(A) Permitted sign types. The following types of signs are permitted in the Commercial Sign Overlay District subject to the requirements of this subchapter:
(1) Wall signs, including individually mounted channel letter signs;
(2) Awnings and canopy signs;
(3) Window signs;
(4) Projecting signs, including hanging and blade signs;
(5) Monument and pole ground signs; and
(6) Temporary signs including sidewalk signs, banners and pennant flags pursuant to § 165.121(D).
(B) Wall signs.
(1) The maximum size of a wall sign in the Commercial Sign Overlay District is one square foot per lineal foot of zoning lot frontage to a maximum of 40 square feet in area.
(2) On a corner lot, the maximum size of a wall sign located on each building wall is one square foot per linear foot of zoning lot frontage as measured along the front or corner side lot line of that building wall. The size of a wall sign on each side of the building is limited to the square footage calculated on that side only. In no case can the square footage permitted for the building wall located along the front lot line and the square footage permitted for the building will located along the corner side lot line be combined to create a larger sign on a wall other than that permitted on each individual wall.
(3) Wall signs must be safely and securely attached to the building wall. Wall signs must be affixed flat against the building wall and must not project more than 12 inches from the building wall. No aesthetic sign elements may be affixed or painted directly on a building’s exterior facade. All signs must be mounted in such a way that they may be removed with minimal impact on the building’s exterior wall.
(4) Wall signs must be located on the sign band of the building immediately above the first floor window and below the second floor window sills in the case of a two-story building. No wall sign is permitted to rise above the second story sill line. On one-story buildings, the top of the sign must be no more than five feet above the top of the main display window on the first floor.
(5) No wall sign affixed to a building, including sign support structure, may project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is attached. On existing buildings, a parapet wall must not be constructed for the sole purpose of increasing the allowable height of a wall sign.
(6) For new buildings, when a sign is to be mounted on a parapet wall, that parapet wall must be consistent with the architectural design of the building, including building materials. Wall signs may not be attached to un-reinforced masonry parapets. Wall signs must not cover windows, doors or architectural elements.
(7) Individually lettered, pin-mounted wall signs may consist of channel, H-channel, reverse channel, cast metal and flat cut metal letters mounted above the storefront in the masonry sign band or suspended in front of the storefront at the transom or recessed entry. The size of the lettering is restricted so that the height of the letters does not exceed 80% of height of the sign band or 18 inches, whichever is less. The length of the lettering is to be contained within 80% of the length of the sign band.
(8) Gooseneck or reflector lighting fixtures are permitted on all wall signs provided the reflectors must concentrate the illumination upon the area of the sign face only.
(9) Within a multi-tenant commercial development, all wall signs must be located at a generally uniform height on the building wall.
(C) Awnings or canopy signs. Awnings that are an architectural feature of a structure and are not used for identifying the premises or the goods and/or services sold are not considered a sign. Awnings and canopies used as signs are subject to the following regulations.
(1) Non-illuminated awning signs or canopy signs may be substituted for allowed wall signs, provided that the total combined sign area of all wall signs and awning or canopy signs does not exceed 32 square feet.
(2) Where an awning sign is used as the primary sign on the premises, the maximum sign area permitted on an awning sign is equal to 1.25 square feet per one foot of awning length or 25% of the awning area, whichever is less. The total combined length all elements of the sign copy area may not exceed 75% of the awning or canopy length.
(3) No portion of an awning sign shall be less than eight feet above the level of the public sidewalk or thoroughfare over which it is erected.
(4) No awning sign shall be permitted to extend beyond any point that is less than five feet from the curb line.
(5) Awning signs shall be constructed out of canvas or canvas-like material, unless other material is approved by the Zoning Administrator. Back-lit, vinyl and metal awnings are prohibited.
(6) Awning signs shall be securely attached to and supported by a building. All frames and supports shall be made of metal or other similar rigid material.
(7) The valance of an awning sign shall not include any text or images other than the name of the business, the service offered by that business, and the house number (no street name). Such valance shall be no more than eight inches in height and any lettering printed on such valance shall be no more than six inches in height.
(8) In any district other than the Uptown-Transit Oriented Development (UTOD) District, in lieu of any wall sign, the name of the business or logo may be printed on the portion of the awning above the valance. Printing above the valance shall be limited to one awning, except in the case of a corner lot where one awning with printing above the valance shall be allowed on each street frontage. Such name or logo printed above the valance shall be limited.
(9) Awnings shall be compatible in material and construction to the style and character of the building. The color of the awning shall be compatible with the overall color scheme of the facade.
(10) When feasible, awnings shall be generally aligned with others nearby in order to maintain a sense of visual continuity.
(D) Window signs.
(1) Window signs affixed to the interior of a ground floor exterior window are permitted. Regulations for temporary window signs are located in § 165.121(B).
(2) Not more than 40% of a window area may be covered.
(3) Permanent window signs for businesses that are not located on the ground floor are permitted only for businesses located within the room situated behind the window on which such signs are located.
(E) Projecting signs (includes hanging and blade).
(1) One projecting sign is permitted per ground floor establishment with frontage on a public street. For a multi-tenant building, one additional projecting sign is permitted. The maximum sign area of a projecting sign is 24 square feet.
(2) The outer edge of a projecting sign must be set back a minimum of one foot from curb line of any street or alley.
(3) A projecting sign must be pinned away from the wall at least six inches and must not extend more than six and one-half feet from the face of the building to which it is attached, including the area between the sign and the face of the building.
(4) The top of a projecting sign may be no higher than 20 feet above the sidewalk or thoroughfare. No projecting sign affixed to a building may project higher than the building height, including the sign support structure.
(5) Projecting signs must have a minimum vertical clearance of eight feet, as measured by a line extending straight down from the bottom of the sign to the ground immediately below the sign.
(6) No projecting or hanging sign is permitted to be attached to a roof.
(F) Ground signs. One monument sign or pole sign is allowed per zoning lot, pursuant to the requirements of this chapter except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(1) In the Commercial Overly District, the maximum allowable sign area of a monument sign is 48 square feet and the maximum sign area of a pole sign is 36 square feet. The maximum height of such a sign is ten feet.
(2) Ground signs associated with multi-tenant office or commercial developments must devote at least 40% of the total sign area to the name and address of the development. No more than four tenant panels are permitted per sign face. Tenant panels may be used for the display of leasing information pertaining to the development.
(3) In addition to a ground sign, drive-through establishments are allowed one menu board sign with a maximum area of 32 square feet, maximum height of six feet.
(4) Poles or pylons used to support pole signs must be constructed of a material or covered or concealed by a decorative cover. The cover must be that architecturally compatible with the overall design of the sign and the architectural character of buildings on the site, in terms of style, colors and materials.
(5) All ground signs must be landscaped in accordance with § 165.112(E).
(G) Electronic message boards. Electronic message boards may be allowed as a special use in the Commercial Sign Overlay District under the following conditions. A master sign plan must be reviewed and approved as part of the special use approval process.
(1) A maximum of one electronic message board sign is permitted per zoning lot. An electronic message board must not exceed 35% of the total permitted sign area for the lot. Electronic message boards are allowed only on single-user lots. A minimum 300 feet of lot frontage is required. A minimum of 500 feet is required between electronic message board signs.
(2) All illumination must be consistent in color. The message must not flash, scroll or scintillate. Illumination representing movement is prohibited. Each message must be displayed for a minimum of five seconds.
(3) The owner of an electronic message board that was granted permit approval prior to the adoption of this subchapter will be permitted to repair the sign provided the repaired sign does not exceed the size, number and operation requirements of this section.
(H) Signs for hospital use. Signs for a hospital use as shall comply with the above regulations for the Commercial Overlay District and this subchapter, except for directional signs (permanent) as follows:
(1) Such signs may designate hospital entrances, parking, walkways, emergency room locations and other hospital-related facilities, as well as entrances or exits, by means of symbols or words. There is no limitation on the items of information.
(2) Each driveway access from a public street is permitted one directional sign.
(3) Each intersection of drives within a site is permitted one sign to identify traffic routing, entrances and services, such as drive-in lanes. Additional directional signs may be permitted subject to Zoning Administrator approval.
(4) Directional signs shall be located entirely on the property to which they pertain. Directional signs shall not project beyond the property line.
(5) Directional signs may have a maximum height of 12 feet and a maximum surface area of 50 square feet.
(6) Directional signs may be illuminated.
(Prior Code, § 166.117) (Ord. 2014-040, passed 7-8-2014; Ord. 2023-030, passed 5-23-2023) Penalty, see § 165.999