No projecting sign shall be constructed, erected or maintained on any lot in the city except when approved as part of a projecting sign plan according to the requirements and procedures contained in this section.
(a) Projecting sign plan required. In a commercial or special district, a majority of business property owners of six or more contiguous zoning lots or the owner(s) of zoning lots which comprise a minimum of six store fronts may file with the Planning Commission and the Architectural Board of Review a Projecting Sign Plan for such zoning lots.
(b) Area and height regulations. Projecting signs shall comply with the following standards.
(1) Only one projecting sign per first floor tenant shall be permitted.
(2) The area of a projecting sign shall not exceed six square feet per sign face and shall be part of the total allowable identification sign area permitted in Schedule 1151.04.
(3) The lowest part of the sign shall be a minimum of ten feet above ground level and shall not project out more than four feet from the wall of the building.
(4) A projecting sign may be suspended from an architectural canopy provided the sign does not extend beyond such canopy.
(c) Attachment of projecting signs. Complete information regarding the proposed method of support and attachment of projecting signs shall be submitted with the application for the permit. No staples or nails shall be used to secure any projecting sign to any building or other structure. No part of a projecting sign shall be supported from an unbraced parapet wall.
(d) Elements of projecting sign plan. The projecting sign plan shall contain the following:
(1) Building sections and elevations at an appropriate scale;
(2) Computation of the maximum total sign area and the maximum area of signs for individual store fronts or building units affected by the plan;
(3) An accurate indication on the elevations/section drawings of the location of each existing and proposed sign; and
(4) The plan shall specify standards for consistency among all signs on the zoning lots included in the plan with regard to: color scheme; lettering or graphic style; materials; location on the building; sign proportions; framing; and method of attachment.
(e) Consent and compliance. The projecting sign plan shall be endorsed by a majority of the property owners or business tenants of the lots encompassed by the plan, and the majority of the owners and tenants shall commit to installation of a conforming projecting sign within 12 months from the time the plan is approved.
(f) Architectural review of individual signs. Once the plan is approved by the Planning Commission and the Architectural Board of Review, the subsequent erection or alteration of any individual projecting sign shall be approved by the Architectural Board of Review if such sign is not specifically approved as part of the projecting sign plan.
(Ord. 165-99, passed 12-21-1999)