(A) Every business as defined herein shall be permitted to erect one sign indicating only the business name and address, the major enterprise or the principal product offered for sale on the premises or a combination of these. The total sign surface area allowed in these districts shall be based on the following schedule:
One square foot of sign surface area for each one foot (1') of business site frontage up to a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) square feet of sign surface area. For the purposes of this section, "sign surface area" shall be defined as the total exposed surface devoted to the sign's message, including all framing, bordering, backboards, backdrops, ornamentations, embellishment, letters, symbols, logos, and all other such elements of a sign, but excluding, in the case of a freestanding or ground sign, the supporting structure. In the case of a ground sign designed with more than one exterior surface, the sign surface area shall be computed as including the sum of the area surface.
(B) Such signs as permitted in the above business districts shall be "building signs" as defined herein. Such building signs shall be no higher than the height of the building or twenty feet (20'), whichever is lower and no lower than five feet (5') above average surrounding grade. Any sign which projects from the face of the wall shall be at least seven feet six inches (7'6") above average surrounding grade.
(C) If such business is a business not located within a "shopping center" as defined herein, and is located upon a lot or parcel having a lot width of not less than one hundred feet (100'), such business shall be permitted to construct one freestanding or ground sign. Such freestanding or ground sign shall not be constructed or erected so that any part thereof is located closer than twenty feet (20') from the nearest existing freestanding or ground sign. The sign surface area of any such freestanding or ground sign shall be counted against the total sign surface area for all signs as regulated in subsection (A) of this Section.
In addition, the freestanding or ground sign permitted herein shall be further subject to the following sign surface area and height limitations:
1. No freestanding or ground sign shall be constructed or erected to a height greater than twelve feet (12') above the average surrounding grade.
2. The maximum sign surface area permitted in subsection (A) of this Section shall be reduced by seven and one-half (71/2) square feet per each foot of sign height that any freestanding or ground sign is constructed in excess of eight feet (8') above average surrounding grade.
(D) A shopping center located upon a lot or parcel having not less than two (2) acres in area may elect to construct or erect one freestanding or ground shopping center identification sign subject to the following criteria:
1. No other freestanding or ground sign shall be constructed or erected within the area comprising the shopping center.
2. The freestanding or ground shopping center identification sign shall not contain any advertisement other than the identity of the shopping center and the business located therein.
3. The total sign surface area of the shopping center identification sign shall not exceed ninety (90) square feet in area and shall be the sign surface area permitted in addition to that permitted in subsection (A) of this Section.
4. The shopping center identification sign shall not be constructed or erected to a height greater than twelve feet (12') above average surrounding grades.
(E) The total permissible sign surface area for uses located upon lots or parcels located within the B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-4 Business Districts shall be subject to the following additional area restrictions:
1. Uses located upon interior lots or parcels may construct or erect one freestanding or ground sign and one additional sign having a combined sign surface area not in excess of that permitted in subsection (A) of this Section.
2. Uses located upon corner lots or parcels may construct or erect one freestanding or ground sign and two (2) additional signs having a combined sign surface area not in excess of that permitted in subsection (A) of this Section.
3. For each sign constructed or erected in excess of the two (2) signs permitted for interior lots or parcels in subsection (E)1 of this Section, or in excess of the three (3) signs permitted for corner lots or parcels in subsection (E)2 of this Section, the total permissible sign surface area permitted by subsection (A) of this Section shall be reduced by twenty five percent (25%).
4. The construction or erection of a shopping center identification sign as permitted under subsection (D) of this Section shall not be considered in applying the requirements of this subsection. (Ord. 0-38-94, 9-6-1994)