4-2-9 Freeway Pylon Signs | Goodyear Zoning Ordinance

§ 4-2-9 Freeway Pylon Signs.

1. Freeway Pylon Signs shall require a Use Permit approved in accordance with the provisions of Section 1-2-6 of this Ordinance. The authorization of a Use Permit for a Freeway Pylon Sign shall be upon an additional finding by the City Council that the proposed Freeway Pylon Sign is consistent with the purpose and intent of this section and the Freeway Pylon Sign Design Guidelines contained herein, and that the proposed Freeway Pylon Sign furthers the interests of the community and is reasonable and necessary to provide business identification and economic vitality. The burden of proof that the proposed Freeway Pylon Sign meets the required findings for the Use Permit and is consistent with the provisions of this section rests with the applicant.

2. Freeway Pylon Sign may be approved only as a component of a Comprehensive Sign Package for a planned commercial, industrial or mixed-use development within which it will be located that is on property abutting a freeway, or part of a complex/center abutting a freeway, that is oriented to and intended to be read from the freeway for the purpose of identifying an associated commercial, industrial or mixed-use development.

3. A Freeway Pylon Sign shall be subject to Site Plan review and approval in accordance with provisions of Section 1-2-8. The Use Permit and Site Plan applications may be processed concurrently, if deemed appropriate by the Community Development Director.

1. The purpose of the Freeway Pylon Sign Use Permit is to:

a. Provide for the identification of certain existing and proposed regional commercial, industrial or mixed-use developments, in an appropriate manner that assists in the achievement of economic sustainability for businesses within the City.

b. Maintain a balance between the needs of the business community and the desire of Goodyear’s citizens and visitors to preserve view corridors along the freeways and maintain a high visual quality for the community.

c. Promote the effectiveness of Freeway Pylon Signs by preventing their over concentration, improper placement and deterioration, and insuring that they are well designed, appropriately sited, and aesthetically pleasing.

d. Protect motorists on freeways from injury or damage as a result of distraction or obstruction of vision attributable to large signs.

e. Assure that benefits derived from expenditures of public funds for the improvement and beautification of freeways shall be protected by exercising reasonable control over the character and design of large sign structures.

2. A Use Permit request for a Freeway Pylon Sign shall be evaluated based upon the Freeway Pylon Sign Design Guidelines contained in this Section and the following City objectives for Freeway Pylon Signs:

a. Encourage development of property in harmony with the desired character of the City while providing due regard for the public and private interests involved.

b. Promote the effectiveness of Freeway Pylon Signs by preventing their over concentration, improper placement, deterioration, and excessive size and number.

c. Enhance the flow of traffic and the convenience, ease and enjoyment of travel along Goodyear's freeways.

d. Protect travelers on Goodyear's freeways from injury or damage as a result of distraction or obstruction of vision attributable to large signs.

e. Regulate advertising distractions which may contribute to traffic accidents.

f. Assure that public benefits derived from expenditures of public funds for the improvement and beautification of freeways and other public structures and spaces shall be protected by exercising reasonable control over the character and design of large sign structures.

g. Provide a pleasing visual environment for the citizens of and visitors to the City of Goodyear.

h. Require that signs are properly maintained for safety and visual appearance.

i. Ensure that the maximum sign height, sign area and the location approved for each individual Freeway Pylon Sign is the minimum required to provide for necessary business identification while maintaining public view corridors and preventing an excessive number of freeway signs.

C. DESIGN GUIDELINES. Although this section does not set forth specific standards or minimum requirements for Freeway Pylon Signs, a proposed Freeway Pylon Sign should be located, designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following Design Guidelines, and each individual Use Permit for a proposed Freeway Pylon Sign shall be evaluated based on the level of conformity of the proposed sign with the following Design Guidelines.

1. The parcel or approved development site upon which the sign is to be located should contain at least thirty (30) contiguous acres and have a minimum of one thousand feet (1,000’) of frontage adjacent to the freeway.

2. A minimum separation distance of one-half (1/2) mile should be observed between any such Freeway Pylon Signs located on the same side of the freeway.

3. Typically, only one (1) Freeway Pylon Sign is considered reasonable and appropriate for each qualified development site, although consideration for additional signs may be given for a site that is substantially in excess of thirty (30) acres or has a tenant or tenants of regional significance that require freeway signage.

4. All proposed signs should be located no greater than two hundred feet (200') from the right-of-way line of the adjacent freeway, and no part of the sign shall be closer to the freeway right-of-way than fifteen feet (15').

5. The proposed maximum height of all signs shall be no greater than that which is reasonably necessary to be visible from a vehicle approaching on the either side of the freeway. In determining the maximum height to provide adequate sign visibility, the applicant shall submit empirical observation (e.g. field test with crane or balloon), computer simulation, or other evidence as required by the Community Development Director, or his designee.

6. The proposed maximum sign area for each sign shall be no greater than that which is reasonably necessary in order to provide adequate visibility and identification of the development name and a reasonable number of the major or significant tenants within the development as viewed from the adjacent freeway.

7. The sign copy of all Freeway Pylon Signs shall be limited to the development name, logo identification, and the identification of major or significant tenants. The inclusion of the name “Goodyear” as a prominent component of the sign is highly encouraged.

8. All signs shall be of high architectural quality that contributes positively to Goodyear’s visual environment, promotes creativity, and has a distinctive image for the development. The architectural form, textures, colors, and materials for each sign shall be complimentary to the primary building architectural design of the development and consistent with other proposed signs in the development.

9. The identification of the development name and tenant names on the sign should be in the form of individual pan channel lettering, aluminum routed lettering with acrylic background, or other high quality sign design characteristics. Removable tenant panels made completely of acrylic or plexi-glass materials are discouraged unless they exhibit a high quality appearance.

10. In general, each sign should have low maintenance, and architectural-grade surfacing materials such as metal, masonry, ceramic tile, glass or stucco.

11. Freeway Pylon Signs typically should contain only internal illumination of sign copy. External illumination, exposed neon, argon or krypton tube lighting, exposed incandescent lighting, or other exposed artificial lighting to outline the sign or portion thereof, may be considered as a component of the sign provided such illumination:

a. Constitutes a design component of the overall Freeway Pylon Sign architecture;

b. Is an integral component of the primary physical elements of the Freeway Pylon Sign and is harmonious with the architectural style of the structure;

c. Serves only the purpose of embellishing the nighttime architecture of the Freeway Pylon Sign, and does not portray an advertising message;

d. Is compatible with the land use and architecture of adjacent developments;

e. Complies with the Outdoor Light Standards contained in Article 10 of this Ordinance, as evidenced by the submittal of complete lighting design plans and specifications as prescribed by that Article;

f. Is maintained in a fully functional manner, and if any component of the lighting becomes nonfunctional, then neither the entire lighting system, nor any portion thereof, may be illuminated until the entire lighting system is repaired.

g. Will not exceed the light intensity levels specified in the approved Outdoor Lighting Plans, and a certification can be provided from the sign manufacturer prior to the issuance of a building permit that the light intensity levels that have been factory pre-set do not exceed those levels.

12. A Freeway Pylon Sign using an electronic message display may be considered for approval provided the display is limited to text messages only, with no animation or video, and the message change sequence is accomplished immediately or by means of fade or dissolve modes, with each message being displayed for a minimum period of one hour or at an interval specified by the City Council. Continuous traveling or scrolling displays are discouraged.

13. The City Council may approve modifications or alternatives to these Design Guidelines for a specific Freeway Pylon Sign when:

a. An individualized assessment reveals the existence of extraordinary conditions involving topography, land ownership, adjacent development, parcel configuration, or other factors relating to the development site; or,

b. The proposed or existing development exhibits unique characteristics of land use, architectural style, site location, physical scale, historical interest or other distinguishing features that represent a clear variation from conventional development; or,

c. The proposed Freeway Pylon Sign incorporates special design features, or unique architectural elements that represent superior quality; or,

d. Such modifications or alternatives are consistent with the intent of these Guidelines and will result in conditions that are commensurate with or superior to the Guidelines.