1179.08 CONSTRUCTION.

   (a)    Wall Signs. The following regulations shall apply to flat or wall signs:

      (1)    Wall signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.

      (2)    Wall signs shall not project more than twelve inches in front of the building wall to which they are affixed and shall not project beyond any building corner nor above any parapet wall.

      (3)    Wall signs shall be securely fastened to a masonry wall by means of anchors, bolts, expansion screws or similar connectors. A wall sign which is attached to a wall of wood may be anchored with wood blocks used in connection with screws and nails. A wall sign shall not be entirely supported by an unbraced parapet wall.

      (4)    No sign of any kind shall be attached to or placed upon a building in such a manner so as to obstruct any door, window or fire escape or any window or door leading thereto or any ventilating system, nor shall any sign be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape.

   (b)    Projecting Signs. The following regulations shall apply to projecting signs:

      (1)    Projecting signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.

      (2)    Projecting signs may have letters, panels or ornaments of porcelain enamel, glass, approved combustible plastics or other hard materials.

      (3)    Signs projecting from a building or structure shall not project beyond the building or setback line or over any public right of way. Projecting signs shall be limited to not more than one sign for each establishment or business unit. Such signs shall be attached to the wall and shall project at an angle of ninety degrees therefrom, and may not extend above any parapet wall. No face of a projecting sign shall be less than five feet from a side lot line or party wall of another nonresidential unit.

      (4)   Projecting signs shall be so erected that the bottom thereof is at least nine feet above the level of the ground, except that where traffic lights may be obscured, the minimum height shall be twelve feet. No projecting sign shall at the lowest point be less than fifteen feet, six inches above the level of a driveway over which it projects.

      (5)   All projecting signs shall be supported by strong steel brackets attached to walls of buildings with through bolts, expansion bolts or another equally secure method, and shall be braced and held firmly in place with soft iron or steel cables or chain of adequate strength. All such supports shall be attached to walls of buildings with expansion bolts or an equivalent method. (Ord. 72-13. Passed 7-11-72.)

   (c)   Pole Signs. The following regulations shall apply to pole signs:

      (1)   Pole signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.

         (Ord. 86-118. Passed 9-2-86.)

      (2)   Pole signs shall be located only on private property and shall be limited to not more than one sign for each lot, the total area of which may be composed of smaller individual signs. Pole signs shall not exceed twenty-five feet in height and shall set back not less than ten feet from any right-of-way line. (Ord. 98-138. Passed 10-20-98.)

      (3)   The maximum size of one face of any pole sign shall not exceed seventy- five square feet.

      (4)   Pole signs shall be set in concrete footings of sufficient size and weight to prevent overturning the sign.

      (5)   Every pole sign and the immediate surrounding premises shall be maintained by the owner of the sign in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition and free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish and weeds.

   (d)   Ground Signs. The following regulations shall apply to ground signs:

      (1)   Ground signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials, provided however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.

      (2)   Ground signs shall not be erected so as to obstruct free access to any building on the premises and shall be installed in a manner with the use of concrete footings of sufficient size and weight to prevent overturning of the sign. (Ord. 86-118. Passed 9-2-86.)

      (3)   Ground signs shall be set back not less than ten feet from any right-of- way line and shall not be less than five feet from another business lot and not less than twenty-five feet from a residential district line or exceed six feet in height. The maximum size of any one face of any ground sign shall not exceed seventy-five square feet.

         (Ord. 98-138. Passed 10-20-98.)

      (4)   Every ground sign and the immediate surrounding premises shall be maintained by the owner of such sign in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition and free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish and weeds. (Ord. 86-118. Passed 9-2-86.)

   (e)    Outdoor Billboard Advertising Display Signs hereinafter referred to as “billboards”. The following regulations shall apply to billboard signs:

      (1)    Billboard signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible materials.

      (2)    Billboard signs shall be located only in I Industrial Zoning Districts adjacent to and readable only from interstate highways. Billboard signs shall not be adjacent to or readable from any street or road not designated as an Interstate. Billboard signs shall be located not less than eighty feet from the edge of the interstate highway roadway pavement, not less than one hundred fifty feet from any building, utility pole line or structure unless the structure is another billboard sign in which case the billboard signs shall not be closer than five hundred feet from each other. Billboard signs shall be further located not less than eighty feet from parking lots or paved areas and not less than two hundred fifty feet from the pavement edge of highways and roadways other than interstate highways.

      (3)    Billboard signs shall be of a maximum size of six hundred seventy-two square feet plus cut out extensions not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the base square feet of the billboard sign. The maximum overall height of a billboard sign shall not exceed seventy feet and the bottom of the display area of the billboard sign shall be at least eight and one-half feet from the ground.

      (4)    Billboard signs shall be free standing and shall not be attached to any wall or building and shall not be attached to the roof of any building or structure.

      (5)    Billboard signs shall be firmly and solidly constructed so as to be able to bear a wind pressure of at least forty pounds per square foot of area.

      (6)    The owner of property upon which a billboard sign is to be located shall obtain and maintain until the removal of the billboard sign a policy of liability insurance in an amount not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000).

      (7)    It shall be unlawful to construct, place, paint the supporting structure of, move the supporting structure of or alter a billboard within the Municipality without first having secured a permit therefor. Application therefor shall be made by the owner or lessee of the property upon which the billboard sign is proposed or located. Application requirements shall be as set forth in Section 1179.13(b) but shall consist of the following additional application requirements.

      (8)    Plans shall be submitted with the application for a billboard sign.

         A.    The plans shall include a site location plan drawn to a scale of 1”=50' or larger of the subject site indicating the exact proposed sign location on the site by dimensions expressed in feet or decimal parts thereof from existing property lines, road right of way line and interstate highway limited access right of way line. The property lines of the site, road right of way line and interstate highway limited access right of way line shall be accurately shown as determined by actual survey and be indicated by actual length and bearing. All existing structures, poles, pavements, parking areas and fences shall be shown that exist on the subject site and all underground and overhead lines indicated that exist within two hundred feet of the proposed billboard sign location, adjacent properties, roads and right of ways within six hundred feet of the proposed sign location shall be shown to scale on the site location plan. All buildings, structures, utility lines, pavements and parking areas on adjacent properties within 300 feet shall be indicated on the site plan. All billboard signs within 1,000 feet shall be indicated on the site plan. Interstate highway pavement locations shall also be shown on the site plan. These locations may be obtained from record information. All structures, poles, pavements, parking areas and fences within one hundred feet of the proposed sign location shall be accurately shown by dimension from the proposed billboard sign.

      B.    The plans shall include detailed structural and foundation drawings indicating the billboard to be constructed to safely withstand the loads and loading combinations contained in the American National Standards Institute Standard A58.1, latest edition. In no case however, shall the design wind load be less than forty pounds per square foot of area.

      C.    Billboard signs shall be constructed using the allowable stresses and design criteria as set forth herein by the latest edition of the reference standard for the material of construction. For structural steel construction, the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Specification for the Design, Fabrication and Erection of Structural Steel for Buildings (AISC S326), or the AISC Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (AISC S328), shall be used. For concrete construction, the American Concrete Institute Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318) shall be used. For structural aluminum construction, the Aluminum Association, Aluminum Construction Manual, Specifications for Aluminum Structures shall be used. For other materials used in construction, allowable stresses and design criteria shall be in accordance with accepted engineering practice. Billboard sign foundations shall be constructed using allowable soil parameters as determined by geotechnical investigation and study.

      D.    The plans shall be signed and sealed by the designer, with address and telephone number included. In addition the plans shall indicate the property owner's name and address and the name and address of the owner and operator of the proposed billboard.

      E.    The original application and any renewal application therefor shall be accompanied by:

         1.    A current copy of a permit issued by the Department of Transportation of the State indicating approval for the location of the billboard in relation to the interstate roadway.

         2.    A current certificate or policy of insurance showing purchase by the property owner of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) of liability insurance to cover liability arising from the construction, maintenance and removal of any billboard sign.

         3.    A copy of that portion of the current contract or agreement between the property owner and billboard sign company indicating any terms or conditions for removal of the billboard sign.

      (9)    Prior to the issuance of the requested billboard sign permit or renewal thereof, the Building Commissioner shall provide to Council a copy of the application therefor and any accompanying documents required by this chapter. Council shall then review the application and, if it finds that the billboard sign shall not constitute a nuisance due to its placement, construction or maintenance thereby not posing a threat to the public peace, health, safety or welfare, Council may direct the Building Commissioner to issue the requested permit so long as all other requirements of this chapter and the Zoning Code have been met.

      (10)    A billboard sign permit shall be renewable and valid for a period of not more than five years. Any application for a building permit to authorize the of any billboard which has previously been authorized shall be submitted at least ninety days prior to the expiration of the present permit.
(Ord. 2006-250. Passed 1-16-07.)

   (f)    Temporary Signs. No temporary sign shall be erected so as to prevent free ingress to, or egress from, any door, window, fire escape or ventilating equipment, nor shall any sign be attached to any standpipe or fire escape. No temporary sign shall extend over into any street, alley, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare or be placed or project over any wall openings. Temporary development signs may, however, be located in front of the setback line. Directional signs may be located within such required yards.

   (g)    Illuminated Signs. Illuminated signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials. However, facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof may be made of approved combustible plastics.

   Illuminated signs produced in quantity (other than signs custom-built for specific locations) shall be constructed in accordance with the “Standard for Electric Signs (U.L. 48) of Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc.” and bear the label of “Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc.”
(Ord. 88-51. Passed 5-3-88.)