Destination Districts are recognized as containing buildings and uses of greater scale, diversity, and intensity of use than other districts in the City of Canton, or as possessing unique assets that distinguish them from other neighborhoods. The sign regulations of the underlying zoning district shall apply, except that, in order to accommodate the unique characteristics of the Destination Districts, the signage regulations shall be modified for the following districts as specified below.
(a) B-5, Central Business District.
(1) Projecting Signs.
A. No portion of a projecting sign shall project more than six (6) feet from the face of the building.
B. Where the bottom portion of the sign is more than twelve (12) feet above grade, the maximum sign face area shall be 1.5 times the total area otherwise allowed.
(2) Upper-Level Building Signs.
A. Number.
i. Any building exceeding fifteen (15) stories in height is allowed a maximum of two (2) Upper Level Building signs.
ii. Only one (1) sign is allowed per building face.
B. Size.
i. The maximum sign face area for each sign shall be eight hundred (800) square feet.
ii. The maximum height for each sign shall be eighteen (18) feet or eighty percent (80%) of the Upper-Level Building Sign Band height, as defined in this chapter, or whichever is less.
C. Projection.
i. No portion of a wall sign mounted on a building exceeding fifteen (15) stories in height shall extend out more than forty-eight (48) inches from the building wall on which it is affixed.
D. Electronic Message Units and/or Digital Display.
i. The Director of Planning through administrative approval may determine that Digital Displays exceeding the type, size, area, and message display otherwise allowed herein are appropriate and may authorize the Chief Building official and and/or Zoning Inspector to issue a permit which requires adherence to standards which are either less strict or stricter than the standards otherwise required by this chapter.
E. Illumination: The following illumination types shall be permitted subject to the general regulations outlined in Section 1187.07.
i. Internal illumination
ii. External illumination
iii. Halo illumination or back-lit letters
F. Tenant Identification
i. Where more than one Upper Level Building sign is located on a building exceeding fifteen (15) stories in height, the signs may only identify the building's owner or one building tenant but not both. Where the signs identify a tenant, said tenant must occupy at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the building's leasable square footage.
(b) Hall of Fame Village (HOFV) Zoning District.
(1) The HOFV as defined in Title Fifteen of this ordinance, Signage Regulations and Requirements are established to provide for the orderly, efficient, and harmonious implementation of signs, sign structures, and other interior and exterior advertising devices that promote and complement flexibility and active entertainment uses and to enhance the Hall of Fame Village mixed-use district. These regulations are created to complement the mix of uses as prescribed in the HOFV in order to promote and develop a mixture of residential, retail, office, and cultural uses in single structures or multiple structures and to promote a coordinated, consistent theme throughout the development in its pedestrian and vehicular access and ways, the purpose also being to encourage a mixed-use, pedestrian oriented development within a unified project located in proximity to designated major roadways and intersections.
(2) Any areas assigned or designated as HOFV Zoning District, or areas annexed into the City of Canton and assigned HOFV Zoning District, or areas within the City of Canton Corporation Limits and that have been included in the Hall of Fame Village General Development Plan shall be subject to the standards and regulations set forth herein regarding signage within the same.
(3) The City of Canton and Canton City School District, their successors or assigns, being respective land owners within the area designated as HOFV Zoning District, may, at the discretion of Director of Planning, the Commission (and Council), elected boards, or other such authorized authorities, be exempt from these requirements if they so choose to not be encumbered with the costs and considerations associated with new signage. They may also choose to allow the signage be placed on their respective property at the expense of the HOFV developer or their successor or assign. This provision shall prevail and supersede all other applicable provisions regarding the regulation and permitting of signs to the extent of any conflict or inconsistency, whether explicit or by implication.
(4) HOFV Master Sign Plan.
A. The Hall of Fame Village Developer shall create a Signage Master Plan for the areas assigned or designated as HOFV Zoning District, or areas annexed into the City of Canton and assigned HOFV Zoning District, or areas within the City of Canton Corporation Limits and that have been included in the Hall of Fame Village General Development Plan. This shall be called The HOFV Master Sign Plan.
B. The HOFV Master Sign Plan standards shall be applicable to the land with all leases or sales of portions of the development. The sale, subdivision, splitting of land, partition, or other such change in configuration to the site after adoption of these regulations does not exempt the project or portions thereof from complying with these regulations.
C. The provisions of the creation of The HOFV Master Sign Plan are intended to regulate and control all signs within the Hall of Fame Village development. It is the intent of The HOFV Master Sign Plan to limit visual clutter and reach a level of aesthetic quality by reducing disharmony in signage and to establish a sign identity and promote traffic safety by limiting the size, type, location and materials of which signs may be constructed.
i. Master Sign Plan Creation. The HOFV developer shall prepare a Master Sign Plan regulating all signage within the area of the Hall of Fame Village Development as prescribed in the Hall of Fame Village General Development Plan. The type, size, color, materials, styles of lettering, type of illumination and location of signs shall be set out in such standards.
ii. Establishment of the Hall of Fame Village Sign Review Committee. The Developer shall establish the Hall of Fame Village Sign Review Committee, ("SRC"). The HOFV Master Sign Plan shall be developed by the Developer of the Hall of Fame Village development and submitted to the SRC for review of compliance with the standards established by these regulations. The SRC shall submit the HOFV Master Sign Plan to the City of Canton for review and approval.
iii. The HOFV Master Sign Plan standards. Sign development standards for creation of a Master Sign Plan are subject to the limitations set forth herein and shall maintain the following conditions of approval and acceptance.
• Once approved, represent a firm commitment by the Developer that the tenants and future occupants within the HOFV Zoning District will indeed follow the approved plans.
• No approval shall be issued for an individual sign in the HOFV Zoning District unless and until Sign Development Standards for the development have been submitted and approved by the SRC and the Commission and the sign is otherwise in conformance with the Standards created by the HOFV Master Sign Plan.
• When required, any sign shall be reviewed to conform the Ohio Department of Transportation standards for roadway signage for those signs deemed within their jurisdiction prior to submittal of the Master Sign Plan.
• The provisions in a Master Sign Plan shall prevail and supersede the other applicable provisions regarding the regulation and permitting of signs to the extent of any conflict or inconsistency, whether explicit or by implication. And where the HOFV Master Sign Plan contains provisions that are more restrictive than or more permissive than the existing or future City of Canton signage regulations would otherwise allow, the HOFV Master Sign Plan shall prevail.
iv. Deviation from Requirements. Deviations in size, colors, location, number of signs, and illumination, may be conditionally approved by the SRC if it is deemed that an equal or higher quality of development will be produced.
• The SRC may request administrative approval by the Director of Planning for a variance from the approved HOFV Master Sign Plan based on the same conditions. The Director of Planning may approve the variance allowing the deviation from the approved plan provided any deviation(s) so approved shall be in keeping with the intent of the approved Master Sign Plan, and provided that specific reasons justifying deviations are included in the record.
v. HOFV Master Sign Plan Submission Requirements. The HOFV Master Sign Plan shall include the following elements:
• A site plan, drawn to scale, showing the general location and types of all planned signs, structures or other devices within the proposed development and in the surrounding public rights-of-way. Such signage may include, but is not limited to; way finding, identification non-premises-related advertising, place-making and sponsorship advertising.
• Drawings showing type, size, color, materials, style of lettering and type illumination, if any.
vi. Action on HOFV Master Sign Plan. The SRC shall submit the HOFV Master Sign Plan to the Commission for consideration. The Commission may approve, approve with minor changes or modifications, or disapprove the HOFV Master Sign Plan. No zoning permits for signs shall be issued, nor shall any sign construction or erection activity of any kind commence, for any work depicted on an approved HOFV Master Sign Plan until such time as a zoning permit application has been submitted and approved.
vii. HOFV Master Sign Plan Review Criteria. The Director of Planning, Commission, and the SRC shall review and approve the HOFV Master Sign Plan, or all individual signs within the HOFV District against the standards set by the HOFV Master Sign Plan, including any proposed variances to the HOFV Master Sign Plan.
(5) Variation of Sign Standards: For permit applications within the HOFV Zoning District, the Director of Planning through administrative approval may determine that Digital Displays exceeding the type, size, area, message display, and number otherwise allowed herein are appropriate and may authorize the Chief Building official and and/or Zoning Inspector to issue a permit which requires adherence to standards which are either less strict or more strict than the standards otherwise required by this chapter. When making such a determination, the Planning Director shall consider the criteria below:
A. Criteria
i. Sight Line to Residences: The Planning Director must determine whether the proposed digital display will adversely impact any residential dwelling units with direct sight-lines to the sign.
ii. Traffic Hazards: The Planning Director must determine that the proposed digital display will not pose a traffic hazard. Signs facing a street with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour or below and signs facing a pedestrian way shall be presumed not to pose a traffic hazard.
iii. Surrounding Neighborhood: Digital displays are presumed to be appropriate when surrounded by commercial and institutional uses, and presumed to be inappropriate when surrounded by residential uses.
iv. Major Public Assembly Facilities: For public assembly facilities providing a minimum seating or attendance capacity of five thousand (5,000) persons, the Planning Director may determine that the proposed digital display is necessary to provide adequate information to the public.
v. Operation. The Commission may authorize variations to regulations governing the operation of Digital Displays where such variation will result in a sign better-suited to the aesthetic of a district.
• Restrictions on operating hours shall be considered in appropriate cases.
• Copy may be authorized to change more frequently than otherwise allowed, and may be permitted to scroll, move, or be otherwise animated on signs primarily oriented towards pedestrian right of ways.
• The maximum permitted brightness during hours between sunset and sunrise may be increased only if it is determined that the increased brightness will not negatively impact the surrounding facilities.
B. Limitations on Authority to Vary Standards.
i. Minimum Variation: Any variation from the regulations of this chapter shall be the minimum necessary to ensure design compatibility with the HOFV Master Sign Plan.
ii. Sign Type: In addition to the sign types permitted herein the Planning Director, as applicable, may only authorize Digital Displays as part of Pylon, Building or Wall Signs, Projecting Signs, Marquee Signs, Free Standing Pole, Monument or Ground Signs and Roof Signs.
(Ord. 25-2019. Passed 2-25-19.)