The following are signs permitted in nonresidential zoning districts along with all applicable standards of this chapter:
(a) On-Premises Signs Required. All signs in the business districts shall be on-premises signs, accessory to the principal use.
(b) Permitted Signs.
(1) Window, wall, canopy, projecting, marquee, monument, or pole signs are permitted in all nonresidential districts subject to the provisions of this chapter.
(3) Signs in the CO College Overlay District are permitted in accordance with Subsection 1179.07(e).
(c) General Regulations by Sign Type.
The following standards apply to the individual types of signs permitted in the nonresidential zoning districts:
(1) Maximum Aggregate Sign Area. In all nonresidential zoning districts, the combined total sign area of all signs shall not exceed two square feet for each foot of lot frontage.
(2) Window Signs.
A. Window signs located within, attached or mounted to, or located within a space two feet inside of and positioned to be visible from outside of any window, shall be deemed a window sign, and are included in the allowable maximum aggregate sign area.
B. Windows signs in the Central Business District shall not be electronic changeable copy signs.
C. Where window signs are permitted, such sign shall not occupy more than 25% of the window area. See Figure 1179.07-1 for locations used in the calculation of sign area.
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Figure 1179.07 1: The window area to be used in calculation of sign area.
(3) Wall, Canopy, and Projecting Signs.
A. The maximum wall, canopy, and projecting sign area in nonresidential zoning districts, except B-3 and B-4 Districts, shall be 1.5 square feet for each foot of building frontage.
B. The maximum wall, canopy, and projecting sign area for a building located in a B-3 or B-4 District may be increased subject to the following:
1. If the building is located more than 200 feet from a principal public right-of-way from which the sign is viewed, then the maximum allowable sign area shall be 1.75 square feet for each foot of building frontage.
2. If the building is located more than 400 feet from a principal public right-of-way from which the sign is viewed, then the maximum allowable sign area shall be 2.00 square feet for each foot of building frontage.
C. In the case of a multi-tenant building, the above calculation shall apply to the area of the front building wall elevation for the individual tenant.
D. No wall, canopy, or projecting sign shall project above the roof line.
E. Wall signs shall not project more than 18 inches from the building wall and shall not extend above the wall or beyond the wall to which they are attached.
F. Wall, canopy or projecting signs may contain changeable copy.
1. Electronic message centers for wall, canopy or projecting signs are only permitted in the B-3 and B-4 Districts.
2. In the B-3 and B-4 Districts, electronic message center signs shall comply with the following:
a. Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
b. Messages can only change once every 10 seconds or more.
c. The transition time between messages shall be less than one second.
d. The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
e. The brightness level shall not increase by more than 0.3 footcandles (or 3.23 lumens per square meter or lux) (over ambient levels) as measured using a footcandle meter at a pre-set distance.
f. The procedure and distances for measurement of brightness shall be as established by the International Sign Association's Recommended Night-time Brightness Levels for On-Premises Electronic Message Centers.
g. The owners of such signs shall include a signed letter accompanying their zoning permit application, certifying that they will comply with the prescribed brightness limitations set by this Code.
h. Only Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology shall be permitted for electronic message centers. The maximum pitch for LED sign shall be 35 millimeters. The pitch is the industry standard for measuring the distance between light points.
(4) Marquee Signs.
A. The maximum area of a marquee sign shall be the greater of 1.5 square feet for each foot of building frontage or the perimeter of the three exposed sides of a marquee measured in feet multiplied by five square feet.
B. Marquee signs shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet above the grade of any adjacent sidewalk.
C. Marquee signs shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet above the grade of any driveway or other area open to vehicular traffic.
D. A marquee sign shall not extend above the roof line of the building to which it is attached.
(5) Monument or Pole Signs.
A. Location in Landscaped Area. Both pole signs and monument signs shall be located in a landscaped area equal to or larger than the total sign area of the applicable sign. Such landscaped area may be an area that fulfills the requirements of Chapter 1177 Landscaping and Buffer Standards.
B. Maximum Height.
1. Monument signs shall not exceed five feet in height unless the lowest horizontal element is elevated more than nine feet above the adjacent grade.
2. The maximum height of a pole sign shall be 30 feet.
a. Properties adjacent to a limited access highway may have a sign with a maximum height of 50 feet.
C. Permitted Sign Area for Monument or Pole Signs. The maximum area of each face of a monument or pole sign shall be the lesser of 1.5 feet for each foot of frontage, or 250 square feet, and not to exceed the maximum aggregate sign area per Subsection 1179.07(c)(1).
D. Setback.
1. All signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any side lot line.
2. All signs shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from any lot in a residential zoning district.
3. No freestanding sign may be located within 150 feet of any other freestanding sign located adjacent to the same side of the same public right-of-way.
E. Changeable Copy Signs.
1. Up to 50% of a permitted monument or pole sign may incorporate a changeable copy sign.
2. In the B-3 and B-4 Districts, the changeable copy sign may be an electronic message center provided:
a. Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
b. Messages can only change once every 10 seconds or more.
c. The transition time between messages shall be less than one second.
d. The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
e. The brightness level shall not increase by more than 0.3 footcandles (or 3.23 lumens per square meter or lux) (over ambient levels) as measured using a footcandle meter at a pre-set distance.
f. The procedure and distances for measurement of brightness shall be as established by the International Sign Association's Recommended Night-time Brightness Levels for On-Premises Electronic Message Centers.
g. The owners of such signs shall include a signed letter accompanying their zoning permit application, certifying that they will comply with the prescribed brightness limitations set by this Code.
h. Only Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology shall be permitted for electronic message centers. The maximum pitch for LED sign shall be 35 millimeters. The pitch is the industry standard for measuring the distance between light points.
3. Electronic message centers are permitted in zoning districts that allow business establishments that sell gasoline or other vehicle fuels for the display of product prices.
(6) Menu Board Signs.
A. One menu board sign for each stacking lane in a drive-through facility shall be allowed provided it does not exceed 48 square feet in sign area. Any additional attachments such as pictures or photographs of food and other items shall be included within the maximum signage area.
B. Menu board signage shall not be included in the total calculated allowed signage for a property under the remainder of this chapter.
C. No menu board sign shall exceed seven feet in height measured from the grade of the adjacent driving surface to the top of the sign.
D. All menu board signs shall be internally illuminated.
E. Menu boards shall be reviewed and approved as part of the zoning permit for the drive-through establishment or, when a menu board is to be added, as part of a separate zoning permit application.
F. The menu sign board shall be located in a landscaped area equal to or larger than the total sign area of the menu board. Such landscape area may also be counted toward any landscaping requirements in Chapter 1177 Landscaping and Buffer Standards.
(d) Additional Regulations for Signs in the Central Business District.
(1) Mounting heights between a minimum of 10 feet and maximum of 14 feet above the pavement shall be maintained, unless otherwise authorized by the Design Review Board.
(2) The minimum distance between the ends of a sign and the end of the building shall be two feet.
(3) The maximum height of the letters shall be 16 inches.
(4) The maximum height of the sign shall be 2.5 feet.
(5) Sign area shall be calculated by multiplying the front linear footage of the building frontage times 1.25, which shall be equal to the total sign area in square feet.
(6) Sign area for neon signs shall be calculated by multiplying the front linear footage of the building frontage times 0.75, which shall be equal to the total sign area in square feet.
(7) Professionally hand-lettered windows shall not cover more than 25% of the area of the window and/or 25% of the total glazed area of the building or shop. Letters shall not be larger than nine inches.
(8) Projecting signs shall not be internally illuminated.
(9) The maximum dimensions of a projecting sign shall be three feet long by two feet, six inches high, and they shall be able to be supported without guy wires or any other means of support other than the hanging bracket.
(10) Pylon or pole signs and vacuform box signs are prohibited. Exceptions may be authorized by the Design Review Board.
(11) Window signs in the Central Business District shall not be electronic changeable copy signs.
(e) Signs in the CO College Overlay District. Signs in the CO College Overlay District shall conform to all requirements of Chapter 1179 Sign Standards applicable to the underlying zoning district in which the proposed sign is to be erected and the requirements of this subsection.
(1) Maximum Height of Monument Sign.
A. Monument signs shall not exceed five feet in height.
B. Pole signs are prohibited in the CO College Overlay District.
(2) Monument signs shall be oriented perpendicular to the curb fronting the property on which the sign is located.
(3) The maximum area of each face of a monument sign shall be 48 square feet.
(4) Support structures for monument signs shall be of low reflectance materials, finished in colors compatible with the coloration of the primary façade of the building to which they pertain.
(5) Monument signs shall be landscaped in a manner compatible with the landscaping of adjacent driveways and vehicular use areas.
(6) Each property shall be permitted to erect only one monument sign unless that property fronts two or more public streets. If the property fronts two or more streets, the property owner shall be permitted to erect one monument sign facing each street, or at the property owner's election, a single monument sign bisecting the angle of the intersecting streets on which the property presents frontage.
(7) Public service devices otherwise allowed by Section 1179.04 Prohibited Signs shall not be erected within the CO College Overlay District.
(8) Temporary construction signs shall not exceed 48 square feet in area.
(9) Variances.
A. No variance shall be granted from the requirements of this subsection.
B. No variance shall be granted from any applicable regulation of Chapter 1179 Sign Standards within the CO College Overlay District except that a variance may be granted from Subsection 1179.07(c)(5)D. Setback where, due to lot dimensions or existing signage on adjacent properties, strict application of Subsection 1179.07(c)(5)D. would prevent the erection of monument signage on the property for which such signage is proposed.
C. The BZBA shall not, however, grant such variance unless it first finds that the use of a sign other than a monument sign would fail to meet the legitimate communicative needs of the property owner or that the use of a sign that is not subject to the minimum spacing requirements of Subsection 1179.07(c)(5)D. would be inconsistent with achievement of harmonious design throughout the CO College Overlay District or other declared purpose for which the CO College Overlay District is established.
(10) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the erection of any sign that is not required to have a permit, Section 1179.05 Signs Not Requiring a Permit.
(f) Temporary Signs in Nonresidential Zoning Districts. Each individual lot in a nonresidential zoning district shall be permitted temporary signs in accordance with the provisions of Section 1179.08 Temporary Signs and other regulations of this standard. (Ord. 7675. Passed 11-11-14.)