§ 19.1-1. Purpose and findings.

Be it ordained by the city council of the City of Port Wentworth, Georgia, that:

(a)

The mayor and council find that signs provide an important medium through which individuals may convey a variety of messages. However, left completely unregulated, signs can become a threat to public safety as a traffic hazard and detriment to property values and the city's overall public welfare as an aesthetic nuisance. See, e.g., Scenic America, Billboards and Sign Control available at http://www.scenic.org; Jerry Weitz, Ph.D., AICP, The Public Purpose of Roswell's Sign Ordinance and the Implications of Doing Without It: A Position Paper (December 7, 1999) available at http://roswellgov.com; Street Graphics and the Law, 2004 Revised Edition, Daniel Mandelker, Andrew Bertucci, and William Ewald. The City of Port Wentworth's population has grown substantially since the year 2000 census, most significantly in the area of the city to the north of the intersection of State Route 21 and Crossgate Road, as evidenced by the number of building permits issued for residential construction. At the same time the City of Port Wentworth has experienced significant commercial growth, particularly in the vicinity of the I-95 interchange at State Route 21, in the form of hotels, grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses that serve the residents of the City of Port Wentworth and the motoring public. With the increase in residential and commercial growth has come a drastic and dramatic increase in the volume of traffic in the city. In order to promote public safety, uniform regulation of signs providing directional, commercial, and noncommercial information to the motoring public is essential. Based on the above facts, cited materials and the studies referenced therein, the city finds that unregulated signs may:

(1)

Be a safety hazard to drivers and pedestrians;

(2)

Create unsafe, cluttered and aesthetically blighted thoroughfares throughout the city;

(3)

Hamper economic growth;

(4)

Lower property values;

(5)

Adversely impact public investments;

(6)

Degrade the utility of public safety signs; and

(7)

Adversely impact the aesthetic quality of the community and surrounding environment.

(b)

Various and diverse businesses are located within the City of Port Wentworth. The need to advertise products and services must be balanced by the city's obligation to restrict clutter, maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment, protect property values, and enhance public safety.

(c)

Regulation of the location, size, placement, and certain features of signs is necessary to enable the public to locate goods, services, and facilities in the city without difficulty and confusion, to improve the general attractiveness of the community, to take advantage of the community's natural environment, and to protect property values therein. Such regulation is also necessary to facilitate and aid in the identification and location of businesses in the city in the event of police, fire, or other emergencies and to avoid confusion and delay in response to such emergencies. Accordingly, it is the intention of the city to establish regulations governing the display of signs which will:

(1)

Balance the rights of individuals to convey their messages through signs and the right of the public to be protected against the unrestricted proliferation of signs;

(2)

Promote and protect the public health, safety and general welfare;

(3)

Enhance the economy and the business and industry of the city by promoting the reasonable, orderly and effective display of signs;

(4)

Restrict signs and lights which increase clutter or which increase the probability of traffic accidents by obstructing vision or distracting motorists;

(5)

Protect property values by minimizing the possible adverse effects and visual blight caused by signs;

(6)

Promote signs which are compatible with their surroundings;

(7)

Afford the business community equal and fair opportunity to advertise and promote its products and services without discrimination;

(8)

Improve traffic and pedestrian safety;

(9)

Maintain and enhance the visual environment, and preserve the right of citizens and visitors to enjoy the city's scenic beauty;

(10)

Promote economic development;

(11)

Promote the purposes stated in this section by regulating signs based on objective standards, including, but not limited to height and size, and without regard to the content of the sign message;

(12)

Ensure the fair and consistent enforcement of sign regulations.

(d)

It is also the purpose of this article to insure proper maintenance, for safety and structural soundness, as well as the appearance and attractiveness of signs.

(Ord. No. 09-06A, § 1, 5-28-09)