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(a) In the interest of promoting the general health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City, these regulations are herein established to provide for the use, location and size of signs. More specifically, the purposes of these regulations are to:
(1) Ensure that signs are consistent with the community's development objectives, thereby maintaining the community's heritage.
(2) Provide reasonable, yet appropriate, conditions for identifying uses, including residential developments, institutions, businesses, and industrial establishments.
(3) Promote and maintain attractive, high value residential, business, office and industrial districts.
(4) Ensure that signs are located and designed to maintain a safe and orderly pedestrian and vehicular environment.
(5) Eliminate any confusion or hazardous conflict between identification signs and traffic control signs and devices.
(6) Minimize the negative consequences of excessive numbers of size of signs.
(b) Any sign that does not conform with the regulations of this Planning and Zoning Code, or any subsequent amendment thereto, is a public nuisance and, as such, must be removed in compliance with these regulations. Nonconforming signs are unduly distracting to motorists and pedestrians, and thereby create a traffic hazard and reduce the effectiveness of signs needed to direct the public. The regulations contained in this chapter are the minimum regulations necessary to abate the nuisance and to achieve the stated purpose of this chapter.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
For the purposes of these regulations, a sign shall include any device that is intended to announce, direct or advertise, and may be represented by words or letters, figures, symbols or characterizations, or other insignia or devices. Signs shall further be classified by physical characteristics and function or purpose based on the following.
(a) Physical Characteristics.
(1) Abandoned sign: A sign that for 30 days or more has not identified or advertised a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product, or activity, and/or for which no legal owner can be found.
(2) Banner sign: Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material with no enclosing framework that is mounted to a building at one or more edges.
(3) Building markers: Letters, words, or insignia cut into the building surface, or otherwise permanently mounted on the building at the time the building was constructed to convey a memorial, the name of the building and/or address and the date of construction.
(4) Bulletin board sign: A sign where the message or graphics is not permanently fixed to the structure, framing or background, and in which the copy is periodically changed.
(5) Canopy or awning sign: A sign painted on, printed on or attached to a soffit or fascia of an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover, including gas station canopy.
(6) Face of sign: The area of a sign on which the copy is placed.
(7) Freestanding sign: A sign that is supported from the ground or a structure other than a building.
(8) Marquee sign: A sign attached to the soffit or fascia of a marquee or the roof over a walk or permanent awning. A marquee sign shall be considered a flat or wall sign.
(9) Nonconforming sign: A sign that was erected legally but which does not comply with subsequently enacted sign restrictions and regulations.
(10) Portable sign: A sign designed to be readily transportable on wheels from one premise to another.
(11) Projecting sign: A sign erected on the outside wall of a building and which extends more than 12 inches therefrom.
(12) Roof sign: A sign erected upon or over the roof of any building.
(13) Under-canopy sign: A sign suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof or marquee which is located perpendicular to the building façade and is intended to be viewed by pedestrians from the sidewalk beneath the canopy, ceiling, roof or marquee.
(14) Wall sign: A sign erected parallel to, or painted on the surface or on the outside wall, or is integral with the wall of any building, and which does not extend more than 12 inches therefrom.
(15) Window sign: A sign on the inside of a building affixed to or near a window for the purpose of being visible to and read from the outside of the building.
(b) Function.
(1) Directional sign: A permanent sign located on private property, at or near the public right-of-way, directing or guiding traffic and parking from the street onto private property
(2) Identification sign: A sign intended to identify the principal use of a lot, development, building or building unit according to the following:
A. Agricultural sign: A sign intended to identify a farm or roadside stand located on the lot on which the sign is erected.
B. Business identification sign: A sign intended to announce or promote the business, office or industrial use, activity, service or other enterprise on the lot which the sign is located and which may include a directory of occupants.
C. Common business identification sign: A single sign that identifies the name of the nonresidential subdivision.
D. Institution identification sign: A sign displaying the name of the organization, activity or services occupying the premises of a public or quasi-public use, such as but not limited to churches and other places of worship, hospitals, public or semi-public recreational facilities, schools.
E. Residential development identification sign: A sign identifying the name and address of a completed residential subdivision, cluster development or multi-family development.
(3) Instructional sign: A sign that has a purpose secondary to the use on the lot that is intended to instruct employees, customers or users as to specific parking requirements, or circulation instructions, the location or regulations pertaining to specific activities on the site or in the building, specific services offered, or methods of payments accepted.
(4) Model home sign: A temporary sign located on the same parcel as a model home and intended to mark the location of such model home.
(5) Name plate: A sign indicating the name and/or address of the person, business or activity occupying the lot or the building.
(6) Off-site advertising sign: A sign advertising an establishment, merchandise, service or entertainment that is not sold, produced, manufactures, or furnished at the property or which the sign is located.
(7) Project construction sign: A temporary sign located on a parcel where construction or remodeling is occurring, and which may identify the site prior to the erection of the permanent sign.
(8) Public regulation and information: A sign erected by a public authority, utility, public service organization or private industry upon the public right-of-way or, when required by law, on private property, and which is intended to control traffic, direct, identify or inform the public, or provide needed public service as determined by the rules and regulations of governmental agencies or through public policy. Such signs include “No Parking Fire Lane.”
(9) Temporary sign: A sign that is designed to be used only temporarily and is not permanently, or intended to be permanently, attached to a building or structure or permanently installed in the ground.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
The following principals shall control the computation of sign area and sign height:
(a) Determining Sign Area or Dimension.
(1) For a sign that is framed, outlined, painted or otherwise prepared and designed to include a background for a sign display to differentiate the sign from the environment or surroundings in which it is placed, the sign area or dimensions shall include the entire portion within such background or frame.
(2) For a sign comprised of individual letters, figures or elements on a wall or similar surface of the building or structure, or an irregular shaped freestanding sign, the area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular, geometric form, or combinations of regular geometric forms, comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all elements of the matter displayed. When separate elements are organized to form a single sign, but the elements are separated by open space, the area shall be calculated by determining the geometric form or combination of forms which comprise all the display areas, including the space between elements.
(3) Structural members, not being advertising matter, shall not be included in the computation of sign area, unless such structural support is illuminated or otherwise designed to constitute a display device.
(4) Only one side of a double-faced freestanding or projecting sign shall be included in calculating sign area, provided that the two display surfaces are joined at an angle not greater than 15 degrees.
(b) Determining Sign Height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the base of the sign or supportive structure at its point of attachment to the ground to the top most elements of the sign. A freestanding sign on a man-made base, including a graded earth mound, shall be measured from the grade of the nearest street, drive or parking area.
(c) Determining Clearance of a Sign. The smallest vertical distance between the grade of the adjacent street or street curb and the lowest point of any sign, including framework and embellishments, extending over that grade.
(d) Determining Building Frontage and Building Unit. The length of the building that faces a street or a length of the wall of a building that contains a main entrance to the uses therein shall be considered a building frontage.
(1) The building frontage shall be measured along the wall between the exterior faces of the exterior side walls.
(2) In the case of an irregular wall surface, a straight line extended along such wall surface shall be used to measure the length.
(3) For multi-tenant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single tenant shall be considered a building unit. The building frontage for a building unit shall be measured from the centerline of the party walls defining the building unit.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
Signs as permitted in the respective zoning districts shall conform to the maximum area limitations set forth in Schedule 1290.05 and comply with the regulations set forth below.
(a) Business Identification Signs. The area of business identification signs shall comply with the following:
(1) Signs Attached to Buildings. The maximum permitted area for a business identification sign attached to a building shall comply with the following:
A. The total area of business identification signs attached to a building shall not exceed the area determined by the formula set forth in Schedule 1290.05.
1. This maximum area shall be the sum of the areas of all identification signs attached to the building including projecting signs, marquee signs, awning signs, and canopy signs, except as otherwise specified, and shall include the area of instructional signs, unless the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Planning Coordinator determines that such instructional signs are exempt pursuant to division (b) of this section.
2. Notwithstanding the above standard, each building shall be permitted a minimum of 30 square feet of identification signs attached to the building.
3. Marquee signs for theaters may exceed the maximum area permitted when reviewed and approved as a special use by the Planning Commission.
B. Certain types of signs shall be further limited in size according to Schedule 1290.05.
(2) First Floor Window Signs. The maximum area for permanent identification signs placed in or painted on a window shall be the area specified in Schedule 1290.05.
(3) Second Floor Tenants. Offices and organizations located above the first floor may have an additional window sign, not to exceed four square feet, located within an upper story window.
(4) Under-Canopy Signs. Under-canopy signs shall comply with the maximum area set forth in Schedule 1290.05; the area of which shall not be included in the sum total set forth in division (a)(1) above.
(b) Instructional Signs. The area of instructional signs that are clearly intended for instructional purposes, as determined by the Zoning Enforcement Officer or Planning Commission, shall not be included in the sum of the area of identification signs, provided such signs comply with the following:
(1) The sign is not larger than necessary to serve the intended instructional purpose; and
(2) The sign is not in a location and does not possess design characteristics that constitute or serve the purposes of an instructional sign.
(c) Architectural Features. Architectural features that are either part of the building or part of a freestanding structure are not considered signs and are thus exempt from these regulations. An “architectural feature” is any construction attending to, but not an integral part of the sign, and which may consist of landscape or building or structural forms complementing the site in general.
(d) Signs Not Regulated in Schedule. Signs for which no maximum area limitations are specified are subject to the review and approval of the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Planning Coordinator, subject to the procedures and requirements of Section 1290.16, unless such sign is exempt according to Section 1290.11.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01; Ord. 192-03. Passed 9-8-03; Ord. 193-03. Passed 10-14-03.)
Sign Type | Single-Family Districts | Multi-Family Districts | French Creek District | Business & Office Districts (excluding FC) | Industrial Districts |
Sign Type | Single-Family Districts | Multi-Family Districts | French Creek District | Business & Office Districts (excluding FC) | Industrial Districts |
(a) Nameplate | 1 sq, ft. | 1 sq, ft. | 1 sq, ft. | 1 sq, ft. | 1 sq, ft. |
(b) Agriculture | 24 sq, ft. | 24 sq, ft. | Same as for business identification signs | ||
(c) Residential development identification signs: | |||||
(1) Wall sign | NP | 18 sq, ft. | NP | NP | NP |
(2) Freestanding sign | 32 sq, ft.(a) | 32 sq, ft.(a) | NP | NP | NP |
(d) Institution identification signs: | |||||
(1) Wall sign | 24 sq, ft. | 24 sq, ft. | (b) | (b) | (b) |
(2) Freestanding sign | 24 sq, ft. | 24 sq, ft. | 32 sq, ft. | 40 sq, ft. | 40 sq, ft. |
(e) Business identification signs: | |||||
(1) Attached to building | NP | NP | 1 sq, ft./ linear ft. of building front(c) | 1 sq, ft./ linear ft. of building front(c) | 1 sq, ft./ linear ft. of building front(c) |
(2) Projecting sign | NP | NP | 15 sq, ft. | NP | NP |
(3) Freestanding sign | NP | NP | 32 sq, ft. | 40 sq, ft. | 40 sq, ft. |
(4) Window sign | NP | NP | 25% of window area | 25% of window area | 25% of window area |
(5) Common business identification sign | NP | NP | NP | 40 sq, ft.(d) | 40 sq, ft.(d) |
(6) Under-canopy sign | NP | NP | 8 sq, ft. | 8 sq, ft. | NP |
(f) Directional sign | NP | 4 sq, ft. | 4 sq, ft. | 4 sq, ft. | 4 sq, ft. |
(g) Instructional signs | (e) | (e) | (e) | (e) | (e) |
(h) Temporary signs: | |||||
(1) Model Home sign | 24 sq, ft.(f) | 24 sq, ft.(f) | NP | NP | NP |
(2) Project construction sign: | |||||
A. Construction or remodeling sign - single-family lot | 12 sq, ft.(g) | 12 sq, ft.(g) | NP | NP | NP |
B. All other lots | 32 sq, ft.(g) | 32 sq, ft.(g) | 32 sq, ft.(g) | 32 sq, ft.(g) | 32 sq, ft.(g) |
(3) Window sign | 4 sq, ft.(g) | 4 sq, ft.(g) | 25% of window area(i) | 25% of window area(i) | 25% of window area(i) |
(4) Other signs | 6 sq, ft.(h) | 6 sq, ft.(h) | (j) | (j) | (j) |
NP - Not permitted. (a) One per street entrance. (b) Shall comply with the permitted sign area for business identification signs attached to buildings. | |||||
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
Freestanding signs shall be permitted in compliance with the following regulations:
(a) Landscaping. Freestanding signs shall be erected in a landscaped setting and not on sidewalks, drives or in parking lots.
(b) Residential Development Identification Signs. A freestanding sign shall be permitted for a residential development in compliance with the following requirements.
(1) Maximum Number. A maximum of two sign faces shall be permitted at each entrance to a subdivision, cluster development or multi-family development from an arterial or collector street: either as a double-sided freestanding sign or as two single-sided signs, either freestanding or mounted on a wall or other entrance feature.
(2) Location. A residential development identification sign shall be located on private property on corner lots or where a privately-owned divided entranceway island is provided.
A. Such signs shall be located not closer than ten feet from the street right-of-way line and no closer than 25 feet to a side lot line, and shall be placed so as not to obstruct sight lines for vehicles or pedestrians.
B. A sign within a curbed divider island outside of a public right-of- way shall be set back ten feet from the projection of the right-of-way line and set back at least five feet from the curb of the divided island.
C. A sign attached to brick or masonry wall or wood fence shall not extend beyond the limits of the wall or fence. Such support structures shall be not more than five feet in height and 120 square feet in area.
D. Additional decorative features above these standards, including railings, pillars, arches, gateways, lampposts, etc., may be included if they are part of the overall architectural treatment and do not detract from the surrounding residential area.
(c) Freestanding Business Identification Signs. A freestanding business identification sign shall comply with the following:
(1) Maximum Number of Freestanding Signs. One freestanding identification sign shall be permitted per project or development, except as otherwise permitted in Section 1290.08.
(2) Minimum Sign Setback from Street. Such signs shall not be located within five feet of the public right-of-way and shall not be less than 20 feet from another lot, and not less than 30 feet from a Residential District line.
(3) Multi-Tenant Facilities. When a freestanding sign is erected on a site that has more than one tenant, it is the property owner's responsibility to determine the sign area devoted to identification of the development, building, anchor tenant, all tenants, or some combination thereof.
(d) Directional Signs. Directional signs shall be located within five feet of access drives and shall not be closer than five feet to the public right-of-way.
(e) Projecting Signs. Any face of a projecting sign shall be not less than five feet from a side lot line or party wall. The minimum sign clearance for a projecting sign shall be eight feet above a sidewalk or other pedestrian way.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
The maximum height of freestanding signs, when permitted, shall conform to the standards set forth in Schedule 1290.07 below, in compliance with the regulations set forth below.
Schedule 1290.07
MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF FREESTANDING SIGNS | |||||
Sign Type | Single -family Districts | Multi-family Districts | French Creek District | Business & Office Districts (Excluding FC) | Industrial Districts |
(a) Agricultural sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet |
(b) Residential development identification sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | NP | NP | NP |
(c) Institution identification sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet |
(d) Business identification sign | NP | NP | 6 feet | 10 feet | 10 feet |
(e) Directional sign | NP | 3 feet | 3 feet | 3 feet | 3 feet |
(f) Instructional sign | (a) | (a) | (a) | (a) | (a) |
(g) Temporary sign: | |||||
(1) Model home sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | NP | NP | NP |
(2) Project construction sign | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 8 feet |
(3) Other sign | 4 feet | 4 feet | 6 feet | 6 feet | 8 feet |
NP = Not permitted. | |||||
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
Additional area for business identification signs shall be permitted for lots in business, office, and industrial districts in compliance with the following:
(a) Corner Lots and Side and Rear Entrances. When a building has more than one building frontage because of one or more of the following characteristics, each such building frontage shall be permitted business identification signs attached to such building wall in accordance with Schedule 1290.05:
(1) The building is located on a corner lot and faces two streets;
(2) The building has a customer entrance facing a parking lot and the customer entrance does not face the street.
(3) The building is on a lot that is contiguous to the I-90 right-of-way.
(b) Additional Area for Freestanding Signs on Corner Lots. One additional freestanding identification sign shall be permitted for a corner lot, provided that:
(1) The total frontage of both streets is not less than 300 feet;
(2) The area of each freestanding identification sign complies with Schedule 1290.05, and the total area of both freestanding signs shall not exceed 175% of the maximum area permitted for a single sign;
(3) The second freestanding sign is clearly located to provide identification along the secondary street; and
(4) The two signs may be aggregated into a single sign at the corner, provided that the area of any freestanding sign face shall not exceed 70 square feet, except as otherwise permitted in division (d) of this section.
(c) Large Building Setbacks. The maximum allowable area for identification signs attached to a building may be increased by one-half of a square foot of sign area for each foot of building frontage when the principal building is set back more than 200 feet from the primary street on which the building is located.
(d) Additional Area for Large Lots. The area and number of freestanding signs on large lots may be increased according to the following:
(1) The allowable area of any freestanding sign face may be increased by five square feet of area for every 20 lineal feet of lot frontage greater than 200 lineal feet.
(2) One freestanding sign shall be permitted for every 250 feet of lot frontage or fraction thereof, provided that the total area of freestanding signs does not exceed the maximum sign area permitted in division (d)(1) above.
(e) Common Business Identification Sign. In addition to the business identification sign provided for each business in this chapter, a commercial, office or industrial subdivision shall be permitted to have a common business identification sign. The maximum height of the common business identification sign shall be ten feet.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01.)
In addition to the requirements of this chapter, the following supplemental regulations shall apply to signs located in the French Creek District:
(a) No self-illuminating, free-standing ground signs are permitted. Only continuous, soft, non-glare, indirect-type lighting is permitted.
(b) All signs advertising a business or place of business shall be constructed of a natural material only, such as wood, masonry or wrought iron, and the design should be compatible with the character of the French Creek District. All permanent signs shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission.
(c) Signs or banners which comply with the intent and purpose of the French Creek District may be placed or displayed in a public right-of-way in the French Creek District. No such signs or banners shall display any advertising, and all such signs must be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Planning Coordinator before the issuance of a sign permit. Considering that the purpose of these signs or banners is to serve a governmental and not a proprietary interest, permit fees shall be waived.
(Ord. 58-01. Passed 5-29-01; Ord. 194-03. Passed 9-8-03; Ord. 250-03. Passed 12-22-03.)
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