Chapter 15.16 — HISTORICAL BUILDING PRESERVATION, SIGN AND OUTDOOR MERCHANDISE DISPLAY…

The purpose of this chapter is to provide conditions and regulations for the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of the old and historical commercial buildings within the city and the perpetuation of the Mother Lode type of architecture within the city which has special historical and esthetic interest and value, and to provide for the appearance of structures and signs on neighboring and adjacent property within the public view. Also to assign the five-member design review committee and five-member sign review committee to regulate the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

This chapter shall apply to signs within the city limits.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

No presently existing commercial building of special historic or esthetic value or of Mother Lode type of architecture situated within the city limits of Amador City shall be torn down, demolished or otherwise destroyed.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

In the event that any Mother Lode type of architecture commercial building or any other commercial building of esthetic or historic value or interest shall be damaged by fire, act of God, or in any other manner, or become unsafe or in such state of disrepair or dilapidation as to be untenable by reason of any of these causes that it cannot with reasonable diligence be repaired and restored, the same may be removed upon issuance of a permit for such removal as hereinafter provided.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

A.

All commercial buildings and new commercial construction which shall be hereafter constructed or altered as to their exterior appearance, as to their exterior architecture, shall conform to the style of architecture commonly known as and called the Mother Lode type of architecture.

B.

For the purpose of this chapter, Mother Lode type of architecture referred to herein is defined as being, the type of architecture generally used in the Mother Lode area in the state of California in the period of 1849 to 1870, inclusive, and the type of architecture exemplified by the buildings known as the Imperial Hotel and the Fleehart Store on Main Street.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

A.

No permit for demolition or removal of any commercial building of Mother Lode type of architecture or special historic or esthetic interest situated within Amador City shall be issued without the approval of the three-member historical advisory committee and the city council.

B.

No permit for construction or alteration of any commercial building or sign hanging within the city shall be issued until the plans for the construction or alteration or sign hanging shall have been approved by the design review committee for buildings, the sign review committee for signs and outdoor/sidewalk merchandise displays and the city council. No permit shall be issued for any signs other than restricted to buildings.

C.

The design review committee and sign review committee of the city shall not approve plans for the construction or alteration of any commercial building or any signs unless plans shall conform to the provisions of this chapter.

D.

No permit for construction or alteration of any commercial building within the city shall be issued until the plans for the construction or alteration shall have been approved by the design review committee of Amador City and the city council. No permit shall be issued for any signs other than restricted to buildings.

E.

The design review committee shall not approve plans for the construction or alteration of any commercial building unless plans shall conform to the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

A.

The purpose of this section is to provide conditions and regulations for the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of the old historical rock walls within the city which have special historical and esthetic interest and value.

B.

No presently existing rock walls, either dry stacked or cement adhered shall be torn down, removed, demolished, covered over with earth, rocks, or any other material or be in any way stressed to cause their destruction.

C.

In the event a section must be removed to provide egress and ingress from a parcel that otherwise has no possible access, the city council may at their discretion issue a permit for removal of a section not to exceed twelve (12) feet.

D.

If a rock wall precludes building on a parcel, the city council may issue a variance.

E.

If a section is to be removed and if the city council issues a permit, the remaining walls must be repaired and strengthened so no further collapse will occur.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

A sign review committee is established to review all sign applications submitted, assuring compliance with the ordinance codified in this chapter and to report to the city council their recommendation for approval or disapproval. If at any time the sign committee lacks required membership to attain a quorum or does not meet within thirty (30) days of a sign application being filed with the city clerk all responsibilities of the sign

committee will be assumed by the city council at the next meeting of the city council. Final approval of all signs will rest solely with the city council. The Amador City council shall appoint a committee comprised of five persons to include one person from the city council, three persons from the business community, each possessing a current Amador City business license, and one Amador City resident from the public at large. The term of the committee shall be two years.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

A.

Signs within the city limits of the city are an item of sign committee review and approval. Consideration is given to their size, location, color and material of construction. Signs should be designed specifically for the business location and harmonize with surrounding signs and historical architecture of the buildings. Signs within the city are not to be used for advertising, but to indicate the location of the business and type of business therein. All signs must be displayed in a way that will not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

B.

The fee for obtaining a sign permit for a commercial sign shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and may be set by resolution. The fee will be due and payable upon submitting a sign application form to the city clerk.

C.

A list of all approved signs will be kept on record by the city clerk. Any sign displayed without a permit or believed to be in violation of the conditions of this or other pertinent city codes should be reported to the city clerk. A review of such sign will be conducted by the city council at the next regular meeting of the council. If the sign is found to be unlawful, a letter will be issued by the city and the owner will have seventy-two (72) hours to remove the sign. If such sign is not removed the owner will be in violation of this chapter and will be subject to misdemeanor violation.

D.

Signs within the city limits of the city shall be designed and constructed in a professional manner and shall be restricted as follows:

1.

Commercial Identifying Signs.

a.

Commercial businesses may have up to two signs totaling not more than ten (10) square feet. (Exception see subsections (D)(1)(b) and (c) of this section.) Signs may be double or single faced depending on the method of display. For irregular shaped signs, the area shall be that of a ten (10) square foot rectangle that wholly contains the sign. More than two signs will be left to the discretion of the city council.

b.

When more than one business occupies one building or one shop space, special conditions may apply to sign size in order to avoid excessive clutter.

c.

When a single business occupies one of the larger commercial buildings in Amador City (i.e., Imperial Hotel, Amador House, Amador Hotel, Mine House, Culbert House) exceptions may be made as to sign size.

d.

No sign shall have moving parts or be self-illuminated, or have any characteristics which will make it glow or shine.

e.

Signs shall be restricted to their related building.

f.

Sandwich board signs are not permitted.

g.

No signs shall be permitted on roofs.

h.

Interior signs of over six square feet are subject to review if visible from the street or sidewalk.

i.

No sign shall have color or be constructed of any material other than that approved by sign committee.

j.

The fee for obtaining a sign permit for a commercial sign shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and may be set by resolution. The fee will be due and payable upon submitting a sign application form to the city clerk.

2.

Exterior Open/Closed Signs and Flags.

a.

Businesses may have either an "Open/Closed" sign constructed of rigid material or a flag.

b.

"Open/Closed" signs may not exceed two square feet and need not be submitted for sign approval as long as they comply with subsection (D)(1)(a) of this section. "Open/Closed" signs are not included in the ten (10) square foot allowance.

c.

Flags are permitted but may not exceed six square feet and need not be submitted for approval.

d.

"Open/Closed" signs and flags must be displayed in a way that will not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

e.

Eating establishments may apply for a permit to display a menu board not to exceed eight square feet. Menu board is to be located in proximity to the business entrance and must not impede pedestrian traffic. A fee will be incurred for this permit and be set by resolution.

E.

All signs in use for existing businesses in Amador City prior to January 1, 1998 are permitted.

F.

Signs which have been abandoned due to a closing of a business, a change in business name or for any other reason rendering the sign not applicable to the property involved, shall be removed by the permit holder or the owner of the building within thirty (30) days from the date of the action that caused the sign to be considered abandoned. An abandoned sign may be removed by the city after the thirty (30) day period stated above and the permit holder or owner may be charged for the cost of removal.

G.

Violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)

Outdoor/sidewalk displays are restricted to merchandise constructed of materials available in the Mother Lode area in the state of California in the period of 1849 to 1870. Materials such as plastic, nylon, rayon, polyester and neon did not exist during this period and products constructed of these types of materials are prohibited from outdoor display.

Outdoor/sidewalk merchandise displays cannot impede pedestrian traffic, dominate the esthetic landscape or create any danger to public safety.

All conditions of this chapter will take effect thirty (30) days after passage by the city council and will supercede any previous ordinances on the same subject. Existing business not in compliance with the terms of this section may continue to display noncomplying merchandise, but during that business's normal business hours only.

(Ord. 161 (part), 2006)