(A) Illumination. Sign illumination shall only be achieved through the following standards. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall hear and decide any appeals of staff decisions related to the interpretation of this section.
(1) General.
(a) All illuminated signage shall be externally lit with the exception of signs containing or consisting of channel letters as allowed in § 151.178(A)(3) below.
(b) Internal illumination and external illumination shall not be allowed for the same sign.
(2) External illumination.
(a) Signs that are externally illuminated shall have the light source shielded from adjacent buildings and streets, and no sign or device shall produce glare or illumination so as to create a nuisance or a safety hazard to adjacent property owners or to the traveling public. Illumination shall be achieved via a steady, stationary white light of reasonable intensity that is directed solely at the sign. No sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness or color.
(b) Ground signs that are externally illuminated with ground mounted lighting shall have the fixtures fully screened with evergreen landscaping, in addition to mechanical light source shielding.
(c) Electrical lights and fixtures shall not be attached to a sign unless they are installed in accordance with the current adopted National Electrical Code.
(3) Internal illumination. Only those signs as set forth in § 151.179 may be illuminated internally by up to two of the following methods. No other form of internal illumination is permitted.
(a) Individual channel letters and logos shall be permitted but only with the following physical characteristics:
1. White, translucent plastic (e.g., acrylic, lexan, sintra) faces, aluminum returns, and a white internal light;
2. Black or silver dual color film on white plastic faces, aluminum returns, and a white internal light; and
3. Logos shall not exceed 25% of the sign area.
(b) Individual reverse-channel (also know as "halo-lit" or "reverse lit") aluminum letters with opaque faces and returns of any color and white internal light.
(c) Routed face signs shall be permitted but only with the following physical characteristics (see § 151.180(G) and (J) for limitations on use of this sign design):
1. Metal face of any color and white internal light; and
2. Backed with white, translucent plastic (e.g., acrylic, lexan, sintra) or black, silver or dark gray dual color film on white plastic.
(d) Routed signs with push-through letters shall be permitted but only with the following characteristics (see § 151.180(G) and (J) for limitations on use of this sign design):
1. Metal sign face of any color and white internal light; and
2. Pushed through clear plastic (e.g., acrylic, lexan, sintra) letters with opaque vinyl faces of any color with a maximum return depth of one-half inch.
(4) Prohibited forms of illuminated signage.
(a) Exposed neon, or technologies such as LED that simulate neon, are prohibited for signs and shall not be incorporated into the design of a principal or accessory structure.
(b) Plastic-faced cabinet signs, whether internally or externally illuminated, with the exception of menu boards not visible from the public right-of-way, and theater marquee logos.
(c) The internal illumination of any sign not expressly allowed pursuant to the provisions of § 151.179.
(d) Any form or color of individual channel letters or reverse channel letters, routed face signs, or routed signs with push-through letters not expressly permitted by § 151.178(A)(3).
(e) External or internal illumination of a sign with a light color temperature that exceeds 5,000 K or the equivalent.
(B) Sign design; calculation of sign area and height.
(1) Attached letters and graphics. When separate letters or graphics are attached to, or painted on, a wall, then the sign area shall be determined by the smallest geometric shape that encloses all borders, graphics, and letters as a complete sign.
(2) Clearance from electrical lines. Signs shall maintain a minimum horizontal clearance of eight feet in addition to the fall radius and a vertical clearance of at least eight feet from electrical lines and in accordance with the provisions of the current adopted National Electrical Code, as revised.
(3) Double-faced signs. When two signs of the same shape and dimensions are mounted or displayed in a V shape, then all sign faces shall be included in calculating the aggregate sign area.
(4) Freestanding/ground signs. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the sign face area. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of (1) existing grade prior to construction or (2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases where the normal grade cannot be reasonably determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street.
(a) Sign base.
1. All ground signs, with the exception of ornamental ground signs, shall have a minimum base of two to three feet below the sign.
2. The sign base, with the exception of ornamental ground signs, must be solid in appearance with no exposed poles.
3. The design and materials of the sign base shall coordinate with the architecture of the building with which it is associated.
4. Landscaping of the solid sign base with planters and/or shrubbery in all directions is required to soften the appearance of the sign and provide a transition to the ground.
(b) Sign location. Grounds signs shall be separated from adjacent ground signs by 100 feet, with the exception of project signs, when allowed, that shall be separated by 1,000 feet.
(5) Wall signs.
(a) Wall signs shall not obstruct or crowd architectural elements and details that define the design of the building.
(b) The sign placement and architectural features of adjacent buildings shall be respected.
(c) Within the Historic District, wall signs shall not be painted directly on the surface of masonry walls if the wall has not been previously painted, unless a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new building has been approved by the Historic District Commission.
(6) Sign face area. The entire area of a sign face shall be measured by a single, uninterrupted polygon (a square, rectangle, semicircle, or parallelogram) comprising the entire sign inclusive of any border or trim and all of the elements of the matter displayed, but excluding architectural embellishment, the base, supports, and other structural members. In the case of three-dimensional letters, or painted letters directly on the wall surface (with a Certificate of Appropriateness in the Historic District), the surface area shall be that area encompassing the individual letters themselves, including any trim or border and excluding the background that supports the three-dimensional letters.
Figure 1: Example of how a sign area is determined by drawing a polygon (indicated by the dashed line) around all type and markings associated with the sign.
(7) Design of sign face. The following provisions shall regulate sign compatibility and physical characteristics:
(a) Ground signs shall not be in the shape of a sponsor name or motif (e.g., soda bottles, hamburgers, boot, and so forth).
(b) Individual, plastic-faced channel letters shall have only white, silver or black faces with aluminum returns of bronze, black, white or silver. Otherwise, color is not regulated if the sign is designed per § 151.178(A), Illumination.
(C) Building standards for permanent signs.
(1) Compatibility, quality, and impact.
(a) Building materials for signs shall be durable, have low maintenance, be of the same or higher quality as the principal structure(s), and shall not adversely impact adjacent uses.
(b) Ground sign materials shall match the materials of the associated building.
(c) Signs proposed for a building, or group of buildings, developed prior to August 2010, that contains two or more distinct occupants internally separated by firewalls or demising walls, shall be compatible with the signs of adjacent existing businesses, unless the property has been designated a Transitional Shopping Center pursuant to § 151.177. Compatibility of sign design shall be accomplished by individual tenant spaces in a shopping center harmonizing together through the use of signs with a common scale, heights from the finished grade, illumination, materials, type and color of sign faces and returns, and sign type (channel letter, halo-lit, and the like), placement on sign bands built into the building façade, or other signage features. Signs in Planned Developments where the outline plan has its own signage regulations, or buildings developed after August 2010, are exempt from the compatibility requirement.
(2) Appropriate materials for permanent, attached signs. The following materials are considered to be appropriate for sign backgrounds, frames, supports, and ornamentation for permanent attached signs:
(a) Wood;
(b) Metal;
(c) Plastic only when used as part of the following.
1. Channel letter faces and logos;
2. Backing for routed face signs;
3. Routed push-through letters and logos; or
4. Cut out or laser cut letters.
(3) Appropriate materials for permanent, freestanding/ground signs. The following materials are considered to be appropriate for sign backgrounds, frames, supports, and ornamentation for permanent freestanding/ground signs:
(a) Brick;
(b) Natural stone, including panels, or imitation stone;
(c) Stained, split-face block;
(d) Wood;
(e) Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) or similar material in combination with brick, split-face block, or stone;
(f) Metal panels, when used in combination with brick, split-face block, or stone; and
(g) Plastic or other synthetic materials when used in combination with brick, split-face block, or stone. The Development Director or his designee may specify an acceptable alternative to brick, split-face block, or stone that is composed of quality synthetic materials approximating the look and dimensions of authentic brick, split-face block, or stone.
(4) Prohibited materials. The following materials are prohibited for sign backgrounds, frames, supports, and ornamentation:
(a) Exposed metal poles, when not enclosed by a masonry veneer;
(b) Smooth-face concrete blocks, whether painted or unpainted;
(c) Metal panels, when used without brick, split-face block, or stone;
(d) Plastic, or other synthetic materials, when used without brick, split face block, or stone, or an acceptable alternative thereto as specified by the Development Director or his designee;
(e) Reflective materials; and
(f) Formed plastic letters.
(5) Structural requirements. All signs constructed or placed within the Town shall comply with all current Building Codes adopted by the Town. An electrical permit must be obtained for installation of any sign requiring electrical service or connection.
(D) Premises and sign maintenance.
(1) Premises maintenance. Signs and the premises surrounding them shall be maintained in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition, free and clear of obnoxious substances, rubbish, and weeds.
(2) Structure maintenance. Signs, together with their supports, braces, guys, and anchors, shall be kept in good, safe repair and shall be maintained in good and safe condition, including the periodic application of paint or other weatherproofing materials to prevent rust or other decay.
(3) Sign area or other maintenance. The sign shall not be allowed to deteriorate to a broken, torn, peeling, flaking, out of plumb or level, illegible, or otherwise decayed condition.
(4) Maintenance of banners and flags. Banners and flags shall not be allowed to deteriorate to a tattered, torn, or faded condition and shall be attached and secured properly at all times.
(5) Removal of attached signs. Upon removal of an attached sign, the wall or face of the building on which the sign was attached shall be repaired or resurfaced to restore the wall or face to its original condition prior to installation of the sign.
(E) Visibility.
(1) No obstruction. Signs, including any means of supporting or staying the signs, shall not be placed or constructed so as to obstruct or interfere with any door, window, fire escape or other means of egress, light, or ventilation. Signs shall not be located so that they obscure the view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic in a manner so as to endanger safe movement, particularly at entrances, exits and intersections.
(2) Protection of vegetation and trees. No person may, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of signs, damage, trim, destroy or remove any trees, shrubs, or other vegetation located as follows:
(a) Within public right-of-way, unless the work is done pursuant to the express written authorization of the Town or state, whichever is appropriate; or
(b) On property that is not under the ownership or control of the person conducting or responsible for the work, unless the work is done pursuant to the express authorization of the person owning the property on which the trees or shrubs are located; or
(c) In any area where trees or shrubs are required to remain under an approved development contract.
(Ord. 2010-01, passed 8-23-10; Am. Ord. 2012-15, passed 9-24-12; Am. Ord. 2013-01, passed 1-13-14; Am. Ord. 2018-06, passed 8-28-18; Am. Ord. 2021-01, passed 5-24-21)