Permanent signs shall be subject to the following requirements:
(a) Wall Signs. Wall signs may be erected on any building wall or extension of a building wall which faces a street, parking lot or service drive, and such sign may not extend beyond any building setback line. Wall signs shall be attached parallel to the building face and extend outward perpendicular from the building face a maximum of twelve (12) inches.
(b) Marquee, Canopy and/or Awning Signs. Canopy signs may be painted on an awning area or attached to a canopy or roof which projects beyond the building provided that no part of such sign may extend above the roof line, canopy or marquee. Canopy or marquee signs shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet above ground level. If a marquee, canopy or awning sign consist of two (2) faces facing two (2) directions and each face having the same message, it shall be considered as one (1) sign.
(c) Projecting Signs. Projecting signs shall be placed not less than nine (9) feet above the sidewalk or ground level, and project not more than six (6) feet outward from the building face.
(d) Freestanding Signs. The location, height and other characteristics of freestanding signs must meet the requirements of this Chapter.
(e) Permanent Window Signs. Permanent window signs shall be unrestricted in all zoning districts.
(f) Off-Premises Signs. Off-premises signs, not including billboards, shall be considered as an accessory use in all nonresidential districts. Not more than one (1) off-premises sign with a sign face area not exceeding twenty (20) square feet is permitted on a single lot. Off-premises signs shall conform to height restrictions for structures in the zoning district where they are located.
(g) Digital Display Signs. Digital display signs shall be considered a permitted use in GC, HC and IP Districts. Digital display signs shall be considered a conditional use in all other districts, requiring specific approval of the Planning Commission. Digital display signs shall be allowed only on properties having direct frontage on state and federal highways as designated on the primary system. Digital display signs which are also billboards shall meet the requirements of subsection (h) below. The digital display of text and graphics associated with this type of sign shall not be considered to flash, blink, or provide constant illumination.
(h) Billboards. Billboards shall be allowed only on properties having direct frontage on federal highways as designated on the primary system. The erection of all billboards shall comply with all federal and state requirements. All billboards shall be not greater than forty-five (45) feet in height. The maximum display area for any billboard shall not exceed 300 square feet per side. Billboards shall not be located within 200 feet from the right-of-way of the highway or within 1,500 feet from any residence or district where single-family residences are a permitted use. No billboard shall be erected within 1,000 feet from any other billboard.
Nothing in this Ordinance shall prohibit the changing or alteration of the display surface of any otherwise lawful billboard.
(i) Vending Machine Signs. For the purposes of this Chapter, vending machines with attached signs shall be treated as permanent signs. Vending machine signs shall not be included in the number of permitted signs pursuant to subsection (j)(11) below; however, vending machine signs shall meet the requirements for illuminated signs in subsection (j)(1) below. In addition, if a vending machine sign is located on a lot adjacent to any single-family residence, such sign shall be positioned or shielded so as not to be visible from such residence.
(j) General Requirements.
(1) Illumination. Illuminated signs shall be permitted in the LC, HS, GC, U, GI and IP Districts. Illumination shall be from a concealed or indirect light source and shall not flash, blink, or in any manner fail to provide constant illumination, and shall not create a hazard or visibility problem or interfere with or impair vehicular traffic. The level of illumination emitted from a sign shall not be of an intensity to constitute a safety hazard to vehicular movement on any street. Illuminated signs shall be constructed and maintained so that the source of illumination is shielded or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent properties or streets.
(2) Pennants and/or Streamers. No permanent sign shall contain or consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, balloons or similar devices.
(3) Construction. All signs and parts thereof, including any electrical wiring, shall be erected, constructed, and maintained so as to not constitute a safety hazard. The construction and installation of all signs shall be subject to inspection and approval by the City and/or the State of Ohio.
(4) Changeable Copy Signs. Changeable copy signs shall be permitted in the RO, LC, HS, GC, U, GI and IP Districts. The number, height and area of changeable copy signs shall be determined by the structural type of the sign, i.e., freestanding, wall, projecting, etc. as cited elsewhere in these regulations.
(5) Permanent Subdivision Identification Signs. Such signs shall be limited to wall mounted or freestanding signs only, with placement on walls, columns or similar architectural or landscaped entrance features used to denote the entrance to the subdivision.
(6) Joint Identification Signs. Joint identification signs shall be limited to wall or freestanding signs, and to premises where there are two (2) or more uses located on one (1) property or two (2) adjoining properties. Joint identification signs shall be limited to one (1) per street frontage.
(7) Signs in U District. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Ordinance, a sign within the U District may extend into the right-of-way, provided the applicant demonstrates that, due to the location of the building or other physical characteristics of the lot, the erection of an alternative sign outside the right-of-way is not feasible. In addition, such applicant shall obtain a revocable license for such encroachment from the City and shall certify that such sign shall be subject to subsequent removal at the owner's expense, if so required by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and/or the City.
(8) Murals. Murals, as defined in Section 1181.02 (b)(12) above, shall be allowed as a conditional use within the U District, subject to approval by the Planning Commission.
(9) Signs in PUD District. Signs in the PUD District shall reflect the standards for similar uses in other districts. The applicant shall submit a total signage plan for the proposed development as part of the Development Plan.
(10) Signs in the Design Review District(s). All permanent signs in the various Design Review Districts as designated by the city shall be subject to additional standards and approval by the Design Review Board having authority in the respective District.
(11) Schedule of Sign Regulations. The Schedule of Sign Regulations as follows on TABLE I is hereby made a part of this Ordinance.
SECTION 1181.08(j)(11)/TABLE I
PERMITTED NUMBER AND STRUCTURAL TYPE OF SIGNS
(PERMANENT ON-PREMISES SIGNS)
USE / DISTRICT | PERMITTED SIGN TYPES | MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SIGNS |
Residential | ||
Subdivision Identification Sign in all districts | * All Types | 2 per entry |
Two- and Multi-Family Dwellings in all districts | * All Types | 1 |
Nursery Schools, Day Care in all districts | * All Types | 1 per frontage |
Commercial/Office/Institutional | ||
Schools, churches, and other public facilities in all districts | * All Types | 1 per frontage |
Buildings housing Essential Services and similar public facilities | * All Types | 1 per frontage |
Permitted / conditional uses in RO District | * All Types | 1 |
Permitted / conditional uses in the LC District | * All Types | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) |
Permitted/conditional uses in the HS District | * All Types | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) |
Permitted/conditional uses in the GC District | * All Types | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) |
Business/professional offices in the U District | * All Types | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) |
Other commercial uses in the U District | * All Types | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) |
Industrial | ||
Permitted / conditional uses in the GI and IP Districts | * All Types | 2 per frontage (only one freestanding) |
*All sign types shall be permitted in all districts unless specifically prohibited or restricted by other provisions of this Chapter.
SECTION 1181.08(j)(11)/TABLE I (CONTINUED)
SIGN AREA, HEIGHT AND DISTANCE FROM R.O.W.
(PERMANENT ON-PREMISES SIGNS)
USE / DISTRICT | MAXIMUM SIGN AREA (SQ. FT.) | MAXIMUM HEIGHT (FEET) | MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM R.O.W. ** |
Residential | |||
Subdivision Identification Sign | 20 | 5 | 10 |
Two- and Multi-Family Dwellings in all districts | 20 | 10 | 10 |
Nursery Schools, Day Care in all districts | 10 | 15 (wall) 6 (freestanding) | 10 |
Commercial/Office/Institutional | |||
Schools, churches, and other public facilities in all districts | * see below | 20 (wall) 10 (freestanding) | 10 |
Buildings housing Essential Services and similar public facilities | * see below | 15 (wall) 10 (freestanding) | 10 |
Permitted / conditional uses in RO District | 12 | 15 (wall) 6 (freestanding) | 10 |
Permitted / conditional uses in the LC District | * see below | 15 (wall) | 10 |
Permitted/conditional uses in the HS District | * see below | 15(freestanding) 20 (other types) | 10 |
Permitted/conditional uses in the GC District | *see below | 15(freestanding) 20 (other types) | 10 |
Business/professional offices in the U District | *see below | 20(wall) 10 (freestanding) | - |
Other commercial uses in the U District | *see below | 20 (wall) 10 (freestanding) | - |
Industrial | |||
Permitted / conditional uses in the GI and IP Districts | * see below | 15 (freestanding) 20 (other types) | 10 |
*Freestanding Sign - No size restrictions.
*Wall/Roof Sign - 1 square foot for each lineal foot of building width. Sign area may be increased
10% for each additional 50 feet of setback.
*Projecting Sign - 1 square foot for each 4 feet of building width.
**Distance from R.O.W applicable to freestanding signs only.
NOTES / TABLE I:
• For the purposes of calculating the number of permitted signs, "frontage" shall be interpreted as frontage on a publicly dedicated and improved street. Businesses which abut public alleys or driveways may place one (1) additional sign facing said alley or driveway.
• Plans for signage in the HC and PUD Districts must be submitted with the required Development Plan; the Planning Commission may impose additional requirements.
• In all districts where so permitted, uses having drive-through facilities shall submit a specific site plan for signage, showing the type, size and location of all permanent signs, including directional signs and menu boards. Such site plan shall be subject to the review and approval of the Planning Commission.
• Buildings or developments with multiple business occupants, i.e., shopping centers, shall be permitted one (1) joint identification sign per street frontage in addition to signage permitted above. If such sign is a freestanding sign, no individual business within such building or development shall use a separate freestanding sign.
• In addition to the designated number of permitted signs, nonresidential uses along arterial or collector highways within the HS, GC, HC and IP Districts shall be allowed a maximum of two (2) directional signs, each not exceeding two (2) square feet in area. Such directional signs shall clearly be for the purpose of designating entrances and/or exits and directing customers to the internal circulation network on the site.
• The Galion Community Hospital has special and unique needs for signage directly related to its role as a regional provider of health and safety functions. These needs are likely to be different and exceed those of other business, public and institutional uses. Any new signs requested by the Galion Community Hospital shall be accompanied by a written explanation of why the specific request is necessary for the delivery of services to the community, and how the proposed sign(s) is/are integrated with the existing signage system. The Planning Commission shall have the authority to approve the proposed signs after review of the submittal.
(Ord. 2013-39. Passed 5-28-13.)