(a) Electronic changeable copy signs may be permitted by special exception of the board of adjustment in commercial, industrial, mixed-use and community facility zoning districts, subject to the following conditions. Provided however, electronic changeable copy signs shall not be allowed within the Chisholm Trail Parkway (SH 121) freeway scenic corridor.
(1) A maximum of 25% of the sign face may be devoted to changeable copy.
(2) The message rate shall not change at a rate faster than one message every 20 seconds.
(3) Electronic changeable copy signs shall not contain animation, rolling or running letters or message, flashing lights or displays as part of the display.
(4) On detached signs, electronic changeable copy shall be limited to monument signs, except where pylon and freeway signs are allowed under § 6.409.
(5) Electronic changeable copy signs shall have automatic dimming technology installed limiting the sign to no more than 0.3 footcandles above ambient light, measured at a distance equaling the square root of the product of the sign's square footage multiplied by 100. The distance shall be rounded to the closest whole number.
(6) All sound shall be prohibited.
(b) The board of adjustment shall not grant variances which are less restrictive than the conditions of the special exception.
(c) In granting the special exception, the board of adjustment shall consider the following:
(1) the presence of other electronic changeable copy signs in the vicinity;
(2) the visibility from residential districts;
(3) the street classification of the adjacent roadways; and
(4) the proximity to scenic areas or corridors.
(Ord. 17872-11-2007, § 1, passed 11-6-2007; Ord. 18745-08-2009, § 5, passed 8-4-2009; Ord. 21716- 04-2015, § 1, passed 47-2015, eff. 4-25-2015; Ord. 23737-08-2019, § 1, passed 8-6-2019, eff. 9-8-2019)