As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have these meanings:
(a) "Alter" means to change in any way, including but not limited to reconstruction, redesign, re-illumination that changes the lighting design, face replacement that changes the sign face design, sign face change, and painting in a different color than the present color, excluding changes in changeable copy on signs.
(b) "Back-lighted letter" means an illuminated reverse channel letter (open or translucent back) such that light from the letter is directed against the surface behind the letter producing a halo lighting effect around the letter.
(c) "Banner" means a sign of lightweight plastic, vinyl, fabric or similar material that is mounted to a structure by a frame, rope, or similar means at one or more edges.
(d) "Board" means the Architectural Review Board.
(e) "Building frontage" means the linear dimension of the width of the widest portion of a building face including all appurtenant overhangs or other structures closest to parallel to the nearest principal street.
(f) "Building marker" means a sign typically indicating, but not hereby limited to, the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into the masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
(g) "Building unit" means each separately occupied space within a building. "Separately occupied" means a distinct owner, occupant, or tenant in possession of and occupying the unit to the exclusion of others. A separately occupied unit consists of interior subdivided space which (1) has its own exterior entrance and (2) is separated from other such spaces by a party wall or other such dividing walls. Where a building unit is bounded by a party wall or other such dividing walls, the measurement of width shall be to the centerline(s) of such wall or walls.
(h) "Canopy" means any structure, other than an awning, made of cloth with a metal frame attached to a building and carried by a frame supported by the ground or sidewalk.
(i) "Changeable copy" means the area of a sign on which copy can be changed through the use of attachable letters and/or numbers, by the flipping of fixed letters and/or numbers, by the scrolling of tape or other medium, or by the electronic switching of lamps or illuminated tubes, LED, or any other such like technology. See, also, "electronic message center."
(j) "Clear" means transparent.
(k) "Copy" means the words, message, symbols, or artwork displayed on a sign.
(l) "Department" means the City's Department of Zoning and Community Development.
(m) "Downtown Design District" means the area identified in the City's Zoning Map as such.
(n) "Electronic message center" means a sign that utilizes computer-generated messages or some other electronic means of changing copy. Electronic message centers are included within the definition of "changeable copy."
(o) "Erect" means to build, construct, alter, relocate, modify, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix, and shall also include the painting of signs.
(p) "Facing" and "surface" mean the surface of a sign upon, against or through which a message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
(q) "Flag" means any fabric or similar light-weight material containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, used for the display of non-commercial copy such as, but not limited to, a symbol of a government or political subdivision.
(r) "Frontage" or "lot frontage" means the lot dimension (or development unit, as applicable) along the adjacent principal street. Limited access highways shall not be considered frontage for purposes of this chapter.
(s) "Lighting tube" means a tube, strip or band made of any material, whether clear or colored, which by any means produces a light source including, but not necessarily limited to, neon, LED, rope lighting, and other such manner of lighting.
(t) "Marquee" means any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of a building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
(u) "Person" means any natural person, partnership, cooperative association, corporation, personal representative, receiver, trustee, assignee, or any other legal entity.
(v) "Permanent" means a sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and precludes ready removal or movement of the sign, and, which is constructed of durable materials (wood, plastic, metal) which are able to withstand environmental exposure for long durations of time without degradation.
(w) "Pennant" means any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in a series.
(x) "Related structure" means all components supporting, and comprising, the parts of a sign.
(y) "Sight triangle" means the triangular area formed by an invisible diagonal line at the corner of either two intersecting street right-of-way lines, the edge of street lines, the edge of a driveway or combination of two thereof within which no obstruction may be placed which would block the sight lines for vehicular traffic.
(z) "Sign" means any visual communication display, object, device, graphic, structure or part, situated indoors or outdoors, or attached to, painted on, or displayed from a building or structure in order to direct or attract attention to, or announce or promote, an object, product, place, activity, person, ideology, institution, organization, business or the like, by means of letters, words, models, banners, flags, pennants, insignia, devices, designs, colors, symbols, fixtures, images, illuminations or representations used as, or which is in the nature of, an announcement, direction, advertisement or other message. Any sign which is erected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may also express non-commercial messages whether or not such allowances are explicitly stated in this chapter.
(1) "Sign, A-frame" means a temporary sign not secured or attached to the ground or surface upon which it is located, but supported by its own frame and most often forming the cross-sectional shape of an A. An A-frame sign is included within the definition of "portable sign."
(2) "Sign, abandoned" means a sign which no longer advertises, announces the purpose of, or identifies the purpose of any person or entity, or communicates information to the public regarding a bona fide business, lessor, lessee, owner, product or activity conducted or available on the premises where the sign is located. A use shall be determined abandoned if it has voluntarily ceased for a period of at least sixty days, unless the use is typically seasonal.
(3) "Sign, animated" means a sign depicting action, motion, light or color changes through electrical, mechanical, or any other means.
(4) "Sign, canopy" means a sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or other outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
(5) "Sign, commercial" means any sign that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, profession, service or other commercial activity.
(6) "Sign, double-faced" means a sign with two parallel opposing (back-to-back) faces.
(7) "Sign, feather flag" is a free standing temporary sign typically constructed of a single plastic or metal shaft driven in the ground with an attached pennant that is vertically elongated and attached to the shaft.
(8) "Sign, ground" means a sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on or anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure. Ground signs are classified within this chapter according to the manner of their construction, to wit: permanent or temporary.
(9) "Sign, lawn" means a temporary sign placed in a yard via stake(s), not more than six square feet in dimensions.
(10) "Sign, mansard" means a sign attached to a mansard structure. A mansard sign is included within the definition of "roof sign."
(11) "Sign, marquee" means a sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a marquee.
(12) "Sign, non-commercial" means a sign which does not fall within the definition of a "commercial sign."
(13) "Sign, off-premise" means a sign that is not appurtenant to the lawful use of the property on which it is displayed; advertises a product, merchandise, service, business, entertainment, or any other activity not sold, offered or occurring on the property on which it is displayed; or which advertises the sale or lease of property other than the property on which it is displayed.
(14) "Sign, on-premise" means a sign that is appurtenant to the lawful use of the property on which it is displayed; advertises a product, merchandise, service, business or any other activity actually sold, offered or occurring on the property on which it is displayed, or which advertises the sale or lease of property on which it is displayed.
(15) "Sign, parapet" means a sign mounted on the vertical surface of, or on top of, the parapet of a building. A parapet sign is included within the definition of "roof sign."
(16) "Sign, portable" means a sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; trippers; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on a vehicle parked and visible from the public right-of-way.
(17) "Sign, blade" means a sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that (i) its copy is perpendicular to the building or wall to which it is affixed and/or (ii) its leading edge extends more than eighteen inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
(18) "Sign, roof" means a sign erected and constructed on or over the roof of a building and/or which extends vertically any distance above the lowest portion of the roof. Signs placed on cupolas fall within this definition. See, also, "mansard sign" and "parapet sign."
(19) "Sign, projecting" means a sign that extends beyond the building wall, where the horizontal sign face is not parallel to the building wall.
(20) "Sign, wall" means a sign attached parallel to a wall, painted on the wall surface, or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface.
(21) "Sign, window and door" means any sign, whether permanent or temporary, which is placed upon or over a window or door, upon a window pane, or in proximity to a window or door, and which is visible from the exterior of the window or door.
(aa) "Sign area" means the permitted area upon, against or through which signage may be placed.
(bb) "Sign band" means a horizontal area above a multi-tenant building's entrances, architecturally designed to accommodate signage in a sign-centric manner.
(cc) "Temporary" is a non-permanent sign that can be displayed on private property for not more than forty-five consecutive days.
(dd) "Window" means any opening in the wall of a building that is fitted with glass or other transparent material.
(ee) "User" means the owner of a development unit and any tenants or others in lawful possession and occupancy of that development unit.
(Ord. 3227. Passed 4-23-18.)