The purpose of this section is to provide for and regulate the type, construction, image, maintenance and placement of signs in a manner that will ensure that such signs are compatible with surrounding land uses, are aesthetic in design and structure, and express the identity of individual proprietors and the community as a whole. It is the further intent by these regulations to avoid depreciation of property values through indiscriminate location and design of signs, to lessen threats to public safety from poorly constructed and maintained signs to protect against hazards to vehicular traffic movement through improper placement of signs and to clarify the rights and duties of owners and users of nonconforming signs.