O-2010-3273 on and off premise signs within the Main Street District/Main Street Overlay

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ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 106 "ZONING" OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE BY AMENDING ARTICLE VII. "SIGNS" SECTION 106-874 "ON -PREMISES SIGNS", TO ALLOW INSTALLATION OF ON - PREMISE MONUMENT OR GROUND SIGNS FOR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE A CURRENT ON -PREMISE, FREESTANDING SIGN IN THE MAIN STREET DISTRICT AND OVERLAY; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 106-875 "OFF -PREMISES SIGNS", REGARDING STANDARDS FOR OFF -PREMISES SIGNS WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF WEST MAIN STREET PORTION OF THE MAIN STREET OVERLAY; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION SHALL BE FINED IN A SUM NOT TO EXCEED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000); PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION HEREOF; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. WHEREAS, the City of La Porte established a Main Street District and Main Street District to provide zonings rules and regulations that would serve to protect, enhance, and encourage the continuation of the unique character of the Main Street corridor, and the encouragement of business on Main Street; WHEREAS, part of the unique character of the Main Street corridor is exemplified by the display of existing freestanding, on -premises signs by business located along Main Street, many of which have been in place for decades; WHEREAS, the City of La Porte has, and continues to develop regulations concerning on - premises and off -premises signs throughout the City, causing many of the aforementioned signs on Main Street to potentially become preexisting, non -conforming structures; WHEREAS, the current Zoning Ordinance allows only limited opportunity to place signage within the Main Street District advertising their business and services; and WHEREAS, previous attempts to further develop an adequate regulatory structure to allow for such signage opportunities have not yet been successfully implemented; and WHEREAS, the City seeks to implement new rules governing signs on and off -premises signs in the Main Street District and Main Street Overlay, while at the same time preserving the unique character of preexisting non -conforming signs and the businesses exhibiting same; WHEREAS, business owners have expressed a desire to permanently retain existing freestanding, on -premises signs, and/or to repair or rebuild such signs according to their original dimensions and configuration, and have voiced their concerns to City of La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission and La Porte City Council, and furthermore, met in a townhall meeting on May 19, 2010, to convey their desires to the City; WHEREAS, the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission, after the aforementioned townhall meeting, established a committee to develop recommended rules and regulations for signs on