HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 23737-08-2019 ORDINANCE NO. 23737-08-2019
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, BEING ORDINANCE
NO.21653,AS AMENDED,CODIFIED AS APPENDIX"A" OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TO AMEND ARTICLE 4 "SIGNS" OF
CHAPTER 69 "DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS" TO PROVIDE FOR
REGULATIONS FOR SIGNAGE WITHIN THE CHISHOLM TRAIL
PARKWAY (SH 121) FREEWAY SCENIC CORRIDOR; PROVIDING
THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL
ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY CLAUSE;
PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND NAMING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the designation of certain areas as scenic, cultural, architectural and historic
areas in which the location, erection and maintenance of off-premise (billboard) signs are
prohibited will serve to protect natural surroundings, preserve views of the downtown area and
areas of cultural, architectural and historic significance, protect neighborhood character, reduce
blight and visual distraction and promote traffic safety; and
WHEREAS, on August 15, 1996 the Fort Worth City Council approved Ordinance No.
12088 which designated areas of the City of Fort Worth as scenic, cultural or architectural areas
wherein the location, erection and maintenance of off-premise signs is prohibited; and
WHEREAS, it was the intent of the City Council upon adoption of Ordinance No. 12088
that the future alignment of SH 121 be designated as a scenic preservation corridor upon
determination of the final alignment of such highway, after notice and hearing in accordance with
Appendix A, Chapter 3, Article 5 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, the SH 121 (Chisholm Trail Parkway) opened for vehicular travel in May
2014; and
WHEREAS,on June 3, 2014 the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 21721-06-2014 SH
121 (Chisholm Trail Parkway) designated the Chisholm Trail Parkway as a freeway scenic
corridor; and
WHEREAS, on December 8, 1998 the City entered into City Secretary Contract No.
26411 with the North Texas Tollway Authority (Authority) which provided that the City and the
Authority would develop a regulatory policy governing signage to minimize or eliminate signage
that would be visible from the traveled portion of the Chisholm Trail Parkway; and
WHEREAS,the Zoning Commission recommends that the City Council adopts the
following signage regulations to regulate detached signage along the Chisholm Trail Parkway;
Sec.6.409 and 6.411 CTP amendment Ordinance No. 23737-08-2019
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
SECTION 1.
Chapter 6 "Development Standards", the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth, is
hereby amended to revise Article 4, "Signs" to amend Sections 6.409, "Regulations Governing
On-Premise Detached Signs in Commercial and Industrial Districts" and 6.411 Electronic
Changeable Copy Signs to amend regulations for signage within the Chisholm Trail Parkway (SH
121) freeway scenic corridor, to read as follows:
Sec. 6.409 REGULATIONS GOVERNING ON-PREMISE DETACHED SIGNS IN
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.
Unless exempted under the provisions of § 6.403, the following regulations shall apply to all
detached on-premise signs erected in districts "E" through "K," except for signs for large retail
stores subject to § 5.134(a)(8) and for signs in mixed-use districts which are additionally subject
to §§ 4.902(d)(3), 4.903(d)(3), 4.1300(d)(3), 4.1301(d)(3), 4.1302(d)(3) and 4.1303(d)(3).
(a) Types of detached signs.
(1) Monument signs are permitted by right.
(2) Pylon signs are only permitted as part of a unified sign agreement, per § 6.410.
(3) Freeway signs are only permitted on property immediately adjacent to a designated
freeway. Provided however, freeway signs are prohibited along the Chisholm Trail Parkway (SH
121) freeway scenic corridor.
(b) Monument signs.
(1) Maximum height. Eight feet.
(2) Maximum width. Sixteen feet.
(3) Maximum advertised message area. Ninety-six square feet.
(4) Minimum ground contact. Seventy-five percent of structure's width.
(c) Pylon signs.
(1) Maximum height. Eight feet at the right-of-way line and one additional foot in height for
each one foot of setback, up to 20 feet. Setback sign one foot for each foot in height from all
adjacent property lines.
Sec.6.409 and 6.411 CTP amendment Ordinance No.23737-08-2019
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(2) Maximum width. Twelve feet.
(3) Maximum advertised message area. Two hundred square feet.
(4) Minimum ground contact. Fifty percent of structure's width.
(d) Freeway signs.
(1) Maximum height. Twenty-five feet allowed at the right-of-way line and one additional
foot in height for each one foot of setback, up to 35 feet. Setback sign one foot for each foot in
height from all adjacent property lines. (Administrative approval allowed for up to 50 feet in height
to allow sign to be 20 feet above adjacent main travel lanes of freeway.)
(2) Maximum width. Twenty-four feet.
(3) Maximum advertised message area. Three hundred and twenty square feet.
(4) Minimum ground contact. Twenty-five of structure's width.
Sec. 6.411 ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS.
(a) Electronic changeable copy signs may be permitted by special exception of the board of
adjustment in commercial, industrial, mixed-use and community facility zoning districts, subject
to the following conditions. Provided however, electronic changeable copy signs shall not be
allowed within the Chisholm Trail Parkway(SH 121) freeway scenic corridor.
(1) A maximum of 25% of the sign face may be devoted to changeable copy.
(2) The message rate shall not change at a rate faster than one message every 20 seconds.
(3) Electronic changeable copy signs shall not contain animation,rolling or running letters or
message, flashing lights or displays as part of the display.
(4) On detached signs,electronic changeable copy shall be limited to monument signs,except
where pylon and freeway signs are allowed under § 6.409.
(5) Electronic changeable copy signs shall have automatic dimming technology installed
limiting the sign to no more than 0.3 footcandles above ambient light, measured at a distance
equaling the square root of the product of the sign's square footage multiplied by 100. The distance
shall be rounded to the closest whole number.
(6) All sound shall be prohibited.
Sec.6.409 and 6.411 CTP amendment Ordinance No.23737-08-2019
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(b) The board of adjustment shall not grant variances which are less restrictive than the
conditions of the special exception.
(c) In granting the special exception, the board of adjustment shall consider the following:
(1) the presence of other electronic changeable copy signs in the vicinity;
(2) the visibility from residential districts;
(3) the street classification of the adjacent roadways; and
(4) the proximity to scenic areas or corridors.
SECTION 2.
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Code of the
City of Fort Worth, Texas (2015), as amended, except where the provisions of this ordinance are
in direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and such Code, in which event conflicting
provisions of such ordinances and such Code are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance are severable,and, if any phrase,clause, sentence,
paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or
decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the
remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance, since the same
would have been enacted by the City Council without the incorporation in this ordinance of any
such unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 4.
Any person, firm, or corporation, who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to
comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be
fined not more than Two Thousand Dollars($2,000.00) for each offense. Each day that a violation
Sec.6.409 and 6.411 CTP amendment Ordinance No.23737-08-2019
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exists shall constitute a separate offense.
SECTION 5.
All rights and remedies of the City of Fort Worth,Texas,are expressly saved as to any and
all violations of the provisions of Ordinances No. 3011, 13896, 21653 and any other ordinances
affecting zoning which have accrued at the time of the effective date of this ordinance, and, as to
such accrued violations and all pending litigation,both civil and criminal,whether pending in court
or not, under such ordinances, same shall not be affected by this ordinance but may be prosecuted
until final disposition by the courts.
SECTION 6.
The City Secretary of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, is hereby directed to publish the
caption, penalty clause and effective date of this ordinance for two (2) days in the official
newspaper of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, as authorized by Section 52.013, Texas Local
Government Code.
SECTION 7.
All other provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Worth not herein amended
shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 8.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption and publication as required by law.
APPROVED AS AND LEGALITY: P
By: � l 1 .yy � -j [E�..
Melinda Ramos ar J. Kayser
Sr. Assistant City Attorney City Secretary OF F0,
ADOPTED: August 6, 2019
EFFECTIVE:_ �e{J_erin ��� ab(C( :y
Sec.6.409 and 6.411 CTP amendment Ordinance 8-201
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