The following signs may be erected or maintained, as shown for each zoning district or land use, only after obtaining a permit from the City and payment of permit fees, providing the standards and restrictions in this section are met.
1. Building Signs; Location on Building. Building signs shall be permanently affixed to buildings according to the following requirements:
A. Prior to issuance of a sign permit, the owner of the building shall designate a signage plan for all sides of single- or multi-occupant buildings. The signage plan shall include the maximum height and width of signs, materials, and colors to be used on signs and the location and dimensions of the sign area. All building signs shall be affixed to a building wall, within the designated sign area, and shall not exceed the allowable dimensions of this chapter. All signs proposed by building owners or tenants shall adhere to the requirements outlined in the signage plan for the building.
B. The sign locations designated shall be located no higher than the top of the parapet walls or the overhang of the roof.
C. In multi-story buildings, no signs shall be permitted above the ceiling of the first floor, except a sign may be allowed on the second floor of a multi-story building provided that the second floor is the top floor or has an exterior entrance; and except as provided in subsection 2 below.
D. Primary signs shall be placed on the side of the building where the main entrance is located. In buildings with individual entrances, business identification signs shall be placed within ten feet of the main entrance to each business. Signs on the exterior of an enclosed mall shall be located near entrances closest to the business location. Sign locations for each tenant shall be assigned and identified in the signage plan.
E. Additional building or business identification signs are permitted under the following conditions:
(1) The owner/agent shall submit a master signage plan containing the following information:
a. A dimensioned site plan and elevations of the building or buildings to be included in the master sign plan;
b. Computation of the maximum total sign area, the maximum area for individual signs, the height of the signs, and the number of free-standing signs allowed in the plan under this chapter; and
c. An accurate indication on the site plan of the proposed location of each present and future sign of any type.
(2) The maximum number of signs affixed to a building by each business within the building shall be controlled through the master sign plan.
(3) Additional lighted signs are allowed on a side of a building which abuts business or industrially zoned property or a public street, except where the side of the building faces an adjacent public street which abuts residentially zoned property. Signs proposed to be located on the building face abutting a residentially zoned property must be approved by the Plan and Zoning Commission as a part of the Sign Plan review.
(4) The wall of a building where additional signs are located shall have wall materials and/or exterior colors similar to the main entrance wall.
(5) In multi-occupant buildings, additional signs shall be affixed to the building at the location identified in the master signage plan.
F. Regulations concerning size requirements shall be as detailed in the Table of Building Sign Size Regulations shown in Appendix B of this chapter.
2. Multi-Story Building Signs. For multi-story buildings, in all zoning districts, no signs attached to the building, temporary or permanent, shall be permitted above the first floor or the second floor if it is the top floor or has an exterior access; except for the following:
A. Buildings of three stories or more, located in a commercial or industrial district, shall be permitted additional building signs in addition to any signs otherwise permitted by this chapter.
B. The additional building signs shall be a maximum of two signs with each sign not to exceed two square feet of sign area for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area of the building.
C. The two additional building signs shall not be located upon the same side of the building.
D. The two additional building signs shall be similar in size, scale, and material.
E. The two additional building signs shall not extend above the highest outside wall or below the fourth floor of the building.
F. The two additional building signs shall not extend across more than 40% of the width of the side of the building upon which it is located or 40% of the height for vertical signs.
G. The additional building signs shall only be permitted after approval by the Ankeny Plan and Zoning Commission.
3. Freestanding Signs; Pylon or Ground Sign.
A. Freestanding signs throughout the City of Ankeny shall be ground signs with the exception that properties abutting Interstate 35 may be allowed to erect a modified pylon sign if authorized by the Plan and Zoning Commission.
B. The base or support structure for freestanding signs shall complement the design of the building to which it is accessory by incorporating materials such as brick, stone, decorative block, or similar substantial materials used in the construction of the building. The base of ground signs shall be a minimum of two feet in height in all zoning districts. The sign area shall include all of the supporting structure. The copy area shall not exceed 75% of the sign area.
C. The supporting structure shall be constructed with the width equal to or greater than the sign. When allowed, modified pylon signs shall have a width of base not less than 40 percent of the width of the sign structure supported by the base.
D. All signs shall be constructed in such a manner and of such material that they shall be safe and substantial, conforming to the design requirements of the adopted building code of the City of Ankeny.
E. Regulations concerning size requirements shall be as detailed in Appendix B of this chapter.
F. Regulations concerning setback and height requirements shall be as detailed in Appendix C of this chapter.
4. Monument Development Signs. A monument sign intended to permanently identify a multiple dwelling or single-family residential development shall be permitted under the following conditions:
A. There shall be an entity established to the satisfaction of the City such as homeowners association, which shall be clearly responsible for the perpetual maintenance of the monument sign and its environs with corresponding powers to raise maintenance capital.
B. The monument sign shall not exceed 32 square feet of copy area.
C. The monument sign shall be a minimum of 30 feet from any existing or future residence.
5. Major Anchor/Center Signs.
A. Major Anchor Signage. One major anchor/center sign may be permitted to identify tenants or building occupants for a center in excess of 100,000 square feet, subject to paragraph C below.
B. Shopping Center Signage. Two major anchor/center signs may be permitted for a center in excess of 150,000 square feet, subject to the provisions of paragraph C below.
C. All major anchor/center and shopping center sign structures are subject to the following criteria:
(1) The signs shall be the only freestanding signs permitted for the business or center. Signs may be placed on any lot within the planned unit development or subdivision provided the sign applicant controls the land by easement or title.
(2) The sign structure exterior face shall be encased in the same style, color, and approved exterior material used on the face of the principal building. This material shall be concentrated between the finished grade and 42 inches above the grade.
(3) The sign shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from the property line, sidewalk/trail easement or public street right-of-way line. Signs may be no closer than 250 feet to the nearest freestanding sign on the same side of the right-of-way, or closer than 50 feet to a corner intersection of two right-of-way lines.
(4) The maximum height of the sign structure shall be 30 feet above finished grade along Interstate Highway right-of-way and 25 feet in all other locations. Architectural design details, similar to the design of the principal building, may extend 5 feet above the maximum height of the sign. Sign copy area shall not exceed 100 square feet per side of the sign, two sides maximum.
(5) All signage shall have individual, internal backlit letters and symbols.
(6) Landscaping plans for the area around the base of the sign shall be completed and reviewed as part of the sign permit approval process.
6. Area Identification Signs. Area identification signs shall be located in the following manner:
A. An area identification sign shall be located upon the property of the complex it is identifying.
B. Area identification signs shall be located along a public street frontage.
C. Area identification signs shall be located a minimum of 50 feet apart from any other area identification sign or pylon sign.
D. No more than one area identification sign for a particular complex shall be located along the same street frontage.
7. Gasoline Pump Island Signs.
A. Gasoline pump island canopies shall be entitled to two signs in addition to those otherwise permitted on the principal structure.
B. Canopy signs shall not exceed 10 feet in length or 20 square feet each and shall not be placed on the same side of the canopy.
C. Lettering on the signs shall not exceed two feet in height or the average height of the letters on the sign attached to the principal structure, whichever is less.
D. Canopy signs shall be placed in a manner that will allow a six-inch minimum border between the top, bottom, and sides of a canopy face. The sign area is determined by measuring the text only. Stripes or colors do not contribute to the sign area computation.
8. Second Ground Signs. A second ground sign may be allowed when all of the following conditions are met.
A. The lot must be in commercial or industrial zoning classification.
B. The lot must be a through lot with double street frontage, or a corner lot with street frontage on three sides.
C. The second ground sign must be located on the side of the lot abutting the minor or interior roadway.
D. The ground sign must meet the size, height, and setback requirements for the primary ground sign permitted on the site.
E. The ground sign shall be in addition to all other permitted ground signs.
9. Other Signs. The following additional signs are permitted under this section, subject to the restrictions thereof, and are intended to serve the business needs of advertising an initial grand opening for a business and other special promotions, sales or events. Portable signs, banners, streamers, and/or balloon signs are permitted, upon the issuance of a permit from the City, in commercial, industrial, and institutional zoning districts for the purposes of promoting a grand opening, special sales, or events.
A. One non-lighted portable sign or balloon sign not exceeding 32 square feet per plane (side) and additional banners and/or streamers located upon the site of the grand opening, promotions, sales, or events shall be allowed at any time of the year for any period of time for any given event so long as the aggregate time that any and all of these “other signs” are present at the business does not exceed 30 days in any one calendar year. Said “other signs” shall not be located within 5 feet of any property line. A permit issued by the City will include a fee established by resolution of the City Council which shall be based upon each occurrence of the signage described herein.
B. A small portable 2 x 3-foot unlighted freestanding sign may be placed adjacent to the building at or near the entrance to the business, intending to only serve to advertise to pedestrian traffic at the building. This sign shall not occupy parking spaces or block sidewalks or walkways. This sign would be calculated as a part of the allowable building signage and once permitted would be allowed to be used for an unlimited time period within the calendar year. The City shall issue a 12-month permit and reserves the right to refuse the permit if there is abuse of this section or complaints regarding this signage are received.
10. Menu Boards. Menu boards are permitted under the following conditions:
A. A maximum of two menu boards per drive-through lane shall be permitted on a parcel of land with a restaurant providing drive-up window service.
B. The menu board shall be a maximum of 30 square feet in area and may be in addition to any other signs permitted by this chapter.
C. The menu board shall be single-sided and oriented in such a manner so that the sign provides information to the patrons using the drive-through facility only, and does not provide supplemental advertising to pass-by traffic.
D. The menu board signage shall be completely enclosed within one sign area.
E. Order confirmation signage no greater than one square foot and incorporated into the drive-through speaker pedestal shall not be calculated as part of the menu board signage area. Order confirmation signage greater than one square foot shall be incorporated into menu board and calculated as part of said board’s sign area.
11. Video Signs. Video signs are permitted under the following conditions:
A. Video signs shall only be allowed as a component of a modified pylon sign and shall not exceed 50 percent of the allowable copy area.
B. Video signs shall be required to automatically adjust in intensity related to ambient light levels.
C. The City shall issue a 12-month permit after review and approval of the Plan and Zoning Commission and reserves the right to refuse the extension of the permit in the case of abuse of the applicable requirements herein.