(b) Central Business District Defined. As used in this section, "Central Business District" means the area bounded by:
The water's edge on the west bank of the Auglaize River between the centerline of Hopkins Street and the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers;
The water's edge on the south bank of the Maumee River between the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers and the point at which the centerline of Jackson Avenue would intersect the water's edge if extended north of the intersection of Jackson Avenue and First Street;
The centerline of Jackson Avenue between the points of intersection with the water's edge on the south bank of the Maumee River and the centerline of Thurston Street;
The centerline of Thurston Street between the points of intersection with the centerlines of Jackson Avenue and Clinton Street;
The centerline of Clinton Street between the points of intersection with the centerlines of Thurston Street and Arabella Street; .
The centerline of Arabella Street between the points of intersection with centerlines of Clinton Street and Jefferson Avenue;
The centerline of Jefferson Avenue between the points of intersection with the centerlines of Clinton Street and Fifth Street;
The centerline of Fifth Street between the points of intersection with the centerlines of Jefferson Avenue and Washington Avenue;
The centerline of Washington Avenue between the points of intersection with the centerlines of Fifth Street and Hopkins Street; and,
The centerline of Hopkins Avenue between the points of intersection with the centerline of Washington Avenue and the water's edge on the west bank of the Auglaize River.
(c) Design Review Board.
(1) Establishment. There is hereby established a Design Review Board to review sign requests for the Central Business District.
(2) Composition. The Board shall consist of three members as follows: the Building Commissioner, Architect and one member of the downtown retail merchants division of the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce.
(3) Appointment. The Mayor, with the approval and consent of Council, shall appoint the members of the Board.
(4) Terms. Members of the Board shall serve two-year terms, except for the Building Commissioner, who shall be a permanent member while holding such position. In order that the terms of the other two members will run so as to have one experienced member in addition to the Building Commissioner at all times, the first appointment will consist of one two- year term and one three year term, becoming two years each thereafter.
(5) Meetings and decisions. The Board shall meet monthly, as needed, and shall render decisions within ten days after a hearing.
(6) Reference standards for decisions. In determining requests for signs, the Board shall refer to the following standards:
A. The Master Plan of the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce, as proposed September, 1987;
B. Sign Options and Criteria for the Defiance Central Business District, sponsored by the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce, June 26, 1987; and
C. The provisions of this chapter.
(7) Appeals. Any party adversely affected by a determination of the Board may appeal to the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals pursuant to Section 7.03 of the City Charter.
(d) Restrictions and Requirements. Restrictions and requirements regarding signs and other advertising structures within the Central Business District shall be as follows:
(1) Copy shall be limited to the basic statement of name and nature of business.
(2) Mounting heights between a minimum of ten feet and a maximum of fourteen feet above the pavement shall be maintained, unless otherwise authorized by the Design Review Board.
(3) The minimum distance between the ends of a sign and the end of the building shall be two feet.
(4) The maximum height of the letters shall be sixteen inches.
(5) The maximum height of the sign shall be two and one-half feet.
(6) Sign area shall be calculated by multiplying the front linear footage of the shop times 1.25, which shall be equal to the total sign area in square feet.
(7) Sign area for neon signs shall be calculated by multiplying the front linear footage of the shop times . 75, which shall be equal to the total sign area in square feet.
(8) Professionally hand-lettered windows shall not cover more than twenty-five percent of the area of the window and/or twenty-five percent of the total glazed area of the building or shop. Letters shall not be larger than nine inches.
(9) Projecting signs shall not be lit internally. Their maximum dimensions 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 Board.
(Ord. 6283. Passed 3-26-02.)