A. Freestanding Signs. One on-premises freestanding sign is permitted for each commercial parcel with a principal use. Properties with multiple businesses may share space on freestanding signs. The maximum freestanding sign area for buildings with less than 20,000 square feet gross floor area shall not exceed 100 square feet in area, nor 20 feet in height. The maximum freestanding sign area for buildings with at least 20,000 square feet gross floor area but less than 40,000 square feet gross floor area shall not exceed 150 square feet in area, nor 25 feet in height. The maximum freestanding sign area for buildings with 40,000 square feet gross floor area or more shall not exceed 200 square feet in area, nor 30 feet in height. Signs shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from the front property line and 20 feet from the side yard property lines. Illuminated signs and Dynamic signs are permitted.
B. Freestanding Signs for Developments in I-35 Corridor. In addition to the one allowed on-premises freestanding sign in Subsection A. above, properties in the I-35 Corridor, as defined in Section 7B-200.R. of this Ordinance, are allowed a second on-premises freestanding sign to be oriented toward the interstate highway and located in the I-35 Corridor, as provided in this subsection.
1. The maximum sign area for the second on-premises freestanding sign shall not exceed 200 square feet in area, nor 30 feet in height. Signs shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from the property line oriented toward the interstate highway and 20 feet from the side yard property lines. Illuminated signs and Dynamic signs are permitted.
2. On any property located in the I-35 Corridor, which is also located within 300 feet of the intersection of an interstate highway on- or off-ramp and the intersecting highway, the second on-premises sign allowed in Subdivision 1 above may be substituted for a freestanding sign not exceeding 100 square feet in area, nor 60 feet in height. Such sign substituted in this Subdivision 2 may be illuminated but shall not be dynamic.
3. For any single development in the I-35 Corridor with least 150 acres in area and with a principal structure with at least 60,000 square feet of gross floor area, the maximum sign area for the second on-premises freestanding sign is allowed to exceed the maximum area and height in Subdivision 1, up to 720 square feet in area and 65 feet in height. Signs shall be setback a minimum of 5 feet from the property line oriented toward the interstate highway and 20 feet from the side yard property lines. Illuminated signs and Dynamic signs are permitted. Signs in this Subdivision 3 require an Interim Use Permit. The procedure and requirements for the application and public hearing for an Interim Use Permit are described in Sections 7A-530 and 7A-531 of the Columbus City Code. Additional criteria for the issuance of an Interim Use Permit for a Dynamic sign permitted in this Subdivision 3 shall include but are not limited to:
a. The sign shall not be considered a traffic hazard or cause a public safety concern.
b. The sign shall not be considered a public nuisance.
c. Consideration must be given for public emergency and public service messaging.
d. In the event any of the above criteria are not met before or after an Interim Use Permit is issued, video display messaging will be terminated and the Dynamic sign messaging must conform to messaging display intervals that do not change less than once every 8 seconds.
C. Wall Signs. Wall signs are permitted on each wall of a principal structure with direct public street frontage. Principal structures served by private street frontage are permitted one wall sign. The maximum wall sign area for buildings with less than 20,000 square feet gross floor area shall not exceed 15% of the wall area or contain lettering heights greater than 36 inches. The maximum wall sign area for buildings with at least 20,000 square feet gross floor area but less than 40,000 square feet gross floor area shall not exceed 15% of the wall area or contain lettering heights greater than 42 inches. The maximum wall sign area for buildings with 40,000 square feet gross floor area or more shall not exceed 15% of the wall area or contain lettering heights greater than 48 inches. Wall sign area allowed on a wall but not used on that wall may be allocated to another wall of the same building. Illuminated wall signs are permitted. Dynamic wall signs are not permitted.
D. Sign Band for Multiple Wall Signs. Buildings with multiple uses or multiple businesses may have multiple wall signs, provided the aggregate total wall sign area does not exceed the standards in Subsection C. above, and the individual sign areas are similar and complementary in size, shape and location on the building.
[§ 7B-306 added by Ord. No. 10-06, effective May 6, 2010, amended by Ord. No. 13-01, effective January 31, 2013.]