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§ 152.150 BILLBOARDS/OFF PREMISE SIGNS.
   A sign containing a message not related to the business or activity conducted on site. The Board of Zoning Appeals may permit such sign as a conditional use provided they meet any applicable federal or state law and the following minimum regulations and requirements:
   (A)   General requirements.
      (1)   Such signage must meet general requirements of § 152.141.
      (2)   No more than one off-premises sign may be permitted per property.
      (3)   Sign illumination shall be regulated by sign type pursuant to the zoning district.
   (B)   A small scale off-premise sign shall be no larger than 32 square feet in area and no more than eight feet in height.
      (1)   Sign standards shall be regulated pursuant to the zoning district.
   (C)   Large scale off-premise signs shall be no larger than 100 square feet in total sign area, nor exceed 25 feet in height and shall conform, at minimum, to the following requirements:
      (1)   Sign shall only be permitted along US 50 and be prohibited in residential zoned districts and the Historic District.
      (2)   Sign may be no closer than 1,000 feet to another large scale off-premise sign.
      (3)   Sign shall have no more than two sides, back to back.
      (4)   Sign shall not have a face height nor width of more than ten feet.
      (5)   Sign shall be set back from any street right-of-way a distance equal to the greatest front yard setback for principally permitted uses in the zoned district in which the sign is proposed or 50 feet, whichever is greater.
   (D)   The application for off premise signage shall be accompanied by the information below:
      (1)   All of the information required by § 152.146;
      (2)   Identification of all highways or other thoroughfares from which the sign will be visible;
      (3)   The location of the proposed sign as well as the location of all existing off-premise signs within one-half mile radius of the proposed location, on a scaled map;
      (4)   A picture or photograph, not less than eight inches by ten inches in size, of the proposed location of the sign taken from each thoroughfare from which the sign will be visible. The proposed location of the sign shall be clearly marked to scale on each photograph.
(Ord. 2017-13, passed 12-4-17)
§ 152.151 OVERLAY SIGNS FOR DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT.
   (A)   This section supplements existing sign regulations with regulations specifically designed to ensure compatibility and pedestrian scale of all signage in the Downtown Historic District. No sign shall be permitted, erected, established, or allowed to be erected or established, within the area governed by this subchapter, unless it is in conformity with this subchapter. It shall be unlawful to erect any sign in the area governed by this subchapter unless a certificate of appropriateness is granted by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).
   (B)   The boundaries of the Downtown Historic District are established as the Downtown Historic District overlay zone and generally includes the area between the Ohio River on the east, Hogan Creek on the north, US 50 and Exporting Street to the west, and 5th Street on the south.
   (C)   The following procedures shall govern the application for, and issuance of, all sign permits within the Downtown Historic District.
      (1)   If a sign requires a permit under the provision of this section, a sign permit shall be obtained prior to the construction, placement, erection, or modification of such a sign in accordance with the requirements of this division.
      (2)   All requirements of § 152.146 must be submitted to the Planning Director or designee and be accompanied by a certificate of appropriateness.
      (3)   Proposals must be submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to obtain a certificate of appropriateness.
      (4)   Each permit/application for a sign or for approval shall be accompanied by the applicable fees as calculated from the current adopted fee schedule.
      (5)   At each monthly HPC meeting all proposals for a certificate of appropriateness shall be reviewed. The actions taken shall be one of the following.
         (a)   HPC will approve the certificate of appropriateness if the sign(s) conforms with all requirements of this section.
         (b)   The HPC rejects the certificate of appropriateness if the sign(s) fails in any way to conform with the requirements of this section. In case of a rejection, the HPC shall specify the division or divisions of the section or applicable plan with which the sign(s) is inconsistent and counsel the applicant to return at the next monthly meeting.
      (6)   Within six months of the issuance of a permit, the local building official shall cause an inspection of the new sign or for the modification of an existing sign. If the construction is not substantially completed at the time of inspection, the permit shall lapse and the local building official shall issue a letter regarding the lapse of the permit. If the construction is substantially complete but not in full compliance with this section and applicable codes, the local building official shall give the owner or applicant notice of the deficiencies and shall allow an additional 30 days from the date of inspection for the deficiencies to be corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected by such date, the permit/application shall lapse. If the deficiencies have been corrected, the local building official shall reinstate the sign permit/application.
   (D)   All signs shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards.
      (1)   All signs shall conform to the general requirements of § 152.141.
      (2)   Signs shall be sized in proportion to the building. A certificate of appropriateness may be disapproved if the proposal is found to be excessive or non-proportional in relation to the building on which it is place or which it serves.
      (3)   Exposed surfaces of signs must be constructed of or appear to be constructed of metal, glass, stone, concrete, brick, cloth, or wood, or similar approved material. If synthetic materials are authorized, they shall have the same finished appearance as materials specified here.
         (a)   Plastic substrate, plywood or unfinished wood are not appropriate materials for signs and shall not be permitted.
      (4)   If signs are illuminated they shall be externally lit. Lighting directed toward a sign shall be shielded or recessed so that only the face of the sign is illuminated and does not shine directly into a public right-of-way or sidewalk.
         (a)   No colored lights shall be used.
   (E)   Sign types and standards.
      (1)   Monument sign.
         (a)   Ground signs shall only be permitted in the front yard of properties containing an appropriate landscaped front yard area.
         (b)   The maximum height of any ground sign shall be eight feet.
         (c)   Except for temporary signs permitted by the Zoning Administrator or designee, any permanent ground sign permitted pursuant to this subchapter shall be supported by at least two wooden posts, no less than four inches by four inches. However, the Historic Preservation Commission may allow single post signs and metal posts, if deemed more compatible with the building, property, and/or surroundings.
         (d)   A ground sign shall be permitted per property frontage.
         (e)   Sign shall not exceed an area of 32 square feet.
      (2)   Wall signs.
         (a)   Wall signs shall be mounted flush against the facade of the building adjacent to the front entryway of the unit.
         (b)   Appropriate locations for wall signage on buildings with more than one story shall be in the lintel space which separates the storefront from the upper floor, and the space above the transom in the storefront, where one exists (see figure on following page). Wall signs should be located on flat, unadorned parts of the building facade, somewhere above storefront display windows (where they exist) and below second-story windows (where they exist). If the building facade or storefront has a lintel strip or sign board, the wall sign should be placed directly on it. Wall signs should be located centrally on the facade. Sign boards should not exceed two and one-half feet in height.
         (c)   Sign should be attached through joints in the masonry rather than the brick itself.
         (d)   Sign shall not protrude more than six inches from the facade, when mounted flush against the facade of the building.
         (e)    No more than two wall signs shall be permitted per building facade of the leasable space.
 
         (f)    Wall signs, individually or in total allowed, shall not exceed more than 30% of the wall area on which they are displayed, or 1.5 square feet per linear feet of leased building frontage of the business or establishment, whichever is greater.
      (3)    Canopy and awning signs.
         (a)   Storefront awnings should be positioned either above the display window and below the transom window(s), or above both the display and transom windows but below the sign board area, cornice, or spandrel, where these architectural features exist. Such signs should be silk-screened or sewn onto the awning fabric, and they should be placed on the valance of the awning. Signs on canopies should be located on the primary face or top edge (or front-angled or sloped part) of canopies.
         (b)   Canopy signs shall have a ground clearance of no less than eight feet above the lowest ground elevation.
         (c)   Canopy signs shall cover no more than 65% of the area of the side faces (awning flaps) of the canopy and no more than 40% of the front (or front-angled or sloped) face of the canopy.
      (4)   Projecting signs.
         (a)   Projecting signs are permissible, but the Historic Preservation Commission may restrict them if other alternatives (wall, window, door, and awning) signs are also present or proposed.
         (b)   Sign should be placed near the entry door.
         (c)   Sign shall project perpendicular from the building.
         (d)   Sign shall be secured in place with a frame mount assembly.
         (e)   Sign may be suspended from an awning or similar type structure or affixed to a bracket-mount to the building or structure in a manner where the sign face sways; such motion shall not make a swinging sign a prohibited animated sign.
         (f)   Any sign that is suspended from the underside of a canopy (including awnings), shall be located perpendicular to the wall surface of a building.
         (g)   Sign shall have a ground clearance of no less than eight feet above the lowest ground elevation.
         (h)    Sign shall project no more than 60 inches from the building face.
         (i)   Signs shall be limited to one per business or establishment.
         (j)   No projecting sign shall exceed an area of nine square feet per sign face.
         (k)   When applicable, projecting signs that encroach on city property shall obtain an encroachment permit.
      (5)   Window signs.
         (a)   Window signs may be displayed on or in display windows on the ground floor. Window signs in upper facade windows are generally not encouraged and should be justified by the applicant.
         (b)   Window signage should be painted. Applied vinyl letters are discouraged but may be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.
         (c)   No window advertising sign shall extend from one window to another.
         (d)   No window sign shall be installed above the level of second floor windows.
         (e)   Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the total window area of the business or establishment, or 32 square feet total of window signage for any single business or establishment, whichever is less.
         (f)   The number of window signs for any individual business or establishment is not limited by this subchapter but limitations may be imposed via the certificate of appropriateness.
         (g)   Window signs should be placed approximately three and one-half feet above the sidewalk.
         (h)   Window signs should not extend within 18 inches from the top or bottom of the display window glass.
      (6)   Door signs.
         (a)   Signs on doors should be located on or in the glazing of the doors. Painting of letters is preferred. Vinyl letters are discouraged but permitted.
         (b)   There shall be no more than two door signs for any individual business or establishment.
         (c)   The maximum area for any individual door sign shall be one and one-half square feet.
         (d)   There shall be a maximum of three square feet total area of door signs allowed for any single business or establishment.
      (7)   Sidewalk signs.
         (a)   Movable sandwich signs, also called A-frame and T-frame signs, may be used in the historic district, limited to one per business or establishment and be subject to standards as set in § 152.147.
      (8)   Temporary special event signage.
         (a)   Property owners in the historic district may apply for permits for special events and associated signage, as provided in § 152.147, except that gas or air-filled advertising devices shall not be allowed.
   (F)   The following sign types are prohibited in the Downtown Historic District:
      (1)   Signs prohibited under § 152.143;
      (2)   Internally illuminated signs;
      (3)   Bus shelter signs;
      (4)   Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under § 152.142;
      (5)   Street bench signs;
      (6)   Temporary signs on street lights or utility poles;
      (7)   Animated signs.
   (G)   Exceptions.
      (1)   Variances. Variances to the requirements of this section may be approved as provided in § 152.243. A variance to the requirement for area, height, location, number of signs, or sign form may be approved if necessary to make the sign or a use reasonably visible from the abutting street to which the sign or use is oriented if without the variance such visibility would be impaired by topography, landscaping, or existing development.
      (2)   Design exceptions. The HPC may approve a special exception to one or more requirements of this section when it makes its review of the sign certificate of appropriateness that literal conformance to such requirements would be detrimental to the creation of a sign display of unusual or outstanding design quality, or would not take into consideration the unique characteristics of a property.
   (H)   Appeals.
      (1)   If HPC rejects a sign application, the applicant may then seek a hearing with the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(Ord. 2017-13, passed 12-4-17; Am. Ord. 2018-015, passed 10-8-18)
TABLE A: PERMITTED SIGNS BY DISTRICT AND SIGN TYPE
Sign Type
Maximum Area
Maximum Height
Setback As measured from property line/pub lic rights- of-way
Illumination
Maximum Projection
Other Restrictions
Sign Type
Maximum Area
Maximum Height
Setback As measured from property line/pub lic rights- of-way
Illumination
Maximum Projection
Other Restrictions
RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS
Monument sign
32 square feet
8 feet above the grade level of the adjacent street to which the sign is located or 4 feet above ground level, whichever is greater
5 feet
External only
N/A
Such signs shall be part of a decorative structure made of wood, brick, stone or masonry with an overall design compatible with the character of the neighborhood.
Wall-mounted sign
10% of wall surface up to 40 square feet
Sign shall not extend above the cornice line of a building , beyond the edges of the wall upon which it is mounted, nor above the roofline
N/A
External only
18 inche s
Sign shall be designed to relate to the architectural style of the main building or buildings upon the site.
Projecting sign
12 square feet
4 feet
Projecting signs that encroach on city property shall obtain an encroachment permit
External only
4 feet
Sign shall be a maximum of 8 feet above the adjacent grade and not extend above the cornice line of a building, and be perpendicular to the building face that the sign is mounted to.
Awning/canopy
65% of the area of the side faces (awning flaps) of the canopy and no more than 40% of the front (or front- angled or sloped) face of the canopy
See area restrictions
Signs that encroach on city property shall obtain an encroach ment permit
Prohibited
N/A
N/A
BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS
For single occupancy buildings, the lot shall be permitted one of the following signs. For multiple occupancy buildings, the lot or parcel shall be permitted each of the following.
Monument sign
Single occupancy building
Planned development
 
80 square feet
1 square foot of sign area per linear foot of the lot's width up to 100 square feet
 
Gutter line of building or 15 feet
20 feet
 
5 feet
5 feet
 
Allowed
Allowed
 
N/A
N/A
 
 
Planned developments shall be permitted 1 monument sign for each entrance up to 2 signs.
Wall- mounted sign
Single occupancy building
Multi-occupancy building
 
10% of wall surface or 64 square feet
10% of wall surface or 1.5 square feet of sign area per linear foot of store frontage per unit, up to a maximum of 64 square feet
 
Cornice line of a building or the roofline
 
Cornice line of a building or the roofline
 
N/A
 
N/A
 
Allowed
 
Allowed
 
18 inches
 
18 inches
 
N/A
 
N/A
Projecting sign
32 square feet
8 feet and not extend above the cornice line of a building
Projecting signs that encroach on city property shall obtain an encroachment permit
Allowed
6 feet
Sign shall be perpendicular to the building face that the sign is mounted, shall be a minimum of 8 feet above the adjacent grade and not exceed a width of 4 feet.
Awning/canopy
65% of the area of the side faces (awning flaps) of the canopy and no more than 40% of the front (or front-angled or sloped) face of the canopy
See area restrictions
Signs that encroach on city property shall obtain an encroachment permit
Prohibited
N/A
N/A
BILLBOARD/OFF PREMISE SIGNS
The Board of Zoning Appeals may permit such sign as a conditional use
Small scale off premise
The allowable square footage by sign type per district up to 32 square feet
The allowable height per sign type per district up to 8 feet
5 feet
External only
No larger than what is principally permitted by sign type per the zoning district
A maximum of 1 off premises sign can be permitted per property, and illuminated only from below the sign
Large scale off premise
100 square feet
25 feet
Equal to the greatest front yard setback for principally permitted uses in the zoned district in which the sign is proposed, or 50 feet, whichever is greater
External only
N/A
Sign shall not have a face height or width of more than 10 feet, shall be no closer than 1,000 feet to another such sign, shall be a pole or monument sign and shall only be permitted along US 50 and prohibited in R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1 and M zoned districts and the Historic District.
TEMPORARY SIGNS
Maximum of 90-day periods and a 90-day period must expire before the permit can be reestablished
Noncommercial freestanding
1 sign that is 16 square feet in area or up to 2 signs not exceeding a combined 16 square feet in area
5 feet above the grade level of the adjacent street to which the sign is located or 4 feet above ground level, whichever is greater
5 feet
Prohibited
N/A
Shall conform to the general requirements defined by § 152.141.
NO PERMIT REQUIRED
Nonspecified freestanding
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
5 feet
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
Subject to regulations of a freestanding sign, pole sign or monument sign as described for each zoning district.
Noncommercial freestanding
1 sign that is 16 square feet in area or up to 2 signs not exceeding a combined 16 square feet in area
5 feet above the grade level of the adjacent street to which the sign is located or 4 feet above ground level, whichever is greater
5 feet
Prohibited
N/A
Shall conform to the general requirements defined by § 152.141.
NO PERMIT REQUIRED
Nonspecified freestanding
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
5 feet
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
Subject to regulations of a freestanding sign, pole sign or monument sign as described for each zoning district.
Portable message center sign
32 square feet
8 feet above the grade level of the adjacent street to which the sign is located or 4 feet above ground level, whichever is greater
5 feet
Allowed
N/A
Sign shall have a night-time brightness level no more than 0.3 footcandles above ambient lighting and an 8 second hold time between messages.
Banner
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
N/A
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
Banner signs are intended to be attached to the wall and be regulated in accordance with wall signs by each zoning district.
Blade sign
No wider than 3.5 feet at its widest point
18 feet
5 feet
Prohibited
N/A
Permitted once every 50 feet of street frontage up to 3 per frontage.
Sidewalk sign
1 sign is permitted per tenant up to 8 square feet per sign face and not exceeding 3 feet in width
No such sign shall exceed a height of 4 feet above the ground
N/A
N/A
N/A
Signs must be placed on the sidewalk pavement and there must remain sufficient clearance, of at least 5 feet. Sign must be located within 10 feet of the entrance. Sign shall only be used during hours the business is open and shall be removed when the business or establishment is not open to the public.
TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT SIGNAGE
Ground sign
2 signs for each roadway not exceeding 4 square feet each
Signs shall not be greater than 5 feet above the grade level of the adjacent street to which the sign is located or 4 feet above ground level, whichever is greater
5 feet
N/A
N/A
For lots with buildings containing multiple tenants and that have applied for simultaneous special event signs, no more than 3 temporary ground signs may be permitted per roadway frontage at any one time.
Banner
32 square feet
15 feet
N/A
N/A
N/A
Such signs are intended to be attached to the wall and be regulated in accordance with wall signs by each zoning district.
Gas or air-filled advertising device
N/A
15 feet
N/A
N/A
N/A
In lieu of a banner or temporary ground sign, 1 gas or air-filled advertising device may be permitted per lot.
DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY
To obtain approval of a sign, in addition to § 152.146, a complete permit application(s) must be submitted and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission
Monument sign
No ground sign shall exceed an area of 32 square feet per sign face
8 feet
Shall not encroach on public property
External only
N/A
Ground signs shall only be permitted in the front yard of properties containing an appropriate landscaped front yard area.
Wall-mounted sign
30% of the wall area on which they are displayed or 1.5 square feet per linear foot of leased building frontage of the business or establishment, whichever is greater
2.5 feet
N/A
External only
6 inches
Appropriate locations for wall signage on buildings with more than 1 story shall be in the lintel space which separates the storefront from the upper floor, and the space above the transom in the storefront (where one exists). Wall signs should be located on flat, unadorned parts of the building facade, somewhere above storefront display windows (where they exist) and below second story windows (where they exist). If the building facade or storefront has a lintel strip or sign board, the wall sign should be placed directly on it. Wall signs should be located centrally on the facade. No more than 2 wall signs per building facade of the leasable space.
Projecting sign
9 square feet per sign face
All projecting signs shall have a ground clearance of no less than 8 feet above the lowest ground elevation
Projecting signs that encroach on city property shall obtain an encroachment permit
External only
36 inches
The HPC may restrict such signs if other alternatives (wall, window, door and awning) are also present or proposed. Projecting signs shall project perpendicularly from the building, limited to 1 per business or establishment.
Canopy and awning sign
65% of the area of the side faces (awning flaps) of the canopy and no more than 40% of the front (or front-angled or sloped) face of the canopy
See area restrictions
Sign that encroaches on city property shall obtain an encroachment permit
Prohibited
N/A
N/A
Window sign
25% of the total window area of the business or establishment or 32 square feet total of window signage for any single business or establishment, whichever is less
Window signs should not extend within 18 inches from the top or bottom of the display window glass and be placed approximately 3.5 feet above the sidewalk
N/A
N/A
N/A
Window signs may be displayed on or in display windows on ground floor. Window signs in upper facade windows are generally not encouraged and must be justified by the applicant. When window signage is provided, painting is recommended. Applied vinyl letters are discouraged but may be approved by the HPC. No window advertising sign shall extend from one window to another. In no case shall any window sign be installed above the level of second floor windows.
Door sign
The maximum area for any individual door sign shall be 1.5 square feet
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Signs on doors should be located on or in the glazing of the doors. Painting of letters is preferred. Vinyl letters are discouraged but permitted. There shall be no more than 2 door signs for any individual business or establishment. There shall be a maximum of 3 square feet total area of door signs allowed for any single business or establishment.
Sidewalk sign
1 sign is permitt ed per tenant up to 8 square feet per sign and not exceeding 3 feet in width
No such sign shall exceed a height of 4 feet above the ground
N/A
N/A
N/A
Sign must be placed on the sidewalk pavement and there must remain sufficient clearance of at least 5 feet. Sign must be located within 10 feet of the entrance. Sign shall only be used during hours the business is open and shall be removed when the business or establishment is not open to the public.
Temporary special event signs
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
See other restrictions
Property owners in the Historic District may apply for permits for special events and associated signage, as provided in § 152.147, except that gas or air-filled advertising devices shall not be allowed.
 
(Ord. 2017-13, passed 12-4-17)
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