GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

• To protect the unique natural beauty and rural character of the Greenbank Farm.
• To encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication for the convenience of the public.
• Prevent the over concentration, improper placement and excessive size of signs.
• To maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment while promoting creativity and the Farm's ability to attract sources of economic development and growth.
• To minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property
• To acknowledge the Farm borders a Washington State Scenic Byway.

SCOPE OF POLICY:

This policy applies to the land and buildings within the boundaries of the Greenbank Farm tract owned by the Port of Coupeville, regulated by the Island County Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance specific to the Greenbank Farm Special Review District.

PRE-EXISTING SIGNS:

• Existing monument and freestanding signs along the State Highway 525 and Wonn Road shall be maintained in a structurally sound condition and be maintained in good repair. If these signs are determined to be a hazard to safety, health or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or electrical, they shall be removed. Any replacement sign will be required to meet the Island County Sign Standards at the time of replacement.
• Existing kiosk signs on Farm trails are considered directional signs, defined in this policy.
• The single, existing free-standing identifying the Island County Master Gardener Association Educational Garden shall be maintained in a structurally sound condition and be maintained in good repair. If this sign is determined to be a hazard to safety, health or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance or dilapidation, it shall be removed. Any replacement sign will be required to meet the standards set forth in the Greenbank Farm sign policy at the time of replacement.

GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR ALL SIGNS:

Prior approval: Designs must be submitted to GFMG Executive Director for approval prior to sign construction to ensure coordinated signage throughout the complex, and fair, consistent enforcement of this sign policy.

Design: All signs, including its support structure and components, must be:

• creative and distinctive;
• architecturally compatible with the Farm and its surroundings (including color);
• an integral component of the style and character of the building to which it relates;
• appropriate to the type of activity to which it pertains;
• protects the view of the night sky;
• expressive of the identity of individual proprietors or the community as a whole, and
• appropriately sized for its context.

Sign colors shall provide sufficient contrast to be legible, yet be subdued enough to blend with the natural landscape and/or surrounding structures. Bright or fluorescent colors and reflective surfaces are prohibited.

Content: Business signage shall contain only business name and/or logo.

Permanent signs: All new, permanent signage shall be attached to structures. No new, permanent, freestanding exterior signs (excluding directional or educational signage) will be allowed on Farm driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, lawns, gardens, trails, fields, accesses, right of ways or easements.

Temporary signs: Building tenants may not put up sandwich boards, banners or other temporary exterior signage on Farm buildings or property (driveways, sidewalks, parking, areas, lawns, gardens, trails, fields, accesses, right of ways, or easements) without prior approval of GFMG Executive Director. All such approval will be time limited, related to a scheduled event or activity.

Directional signs: No individual signs directing visitors to individual businesses are allowed. GFMG, at its discretion, may erect kiosk-style, freestanding or monument signs to give directional emphasis for the Farm, its buildings, trails or activities, and business tenants. These kiosk or monument signs shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.

Educational signs: Signage for educational purposes is allowable. Size of sign shall be in scale with a message to be readable for a pedestrian within in three (3) feet. The design, materials and placement shall require prior approval of GFMG Executive Director.

Interior unit signs: Signs within any leased building unit, including signs in windows, are restricted only by the tenants lease terms and conditions.

Lighting: Illuminated signs, flashing signs or moving signs are prohibited.

Workmanship: All signage is required to be made with high quality, professional workmanship. All external, permanent business signs for building tenants must be painted on wood or wood product using appropriate materials and paint for placement location.

Placement: No sign shall exceed the height of the building to which it is attached, and may not be attached to the roof of any structure. Placement and attachment method must be pre-approved by GFMG Executive Director.

Costs: All costs related to sign construction and attachment are the responsibility of the tenant.

Maintenance: All signs shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair by the person/entity that is responsible for the business it represents. The display surfaces of all signs shall be kept neat at all times. Any sign determined to be a hazard to safety, health or public welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or electrical shall be remedied immediately.

All first floor tenants shall be allotted one (1) exterior sign attached to the exterior of the building they occupy. The sign size shall based on distance from the curb separating the public sidewalk from the closest parking area or driveway. No sign shall exceed eight (8) feet in height.

1. Nine (9) square feet if the primary, public entrance is twenty-five (25) or less from the curb.
2. Twelve (12) square feet if primary, public entrance is between twenty-six (26) and fifty (50) feet from the curb.
3. Eighteen (18) square feet if primary, public entrance is between fifty-one (51) and seventy-five (75) feet from the curb.
4. Twenty-four (24) square feet if primary, public entrance is more than seventy-five (75) feet from the curb.

All second floor tenants shall be allotted one (1) sign next to, or on, their individual, interior entrance door, twelve (12) inches tall and twelve (12) inches wide. Greenbank Farm Management Group will provide a interior lobby sign listing all second floor tenant businesses.

MEASUREMENT:

Sign area: The area of a sign shall be computed by measuring the copy as enclosed by the smallest square, triangle, rectangle or combination thereof. Any support structures, boarding trims and decorative embellishments will not be counted against total sign area as long as said support structures, boarding trims and decorative embellishments are appropriately scaled to size of the copy as determined by the Greenbank Farm Executive Director.

Sign height: The height of a sign shall mean the vertical distance from the average line of the highest point and lowest point of finished grade adjacent to the base to the top of the highest attached component of the sign, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, landscaping, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign.

APPROVAL PROCESS:

Sign applicants shall complete an Island County Planning & Community Development Sign Permit Application with required supplemental materials. The completed application packages requires approval by the Executive Director of the Greenbank Farm Management Group (GFMG) prior to submission to Island County. The Executive Director shall sign and date each page of application package in lieu of a letter of consent. Following GFMG approval, applicant shall submit in person the original and 1 (one) copy of a complete and collated application package to Island County Community Development with the appropriate fee. A copy of the approved application shall be submitted to GFMG prior to attachment of sign.

Approved this 11th day of April 2005 as the sign code governing the internal development of the Greenbank Farm Special Review District.

Phillip Bakke, Director
Island County Planning & Community Development

Port of Coupeville Comprehensive Plan 2007-2026