(a) By ordinance, City Council may exempt structurally sound and environmentally safe historic or culturally significant existing signs from part or all applicable regulations of this Chapter.
(b) This ordinance shall specifically define exemptions and additional safeguards to protect said signage and the public health, safety and welfare.
(c) In addition, in granting such an exemption, City Council shall find such signage to be one or more of the following:
(1) Associated with historic figures, events or places. Significant as evidence of the history of the product, business or service advertised.
(2) Significant as reflecting the history of the building or the development of the district or neighborhood.
(3) Integral to the building's design or physical fabric. In such cases, removal can harm the integrity of a historic property's design, or cause significant damage to its materials.
(4) A local landmark, that is, recognized as a popular focal point in the Germantown or Miami Valley community.
(d) Maintenance, repair and restoration that does not result in an increase of size, projection or height of any sign already exempted by City Council shall not require a zoning permit.
(e) Any historic or culturally significant sign that is enlarged, relocated, or replaced within the City of Germantown may require another exemption by City Council as regulated by this Section, or shall require a permit as regulated by Section 1139.06.
(Ord. 17-46. Passed 2-5-18.)