A. No marquee, awning, canopy, or similar architectural element which projects more than twelve inches (12") from the face of a building shall be used for advertising purposes except as specifically provided in this section. No wood, paper, cloth, or temporary sign shall be hung or attached to any such architectural element. However, one horizontal line of letters and symbols not to exceed seven inches (7") in height which identifies the name and occupation of the tenant or owner of the building and the street address of the tenant or the building may be painted on or fixed to the architectural element on the face of the element which is parallel to the wall of the building or structure to which it is attached. The letters and symbols shall not extend above the top surface or below the lower edge of such architectural element. No such architectural element, nor any sign mounted on such element shall be illuminated.
B. Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in subsection A of this section, the architectural commission may grant a sign accommodation pursuant to article 9 of this chapter to allow letters and symbols to be painted or fixed in more than one line or exceed seven inches (7") in height if the combined height of the letters and symbols in all lines and the space or spaces between lines does not exceed fourteen inches (14") in overall height, the allowable total area of all other signs shown on the required unified sign plan is reduced by at least fifty percent (50%), and, in addition to the findings otherwise required to grant a sign accommodation, the commission finds that such signs on any marquee, awning, canopy or similar architectural element shall be the principal identification of the building or business.
C. Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in subsection A of this section, pursuant to article 9 of this chapter, the architectural commission may grant a sign accommodation to permit: 1) one nonilluminated sign, constructed of individual letters that do not exceed fourteen inches (14") in height, above the top surface of a marquee, awning, canopy, or similar architectural element which projects more than twelve inches (12") from the face of a building, provided such sign is parallel to the wall of the building to which the architectural element is attached; or 2) one nonilluminated sign, constructed of individual letters that do not exceed seven inches (7") in height, suspended from such architectural elements, provided such sign is parallel to the wall of the building to which it is attached. (Ord. 80-O-1775, eff. 12-5-1980; amd. Ord. 93-O-2181, eff. 11-19-1993; Ord. 96-O-2268, eff. 10-18-1996)