Record #: O2013-4977   
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
Intro date: 6/26/2013 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
Final action: 7/24/2013
Title: Imposition of temporary moratorium on applications filed on or after June 27, 2013 for issuance of sign permits for dynamic image display signs
Sponsors: Burnett, Jr., Walter
Attachments: 1. O2013-4977.pdf
ORDINANCE
 
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago (the "City") is a body politic and corporate under the laws of the State of Illinois and a home rule unit of government under Article VII of the 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois; and
 
WHEREAS, as a home rule unit of government, the City may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and
 
WHEREAS, the City regulates signs, including dynamic image display signs; and
 
WHEREAS, as part of that regulatory process, in order to ensure that the signs have little or no negative impact on surrounding areas, all dynamic image display signs which exceed 100 feet2 in area require the issuance of a City Council order pursuant to section 13-20-680 of the Municipal Code of Chicago; and
 
WHEREAS, recently the City has seen a proliferation of the installation of dynamic image display signs just under the size which requires a City Council order; and
 
WHEREAS, the current regulation and controls of the City may not adequately address the unique needs and impact that these smaller dynamic image display signs may have, including their impact on nearby business districts, residential neighborhoods, and the quality of life for City residents; and
 
WHEREAS, the City has not thoroughly studied the impacts of the smaller dynamic image display signs in relationship to zoning and comprehensive planning policies and goals; and
 
WHEREAS, public health and safety interests require that the City study, analyze and evaluate the impact that these signs have in relationship to the nearby uses and the visual clutter which may be generated by their installation; and
 
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is necessary for the public health and safety to implement a temporary moratorium on the issuance of all sign permits for these smaller dynamic image display signs; now, therefore
 
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
 
SECTION 1. The recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated herein by reference as findings of fact and made a part hereof.
 
SECTION 2. A temporary moratorium is hereby imposed on the issuance of any sign permit for any application filed on or after June 27, 2013 for a dynamic image display sign, as that term is defined in section 13-20-510, when the dynamic image display sign is 100 feet2 or less in area.
 
An application for a sign permit shall be considered filed only after the submission of an online application, which is completely filled out, and the zoning review fee has been paid.
 
SECTION 3. The moratorium shall be in effect until April 30, 2014.
 
 
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
 
/alter Burnett, Jr. Alderman, 27th Ward