1187.08 SIGNS IN GENERAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES.
   The following signs only are permitted in the C-3, C-3A, M-1, M-1A, M-2 and M-2A zones with or without planned unit development additive zones and subject to the provisions of Section 1187.03.
(a)   Total Permitted Sign Area.
(1)   Except as provided below, the total aggregate sign area shall not exceed two square feet of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage on its principal street or one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of lot frontage on its principal street, whichever is greater. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the maximum sign area for any individual business shall be 450 square feet and the minimum sign area for any individual business shall be eighty square feet. Window signs are permitted herein and shall not be included for purposes of calculating the total permitted sign area.
(2)   When a business has a second or third building frontage and entrance facing an arcade or mall, an additional one-half square foot of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage facing the arcade or mall, and to be used only on such frontage is permitted subject to all other conditions contained in this subsection (a) if no other sign resulting from the other provisions of this chapter appears on such frontage.
(3)   In a shopping center, where one or more of the businesses have no frontage on a public road, street or highway, such businesses shall be permitted signs as allowed in Section 1187.05(g)(5).
(4)   A building having four or more stories shall be allowed an additional one square foot of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage on its principal street.
(b)   Attached Signs.
(1)   Area. No individual sign or group of signs on one building face shall exceed 300 square feet except as provided below.
(2)   Bonus area. Attached signs may be permitted to exceed 300 square feet in accordance with the equation below where the major buildings have in excess of 40,000 square feet of floor area and where such building is set back more than 150 feet from the street, and where the bottom of the attached sign is at least sixteen feet above the average finished grade.
A.   ASA = 300 + 2/3 (SB - 150), where ASA is the attached sign area in square feet and SB is the building setback from the principal street in lineal feet. The attached sign area shall in no case exceed 450 square feet.
B.   Provided further that under no condition shall the signs on any one elevation of the building exceed ten percent (10%) of the total wall surface of that elevation.
(3)   Multi-story buildings. All signs shall be located on the ground floor or in any area above the first story specifically designed to display signs, provided the bottom of any such sign must be located within fifteen feet of the ground level, except that building or primary tenant identification signs may also be located on the uppermost story, or as provided below.
(4)   Canopy signs. An under canopy sign may be permitted for each business, provided it shall not exceed five feet in length or one foot in height. Such under canopy signs may be located either perpendicular to the face of the building or parallel to the face of the building under the canopy. Under canopy signs shall observe an eight foot clearance between the bottom of the sign and the sidewalk or other pedestrian way.
(5)   Wall signs. Wall signs may be permitted subject to the following conditions:
A.   Where a single parcel or group of abutting parcels are enclosed by a solid wall or fence along a public street, one unlighted sign may be permitted thereon.
B.   Sign area shall be as determined in subsection (a) hereof, but not to exceed fifty square feet per sign.
(c)   On-Site, Freestanding Signs. In accordance with the overall design and area limitations of Section 1187.05 and subsection (a) hereof, and pursuant to the following requirements:
(1)   Freestanding signs. Freestanding signs shall be limited to fifty percent (50%) of the total sign area allowed to the business.
(2)   For those businesses not located in a shopping center, one on-site freestanding sign shall be permitted for any one parcel or group of abutting parcels having 200 lineal feet of continuous street frontage. One additional freestanding sign shall be permitted for properties with greater than 500 lineal feet of continuous street frontage. The second freestanding sign shall be no closer than 200 feet to the first sign measured along the street frontage.
(3)   In a shopping center, one freestanding sign shall be allowed for each street upon which the shopping center has street frontage exceeding 200 lineal feet.
(4)   The height of a freestanding sign shall not exceed twenty-four feet except that a height of up to thirty-two feet may be permitted for freeway oriented business, according to the following equation: FSH = 24 + SB/20, where FSH is the freestanding sign height in lineal feet, SB is the sign setback from the principal street right of way in lineal feet. The freestanding sign height shall in no case exceed thirty-two feet above the normal finished grade.
(5)   The area of a freestanding sign shall not exceed 300 square feet except as provided by the following equation: FSA = 300 + SB/2, where FSA is the freestanding sign area in square feet. SB is the sign setback from the principal street right of way in lineal feet. The freestanding sign area shall in no case exceed 450 square feet.
(d)   Sale or Lease Signs. Not exceeding an aggregate of sixty square feet in area and not more than two such signs per parcel.
(e)   Subdivision and Subdivision Directional Signs. As permitted in Section 1187.05(h) et seq.
(f)   Political Signs. As permitted in Section 1187.03(n).
(g)   Auxiliary Signs. Auxiliary signs identifying trading stamps, charge plans, promotional events or State authorized service emblems, but excluding advertising for products or other services sold on the premises, shall be permitted in locations as specified in this section without regard to the area requirements as specified in subsection (a)(1) hereof. Such auxiliary signs shall be limited to one sign for each auxiliary event not to exceed five square feet in area. The total area of all such auxiliary event signs shall not exceed twelve square feet in area. Such signs shall be made of rigid materials such as metal, plastic or wood; paper, cardboard or cloth signs shall not be permitted. Such signs shall not be located on light standards.
(h)   Gasoline Price Panels. Gasoline price panels, either manual or electronic/digital shall be allowed on freestanding signs if integral within the design of the freestanding sign and if within the area requirements of subsection (a) hereof. Gasoline price panels shall also be permitted as individual signs attached to gasoline pumps provided such signs do not exceed eight by twelve inches in size, and such individual signs shall be permitted without regard to the area requirements as specified in subsection (a)(1) hereof.
(i)   Ground Signs.
(1)   Area. The total area of ground signs shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total sign area allowed to the business.
(2)   Business. For those businesses not located in a shopping center, one ground sign shall be permitted for any parcel having 100 feet of contiguous street frontage or greater.
(3)   Shopping center. For those businesses located in a shopping center, one ground sign shall be permitted for each street frontage on different streets if each frontage is 100 lineal feet or greater.
(4)   Freestanding. For any one parcel or group of abutting parcels permitted a freestanding sign, a ground sign may be permitted in lieu of that freestanding sign but not in addition to it unless located on a street frontage of 500 feet or greater and separated by 150 feet or more.
(j)   Banners and Special Event Signs. As permitted in Section 1187.03(i).
(k)   Company Logo Flags. As permitted in Section 1187.03(t).
(l)   Property Improvement Signs. As permitted in Section 1187.05(i).
   (m)   Electronic Message Display Signs. The sign and message transfer must meet the following conditions:
      (1)   Each message or copy must be displayed for at last seven seconds.
      (2)   When a message or copy changes by remote control or electronic process, it shall be accomplished in three seconds or less using a fade or dissolve feature.
      (3)   Permitted only in a shopping center as defined in Section 1187.02(e) with 500 feet or greater of continuous street frontage along the principal street.
      (4)   This sign shall be the only freestanding sign permitted upon the property.
   (n)   Variable Message Reader Board. One board not to exceed 50 square feet, which must be constructed in conjunction with a pole or ground sign shall be permitted for any parcel having 200 linear feet or greater of lot frontage. This sign must be subordinate to the principle sign face in size and location.
      (Ord. 47-08. Passed 4-28-08.)