have the meaning indicated:
Abandonment means whenever a property's use is discontinued for more than 180 days.
Accessory means subordinate or incidental to and on the same lot or on a contiguous lot in the same ownership as the building or use being identified or advertised.
Awning means a shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building with no posts or poles for support.
Awning sign means a sign mounted on an awning.
Business area means every zoning district in the Town not included in the residential area.
Canopy means a roof-like projection supported by posts or poles.
Canopy sign means a sign mounted on any part of the canopy's structure.
Chapter means Chapter 19.04 of this Code of the Town.
Common sign plan means a plan approved within a commercial planned development that allocates the available maximum allowable sign square footage for a commercial development among multiple lots, locations and/or tenants.
Construction sign means a temporary sign announcing subdivision, development, construction or other improvement of a property by a building contractor or other person furnishing services, materials or labor to the premises, but does not include a real estate sign .
Corporate flag means any flag, pennant or banner which includes the name, logo, insignia or any other identification of any type other than nation, state or town and is displayed along with governmental flags, provided that the corporate flag meets the siting requirements for a governmental flag, and provided that the corporate flag is no larger or taller than the governmental flag.
Current value of a sign means the commercial value of a sign based on the costs of purchasing or manufacturing a sign of similar design and construction plus the cost of installation at the time of the effective date of this Chapter or at the time of annexation to the Town.
Downtown Overlay District means the business area shown on the Town's official zoning map as "Downtown Overlay," and which encompasses generally the area from the Wolfensberger Interchange to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad to the east, I-25 to the west, and south of the Plum Creek Interchange.
Effective date means the date that this Chapter becomes lawful following adoption by the Town Council and proper publication.
Electric sign means any sign containing an electrical energy source, but not including signs illuminated by an exterior light source which is not an integral part of the sign.
Electronic message sign means any sign where an electronic message or image is displayed on a screen or light display.
Erected means attached, altered, built, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged or moved and shall include the painting of wall signs.
Freestanding sign means a sign that is supported by one or more columns, upright poles or braces extended from the ground or from an object on the ground, or that is erected on the ground, where no part of the sign is attached to any part of a building, structure or other sign. This term includes a pole sign , pedestal sign , ground sign and monument sign .
Frontage, building. Building frontage means the horizontal, linear dimension of that side of a building that abuts a street, a parking area, a mall or other circulation area open to the general public and that has either a main window display of the enterprise or a public entrance to the building; in industrial buildings, a building side with an entrance open to employees is a building frontage; where more than one use occupies a building, each such use having a public entrance or main window display for its exclusive use shall be considered to have its own building frontage, which shall be the front width of the portion of the building occupied by that use. When calculating total sign area, noncontiguous street frontages may be utilized.
Frontage, street. Street frontage means the linear frontage of a lot or parcel abutting a private or public street (other than an alley) that provides principal access to or visibility of the premises. When calculating total sign area, noncontiguous street frontages may be utilized.
Governmental flag means a flag or pennant of any educational institution, except such flags used in connection with a commercial promotion or as an advertising device and, except for governmental flags projecting from buildings, no portion of the flag or support structure shall extend beyond the property line.
Height, sign. Sign height means the vertical distance measured from the elevation of the nearest sidewalk, or, if there is no sidewalk within twenty-five feet, from the highest point of the pre-existing grade at the location of the sign structure to the uppermost point on the sign or the sign structure.
Identification sign means any of the following: a name plate that establishes the identity of an occupant by listing name and business and/or professional title; a sign that establishes the identity of a building or a building complex by name or symbol only; a sign that combines name plate and street address; a sign that identifies an area in the Town that, by reason of development, natural features, historical occurrences or common reference, has or will become a landmark in the Town; and a commemorative sign, such as a cornerstone, memorial or plaque cut into a masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material and made an integral part of the structure.
Illuminated sign means any sign which is directly lighted by an electrical light source, internal or external, not including signs which are illuminated by street lights or other light sources owned by any public agency or light sources which are specifically operated for the purpose of lighting the area in which the sign is located rather than the sign itself.
Joint identification sign means a sign that serves as a common or collective identification for two or more businesses or industrial uses on the same lot or premises and that may contain a directory to the uses as an integral part thereof or may serve as a general identification only for such developments as shopping centers, industrial parks and similar uses, provided that no more than one joint identification sign is allowed per lot frontage.
Light source means neon, fluorescent or similar tube lighting, an incandescent bulb, including the light-producing elements therein, and any reflecting surface that, by reason of its construction or placement, becomes the light source.
Lot means a portion or parcel of land, including a portion of a platted subdivision, which is an integral unit of land held under unified ownership in fee or cotenancy, or under legal control tantamount to such ownership.
Maintenance means the replacement, repair or repainting of any portion of a sign structure, periodic changing of bulletin board panels or renewing of copy that has been made unusable by ordinary wear and tear, weather or accident, but not including changes in copy due to change of business name or change in the nature of the business.
Mobile sign means any sign structure used, designed and/or constructed to be moved by means of wheels, skids or lifting.
Neighborhood/village directional sign means a sign displaying only the name of a neighborhood/village and the direction and distance to the closest entrance to the neighborhood or village.
Neighborhood/village identification sign means a sign used to identify a specific neighborhood or village within the Town. A neighborhood is the smallest community development increment which includes an elementary school, a neighborhood center and/or other public facilities. A village is an area planned and developed within natural or developed boundaries so as to be large enough to support a residential or commercial community, a village shopping center and other village needs but still remaining small enough to maintain a small community scale and identity. Within the Town, "Castle North" and "Plum Creek" are present examples of neighborhoods; "Founders Village" is a presently planned village.
Neighborhood/village marketing sign means a sign used to identify the location and nature of properties offered for sale in a specific neighborhood and/or village during the time that properties within the neighborhood and/or village are being marketed to the general public by the developer(s).
Nonconforming sign, illegal. Illegal nonconforming sign means a sign that was in violation of any of the laws of the Town governing the erection or construction of such sign at the time of its erection and that has never been erected or displayed in conformity with all such laws (including those in this Chapter), including without limitation signs that are pasted, nailed or painted or are otherwise unlawfully displayed upon structures, utility poles, trees and fences.
Nonconforming sign, legal. Legal nonconforming sign means any advertising structure or sign which fails to conform to all applicable regulations and restrictions of this Chapter because it was lawfully erected and maintained prior to such time it came within the purview of this Chapter and any amendments thereto, or it has been granted a variance.
Obscene sign means a sign which an average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest in sex, as more specifically defined in Part 1, Article 7, Title 18, C.R.S.
Off-premises sign means any sign which serves to communicate information about a business, product, service or activity not conducted, sold or offered on the premises on which the sign is located. A sign located in public or private rights-of-way adjacent to the premises where the business, product, service or activity is located is an off-premises sign.
Owner means a person who, alone, jointly or severally with others, or in a representative capacity (including without limitation an authorized agent, executor or trustee) has legal or equitable title to any business, property or building in question.
Parapet/mansard sign means a sign displayed upon or against a parapet wall or mansard; provided that the sign does not extend beyond any edge of the wall or mansard or does not exceed a height of twenty feet. Mansard signs shall be erected in the vertical plane.
Premises means a tract of land, consisting of one or more platted lots or irregular tracts, provided that such lots or tracts are under common ownership and are contiguous. Under appropriate circumstances, contiguous lots not under common ownership, but being developed under a common theme or design and sharing appurtenant needs such as access, parking or pedestrian ways, may be considered a single premises.
Projecting sign means a sign, other than a wall sign, attached to a building or extending in whole or in part fifteen inches or more horizontally beyond the surface of the building to which the sign is attached, and projecting at a ninety-degree angle from the building to which the sign is attached. It is to be located no lower than eight feet and no higher than thirteen feet from the ground or adjacent sidewalk and shall not project above the roofline of the building.
Real estate sign means a sign indicating the availability for sale, rent or lease of a specific lot, building or portion of a building or a group of homes (as in models) upon which the sign is erected or displayed.
Residential area means the following residential zoning districts: MH, R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3 or like uses in PD or open space.
Revocable right-of-way encroachment permit means a permit to erect, install or maintain an awning, canopy, suspended sign or projecting sign over or across a public right-of-way. Signs encroaching a public right-of-way may not project more than four (4) feet from the face of the building and may be located no lower than eight (8) feet and no higher than thirteen (13) feet from the ground or adjacent sidewalk and shall not project above the roofline of the building. In no event may any awning, canopy, suspended or projecting sign encroach over any state highway right-of-way.
Right-of-way means any parcel of land that has been dedicated to the Town or the State, or any other political subdivision as right-of-way.
Roof means that portion of a structure covering internal areas of a building and not specifically including roof overhangs projecting less than ten (10) feet covering walkways or drive-throughs. A building may have several roofs, any number of which may be lower than other walls or roofs which are part of the same structure.
Roof sign means a sign displayed upon or against the roof of a building.
Roofline means the linear point of attachment between the roof and wall of a building adjacent to, closest to or upon which is located the sign under consideration.
Sandwich board sign shall mean an A-frame portable sign that is hinged or unhinged and is temporary in nature.
Sign means any writing, pictorial representation, decoration (including any material used to differentiate sign copy from its background), form, emblem, trademark, flag or banner, or any other figure of similar character that:
1.
Is a structure or any part thereof (including the roof or wall of a building);
2.
Is written, printed, projected, painted, constructed or otherwise placed or displayed upon or designed in the building, board, plate, canopy, awning or vehicle or upon any material object or device whatsoever;
3.
By reason of its form, color, wording, symbol, design, illumination or motion, attracts or is designed to attract attention to the subject thereof or is used as a means of identification, advertisement or announcement. For the purpose of determining the number of signs that may be subject to the provisions of this Chapter, a sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing elements clearly organized, related and composed to form a unit. Where matter is displayed in a random manner without organized relationship of elements or where there is reasonable doubt about the relationship of elements, each element shall be considered to be a single sign.
Sign face means the surface of a sign upon, against or throughout which the message is displayed or illustrated.
Sign owner means the person who owns a business to which a sign relates, whether such sign is actually owned, rented, leased or otherwise placed on the business premises for his or her benefit or that of the business, including the owner of a franchise or other type of business with a similar type pyramid or exclusive structure.
Sign plaza means a sign, sign structure or area owned by the Town or the State of Colorado Highway Department, where off-premises signs are leased or space is made available to users. Use of the sign plaza requires a special permit from the Town Council.
Sign structure means any supports, uprights, braces or framework of a sign.
Special permit means a permit to erect and maintain either a temporary sign, an off-premises sign on the sign plaza, a subdivision identification sign in excess of thirty-two (32) square feet or a neighborhood/village identification sign in excess of sixty-four (64) square feet, subject to such conditions and regulations as imposed thereon by the Town Council.
Subdivision identification sign means a sign used to identify a specific subdivision within the Town. A subdivision is generally several acres and is zoned for similar uses throughout, developed by one (1) person or entity with a common theme or design, which, by itself, is insufficient to require separate community facilities. Within the Town, "Citadel Station," "Mountain Shadows" and "Oak Ridge" are representative examples of subdivisions.
Suspended sign means a sign suspended from the ceiling of an arcade, marquee, canopy or awning or anything else other than a sign structure.
Temporary sign means a sign which is not permanently affixed and including all devices such as banners, pennants, flags (excluding governmental flags and corporate flags) or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other light materials, with or without frames, which are not permanently affixed to a building or the ground.
Time-temperature-date sign means a sign that displays the current time, outdoor temperature, date, month or any combination of that information.
Town means the Town of Castle Rock, Colorado, a statutory town and municipal corporation.
Town Council means the Town Council of the Town.
Town identification sign means a sign that establishes the identity of the Town of Castle Rock.
Town Manager means the person appointed by the Town Council to hold the position of Town Manager or his or her designated representative.
Vehicle-mounted sign means a sign displayed upon a trailer, van, truck, automobile, bus, railroad car, tractor, semi-trailer or other vehicle, whether or not such vehicle is in operating condition.
Wall sign means a sign displayed upon or against the wall of an enclosed building; provided that no part of the face of the sign extends more than fifteen inches (measured horizontally) from the face of the wall and the sign does not extend beyond any edge of the wall or the roofline. Wall signs do not include canopy, awning or freestanding signs.
Wind sign means a sign consisting of one or more banners, flags, pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers, captive balloons or other objects or material fastened in such a manner as to move or be designed to move upon being subjected to pressure by wind or air movement. These signs are regulated as a banner.
Window sign means a sign that is painted on, applied or attached to, or located within three feet of the interior of a window and that can be seen through the window from the exterior of the structure, but excludes merchandise and/or mannequins included in a window display.
Work of art means any construction that has no relationship or identification to the use on the lot. Such relationship or identification shall include trademarks; representation of people or things utilized in advertisements or promotions; or any references to or representations of, by name or image, the name of the business, activity or use on the lot.
( Ord. No. 2015-06, § 4, 2-17-2015 ; Ord. 2013-23 §2, 2013; Ord. 2010-10 §1, 2010; Ord. 2009-38 §1, 2009; Ord. 2007-24 §3, 2007; Ord. 2004-01 §1, 2004; Ord. 2000-09 §4, 2000; Ord. 87-05 §1(part), 1987; Ord. 86-13 §1(part), 1986)