The purpose and intent of this chapter is to protect and promote a safe environment within the public rights-of way of the City of Ashland, specifically on City sidewalks. The purpose of this chapter is to recognize a special public need for sidewalk dining as it relates to economic development and tourism in Ashland. Similarly, this chapter recognizes the special public need for City sponsored special commercial sales events to promote tourism and economic development. Finally, this chapter recognizes the special public need for publication boxes to guarantee the free exchange of information. Notwithstanding this public need, the placement of objects on the public right-of-way requires adequate regulation to ensure its primary purposes, which include:

It is also the intent of this chapter to recognize the importance of the aesthetic quality of the public rights-of-way by providing minimum standards to maintain a positive visual streetscape for the City of Ashland that promotes the enjoyable use of the right-of-way for all of its intended and legal purposes. This is achieved through the following: