19.36.010 Purpose and applicability.
A. Purpose and Intent. The intent of this chapter is to promote public health, safety, and welfare through a comprehensive system of reasonable, effective, consistent sign standards and requirements and to:
1. Promote the goals and policies of the comprehensive plan;
2. Promote economic vitality of the city’s business districts and corridors;
3. Ensure that signs are compatible with the desired character and identity of Everett and its various districts and corridors;
4. Promote the free flow of traffic and protect pedestrians and motorists from injury and property damage caused by, or which may be fully or partially attributable to, cluttered, distracting, and/or illegible signage;
5. Prevent property damage, personal injury, and litter from signs which are improperly constructed, poorly maintained, or of flimsy materials;
6. Protect property values, the local economy, and the quality of life by preserving and enhancing the appearance of the streetscape;
7. Provide consistent sign design standards;
8. Promote signs that are designed appropriate to the site’s existing and planned context, including the size and characteristics of the site, and the envisioned character of the applicable area per adopted plans;
9. Prevent visual clutter and provide an improved visual environment for the citizens of and visitors to the city; and
10. Enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations.
B. User Guide. The sign standards in this chapter are contained within EMC 19.36.040, 19.36.050 and 19.36.060. To determine which sign standards apply to a particular piece of property, the user will need the following information:
1. Zoning of the property. Refer to the city’s zoning map.
2. Applicable sign category. Refer to Table 36-1 in this chapter. The table assigns a sign category for each use zone. This category is A, B, C or D.
a. For freestanding and wall signs, see Table 36-2 in EMC 19.36.040 for specific standards applicable to each sign category.
b. For other sign types and general development standards, see EMC 19.36.050.
c. For temporary signs, see EMC 19.36.060. (Ord. 3684-19 § 2(A)(Exh. 1 § 1), 2019.)