Page 1 ORDINANCE NO. _ 1807 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE PLACEMENT OF OFF PREMISES BILLBOARDS AND SIGNS a SPONSORED BY: Mayor Jesse M. Norwood WHEREAS, the Interstate 165 corridor in the City of Prichard, which runs from its interchange with Interstate 65 to the Southeast boundary of the City of Prichard.’s boundary with the City of Mobile, is now due to open; and WHEREAS, the construction of said interstate corridor has displaced many residents and businesses in the City of Prichard; and WHEREAS, comprehensive land use and planning must be undertaken to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Prichard jn the areas adjacent to said interstate corridor and to plan and provide for the economic revitalization of the areas immediately adjacent to said corridor; and WHEREAS, the Zoning Commission of the City of Prichard, Alabama has presented to the City Council of the City of Prichard a plan to rezone the property adjacent to the Interstate 165 corridor which plan is designed to promote the economic revitalization of the areas adjacent to said corridor; and WHEREAS, on Ordinance No. was introduced before the City Council of the City of Prichard which incorporates sign regulation provisions to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Prichard and the general aesthetics of the City of Prichard by providing for uniform standards for the location, spacing, height, setback, lighting and other regulation of off-premises and on premises signs with the City of Prichard; and WHEREAS, the purpose of said sign regulations. are as follows: (a) To protect property values within the City of Prichard; (6) To protect the motoring public from damage or injury caused or partially attributable to distractions or obstructions from improperly designed or Page 2 Nee situated signs; {c) To promote the economic well-being of the Prichard community by creating a favorable physical image; (@) To allow signs appropriate to the planned character of each zoning district; (¢) To afford the business community equal and fair opportunity to advertise and promote its products and services without discrimination one over the other; (f) To protect the right of citizens to enjoy Prichard’s natural scenic beauty; (g) To regulate the construction, erection, maintenance, and size of outdoor signs which may constitute a direct danger to pedestrians and property, especially periods of high winds; and (h) ‘To preserve and promote the public health, safety, and welfare in the Prichard community; and WHEREAS, the construction of the Interstate 165 corridor through the City of Prichard threatens the proliferation of the placement of off-premises Signs in areas of the city that heretofore were free of large billboard type signs; and WHEREAS, an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance can occur only after action by the Planning Commission and the Zoning Commission and consideration by the City Council, a process that typically takes 90 to 120 days; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that a number of persons, firms and corporations are likely to request permits for the placement of off-premises signs before the City Council will have had time to consider an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to either prohibit or further regulate said signs; and WHEREAS, once erected, said off-premises billboards and signs will be permanent structures which will be difficult to get removed at a later date: ‘ NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Prichard, Alabama that no outdoor placement of off-premises billboard or sign shall be permitted for construction or erection for a period of 120 days within 300 yards of Interstate 65, Interstate 165, or the access ramps and service roads of said interstate highways in the City of Prichard so that the City Council shall have sufficient time within which to consider an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and the Sign Ordinances which would either prohibit or further regulate the placement and replacement of off-premises signs so that the purposes for which said ordinance were adopted by be accomplished. ae Page 3 sot ADOPTED this the Q\~ day of OD ete eu _, 1994. OR JESSE M. NORWOOD ATTESTED: (\ orrerch K. NORWOOD, CITY CLERK