Whittier Municipal Code Ch. 18.68 Outdoor Advertising Structures

A. In enacting the provisions of Sections 18.68.010 through 18.68.030, the city council has determined that outdoor advertising structures:

1. Are, or may be, incompatible with the surrounding and adjacent uses resulting in a diminution in the value of both improved and unimproved adjacent properties; and

2. Require, or may require, the provision of municipal services disproportionate to the tax revenues therefrom; and

3. Impair, or may impair, the desirability of adjacent residential and commercial areas, thereby undermining, to some degree, the social and economic stability of the city; and

4. Discourage, or may discourage, the location of business and industry within the city, impeding the economic development of the community; and

5. Prevent, or may prevent, optimum land utilization, thereby impeding community planning and renewal objectives; and

6. Impose, or may impose, social gains resulting therefrom.

B. Accordingly, the provisions of Sections 18.68.010 through 18.68.030 are necessary, and are required to protect the public interest, convenience and necessity, in order to eliminate, insofar as possible, the problems above referred to.

(Prior code § 9370)

For the purpose of this chapter, "outdoor advertising structure" means and includes any sign structure which is designed and maintained for the primary purpose of soliciting public support, or directing public attention, to the sale, lease, hire or use of any object, product, service or function the sale, hiring, or use of which is not involved in the primary or principal use of the lot upon which such sign structure is located. Outdoor advertising structure does not mean or include any of the signs referred to in Chapters 18.70 through 18.76, nor shall the definition include any sign erected and maintained by any public agency or political subdivision of the state.

(Prior code § 9371)

Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, no person shall erect, construct or maintain, or permit the erection, construction or maintenance of any outdoor advertising structure on any real property within the city. All outdoor advertising structures existing as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section shall be abated, by removal thereof, within a period of five years, from and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section. Such abatement shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.78.

(Prior code § 9372)