For the purpose of this chapter, automotive dealers include new car, used car, motorcycle, and motor homes dealerships. Permitted signs for automotive dealers are as follows:
(A) Exempted signs.
(B) Permitted permanent identification signs.
(1) Freestanding signs. Regulations of a freestanding sign are determined by the classification of the road on which the freestanding sign is located as defined in Exhibit A, as amended from time to time. For the purpose of this chapter, a freestanding sign shall include all signs that are supported by either a masonry base or two six-by-six or four-by-four wood supports not exceeding a height of two feet.
(a) Number: One freestanding sign is permitted per public right-of-way frontage.
(b) Location: No freestanding sign shall project into, over or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. All freestanding signs must maintain a setback of 25 feet from the property line. Each freestanding sign must be surrounded with a landscaped bed of living plant material in accordance with the landscape ordinance as amended from time to time. Only one freestanding sign may be located per public right-of-way frontage.
(c) Color: All colors of any freestanding sign shall be compatible and harmonious with the color of the building identified by the sign. Furthermore, text on a freestanding sign is limited to three colors.
(d) Illumination: Freestanding signs may be internally illuminated or illuminated via spot lighting or similar external forms. Internally illuminated signs shall have an opaque background with only letters and logo illuminated. Internally illuminated signs shall have an opaque background with only letters and logo illuminated. All sign illumination must comply with § 151.003. Internally illuminated box signs are prohibited.
(e) Materials: All materials and colors of any freestanding sign shall be compatible and harmonious with the color and materials of the building identified by the sign.
(f) Items of information: The items of information on a freestanding sign shall include the name of the business(es) or business center, address, telephone number, and or business logo.
(g) Height: The maximum height of the sign for an automotive dealer is determined by the following table (Table A). The height of the freestanding sign may be increased 10% to allow for ornamental features.
Table A - Maximum Sign Height for Automotive Dealer Freestanding Signs
Road Classification
|
Maximum Sign Height
|
Regional Arterial | 7 feet |
Community Arterial | 6 feet |
Major Collector | 5 feet |
Neighborhood Collector/Local Street | 4 feet |
(h) Area: The maximum area for a freestanding sign for an automotive dealer is determined by the total acreage of the automotive dealer. The area of the sign is identified in Table B.
Table B - Maximum Sign Area for Automotive Dealers Freestanding Sign
Site Acreage | Maximum Sign Area |
0 - 1.5 | 15 square feet |
1.5-2.5 | 20 square feet |
3.5 - 4.99 | 30 square feet |
5.0 - 9.99 | 40 square feet |
10 - 19.99 | 50 square feet |
20+ | 75 square feet |
(h) Text size: The minimum height of the text is determined by the classification of the road on which the sign is located. Text height will be measured using the lower case height (or shortest character height) of the font chosen. The minimum height of text for the sign is defined in Table C.
Table C - Minimum Text Height for Automotive Dealers Freestanding Signs
Road Classification | Minimum Text Height |
Regional Arterial | 12 inches |
Community Arterial | 10 inches |
Major Collector | 8 inches |
Neighborhood Collector | 7 inches |
(2) Wall signs. Regulations of a wall sign restrict the location, area and the illumination of the sign.
(a) Location: No wall sign shall project into, over or otherwise encroach upon a public right-of-way. No wall sign shall cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening, nor project beyond the ends, top or bottom of the wall to which it is affixed. No sign shall project more than one foot from the wall on which it is displayed. All wall signs must be aligned on one common centerline. Only one wall sign shall be located on a building per road frontage.
(b) Number: A maximum of three wall signs are permitted per dealership. For the purpose of this chapter, an automotive dealer may erect a flag containing corporate identification or business logo, which cannot measure greater than three feet by five feet. Any flag containing corporate identification or business logo will be included in the total square footage of the allowable wall sign.
(c) Illumination: Wall signage shall consist of internally illuminated lit channel letters, reverse channel lit letters, spot lighting or similar external forms of illumination. Internally illuminated signs shall have an opaque background with only letters and logo illuminated. All wall sign illumination must be in compliance with § 151.003.
(d) Color: No more than three colors shall be used for all wall signage pertaining to each business. If a wall sign is mounted on a raceway, the color of the raceway shall match the color of the exterior of the building.
(e) Items of information: The items of information on a freestanding sign shall include the name of the business(es) or business center, address, telephone number, and or business logo.
(f) Area: The maximum area of any individual wall sign is 50 square feet.
(3) Permanent window signs. Regulations of a window sign are determined by a percentage of the total window frontage.
(a) Number: One window sign shall be permitted per frontage on public right-of-way and or frontage on a main point of ingress egress into the development. Text may not encompass more than one window.
(b) Illumination: Internal illumination of window signs is prohibited.
(c) Materials: A window sign must be painted directly upon or permanently fastened to the window surface itself and shall not be composed of any neon, or other bare-bulb illumination.
(d) Color: No more than three colors shall be used for all window signage pertaining to a business.
(e) Items of information: The items of information of a window sign shall be limited to the business name, address, telephone number, and or business hours.
(f) Area: The maximum allowable area of a window sign is 25% of the total frontage window area.
(Ord. 2243, passed 11-21-05)