(A) Placement of signs on lots. No sign shall be placed closer than five feet to any lot line, excluding multitenant monument signs for properties in the B-3 District that are at least five acres in area or larger and contain a minimum of 25,000 square feet of building floor area, which shall be set back a minimum of 40 feet from any property line, or unless otherwise specific herein. No sign of any type shall be located within the 25 foot sight triangle of a corner lot, unless the height of the sign is no more than 30 inches above the crown of the adjacent road. No sign shall be placed at any location on any lot in such a manner as to obstruct the view of traffic.
(B) Illumination.
(1) Illumination of all signs shall be diffused or indirect and shall be so arranged that there will be no direct rays reflecting into the public way or any. Exposed light bulbs, flashing, blinking or traveling and similar illumination are not permitted.
(2) Direct lighting shall be allowed only on monument signs and so long as direct rays do not reflect into the public right-of-way or onto residential lots.
(C) Changeable copy. (See Figure 16-6-9(C-D)). Changeable copy is allowed on monument signs in accordance with the following.
(1) One-third of the sign area must be permanent copy. The area of the sign devoted to changeable copy shall be part of, not in addition to, the total permitted sign area.
(2) The changeable copy must be protected from unauthorized changes with a protective covering or other means of securing the sign.
(D) Electronic message boards. (See Figure 16-6-9(C-D)). Electronic message boards are allowed on monument signs in accordance with the following.
(1) One-third of the sign area must be permanent copy.
(2) The area of the sign devoted to an electronic message board shall be part of, not in addition to, the maximum sign area permitted.
(3) The electronic message format shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) The message will contain a static message or image only and not have limited movement, or the appearance of movement, during the static display period.
(b) The transition to change from one message or image to another shall be instant and not dissolve, fade, scroll, travel, or have similar transitions so as not to distract motorists.
(c) The message shall not change more frequently than once every four seconds.
(4) Electronic message boards must be equipped with a default mechanism that will stop the messaging or freeze the image in one position when a malfunction in electronic programming occurs.
(5) Electronic message boards shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and is programmed to automatically dim according to light conditions.
(6) Electronic message boards shall have a white light correlated color temperature not exceeding 4,000 degrees Kelvin.
(7) Illumination of electronic message boards shall not exceed three-tenth foot-candles over the ambient lighting conditions when measured at a distance equal to the square footage of the sign area.
(E) Construction, safety, maintenance, and abandonment. Every sign and all parts thereof, including framework, supports, background, anchors and wiring systems shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with the Property Maintenance, Building, Electrical and Fire Codes of the village.
(1) All signs, together with all supports, braces, guys, and anchors shall be kept in proper repair in accordance with the provisions of this article. When not galvanized or constructed of approved corrosion resistive, noncombustible materials, signs shall be painted when necessary to prevent corrosion, rust, peeling paint, and excessive fading. Failure of owners to keep signs maintained in good mechanical and visual repair shall be deemed a violation of this article.
(2) It shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner or lessee of every sign to maintain the immediate premises occupied by the sign in a clean condition, free of rubbish. Any landscaping surrounding the sign shall be kept trimmed and in good condition. If the landscaping planted at the time of sign installation dies, said landscaping shall be replaced immediately or as soon as weather permits.
(3) Every existing sign shall be subject to an inspection whenever the Community Development Director deems it necessary. In the event an inspection demonstrates that repairs and/or maintenance is necessary, the sign owner shall be notified and required to complete said repairs and/or maintenance within 30 days of notification. The Community Development Director is authorized to grant one 30 day extension, if, upon written request, it is deemed necessary due to extenuating circumstances.
(4) If the Community Development Director shall find that any sign is unsafe or unsecure, or is a threat to the public safety, or was, after the adoption of this article constructed, erected, or maintained in violation of the provisions of this article, he or she shall give written notice per the provisions of this article. Such notice shall specify the manner of which the sign is unsafe or in violation of this article.
(5) Sign copy shall be removed and in the case of a wall sign, the building facade shall be repaired, by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the use which the sign is associated is no longer conducted on the premises. The sign copy shall be removed within 30 days of when the use ceases to operate. If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign copy, the Community Development Director shall give the owner 30 days written notice to remove it. Upon failure to comply with the notice, the Community Development Director may have the sign removed at the owner's expense.
(Ord. 2015-05-15, passed 5-3-2021;Ord. 2021-09-45, passed 9-20-2021)