Except as otherwise specifically provided, nothing in this chapter shall require removal or discontinuance of an existing on-premises or existing off-premises sign. Such signs shall not be enlarged or extended and the same shall be deemed a nonconforming sign under the terms of this Zoning Code.
(a) Outdoor advertising signs shall be limited to signs pertaining to advertising exclusively for the use established or goods sold or services rendered on the premises.
(b) Colors. Not more than three primary colors and two accent colors may be used on the sign or signs for any one building. Different shades of a color shall be treated as one color for the purpose of this requirement.
(c) Illumination and Eye-Catching Devices. All signs and advertising structures may be illuminated internally or by reflected light provided the source of light is not directly visible and is so arranged as to reflect away from the adjoining properties and provided that such illumination shall not be so placed as to cause confusion or a hazard to traffic or conflict with traffic control signals or signs. Illuminated signs within a residential district shall have the light pattern confined to the premises. Display signs illuminated by electricity or equipped in anyway with electric devices or appliances shall conform with respect to wiring and appliances to the provisions of the ordinances relating to electric installations. Any external electric supply lines shall be brought to the sign by underground supply.
(d) Wall Signs. All wall signs shall be mounted on the building which houses the business establishment advertised by said signs, shall be located on or along a wall of such building which faces a street, parking lot or service drive, and shall not project above the roof line or the cap of parapets of such building, whichever is higher. No wall sign shall project above the wall to which it is attached.
(1) All wall signs in shopping centers shall be parallel to the wall on which they are installed, and shall be as nearly flush with such wall as is practical, it being hereby intended to limit signs projecting outward from the wall. Wall signs to be erected, other than in shopping centers, projecting outward from the wall at right angles or otherwise over public streets or sidewalks shall not exceed eight square feet. Each zoning certificate issued for the erection or maintenance of a new or existing wall sign over a public street or sidewalk shall contain a condition that the certificate holder furnish a bond set by Council to hold the municipality harmless from any liability for injury to third persons.
(2) No part of any wall sign shall be less than eight feet above the sidewalk or ground level, if such wall sign projects forward off the wall on which it is mounted to such an extent as to constitute a hazard or inconvenience to pedestrian or vehicular traffic. No part of any wall sign shall be closer to either end of the building face (including any wall extension) on which it is erected than 18 inches. Where more than one wall sign is erected on the same face of a building, there shall be a distance of at least three feet between said signs.
(3) The aggregate sign area or display surface of all exterior wall signs of every nature shall not exceed one square foot for every two feet of linear building perimeter. The total wall sign area of any building may not exceed 400 square feet. The total wall sign area on any one side of a building shall not exceed 40% of the allowable area for the entire building as computed in accordance with the foregoing rules.
(4) In the case any side of a non-residential property is adjacent to a residential district, a wall sign shall not be located on the side of the building to which the nearest said residential district is less than 150 feet.
(e) Free Standing and Monument Signs. All free standing and monument signs shall meets the following requirements:
(1) The maximum height thereof does not exceed eight feet above the average grade of the site when the sign is located 15 feet from the primary frontage street right-of-way line. For each additional three feet setback from the street right-of-way line, an additional one foot in height will be permitted for a freestanding sign up to a maximum of 20 feet high.
(2) The total display area of all surfaces does not exceed 15 square feet when the sign is located 15 feet from the primary frontage street right-of-way line. For each additional one foot setback from the street right-of-way line, an additional three square feet of display area will be permitted for the sign up to a maximum of 64 square feet.
(3) The display area of any one surface of the sign does not exceed 32 square feet.
(4) No part of the sign may be located closer to any street right-of-way line than 15 feet, nor closer to any other property line than the applicable building setback line, if the adjoining property is in a residential district.
(5) The sign will be in harmony with the building on the site, and will not detract from the appearance of the general neighborhood in which it is located or adversely affect property values in such neighborhood.
(6) The sign will not constitute a traffic hazard or contribute to traffic problems through confusion with traffic control devices, interference with the field of vision of motorists using streets or driveways in the area, or by creating a visual distraction for such motorists. In making a determination, the Planning and Zoning Administrator shall take into consideration all pertinent factors relating to the compatibility of such sign with the surrounding neighborhood, including, but not limited to, its size, shape, color, brightness, design and its general appearance.
(7) Not more than one free standing or monument sign may be authorized for any one business establishment. Where more than one business establishment is located on a single tract of land, having an entrance or entrances or parking area or areas used in common by the customers of such establishments, only one free standing or monument sign may be authorized for the entire tract. The existence and boundaries of such tract shall be determined by community use, rather than by the ownership thereof, it being intended by this provision to limit each shopping center or similar joint operation to one free standing or monument sign, except in the case of a shopping center which is contiguous to two streets which do not intersect each other at a point adjacent to such shopping center, in which case, one free standing or monument sign, fronting on each street, may be authorized. Such signs used for identification of joint activities shall comply with the provisions of comprehensive development signage as indicated in this section.
(f) Comprehensive Development Signage. Comprehensive development signage requires the approval of Council before a sign permit may be issued by the Planning and Zoning Administrator, pending compliance with all applicable sections of this Zoning Code. For the purposes of these sign regulations, comprehensive development signage shall be considered appropriate in the following categories:
(1) Comprehensive on-site sign system. A comprehensive on-site system may be authorized by Council, provided that a written set of graphic design criteria regulation provided by the applicant and applying to present and all future development are approved by Council, a copy of a standard contractual signage agreement is approved by Council, any changes to the approved system require approval by Council as a conditional use, and meeting the following requirements:
A. One joint identification free standing sign not to exceed 80 square feet in area and 20 feet in height, and meeting a minimum setback of 15 feet from all right(s)-of-way. Such sign may list individual uses and serve as a means of identification of the center of development.
B. One wall sign shall be permitted for each individual use not to exceed one square foot for every lineal foot of the building width of each individual use that fronts any shopping center drive or parking area, not to exceed 30 square feet in sign area. (This shall not prohibit a sign as permitted in § 1189.02(d).)
C. No free standing signs other than one joint identification sign shall be permitted within the development.
(2) Single-family subdivision and multi-family development signs. Major permanent entrance features indicating the project entrance(s) to a single-family subdivision may be authorized by Council. Up to two entrance features are permitted at each subdivision entrance. Such feature should include a free standing sign mounted on a constructed base and supported from substantial construction. Each sign shall not exceed 20 square feet and shall be a maximum five feet in height. The constructed base, and the sign mounted within, shall be a maximum of six total feet in height, shall not exceed 40 square feet, and shall not be located closer than 15 feet from the closest right-of-way and no closer to any property line than the applicable building setback requirement if the adjoining property is in a residential zoning district.
(g) Directional Signs. Traffic directional signs indicating points of entry or exit to off-street parking, provided such signs are not larger than five square feet in area per display surface. Such signs may not have more than two display surfaces. Such signs may not be greater than three and one-half feet in height. Such signs shall not be located in a public right-of-way and shall not obstruct the view of motorists for the purposes of ingress and egress.
(Ord. 2020-10, passed 6-15-2020)