A. Maintenance of Signs. All signs and supporting hardware, including temporary signs, shall be maintained in good repair and function properly at all times. Signs which are not properly maintained and are dilapidated shall be deemed to be a public nuisance.
When existing signs are removed or replaced, all brackets, poles, and other supports that are no longer required shall be removed. Any unpainted areas shall be painted to match the adjacent portion of the building or sign support structure.
B. Measurement of Sign Area.
1. The surface area of a sign shall be calculated by enclosing the extreme limits of any writing, logo, representation, emblem, or other display within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles with no more than eight lines.
2. Supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental to the display itself shall not be computed as sign area.
3. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all of the area, including the area between the sections or modules, shall be included in the computation of sign area.
4. Double-faced (back-to-back) freestanding signs shall be regarded as a single sign only if the distance between each sign face does not exceed two feet. However, each sign face shall be considered a separate sign for the purpose of calculating sign area.
5. Where a sign consists of one or more three-dimensional objects (i.e., balls, cubes, clusters of objects, sculptures, or statue-like trademarks), the sign area shall be measured as their maximum projection upon a vertical plane.
C. Illumination of Signs. The artificial illumination of signs, either from an internal or external source, shall be designed to eliminate any negative impacts on surrounding rights-of-way and properties. The following standards apply to all illuminated signs:
1. External light sources shall be directed and shielded to limit direct illumination of any object other than the sign;
2. The light from any illuminated sign shall not be of an intensity or brightness which will interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of residential properties in direct visual proximity to the sign;
3. No sign shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or any other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness, or color;
4. No colored lights shall be used at any location or in any manner so as to be confused or construed as traffic control devices;
5. Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a hazard to operators of motor vehicles;
6. No reflective-type bulb or lamp which exceeds 125 lumens shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulb or lamp to any public rights-of-way or adjacent property; and
7. Light sources shall utilize energy-efficient fixtures to the greatest extent possible.
Ord. 2443