A. Purpose: Signage Standards for the Highway Corridor and Village Zones strengthen the economic and aesthetic appeal of the area through elevating sign standards and regulations. The visual quality, appropriate scale, and effective display of signs contribute to the identity, brand, and atmosphere of zones. Specifically:
1. Provide the public, property owners, and businesses an opportunity for safe and effective means of communication, reducing visual distractions and obstructive views from potentially creating safety hazards for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
2. Coordinate the location and type of signage with existing and proposed street frontage landscaping in a manner that that contributes to the character and economic health of the zones and individual projects and investments, and enhances the aesthetic quality of the area.
3. Provide clear and understandable regulations that enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these standards.
B. General Standards and Requirements:
1. New or Reconstructed Signs. All new signs and structural improvements to existing signs shall comply with these regulations.
2. Change in Use for Single Business Signage. For signage serving one business, whenever the existing use is changed to a new use requiring any change of signage content or face, the new sign, face, and content shall comply with these regulations.
3. Sign area. The sign area shall be measured from the outside edge of the sign face.
a. The area of a sign consisting of two sides shall be computed by adding together the total area(s) of both sides.
b. The total area of a sign with more than two faces shall be calculated using the area of the largest 2 faces.
c. The total area of a 3-dimensional sign structure shall be calculated by measuring the profile of the sign as 1 side and doubling the figure to calculate the total area.
d. See Table 19.6: Sign Standards by Type and Zone for specific requirements.
4. Prohibited signs. The following sign types are prohibited in the Highway Corridor and Village Zones:
a. Off-premise signs.
b. External Temporary signs other than A-Frame/Sandwich Board signs.
c. Signs with moving, spinning, animated, or flashing parts, including wind-driven signs and running lights.
d. Electronic message displays, electronic reader boards, and video displays.
e. Inflated or balloon signs.
f. Billboards are prohibited throughout the city.
C. Signs Requirements by Type and Zone: Various sign types and sizes are allowed in the Highway Corridor and Village Zones, depending on the zone and building façade (see Table 19.6: Sign Standards by Type and Zone).
SIGN TYPE | HIGHWAY CORRIDOR | VILLAGE |
SIGN TYPE | HIGHWAY CORRIDOR | VILLAGE |
Awning1 | P May extend into city ROW per Design and Frontage standards in 18.90.060 | P May extend into city ROW per Design and Frontage standards in 18.90.060 |
Canopy1,2 | P May extend into city ROW per Design and Frontage standards in 18.90.060 | P May extend into city ROW per Design and Frontage standards in 18.90.060 |
Hanging1 | P Maximum 12 square feet Maintain clear height at least 10 feet above sidewalk, may extend 3 feet into City ROW; if beneath awning maintain 8 feet clearance | P Maximum 12 square feet Maintain clear height at least 10 feet above sidewalk, may extend 3 feet into City ROW; if beneath awning maintain 8 feet clearance |
Monolith2 | P Height 25 feet maximum Width 6 feet maximum Must have solid base | P Height 12 feet maximum Width 4 feet maximum Must have solid base |
Monument2 | P Height 6 feet maximum Width 12 feet maximum Must have solid base | P Height 5 feet maximum Width 8 feet maximum Must have solid base |
Pole | N | N |
Projecting1 | P Maximum 12 square feet Maintain clear height at least 10 feet above sidewalk, may extend 3 feet into City ROW; if beneath awning maintain 8 feet clearance | P Maximum 6 square feet Maintain clear height at least 10 feet above sidewalk, may extend 3 feet into City ROW; if beneath awning maintain 8 feet clearance |
Pylon | P Height 25 feet maximum Width 8 feet maximum Separation minimum 250 feet Each leg must be at least 2 feet wide | N |
Site Directional/ Directory | P Height 3 feet maximum | P Height 3 feet maximum |
Roof | P Maximum 1 square foot per linear foot of façade, 1 sign per building | N |
Temporary A-frame/ Sandwich Board3 | P | P |
Wall signs: | P May not extend above parapet | P May not extend above parapet |
Window signs4 | P | P |
1) Of this group of signs (awning, canopy, hanging, projecting, wall) no more than 3 signs allowed per street frontage; total sign area allowed per building, or establishment with exterior entrance, is 1 square feet per linear feet of frontage or 24 square feet, whichever is greater. | ||
a. Total of all signs on multi-tenant building frontage shall not exceed 100 square feet. | ||
b. Hanging or projecting signs under a canopy or awning are limited to 3 square feet per business entrance. | ||
2) Changeable copy may be incorporated into a canopy, monolith, or monument sign, up to a maximum of 20% of the sign area but not to exceed 6 square feet. Changeable copy includes only single-color static digital displays. Full-color displays or reader boards are not allowed. | ||
3) Temporary signs. A-Frame/Sandwich Board signs are allowed on sidewalks but must not restrict the flow and safety of any mode of traffic and must be removed daily. Limit of 1 sign per retail/restaurant establishment, maximum height 3 feet. | ||
4) Permanent and semi-permanent window signs such as lettering, etching, or open/closed signs need no permit if they do not exceed 10% of the glass area of the window and do not obstruct the required view of depth to 15 feet from the sidewalk. Temporary window signs may occupy an additional 10% of the window area and shall meet the same standards for permanent and non-permanent signs. | ||
D. Nonconforming Signs: Permanent signs existing at the time of this code adoption shall be allowed to remain in their current form and function however:
1. Nonconforming signs shall not be enlarged, expanded, extended, nor shall any additional sign be added to the support structure of a nonconforming sign. Permanent and temporary attachments, including banners, may not be attached to the sign. Any proposed alteration shall be made only for bringing the entire sign into conformity.
2. General repairs, maintenance, and change to a sign face or advertising copy that does not include replacing a static sign with an electronic message display (EMD) are not considered alterations.
3. A sign that is removed for public purposes such as for utilities or street expansion or repair, may be replaced, and may be placed in an appropriate location as provided by the city, provided there is no increase in the height or size of the sign. Any other nonconforming element of the sign must be brought into conformance. A nonconforming sign that is voluntarily replaced shall be replaced with a conforming sign.
4. If more than 50% of a nonconforming sign is damaged by any means, as measured by total replacement cost of both the sign and structure prior to such destruction, it shall be considered destroyed and shall not be brought back into service or use except in conformity with the provisions of this section. (Ord. 847, 2022)