HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 04-003 ORDINANCE NO. 04-003
ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE DECLARING A 120-DAY
MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR THE
ERECTION AND/OR CONSTRUCTION OF ANY OFF-
PREMISE SIGNS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF
BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS.
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that signs and billboards located on
premises to which they do not specifically relate (off-premise signs) may endanger the
public safety by distracting the attention of drivers from the roadway necessary for the
maintenance of traffic safety and may otherwise endanger the public health, safety and
welfare; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has further determined that such off-premise signs
might also result in harm to the welfare of the City by creating visible clutter and blight and
by promoting a negative aesthetic in the City; and,
WHEREAS,the City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City
of Beaumont, in the protection of the public health, safety and welfare, that the regulation
and prohibition of off-premise signs should be analyzed by the staff, the regulated
community and the citizens of the City of Beaumont forthe purpose of determining the best
possible approach for such regulation under the Constitution of the United States and the
State of Texas; and,
WHEREAS, in order to preserve the status quo pending further investigation of the
possible regulation of off-premise signs,the City Council has determined that a moratorium
should be imposed upon the issuance of permits for the construction of new off-premise
signs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT:
Section 1.
That there be and hereby is imposed for a period of one-hundred twenty (120) days from
the effective date of this ordinance a moratorium upon the issuance of permits for the
erection or construction of any sign or billboard which is used or intended for use to
advertise, identify or direct or attract the attention of the public to a business, institution,
product, organization, event or location offered or existing elsewhere than upon the same
lot, tract or parcel of land where such sign or billboard is displayed.
Section 2.
That, during said one-hundred twenty (120) day period, the City staff shall work with the
regulated sign industry and the citizens of the City to develop and present to the City
Council a proposed ordinance regulating such off-premise signs, which proposed
ordinance shall be presented to the City Council in sufficient time that said ordinance, if
adopted, may take effect prior to the expiration of said one-hundred twenty (120) day
period.
Section 3.
That all permits for off-premise signs issued by the City before the effective date of this
ordinance shall be valid for a period of thirty (30) days from the effective date of this
ordinance and the sign which is the subject of said permit must be completely erected by
the end of said thirty-day period or not at all. Said permits may be extended by the City for
one additional thirty-day period upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of diligence
toward completion of the sign and the existence of circumstances beyond the control of the
permittee causing the delay.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the 27th day of
January, 2004.
—4�
- Mayor Evelyn M. Lord -