(a) Definitions. In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated.
(1) “Hanging or blade sign” means a sign that projects from the side of a building.
(2) “Monument sign” means a ground-level freestanding sign.
(3) “On-site directional sign” means a sign that directs vehicular traffic to a use or area within a property.
(b) Generally. Signage shall comply with the requirements of this section and Subtitle 3 of Title 3. In cases of conflict, this section shall apply.
(c) On-site directional signs. On-site directional signs may not exceed four square feet in area for each sign face or a height of three feet above grade level.
(d) Façade signs. The following façade signs shall comply with the conditions set forth.
(1) Wall signs:
(i) shall be mounted flush to a building façade or affixed along a channel or other mounting mechanism, and may not protrude more than six inches from a building;
(ii) may take the form of panels or individual letters; and
(iii) shall be located within an area above the ground floor door and window level, and below the second floor window sill level.
(2) Awning and canopy signs:
(i) shall have letter sizes of no more than eight inches tall in the OTC-H zoning district, or no more than 12 inches tall in all other Odenton Town Center zoning districts;
(ii) shall have no more than 50% of the valance areas as part of a sign area; and
(iii) shall be compatible with and complementary to the color and material of the building to which it is attached.
(3) Hanging or blade signs:
(i) may not exceed 10 square feet;
(ii) shall be hung perpendicular to, and may not project more than four feet from, the façade of a building; and
(iii) shall have no less than 7.5 feet clearance above grade.
(e) Additional signs. In addition to any other signs allowed by this Code, one sign not exceeding a total area of 400 square feet is permitted on a property with a theater establishment.
(f) Freestanding signs. Freestanding signs shall comply with the following:
(1) The total sign area may not exceed the lesser of one square foot for each one foot of the road frontage or boundary line of a site where the sign will be facing, or 200 square feet.
(2) Exposed supports or wires are not permitted in the OTC-C zoning district.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (i), monument signs:
(i) shall sit flush to the ground with a base that is as wide as, or wider than, the sign face;
(ii) may not exceed a height of 20 feet from grade level, or 24 feet from grade level along arterial roads;
(iii) shall display the street address when a development does not directly abut a road or the range of addresses for each use in a multi-use development;
(iv) shall have a maximum of 50 square feet of sign area per side and shall have no more than two sign faces separated by no more than a 30-degree angle;
(v) shall be limited to one sign for each 500 feet, or fraction of 500 feet, of road frontage with customer entrances; and
(vi) shall be visible from abutting roads.
(g) Pedestrian directory signs.
(1) One freestanding pedestrian directory sign is permitted for each 250 feet of road frontage facing the primary building façade. In addition, one freestanding pedestrian directory sign is permitted for each 500 feet of road frontage facing other building facades featuring a customer entrance. In addition to a freestanding sign, a pedestrian directory sign may be a wall sign.
(2) Pedestrian directory signs:
(i) shall be located at pedestrian network intersections;
(ii) shall incorporate a directory of area businesses and a map or other graphic means of direction;
(iii) may not exceed seven feet from grade level; and
(iv) shall have a maximum of 30 square feet of sign area for the front and the back, individually.
(h) Temporary signs. In addition to the temporary signs allowed by § 18-3-306, additional temporary signs complying with the following may be posted during business hours only:
(1) A temporary sign with a pole base may not exceed a height of four feet from ground level or a sign area of nine square feet.
(2) A sandwich sign may not exceed a height of three feet from ground level or a maximum width of two feet.
(3) A temporary sign shall be located on private property or within the public sidewalk if it does not interfere with vehicular access, pedestrian movement, or wheelchair access to, through, and around the site.
(i) Residential developments. Signs in a residential development shall comply with the following:
(1) A multi-family residential development or subdivision with up to 100 dwelling units may have a one monument or wall sign not exceeding 48 square feet in area.
(2) A multi-family residential development or subdivision with more than 100 dwelling units may have two monument or wall signs. If one sign is used, it may not exceed 128 square feet in area. If two signs are used, each sign may not exceed 64 square feet in area.
(j) Prohibited signs. The following sign types are prohibited:
(1) inflatable;
(2) pylon and pole;
(3) vehicle mounted signs;
(4) electronic message boards or back-lit signs on properties located in the OTC-H zoning district;
(5) animated signs; and
(6) twirlers, propellers, and wind-activated devices, including feather banners.
(Bill No. 84-23)