Title
Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by adding special provisions regulating outdoor advertising signs in designated commercial advertising districts; designating Market Street between 13th Street and 7th Street as a commercial advertising district; and making conforming amendments to other provisions of The Philadelphia Code regulating outdoor advertising signs; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 14. ZONING AND PLANNING.
* * *
CHAPTER 14-1600. MISCELLANEOUS.
* * *
ยง 9-602. Outdoor Advertising.
(1) [Legislative Findings. The Council finds that:
(a) Existing regulations have done little to prevent the City-wide proliferation of commercial outdoor advertising signs nor to provide for an adequate source of funding to administer the issuance of permits, licenses and violations for or inspections of these signs.
(b) The excessive number of commercial outdoor advertising signs contribute to visual clutter and detract from the aesthetic beauty of the City of Philadelphia.
(c) The proliferation of commercial outdoor advertising signs contribute to the appearance of deterioration in residential, commercial and industrial areas of the City and therefore negatively impact upon the economic viability of these areas.
(d) Said signs jeopardize public safety by distracting pedestrians and to a greater extent passing motorists, since these signs by their nature are erected in areas intended to be seen by drivers of motor vehicles.
(e) There exist throughout every area of the City numerous illegally erected commercial outdoor advertising signs that negatively impact upon the general welfare of those neighborhoods.
(f) Because large numbers of these signs exist without benefit of permits or licenses they do not pay exist...
Click here for full text