Accessory signs in the U-7 District shall be designed, erected, altered, moved and maintained, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following regulations.
(a) Sign Types Permitted. Every business establishment shall be permitted the following sign types:
(1) Primary signs. One of the following as a primary sign for each frontage on a public right of way:
A. Business signs, as defined in this chapter, installed as wall, canopy, window or ground signs.
B. Directory signs to identify upper story establishments. Each such sign shall be installed as a wall sign, not to exceed twenty-four square feet, and located within six feet of the entrance serving the uses identified on the sign. One directory sign shall be shared by all upper story establishments served by such entrance. Such directory sign shall be designated the primary sign for all upper story establishments identified in the directory sign and may incorporate changeable copy.
C. Shopping center identification signs to identify the establishments located in a shopping center. Each such sign shall be installed as a ground sign not to exceed forty-eight square feet. One shopping center identification sign shall be shared by all establishments located in the shopping center. Such shopping center identification sign shall be designated the primary sign for all uses in that shopping center.
(2) Secondary signs. One of the following as a secondary sign for each frontage on a public right-of-way:
A. Window signs. Window signs shall be the only type of secondary sign permitted for upper story establishments.
B. Canopy signs.
C. Wall signs.
(3) Auxiliary entry signs. One auxiliary entry sign, installed as a wall sign, no wider than the width of the customer entrance, and not to exceed two feet in height.
(4) Parking control signs. One parking control sign shall be permitted per entry or exit drive serving a parking lot, installed as a free-standing sign. The sign face shall not exceed a surface area of four square feet and the sign shall not exceed a height of three and one-half feet.
(5) Temporary signs. Temporary signs shall be installed as window signs and shall be installed no more than thirty days prior to the event to which they relate. Such signs must be removed ten days after the event and, in any case, the same temporary sign may not be displayed for more than a total of forty days.
(b) Structural Requirements.
(1) Wall signs.
A. The maximum area of wall signs along the frontage of a single business enterprise shall be equal to one square foot of signage for each one linear foot of building frontage allocated solely to that business, but shall not exceed fifty square feet. Each business shall be permitted, for each frontage of that business, one square foot of signage for each one linear foot of building frontage allocated solely to that business, up to a maximum of fifty square feet.
B. Permitted wall signs shall be located and designed subject to the following criteria:
1. A wall sign shall not be located above the cornice line or second floor window line of a building, whichever is lower.
2. All wall signs shall be oriented to face the street and mounted on the building facade generally parallel to the street.
(2) Ground signs.
A. Ground signs shall not be approved unless the size, design and location of the principal structure are such that a wall sign could not be safely seen or clearly viewed by passing traffic.
B. 1. A ground sign may display not more than two signable areas, located on opposite faces of the sign.
2. The maximum permissible area of each single sign face shall not exceed twenty-four square feet, with the exception of identification signs for shopping centers.
C. Ground signs shall not exceed five feet in total height. Such height includes the base of the sign, which base shall be a minimum of one foot in height.
D. Location.
1. Ground signs shall be located in an evergreen landscaped base no closer than five feet from the front property line; no closer than ten feet from the principal structure; and no closer than ten feet from any driveway. Ground signs shall not obstruct the view of drivers entering the street or highway.
2. In determining the appropriate location of a ground sign along the property frontage, a minimum separation of eighty feet from other ground signs shall be maintained.
3. The ground sign must be set back at least twenty-five feet from the adjoining side lot line.
E. Ground signs for places of worship may incorporate changeable copy.
(3) Window signs.
A. A ground floor establishment may display, as its primary sign, one permanent window sign. Such signs shall be placed on the window glass and shall be contained completely within a single window. Such signs shall be limited in area to one square foot for each linear foot of building frontage, not to exceed forty square feet or any more stringent limitation of this chapter.
B. The placement and design of window signs shall, in addition to all other requirements of this chapter, be subject to the following:
1. Permanent window signs cannot exceed fifteen percent of the area of the window through which the sign may be seen, or six square feet, whichever is less.
2. A person may display one or more temporary window signs on each window of the premises, but the total area of all window signs in any one window shall not exceed ten percent of the area of that window.
3. The combined total area of temporary and permanent window signs shall not exceed twenty percent of the area of the window through which such signs may be seen.
C. A permanent window sign shall be placed on the window glass and be contained completely within a single window. A sign will also be considered as a window sign if it is located within six feet inside the window.
D. Window panels separated only by mullions shall be considered as a single window in the computation of window surface area.
E. Permanent window signs shall have a transparent background.
F. Neon or flashing window signs are not permitted.
(4) Window displays. Window displays shall be limited to forty percent of the window area. No window display located within six feet of the window may be maintained which has the effect of circumventing the intent of this requirement. If material purporting to be a window display has such effect, it shall be deemed to be a temporary window sign and not a window display.
(5) Canopy Signs.
A. Canopies may constitute the primary sign for an establishment unless the establishment displays a business sign, as defined in this chapter, installed as a wall or window sign. A canopy displaying edge lettering may be used as a secondary sign.
B. Coverage limitations.
1. If a canopy is used as a primary sign, the area of such sign shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the surface of the canopy or six square feet, whichever is less.
2. If a canopy is used as a secondary sign, lettering shall be placed on the edge of the canopy hanging perpendicular to the street and shall be nine inches or less in height.
C. No portion of a canopy sign shall be less than eight and one-half feet above the level of the sidewalk or other public thoroughfare over which it projects.
(6) Free-standing pole signs.
A. The maximum area of each sign face shall be 120 square feet. Each sign shall have no more than three sign faces.
B. The maximum height of a pole sign shall be fifty feet, and the lower edge of the sign face shall be located not less than ten feet above grade.
C. Free-standing pole signs shall be located only on the north side of Brookpark Road and shall be located no more than twenty-five feet from the right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 480.
D. Permits for free-standing pole signs shall be issued pursuant to the same procedures, application requirements and design standards applicable to billboards as set forth in Chapter 1124, except those design standards applicable specifically to pole signs under this subsection.
(c) Special Conditions for Automotive Fuel Stations.
(1) Matter appearing on gasoline pumps as purchased or installed shall not be considered signs for purposes of this chapter.
(2) In addition to all other signs permitted by this section, an automotive fuel station may display:
A. One sign, not larger than four square feet, above each pump island stating whether the area is a "self service" or "full service" area and the current price per gallon of the gasoline sold at the station;
B. Signs showing an affiliation with a motor club;
C. Signs indicating the acceptance of designated credit cards;
D. Matter appearing on outdoor vending machines as purchased or installed; and
E. Price information displayed on ground signs.
(3) Each element of the cost to the customer of fuel shall be included in the statement of the price per gallon.
(d) Mural or Pictorial Signs.
(1) Mural or pictorial signs shall not depict any scene or picture containing advertising or commercial aspects.
(2) Mural or pictorial signs shall be in proportion to the total area of the structure. Such signs shall complement the building and street where displayed in terms of scale, color and pattern. No mural or pictorial sign shall be intended or used to shock, or have the effect of shocking, the visual coherence of the streetscape.
(e) Nonconforming and Unsafe Signs and Nuisances.
(1) All signs which were installed with a permit prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be deemed legal nonconforming signs.
(2) Pole signs in existence on the effective date of this chapter may continue to be displayed until the sign is damaged or destroyed in excess of fifty percent of its replacement value, or use of the sign has been voluntarily discontinued for six months or more, whichever time is earlier. The use of a legal nonconforming pole sign shall be considered voluntarily discontinued when the sign has been modified to conform to the requirements related to size, color, illumination and other construction requirements under this chapter, or when the intent of the permittee to discontinue use is otherwise apparent in the condition of the sign. Evidence of such intent shall include, but is not limited to, signs which have ceased to display advertising, matter, which display obsolete messages, which require repairs costing more than fifty percent of the replacement value of the sign or for which the property owner claims no responsibility.
(Ord. 8927-2002. Passed 9-17-02.)
(3) Any sign erected without a permit shall be removed within forty-eight hours of receipt of a notice of violation from the Building Commissioner. If such sign is not removed within such forty-eight hour period, the Building Commissioner is authorized to cause the sign to be removed. Any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure or premises on which the sign is found.
(Ord. 8497-1998. Passed 12-1-98.)