A. Where permitted: Advertising signs complying with all the requirements of this ordinance shall only be allowed if they are located on U.S. Highway 30 or north of U.S. 30 on State Road 9 or south of Swihart Street on State Road 9. Additionally, they are required to be in a local business, general business, or industrial zoning district.
B. Area and height:
1. On U.S. Highway 30: The maximum area for any one sign shall not exceed 672 square feet in size per face excluding extensions and embellishments, with a maximum height of 14 feet and a maximum width of 48 feet inclusive of border and trim, but excluding the base, apron, supports, and other structural members.
On State Road 9: The maximum area for one sign shall not exceed 300 feet per face.
2. On U.S. Highway 30: Extensions to the top of advertising signs are permitted. However, in no case shall any extensions exceed 96 square feet in total feet in total area or extend more than 5½ feet in height above top of said sign. Other extensions are permitted as follows:
(a) Side extension: Two feet on each side.
(b) Bottom extension: One foot.
(c) Embellishments to advertising signs shall not exceed one foot out from the facing of said sign.
On State Road 9: No extensions allowed.
3. On U.S. Highway 30: The maximum height shall not exceed 50 feet from the highest point on the sign to surrounding grade or street level, whichever is higher.
On State Road 9: The maximum height shall not exceed 35 feet from the highest point on the sign to surrounding grade or street level, whichever is higher.
4. The maximum size limitations shall apply to each side of a sign structure, and signs may be placed back-to-back or in V-Type construction with not more than three side-by-side displays to each facing but such sign structures shall be considered as one sign. A group of not more than two advertising signs shall be permitted on one sign structure. However, there shall be no vertical stacking signs.
C. Location:
1. No such sign shall be erected within 1,000 lineal feet of an existing sign on the same side of the road.
2. No such sign shall be located within 500 lineal feet of a residential zoning district along the street on which the sign is intended to be located.
3. No sign shall be located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise physically interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal, or device or obstruct or physically interfere with a motor vehicle operator's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic.
4. No such sign shall be placed closer than 500 feet to an intersection with a limited access highway and measured from the nearest edge of the right-of-way. No such sign shall be so located to obstruct the vision of traffic using entrance ways, driveways, or any public road intersection.
5. On U.S. Highway 30: The minimum front yard setback for such signs shall be a minimum of 50 feet from any public right-of-way and/or private roadway easement.
On State Road 9: The minimum front yard setback for such signs shall be a minimum of 20 feet from any public right-of-way and/or private roadway easement.
6. No sign shall be located on any public or private utility easement, road, drainage easement or railroad right-of-way.
7. All lineal distances required by this section shall be measured from the nearest outside edge of the subject sign, whether a support, structural member, or the sign surface itself to the nearest outside edge of the corresponding sign, building, right-of-way or easement involved.
D. Prohibited outdoor advertising structure signage:
1. Roof-mounted signs or signs affixed directly to the side of any building.
2. Flashing signs, including automatic changing signs such as time, temperature, and date signs as well as electronically controlled message centers, unless approved as a Special Exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
3. Fluttering signs, pinwheels, pennants, streamers, and banners.
4. Moving signs or swinging signs.
5. Signs which contain characters, cartoons, or statements, words, or pictures of any obscene, indecent, prurient or immoral character.
6. Signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal, or which are of a size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or constructed as a traffic-control device, or which may hide from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
7. Any sign constructed or located in such a manner such that it becomes an immediate hazard or danger to persons or property because of being in an unsafe condition, or which obstructs any window, door, or fire escape of a building. Such signs will be subject to immediate removal by the Commissioner or his or her designee, without notice, at the expense of the property owners.
E. Maintenance: All signs and sign supports shall be maintained in good repair so as to prevent rust, peeling, flaking, or fading. Broken panels, missing letters, flaking or peeling paint, and other visual damage to a sign shall be repaired within 45 days of occurrence or within 30 days of notice from the Planning Department or the Board of Public Works and Safety.
F. Illumination: Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares, nor shall the light sources be oriented such that either direct or reflected light creates a nuisance to adjoining properties.
G. Plans required: An application to erect such a sign shall be accompanied by the following:
1. A set of plans, to scale, approved, and sealed by a licensed engineer in the state, providing all necessary construction and electrical details of the sign and sign structure, including height.
2. A site plan, to scale containing:
(a) The proposed location of the sign upon the property.
(b) The distance from the proposed sign location to any buildings upon the property, and adjoining street right-of-way lines, and driveway entrances.
(c) The distance from the proposed sign location to the next nearest billboard sign on either side of the street in either direction.
(d) The distance from the proposed sign location to the nearest street intersection in either direction.
3. A representation of the proposed sign, to scale, including the width and length of the sign faces, and height from surrounding grade.
H. Construction specifications: Henceforth, any such sign erected under this ordinance shall be a single pedestal type, constructed of nonflammable material, excluding wood. Construction of the sign and material specifications shall comply with the following sections of the “Indiana Department of Highways Standard Specifications: 802, 803, 909.14, 909.19, and 912.10,” as applicable, and must meet the structural requirements of the City’s Building Code.
(1980 Code, Ch. 156, § 11.12) (Ord. 1995-7, passed 6-5-1995; Am. Ord. 2013-15, passed 5-28-2013)