Planning Commission

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

ORDINANCE 00 -01

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SIGN CODE, CHAPTER 21.60 OF THE HOMER CITY CODE TO MODIFY THE RESTRICTIONS ON FREESTANDING SIGNS ON THE HOMER SPIT AND IN CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

WHEREAS, the current sign code was adopted in 1990, amended in 1993 and last amended in 1998; and,

WHEREAS, in recent years there has been much new commercial development in Homer, and one of the more rapidly developing areas of the city has been on the Homer Spit with several new commercial establishments now constructed or planned for construction; and,

WHEREAS, the influx of commercial development is accompanied by the erection of commercial signs, which generally detract from the pleasing aesthetic nature of Homer and the unique scenic beauty of the Homer Spit, and the erection of tall signs and signs on poles has proven to be especially unattractive and could damage the visual beauty of the Spit; and,

WHEREAS, a more pleasing visual effect can be achieved if the signs are generally shorter and, in the area of the Homer Spit, the use of pole signs is restricted; and,

WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on this matter at the January 19, 2000 meeting, as required by Homer City Code, Chapter 21.70 and for these and other considerations recommended approval of this sign code change;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF HOMER HEREBY ORDAINS:

Section 1. That paragraph of Table 2 of Homer City Code Section 21.60.060(b)(1) pertaining to freestanding signs shall be amended to read to as follows:

Only 1 freestanding sign is allowed per zone lot. Except as provided in the following sentence, freestanding signs may not exceed 75 square feet in area, nor may they exceed 20 feet in height or the height of the primary building on the zone lot, whichever is lower. In that portion of the CBD described in subsection 21.48.030(m), and on the Homer Spit from Kachemak Drive to the distal end, a freestanding sign may not exceed 36 square feet in area and shall be limited to a ground sign only, which may not exceed ten feet in height; provided, in cases where the normal grade at the sign location is below the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street, any freestanding sign design may be used to elevate the top of the sign to not more than ten feet above the nearest point of the crown of a public street.

Section 2. That paragraph of Table 2 of Homer City Code Section 21.60.060(b)(1) pertaining to cluster businesses shall be amended to read to as follows:

For cluster businesses, each individual business is allowed a maximum allowed signage according to its respective frontage using the table above. In addition, each business cluster is allowed a maximum allowed signage according to the table above. If part of the allowed signage is used on a freestanding sign in no case shall the sign exceed 75 square feet in area or 20 feet in height, except freestanding signs for cluster businesses in that portion of the CBD described in subsection 21.48.030(m) or on the Homer Spit from Kachemak Drive to the distal end are limited to ground signs subject to the limitations stated in the paragraph directly above.

Section 3. This ordinance is of a permanent and general character and shall be included in the City code

ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOMER, ALASKA, this ____ day of ___________, 2000.

CITY OF HOMER

Jack Cushing, Mayor

ATTEST

Mary L. Calhoun, AAE/CMC, City Clerk

Fiscal Note: Not Applicable

AYES:

NOES:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

First Reading:

Public Hearing:

Second Reading:

Effective Date:

Reviewed and approved as to form:

Ron Drathman, City Manager Gordon J Tans, City Attorney