§ 16.5-8. Billboards and other off-premises signs.
(a)
Size and height.
(1)
Maximum sign area for billboards shall be six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet, excluding cutouts, with maximum dimensions of twenty-five (25) feet in height and sixty (60) feet in width. Cutouts may not exceed twenty (20) percent of the sign's effective area.
(2)
Maximum sign area for off-premises CEVMS signs shall be two hundred and twenty (220) square feet. If a CEVMS sign larger that two hundred and twenty (220) square feet is requested, it must meet all requirements of an off-premises billboard sign as well as meeting all CEVMS restrictions on sign characteristics. If a conflict between the billboard and CEVMS sign regulations exists, the more restrictive of the two (2) shall be prescribed.
(3)
No sign may have more than one (1) side facing a particular direction of travel on the main traveled right-of-way. Signs, which exceed three hundred (300) square feet, may not be stacked or placed side-by-side. If a sign is erected in a back-to-back or "V" type configuration, it cannot be double-faced, but will be limited to only one (1) face for each direction of travel.
(4)
No off-premises billboard sign shall exceed forty-two and one-half (42½) feet in height measured from the top of the sign to the roadway from which it is to be viewed or existing grade, whichever is higher.
(b)
Spacing and location.
(1)
Off-premises signs are allowed only in the following zoning districts:
a.
B-4—Business 190 District
b.
B-5—Business Park District
c.
M-1—Light Manufacturing District
d.
M-2—Heavy Manufacturing District
(2)
An off-premises billboard sign must not be erected within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet of another existing or previously approved off-premises billboard sign on either side of the roadway and no closer than fifteen (15) feet to the right-of-way.
(3)
An off-premises CEVMS sign must not be erected within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet of another existing or previously approved off-premises sign on either side of the roadway, and no closer than fifteen (15) feet of the right-of-way.
(4)
Signs located at an intersection are not in violation of subsections (1), (2), and (3) above if they are on perpendicular streets and are not facing traffic on the same street.
(5)
For spacing purposes, all measurements shall be made along the nearest edge of the highway or street right-of-way.
(6)
No off-premises sign may be erected within two hundred (200) feet of any property zoned for any one- or two-family dwelling.
(7)
Signs may not be operated or located in such a manner as to cause a vehicle operator to be distracted or confused or to obscure or interfere with official road signs, or hamper an operator's view of merging or intersecting traffic at road and driveway intersections or a road and railroad intersections.
(8)
Detached nonpremises signs shall be located not less than two hundred (200) feet from any intersection involving two (2) or more major thoroughfares.
(9)
For purposes of this subsection, "existing or previously approved" off-premises sign or off-premises billboard sign shall include, but not be limited to:
a.
All previously erected signs in existence at the time of a sign permit application, regardless of whether the previously erected sign:
i.
Is a legal nonconforming sign;
ii.
Is an illegal nonconforming sign; or
iii.
Has received approval or a permit from the Texas Department of Transportation;
b.
All off-premises signs or off-premises billboard signs, regardless of whether or not construction has begun, which have received a sign permit from the City of Copperas Cove prior to the permit application of another applicant whose sign location would be in violation of this subsection.
(c)
Other provisions.
(1)
When a sign, or a substantial part of a sign, is damaged by natural causes, or otherwise destroyed, or taken down, or removed for any purpose other than maintenance operation, or as a result of or under the threat of eminent domain, it may not be re-erected, reconstructed, or rebuilt except in full compliance and conformance with this chapter. For purposes of this section, "substantial" shall mean if the cost of repair exceeds sixty (60) percent of the cost of a new sign of the same construction and size.
(2)
Wind loads and structural requirements shall conform to the International Building Code as adopted.
(3)
All off-premises advertising signs shall be permanently identified with the name of the sign owner or agency in control of the sign. Said identification shall be easily read from the roadway on which the sign is intended to be read and contain a phone number that will connect to the sign owner or agency in control of the sign.
(d)
Off-premises sign cap. The number of off-premise signs in the city is limited to the number of such signs legally in existence on July 8, 2010 and/or has been legally permitted by close of business on or before July 8, 2010.
(e)
Relocation. When a sign located in the City of Copperas Cove within the proposed right-of-way of a state highway is to be relocated to accommodate a regulated highway project and the Texas Department of Transportation issues a permit for relocation of the sign. The city will also issue a permit for a sign that meets all current city standards, except that the relocated sign:
(1)
Must have a permit, but will not require payment of a permit fee;
(2)
May be erected no less than five (5) feet from any highway right-of-way line;
(3)
May be constructed with the same number of poles and same type of materials as the existing sign; and
(4)
May be erected without enlarging the sign face.
(f)
Sign construction and maintenance. All signs shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the following standards:
(1)
All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of the International Building Code (IBC) at all times.
(2)
Except for banners. Flags, temporary signs, and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this Code, all signs shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground. A building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure.
(3)
All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes and in conformance with this Code at all times.
(4)
All signs shall maintain a minimum clearance from electric power lines of ten (10) feet horizontally and fifteen (15) feet vertically of as may otherwise be required by the utility provider. Any relocation of power lines to provide this clearance will be at the expense of the sign owner or as otherwise required by the electrical utility.
(5)
Any spotlights allowed to illuminate signs or sign illumination shall be shielded such that their light source cannot be seen from abutting roads or properties.
(Ord. No. 2010-20, §§ 1, 2, 5-18-10; Ord. No. 2010-32, § 1, 7-6-10; Ord. No. 2015-33, § 1(a), 9-1-15)