Permitted signs requiring a sign permit allowable in non-residential zoning districts are the following: ground sign; off-premise sign; pole sign; projecting sign; roof sign; temporary sign; and wall sign.
(A) Ground sign.
(1) Definition. A low-profile, on-premise sign completely or principally self-supported by posts or other sign apparatus independent of any building or other structure. A portable sign, whether illuminated or not, shall be a ground sign.
(2) Provisions.
(a) A ground sign shall not at any point be over three feet in height above grade level when such sign is located within five feet of the right-of-way line. When located five or more feet from the right-of-way line, no ground sign shall at any point be over eight feet in height above ground level.
(b) A ground sign shall not be closer than three feet to any building, or ten feet to any other sign. Lighting reflectors shall not be more than six feet away from the ground sign which they are designed to illuminate. A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the placement of a ground sign.
(B) Off-premise sign.
(1) Definition. A sign which directs attention to a use, business, product, service, or activity not conducted, sold, or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
(2) Provisions-general. Off-premise signs shall have a six foot clearance beneath the sign board including cut-outs. Extensions allowed shall not exceed 200 square feet in area. Maximum extensions of cut-outs shall be: Above the sign board - six feet, below the sign board - one foot, and any sides of the sign board - three feet. An off-premise sign shall be permitted within existing building lines. A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the placement of an off-premise sign.
(3) Special provisions.
(a) Agriculture A Zoning District Exclusive. A minimum distance to another legally established off-premise sign shall be 500 feet between signs on the same side of any street or highway. An off-premise sign shall not be placed closer than 100 feet to the cross section of any intersection, railroad, on-grade crossing, or ingress-egress drive or entrance. An off-premise sign shall have a minimum side yard setback of three feet from the side property line and a minimum ten-foot setback from the right-of-way line of any street or highway. There shall not be more than two off-premise signs per one-half mile on the same side of any street or highway. There shall be a minimum distance of not less than 200 feet to any existing residence, church, school, or other facility of common human use.
(b) Non-Farm, Non-Residential Zones. Off-premise signs shall be prohibited in the following zones: R-1 Residence, R-2 Residence, LBP Business & Professional Office, and MHR Mobile Home Residence Zones.
(4) Signs permitted. Off-premise signs may be permitted in the following zones provided the provisions of this chapter are met as well as all applicable building codes and permit regulations: A Agriculture, GBC Community Business, Variety Business, IL Limited Industrial, IIM Intense Industrial, and AD Airport Development Zones.
(5) Number of signs. The number of off-premise signs shall be limited to not more than one such sign per 1000 feet, linear measure, on and along both sides of any street or highway. A minimum distance from one off-premise sign to another legally established off-premise sign shall be 1000 feet, linear measure, taken on and along the right-of-way lines on both sides of a street or highway.
(6) Maximum area. The maximum area of display surface per off-premise sign shall not exceed 300 square feet. Only single-faced back-to-back sign boards shall be permitted.
(7) Distance to right-of-way. An off-premise sign shall not be placed closer than ten feet to any right-of-way line of any street or highway carrying two lane traffic excluding turn lanes, acceleration/deceleration lanes, and passing blister. An off-premise sign shall not be placed closer than 25 feet to any right-of-way line of any street or highway carrying four lane traffic, excluding turn lanes, acceleration/deceleration lanes and passing blisters.
(8) Distance to residences, schools, churches and the like. There shall be a minimum distance of not less than 60 feet from an off-premise sign to any residence or to any residence zone. There shall be a minimum distance of not less than 200 feet from an off-premise sign to any school, church, or institution for human care.
(9) Map. The Plan Commission shall prepare and maintain a map indicating the location of all off-premise sign sites within the corporate limits of the city and the number of off-premise signs on each site. An off-premise sign site shall be that area described by legal description on the deed to the property as recorded in the Office of the County Recorder at the time of enactment of this amendment.
(10) Increase of sites. Based on the number of off-premise sign sites existing at the time of enactment of this amendment, the number of sites may be increased by 1% per year. The beginning one year period shall start from the date of passage of this amendment to December 31, 1991, with each successive one year period running from January 1, to December 31, thereafter.
(11) Existing off-premise sign sites. For off-premise sign sites in existence prior to this amendment, an off-premise sign permit may be issued provided that there shall be not more than one off-premise sign per site, that the site is vacated by the discontinuance and removal from the site of all off-premise signs, and that the off-premise sign and its location shall be in conformance with all applicable provisions of this chapter. Off-premise sign permits may be issued under this provision at any time as regulated.
(12) Off-premise signs created by growth rate. For off-premise sign sites created by the 1% growth rate, an off-premise sign permit may be issued provided that there shall be not more than one off-premise sign per site, that the off-premise sign and its location shall be in conformance with all applicable provisions of this chapter, and that there shall be not more than one permit issued within any ten-day period to an owner of an off-premise sign. When the number of permits issued equal the number of newly created sites, no new permits shall be issued under this provision until the next one-year period begins.
(C) Pole signs.
(1) Definition. A high-profile, on-premise sign completely or principally self-supported by posts or other sign apparatus independent of any building or other structure.
(2) Provisions. A pole sign shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet between the bottom of the face of the sign and grade or sidewalk level. If the pole sign is supported by more than one pole, the space between the poles shall not be enclosed in a manner which would impair general public visibility. The maximum width of pole covers shall be the sum total of 18 inches in a horizontal direction, plus the width of the pole covered. No pole sign shall be erected in excess of 60 feet in vertical height or 300 square feet in area per side. All bolted installation to concrete bases must have ground rods. Once a pole sign becomes inactive, as defined in this chapter, the pole or sign apparatus must be removed along with the sign itself. A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the placement of a pole sign.
(D) Projecting sign.
(1) Definition. An on-premise sign attached to a building or structure and extending wholly or partly beyond the surface of the portion of the building or structure to which it is attached; or extending beyond the building line; or over public property.
(2) Provisions.
(a) A projecting sign shall be placed at a distance not greater than two feet from the face of the wall to which it is attached, measured from the part of the sign nearest thereto. No projecting sign or part thereof shall extend nearer to the curb line than five feet, not be placed lower than ten feet above grade or sidewalk level. No projecting sign shall be erected to a height greater than 60 feet above grade or higher than the cornice of any building which is three stories or more in height, unless the same be entirely of steel skeleton construction and shall present only 40% of the solid surface area to be affected by wind pressure. No projecting sign shall be erected when the area of one face of the sign shall exceed 240 square feet in area. Any movable part of the sign shall have an area not to exceed 100 square feet for a vertical sign, or 50 square feet for a horizontal sign.
(b) No projecting sign shall be secured with wood, nails, or wire, unless with seven strand guy wire; nor shall any projecting sign be hung or secured to any other sign. Turnbuckles shall be placed in all chains and guy wires supporting projecting sign weighing 200 pounds or more. A projecting sign exceeding ten square feet in area or 50 pounds in weight shall not be attached to nor supported by frame buildings, nor wooden framework of a building. Other projecting signs shall be attached to masonry or, like walls, with galvanized expansion bolts at least three-eighths inch in diameter or shall be fixed in the wall by means of bolts extending through the wall. Projecting signs shall have no reflectors of the goose-neck type. No glass faces can be used in projecting signs, any other glass used shall be safety or plate glass at least one-quarter-inch in thickness. A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the placement of a projecting sign.
(E) Roof sign.
(1) Definition. An on-premise sign erected, constructed, or maintained upon the roof of any building or structure.
(2) Provisions.
(a) No roof sign shall project beyond the outer edge of the walls of the building in any direction. No roof sign having a tight, closed, or solid surface shall at any point be over 25 feet above the roof level.
(b) No roof sign with a tight, closed, or solid surface shall be erected on any building four stories or over in height, but roof sign structures not having a tight, closed, or solid surface may be erected on fire-resistive buildings to a height not exceeding 40 feet above the roof level, and upon non-fire-resistive buildings to a height not exceeding 30 feet above the roof level. The solid portions of the structures shall not exceed 40% of the superficial area thereof. All signs which are erected on the roof of a fire-resistive building shall be thoroughly secured to the building upon which they are installed, erected, or constructed, by iron or metal anchors, bolts, supports, seven strand guy cable, steel rods, or braces. All roof signs erected on non-fire-resistive buildings shall be so erected that the live-and dead-load stresses shall not in any manner adversely affect the building. Wind pressures not less than 30 pounds to the square foot of the area of the sign must be withstood by said sign.
(c) All roof signs shall be composed entirely of non-combustible material, including sign apparatus and supports, except the ornamental molding and battens behind the steel facings. A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the placement of a roof sign.
(F) Temporary sign.
(1) Definition. A temporary sign shall mean any sign, sign board, banner, or lightweight advertising display of more than two feet in height, maintained for the purpose of displaying outdoor advertising by means of a reader board, permanently supported, anchored or attached to the ground or a building.
(2) Provisions.
(a) No temporary sign shall be maintained, displayed, or placed on a property for a period longer than 30 days after the issuance of the permit and 90 days must expire before the permittee can reapply for a new permit for said sign on the property. A new permit is to be obtained for each 30-day period.
(b) No temporary sign shall at any point be over eight feet in height above grade level, except a banner, in which case, it must have at least a ten-foot clearance above grade. No temporary sign shall be placed within the city rights-of-way, proposed or existing. Any temporary sign unlawfully maintained in a public right-of-way, may be declared a public nuisance and a traffic hazard per State Motor Vehicle Laws, Article III, and if necessary, the City Administrative Zoning Officer shall remove the sign. Spot lights or flashing illumination, not over 40 watt bulbs, shall be used under any circumstances with a temporary sign. Any temporary sign not complying with the provisions of this chapter shall, upon notice, be removed by the City Administrative Zoning Officer. A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the placement of a temporary sign.
(G) Wall sign.
(1) Definition. An on-premise sign attached to, or erected flatly against a wall of a building or structure.
(2) Provisions. No wall sign shall project away from the wall more than 18 inches. When a wall sign is located over a sidewalk and projects more than six inches over the pedestrian area, the minimum distance from the sidewalk grade and the base of the sign shall be eight feet. A wall sign placed on a building of one story shall not project more than ten feet above the top of the wall or two feet beyond the ends of the wall to which it is attached. A wall sign placed on a building of two or more stories shall not project more than two feet above the top of the wall or beyond the ends of the wall to which it is attached.
(3) If the wall sign is an illuminated one, overhead lighting reflectors may project six feet beyond the building line, but in no case shall the lighting reflectors be more than six feet from the face of the wall sign. All reflectors extending over the sidewalk shall be secured and safely anchored. No wall sign shall be so erected as to prevent free ingress to or egress from the building, or any fire escape. A sign permit shall be obtained prior to the placement of a wall sign.
(Ord. 1991-07, passed 1-7-1991) Penalty, see § 10.99