Within the commercial, mixed use commercial, and industrial districts, wall signs and freestanding signs are permitted as follows:
(A) Address/building name sign. One address/ building name wall sign for each commercial building, not exceeding 10 square feet in area, is allowed. This sign does not count toward total aggregate square footage allowed for wall signs.
(B) Wall sign commercial and industrial uses. The total aggregate square footage of all wall signs shall not exceed the sum of 15% of leased or owned building wall area on an improved public road frontage. No more than 2 wall signs shall be allowed on an improved public road frontage for an individual business. The maximum sign surface area for an individual wall sign may not exceed 200 square feet.
(C) Individual letters/channel-raceway letters wall sign.
(D) Outline cabinet wall sign.
(E) Flatpanel wall sign.
(F) Logo as part of a wall sign.
(G) Projecting wall sign. Projecting signs are permitted with the following requirements:
(1) Projecting signs may encroach 5 feet into a required yard setback in the MU-1 Zoning District. In all other districts, a projecting sign must meet building setbacks;
(2) Projecting signs must be at least 8 feet above a public/private sidewalk;
(3) The maximum area of a projecting sign is 10 square feet;
(4) Projecting signs are calculated as wall signs.
(H) Awning sign. Awning signs are permitted and calculated as a wall sign.
(I) Master wall sign plan for multi-tenant buildings. A master sign plan may be proposed for existing or new multi-tenant buildings, shopping centers, and commercial and residential Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). In the case of a commercial multi-story building, a master sign plan is required. The master sign plan shall be submitted to the city and shall be of sufficient scope and detail to permit a determination as to whether or not the plan is consistent with the regulations of this subchapter or adopted as part of PUD standards. The purpose of the master sign plan is to determine the specific individual tenant sign requirements for the facility. Existing approved master sign plans for single-story multi-tenant buildings not part of a PUD may either follow the existing approved plan, or may follow current regulations provided in this subchapter. Building owner approval, in writing, will be required for all signs in a multi-tenant building, and shall be submitted with the required sign permit application.
(J) Location of wall signs on existing commercial buildings with residential architecture. Roof signs are prohibited by § 153.205(D)(6). Exception is made for existing commercial buildings that have residential architectural character to be placed above the lowest roof line. In the case of a hipped roof, mansard roof, gable-end roof, and dormers, wall signs may be placed above the lowest roof line of a building if no alternatives exist due to the architectural characteristics of the building. The final location of the wall sign above the lowest roof line shall be minimized and be approved by the city as part of the sign permit process.
(K) Illumination and lighting requirements. Wall signs may be internally or externally illuminated and shall meet the lighting requirements of § 153.185.
(L) Freestanding sign in the B-l and NC Zoning Districts. One freestanding sign shall be allowed for a single- or multi-tenant commercial building, with the following regulations:
(1) The surface area shall not exceed 40 square feet for a single-tenant building and 80 square feet for a multi-tenant building, and may include up to 50% of the total area as changeable electronic or non-electronic copy.
(2) The maximum height for a freestanding sign shall be the lowest point of the roof or parapet of the principal building with which it is associated.
(3) The base of a monument sign shall be designed with compatible materials and color that architecturally match the principal structure with which it is associated. The width of the base shall not exceed the width of the sign face.
(4) The base of a pylon sign shall be designed with compatible materials and color that architecturally match the principal structure so that post or column supports are not exposed.
(5) The sign may be internally or externally illuminated and shall meet the lighting requirements of § 153.185.
(6) The sign may not have more than 2 sides;
(7) No freestanding sign, or any part thereof, shall be located closer than 10 feet from the public right-of-way and 5 feet from all other lot lines, and shall meet the traffic visibility requirements as defined in § 153.205(B).
(M) Freestanding sign in the MU-2, B-2, B-3, BP, and I Zoning Districts. One freestanding sign shall be allowed for a single- or multi-tenant commercial building, with the following regulations:
(1) The surface area shall not exceed 100 square feet and may include up to 50% of the total area as changeable electronic or non-electronic copy.
(2) Parcels fronting on Interstate Highway 35 are allowed 1 additional freestanding sign, not to exceed 100 square feet in area and a height of 30 feet. The secondary sign shall be located between the principal building and I-35, and shall be setback 20 feet from the I-35 right-of-way.
(3) Parcel(s) in the B-2 Zoning District fronting on West Broadway with a secondary road frontage on 1st Avenue NW west of 8th Street NW may have a second freestanding sign, with a surface area not to exceed 10 square feet and 4 feet in height.
(4) The maximum height for a freestanding sign shall be the lowest point of the roof or parapet of the principal building with which it is associated.
(5) The base of a monument sign shall be designed with compatible materials and color that architecturally match the principal structure with which it is associated. The width of the base shall not exceed the width of the sign face.
(6) The base of a pylon sign shall be designed with compatible materials and color that architecturally match the principal structure so that post or column supports are not exposed.
(7) The sign may be internally or externally illuminated and shall meet the lighting requirements of § 153.185.
(8) The sign must not have more than 2 sides,
(9) No freestanding sign, or any part thereof, shall be located closer than 10 feet from the public right-of-way and 5 feet from all other lot lines, and shall meet traffic visibility requirements as defined in § 153.205(B).
(N) Freestanding sign in the MU-1 Zoning District. No freestanding signage is permitted in the MU-1 District.
(Ord. 537, passed 11-8-2004; Am. Ord. 549, passed 5-22-2006; Am. Ord. 573, passed 3-10-2008; Am. Ord. 596, passed 2-8-2010; Am. Ord. 616, passed 7-9-2012)