Signs, billboards, and advertising structures may be erected and maintained in the districts where such uses are permitted after having secured approval of the location, size, and design of such sign, billboard, or advertising structure, subject to the following conditions:
(A) Roof signs.
(1) The maximum height of a roof sign shall not exceed six feet above the finished roof line. In no event shall it exceed the height permitted in the district.
(2) The length of a roof sign shall not exceed one-third of the width of the building parallel to the sign nor one-fourth of the diagonal of the two sides of the building for nonparallel signs. Signs placed diagonally on a building may have a length equal to one-fourth of the diagonal. (Diagonal signs shall have a minimum angle of 30 degrees.)
(3) All roof signs and sign supports shall be constructed of fireproof materials in accordance with the standards of the Uniform Building Code.
(4) The supporting members of a roof sign shall appear to be an integral and architectural part of the building and any bracing, if required, shall be minimized.
(B) Freestanding signs.
(1) Number.
(a) Freestanding signs shall only be permitted on parcels having at least 150 lineal feet of street frontage and a minimum building setback of 20 feet on the same street.
(b) A shopping center may be allowed one freestanding sign only.
(2) Height.
(a) The maximum height shall be 25 feet, except as permitted for freeway-oriented signs as set forth in division (C) of this section.
(b) For every five feet of sign setback, one additional foot in height shall be permitted, to a maximum of 35 feet.
(3) Landscaping. The base or ground area upon which a freestanding sign is erected shall be landscaped and contain an area of at least 100 square feet.
(C) Freeway-oriented signs.
(1) No roof or freestanding sign may be constructed, placed, designed, or used for freeway exposure, except to designate the name of the owner or occupant of the premises upon which it is located or to identify such premises. A sign with no minimum footage requirement may be erected to be viewed primarily by persons traveling on such freeway when such sign is within 300 feet of any existing or adopted freeway right-of-way. However, the sign shall comply with the provisions of division (B)(1)(a) of this section. The maximum height shall be 25 feet.
(2) In no event shall elevated freeway signs exceed a height of more than 25 feet above the freeway grade, measured at such freeway center line, or a maximum height of 45 feet from ground level, whichever is less.
(D) Signs projecting over public property. Signs projecting over public property shall be permitted only in the Downtown District and shall be in accordance with the following:
(1) Only 25% of the allowable sign area may be used.
(2) The height shall be at least eight feet and not more than 12 feet above a sidewalk.
(3) The sign shall not project more than three feet over a sidewalk area nor have an area in excess of six square feet.
(4) Identification signs may be painted on the sides or face of an awning.
(5) Identification signs consisting of painted or cutout letters may be attached to the sides or face of a marquee.
(6) The area of any sign permitted by this division (D) shall be counted against the allowable sign area for the use to which it pertains.
(7) All signs projecting over public rights-of-way shall be subject to approval by the Design Review Board as to design, degree of projection, and such other matters as the Board deems pertinent.
(E) Illumination. No illuminated sign shall be permitted in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, or P-D Districts, except house identification or church bulletin boards and one indirectly illuminated sign for an apartment, church, or mobile home park if street frontage requirements are met.
(F) Obstructions.
(1) Signs shall not obstruct or prevent free ingress or egress from fire escapes, doors, or windows required by the Uniform Building Code.
(2) No sign shall be attached to a standpipe, gutter, drain, or fire escape.
(3) No sign regulated by the provisions of this article shall be erected at any location where such sign will obstruct the view of, or conflict with, an authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, nor shall a sign obstruct the view of traffic.
(G) Proximity to power and telephone lines. No part of any sign shall be erected or maintained nearer to an existing or proposed power or telephone line than is permitted by the rules and regulations of the Public Utilities Commission of the state.
(H) Flashing signs. Flashing, scintillating, and similar signs may be erected only in the Downtown District and then only with the approval of the Design Review Board as to design, color, degree of flashing, and the like.
(1) Applications for flashing signs shall be submitted to the Department of Development Services, accompanied by colored drawings to scale adequate to reflect the operating details of the proposed sign.
(2) The Design Review Board shall review the application at its next regularly scheduled meeting and may approve, deny, or conditionally approve the application.
(3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Design Review Board may appeal in writing to the Commission, and the appeal shall be heard at the next scheduled Commission meeting.
(I) Rotating signs. Rotating signs shall be limited to a maximum of eight revolutions per minute and to the trademark or the trade name of a business conducted on the premises and shall be subject to review by the Design Review Board.
(J) Time and temperature signs. Signs constructed for the purpose of providing a public service by indicating the time and/or temperature shall be subject to review by the Design Review Board.
(K) Banners and advertising devices. Temporary advertising signs, banners, flags, and advertising devices other than balloons may be placed at a site for a maximum of ten consecutive days per calendar quarter with an administrative permit issued by the city. Advertising balloons may be permitted at automobile dealerships for a maximum of ten days per calendar quarter with an administrative permit issued by the city. Additionally, nonprofit and public agencies may also utilize advertising balloons with an administrative permit issued by the city. The use of banners and flags at automobile dealerships may be allowed without any time restrictions subject to an administrative permit. “Automobile dealer” as used in this section shall mean a vehicular sales establishment consisting of at least two acres.
(L) Prohibited signs. The following signs shall be prohibited, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this article:
(1) Off-site signs, except as provided by this article;
(2) On-site signs, either temporary or permanent, where placed within, upon, or over any public street right-of-way, parking area, sidewalk, required landscaping or utility pole;
(3) No person shall park any vehicle within a public right-of-way or in a location on private property which is visible from a public thoroughfare which vehicle has attached thereto or suspended therefrom any commercial advertising sign, except a sign painted directly upon or permanently affixed to the body or other integral part of the vehicle for permanent decoration, identification, or display. The provisions of this division shall not apply to “bumper sticker” type signs, nor to “for sale” signs applicable only to the vehicle upon which the sign is located;
(4) Signs on public property, except as otherwise provided in this article; and
(5) Signs erected on private property without the permission of the owner of the property or his authorized agent.
(M) Exempt signs. Signs required by law shall be exempt from the provisions of this article.
(Ord. 918-C-S, passed 5-28-96)