§ 28-250. Intent.

The purpose of this article is to regulate signs and outdoor advertising within the City of Jackson to protect public safety, health, and welfare; minimize abundance and size of signs to reduce motorist distraction and loss of visibility; promote public convenience; preserve property values; support and complement strategies of the City of Jackson Master Plan; and enhance the aesthetic appearance and quality of life within the city. Additional objectives, above and beyond those found within this article, are as follows:

(a)

Protect the public right in accordance with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

(b)

Recognize that the principal intent of commercial signs is to serve the public interest, for providing accurate information to the public, not for creating visual blight, and not for compromising traffic safety.

(c)

Recognize that the proliferation of signs is unduly distracting to motorists and non-motorized travelers, reduces the effectiveness of signs directing and warning the public, causes confusion, reduces desired uniform traffic flow, and creates potential for accidents.

(d)

Prevent signs that are potentially dangerous to the public due to structural deficiencies or disrepair.

(e)

Enable the public to locate goods, services, and facilities without excessive difficulty and confusion by restricting the placement of signs.

(f)

Prevent placement of signs which will conceal or obscure signs of adjacent uses.

(g)

Preserve and improve the aesthetics and character of the city by encouraging signs of consistent size which are compatible with and complementary to related buildings and uses, and harmonious with their surroundings.

(h)

Provide a predictable form-based ordinance that focuses on regulating the time, place, manner, and physical characteristics of signs, but not focus on regulating the message content of signs.

(Ord. No. 2016.07, § 2, 3-29-16)