1141.06 REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF SIGN PERMITS.

   Each application for a Sign permit shall be referred to the Architectural Board of Review for consideration.  No Sign permit shall be issued without the approval of the Architectural Board of Review.  (Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)

1141.07 PERMIT EXCEPTIONS.

   No Sign permit shall be required for:

   (a)   Periodic repair, repainting, or maintenance which does not alter the Sign including, but not limited to, the Sign face, design, or structure.

   (b)   Changing the lettering, graphic, or information on a sign specifically approved as a Changeable Copy Sign, whether automatic or manual.

   (c)   Legal notices, warnings, regulatory, informational, or Directional Signs erected by any public agency or utility.

   (d)   Traffic-control Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, such as Signs designating handicapped parking, reserved parking, visitor parking, and loading areas.

   (e)   Wall Signs not exceeding three (3) square feet in area which cannot be seen from a public street or right-of-way or from adjacent properties.

   (f)   Temporary Signs not exceeding four (4) square feet in area and four feet (4') in height, provided that not more than four (4) such signs shall be located on any lot or parcel, that such signs shall not be displayed for longer than thirty (30) days, and that such signs shall not be located less than feet (10') from the right-of-way of any street or any side lot line.

   (g)   Automobile agencies with new and used vehicles sales and service may place informational stick-on signs on the windshields of vehicles for sale provided that all such Signs displayed are of a consistent design, are placed in the upper right hand corner of the windshield, and do not cover more than one (1) square foot of area of the windshield.

   (h)   Two (2) permanent, non-illuminated Signs not exceeding one (1) square foot in area shall be permitted for each single-family or two-family dwelling, provided that such Signs shall be located not less than ten feet (10') from any side lot line of the premises and not less than two feet (2') from the paved roadway on the tree lawn.

      (Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)

1141.08 MEASUREMENT STANDARDS.

   The following provisions shall apply to all Signs:

   (a)   The total area of all Signs permitted on a lot in accordance with regulations set forth in the following sections shall include the area of all of the Sign faces visible from a public right-of-way, including the area of Signs placed upon the surface of windows or doors, but shall not include Signs which are less than two (2) square feet in area directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, or any Signs which cannot be seen from a public street, right-of-way, or adjacent properties.

   (b)   The area of a Sign shall be measured within a continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of such Sign including all text and graphics and any device used to attract attention provided, however, that structural elements lying outside the limits of such Sign and not forming an integral part of the display shall not be included as Sign area. 

   (c)   Monument Signs shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) faces.  Where the two faces of a Monument Sign are oriented one hundred eighty (180) degrees, or back to back, to one another the total Sign area of such sign shall be measured as if the sign had a single face.

   (d)   The height of a Monument Sign shall be measured from the finished grade at the base of the Sign to the highest point or element of the Sign.

   (e)   For the purposes of calculating permitted Sign area, the frontage of a building shall be the number of linear feet of the building wall or facade which faces the principal street or contains the main entrance as determined by the Building Commissioner.

      (Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)

1141.09 ILLUMINATION OF SIGNS.

   (a)   Signs in residential districts shall not be illuminated, except as specifically provided herein. 

   (b)   Signs in business, industrial, office, and institutional districts may be illuminated.  Where illuminated Signs are permitted, they shall conform to the following requirements:

      (1)   All illuminated Signs shall comply with the requirements of the National Electric Code.

      (2)   Electrical wiring serving any Sign shall be installed underground or on or within the structure to which the Sign is attached.

      (3)   Illumination shall not be of excessive brightness and shall be shielded so as to prevent direct light or glare from being cast into any adjoining residential area or at vehicles traveling on a public right-of-way.  Such lighting shall be shielded so as to prevent view of the light source from any adjoining residence or residential district and/or vehicles approaching on a public right-of-way from any direction.

      (4)   Flashing, moving or intermittent illumination other than Changeable Copy Signs shall not be permitted.

      (5)   The colors red or green, whether in direct illumination or reflection, shall not be used where such use may interfere with the sight lines of a traffic signal.

   (c)    Changeable Copy Signs. Multiple message and variable message Signs which are changed electronically shall conform to the following standards:

      (1)    Each message or copy shall remain fixed for at least thirty (30) seconds. Messages shall not flash, include moving video displays or animation, or emit intermittent light.

      (2)    Changes to messages, copy, or images shall be accomplished in not more than three (3) seconds.

      (3)    Each such Sign must be capable of regulating the digital display intensity and the light intensity level of the display must automatically adjust to natural ambient light conditions.

      (4)    No such Sign shall be of such intensity as to create a distraction or nuisance for motorists.

      (5)    Displays shall not emulate traffic control devices.

      (6)    Such Signs shall contain a default design that will freeze the Sign in one position or cause it to go dark if a malfunction occurs.

      (7)    The entire message shall change at once, without scrolling, animation, flashing, blinking or other movement or noise.

      (8)    The changeable copy portion of any free-standing Monument or Pole Sign shall not exceed eighty percent (80%) of the total area of the Sign.

      (9)    Any such Sign located within five hundred feet (500') of a residentially zoned district shall be turned off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

         (Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)

1141.10 LOCATION OF SIGNS.

   All Signs shall be located in conformance with the following criteria:

   (a)   No Signs shall be attached to utility poles, street Signs, or traffic control poles, except in accordance with Section 1141.14(f).

   (b)   No Signs shall be located within or shall obstruct any public right-of-way, traffic control device, or street identification Signs at intersections, except in accordance with Section 1141.14(f).

   (c)   No Sign shall be located so as to obstruct sight distances for vehicles entering or exiting any property or traveling on a public street.

   (d)   No Sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner that any portion of its surface or its supports will interfere in any way with the free use of access to any fire lane, exit or standpipe, or so as to obstruct any window so that the light or ventilation is reduced below minimum standards required by any applicable law or building code.  (Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)

1141.11 PROHIBITED SIGNS.

   Signs shall be permitted in each Use District and regulated as to type, size and location as provided in this Chapter.  Unless otherwise specifically permitted herein, the following signs are prohibited in all Districts:

   (a)   Pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similar devices;

   (b)   Mobile, portable, or wheeled Signs;

   (c)   Signs placed on parked vehicles or trailers for the purpose of advertising a product or business located on the same or adjacent property, excepting an identification Sign which is affixed to a vehicle regularly operated in the pursuance of day-to-day business or activity of an enterprise;

   (d)   Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon a roof or upon any structure which extends above the roof line of any building;

   (e)   Inflatable images;

   (f)   Signs containing flashing, moving, intermittent, or running lights or which imitate traffic control devices provided however, that Changeable Copy Signs shall be permitted;

   (g)   Signs which employ any part or element which revolves, rotates, whirls, spins, or otherwise makes use of motion to attract attention;

   (h)   Beacons or searchlights;

   (i)   High intensity strobe lights;

   (j)   Signs which hang less than eight and one-half feet (8.5') above a pedestrian walkway or less than fourteen feet (14') above a vehicular path; and

   (k)   Window Signs except as specifically authorized herein.

      (Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)

1141.12 REMOVAL OF SIGNS.

   (a)   Any owner, part owner, tenant or lessee who suffers a Sign to remain on his property shall be deemed to have knowledge of the erection and nature of the Sign.  All Signs of any nature shall be maintained in a state of good repair.  No Sign shall be allowed to remain which becomes structurally unsafe, hazardous or endangers the safety of the public or property.  Upon determining that a Sign is structurally unsafe, hazardous or endangers the safety of the public or property, the Building Commissioner or his designated agent shall order the Sign to be made safe or removed.  The owner of the Sign, the occupant of the premises on which the Sign or structure is located, or the persons or firm maintaining the same shall, upon receipt of written notice from the Building Commissioner or his designated agent, forthwith in the case of immediate danger and in any case within forty-eight (48) hours, secure, repair or remove said Sign or structure in a manner approved by the Building Commissioner.  If said person or firm fails to comply with such order within forty-eight (48) hours, the Building Commissioner may remove the Sign at the expense of the owner or lessee. 

   (b)   The Building Commissioner shall order the removal or modification of any Sign erected without a permit or found to be in violation of these regulations.  The owner of the Sign, the occupant of the premises on which the Sign or structure is located, or the person or firm maintaining the same shall, upon written notice of such violation from the Building Commissioner or his designated agent, within five (5) days, remove or modify the Sign or structure in a manner approved by the Building Commissioner or his designated agent.  If such Sign is not removed or brought into compliance as directed in the notice of violation within five (5) days, the Building Commissioner or his designated agent may, in addition to other remedies provided by law, institute injunction, mandamus, abatement, or any other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, enjoin, abate, or remove such violation.

(Ord. 2018-94.  Passed 10-21-19.)