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1157.09 SIGN ILLUMINATION, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS.
   (a)   Signs may be illuminated only in compliance with the following standards:
      (1)   Permanent signs in nonresidential districts may be illuminated at night.
      (2)   All illuminated signs must comply with the maximum luminance level of seven hundred fifty (750) cd/m² or Nits between dusk to dawn as measured from the sign's face at maximum brightness, regardless of the method of illumination
      (3)   Signs that have external illumination, whether the lighting is mounted above or below the sign face or panel, shall have lighting fixtures or luminaires that are fully shielded.
      (4)   On-premise signs do not constitute a form of outdoor lighting at night, and are exempt from any other outdoor lighting regulations established in Chapter 1159.
   (b)   Construction Standards. The construction, erection, safety and maintenance of all signs shall comply with all requirements of the building code and all of the following:
      (1)   Signs shall be structurally sound and located so as to pose no reasonable threat to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
      (2)   All permanent freestanding signs shall have self-supporting structures erected on, or permanently attached to, concrete foundations.
      (3)   Signs should not be in locations that interfere with safe vehicular and pedestrian circulation or public safety signals and signs
      (4)   If possible, signs should not be in locations that obscure architectural features such as pilasters, arches, windows, cornices, etc.
      (5)   No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, or door opening used as a means of egress.
      (6)   Signs shall be structurally designed in compliance with ANSI and ASCI standards. All elective signs shall be constructed according to the technical standards of a certified testing laboratory.
 
   (c)   Clearances:
      (1)   Vision clearance areas. Vision clearance areas are triangular shaped areas located at the intersection of any combination of rights-of- way or driveways. No sign shall be installed within the clear sight triangles defined below.
         A.   At the intersection of two (2) street rights-of-way, the triangle shall extend thirty (30) feet from the intersection of the rights-of-way in either/each direction.
         B.   At the intersection of a street right-of-way and a driveway, the triangle shall be established by locating the intersection of the street curb with the driveway edge, and by measuring from this point a distance of ten (10) feet along the driveway to a point and a distance of twenty (20) feet along the street curb to a point and connecting these points.
      (2)   Vehicle area clearances. In areas outside of rights-of-way, when a sign or awning extends over an area in which vehicles travel or are parked, the bottom of the structure must be at least fourteen (14) feet above the ground. Vehicle areas include driveways, alleys, parking areas, and loading and maneuvering areas.
      (3)   Pedestrian area clearances. When a sign or awning extends more than twelve (12) inches over a sidewalk, walkway, or other space used by pedestrians, the bottom of the structure must be at least eight (8) feet above the ground.
   (d)   Maintenance Requirements. All signs shall be maintained in accordance with the following:
      (1)   The property owner shall maintain the sign in a condition appropriate to the intended use and in compliance with all Village standards; and has a continuing obligation to comply with all building code requirements.
      (2)   The Chief Building Official may order any sign to be painted or refurbished whenever needed to keep the sign in a neat and safe condition. All supporters, guys, braces and anchors for such signs shall be maintained in a safe condition.
      (3)   If the sign is deemed by the Chief Building Official to be in an unsafe condition, the owner of the business shall be immediately notified in writing, and shall, within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of such notification, respond to the village with a plan to correct the unsafe condition, remove the unsafe sign, or cause it to be removed. If after fourteen (14) days, the unsafe condition has not been corrected through repair or removal, the Chief Building Official may cause the repair or removal of such sign, at the expense of the property owner or lessee. If the total costs are not paid in full within thirty (30) days of the repairs or removal, the amount owed shall be certified as an assessment against the property of the sign owner, and lien upon that property, together with an additional fifty percent (50%) penalty for collection as prescribed for unpaid real estate taxes.
      (4)   In cases of emergency, the Chief Building Official may cause the immediate removal of a dangerous or defective sign without notice.
      (5)   Whenever any sign, either conforming or nonconforming to these regulations, is required to be removed for the purpose of repair, relettering or repainting, the same may be done without a permit or without any payment of fees provided that all of the following conditions are met:
         A.   There is no alteration or remodeling to the structure or the mounting of the sign itself;
         B.   There is no enlargement or increase in any of the dimensions of the sign or its structure;
         C.   The sign is accessory to a legally permitted, conditional or nonconforming use.
            (Ord. 2016-07-24. Passed 8-3-16.)
1157.10 SIGNS EXEMPT FROM THESE REGULATIONS.
   The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this Zoning Ordinance.
   (a)   Signs required by federal or state law or by the Village of Glenwillow.
   (b)   Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
   (c)   Religious and other holiday lights and decorations containing no commercial message, and displayed only during the appropriate time of the year.
   (d)   Flags of the United States, the state, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, and any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body of competent jurisdiction. These flags must be flown in accordance with protocol established by the Congress of the United States for the Stars and Stripes. Any flag not meeting these conditions shall be considered a sign and shall be subject to regulations as such.
   (e)   Building markers.
   (f)   Signs that do not exceed two (2) square feet and that are not visible from a public or private street; however, these signs must comply with any building and construction provisions enacted by the Village of Glenwillow.
      (Ord. 2016-07-24. Passed 8-3-16.)
1157.11 PROHIBITED SIGNS.
   The following signs are prohibited in the Village:
   (a)   Abandoned signs, as defined in Section 1157.13.
   (b)   Animated, flashing, rotating signs and festoons as defined in Section 1157.13, inflatable signs, tethered balloons, banners, pennants, searchlights, streamers, exposed light bulbs, strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background and any clearly similar features, except those specifically exempt from regulation in Section 1157.10, temporary banners permitted in Section 1157.08, or electronic message centers as permitted in Section 1157.07.
   (c)   Signs placed on or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer parked with the primary purpose of providing signage not otherwise allowed by the Code. Prohibited is any sign displayed on a parked trailer or truck or other vehicle where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product, service business, or other activity. This regulation shall permit the use of business logos, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily and actively used for business purposes and/or personal transportation.
   (d)   Signs containing any words or symbols that would cause confusion because of their resemblance to highway traffic control or direction signals.
   (e)   Merchandise, equipment, products, vehicles or other items which are not available for purchase, but are intended to attract attention, or for identification or advertising purposes.
   (f)   Signs located on trees, utility poles, public benches or any other form of public property or within any public right-of-way unless explicitly permitted by the regulations.
   (g)   Other signs or attention getting devices that raise concerns substantially similar to those listed above.
      (Ord. 2016-07-24. Passed 8-3-16.)
1157.12 NON-CONFORMING SIGNS.
   (a)   Nonconforming signs shall be maintained in good condition pursuant to Section 1157.09.
   (b)   Alteration. A nonconforming sign shall not be altered, modified or reconstructed except:
      (1)   When such alteration, modification or reconstruction would bring such sign into conformity with these regulations;
      (2)   When the existing use has new ownership which results in a change in the name or logo of the use or business on the property, and such change complies with subsection (4) below;
      (3)   When the space is reoccupied by a similar use and the new occupant requires no external building or site renovation, and such change complies with subsection (4) below;
      (4)   Any alteration, modification or reconstruction permitted in this section shall be limited to the replacement of a sign panel, replacing individual letters and logos within the same area or repainting a sign face, and does not permit changes to the structure, framing, erection or relocation of the sign unless such changes conform to subsection (1) above.
   (c)   Limitations for Non-Conforming Signs. A nonconforming sign shall be removed whenever the use to which such non-conforming sign refers has been abandoned for more than 180 consecutive days.
(Ord. 2016-07-24. Passed 8-3-16.)
1157.13 DEFINITIONS.
   (a)   Abandoned Sign. A sign that no longer identifies or advertises an ongoing business, product, location, service, idea, or activity conducted on the premises on which the sign is located. Whether a sign has been abandoned or not shall be determined by the intent of the owner of the sign.
   (b)   Alteration. Any change in copy, color, size or shape, which changes the appearance of a sign, or a change in position, location, construction or supporting structure of a sign, except that a copy change on a sign is not an alteration.
   (c)   Animated Sign.  A sign which has any visible moving part, flashing or osculating lights, visible mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible movement achieved by any means that move, change, flash, osculate or visibly alters in appearance in a manner that is not permitted by these regulations.
   (d)   Awning Sign. A sign displayed on or attached flat against the surface or surfaces of an awning. See also: Wall or Fascia Sign.
   
   (e)   Banner. A flexible substrate on which copy or graphics may be displayed.
   (f)   Banner Sign. A sign utilizing a banner as its display surface.
   (g)   Building Sign. A sign that is applied or affixed to a building.
   (h)   Changeable Sign. A sign with the capability of content change by means of manual or remote input, includes the following types:
      (1)   Manually Activated - Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed manually on a display surface.
      (2)   Electrically Activated - Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized on-off switching combinations of alphabetic or pictographic components arranged on a display surface. Illumination may be integral to the components, such as characterized by lamps or other light-emitting devices; or it may be from an external light source designed to reflect off the changeable component display. See also: Electronic Message Center.
   (i)   Display Time. The amount of time a message and/or graphic is displayed on an Electronic Message Sign.
   (j)   Dissolve. A mode of message transition on an Electronic Message Sign accomplished by varying the light intensity or pattern, in which the first message gradually appears to dissipate and lose legibility with the gradual appearance and legibility of the second message.
   (k)   Electronic Message Center or Sign (EMC). An electrically activated changeable sign whose variable message and/or graphic presentation capability can be electronically programmed by computer from a remote location. Also known as an EMC.
   (l)   Fade. A mode of message transition on an Electronic Message Sign accomplished by varying the light intensity, where the first message gradually reduces intensity to the point of not being legible and the subsequent message gradually increases intensity to the point of legibility.
   (m)   Foot Candle. An English unit of measurement of the amount of light falling upon a surface (illuminance). One foot candle is equal to one lumen per square foot. Can be measured by means of an illuminance meter.
   (n)   Freestanding Sign. Any sign which is permanently affixed in or upon the ground, supported by one or more structural members, with air space between the ground and the sign face.
   (o)   Illegal Sign. Any sign placed without proper approval or permits as required by this Code at the time of sign placement. Illegal sign shall also mean any sign placed contrary to the terms or time limits of any permit and any nonconforming sign which has not been brought into compliance with any applicable provisions of this Code.
   (p)   Illuminated Sign. Any sign for which an artificial source of light is used in order to make readable the sign's message, including internally and externally lighted signs and reflectorized, glowing or radiating signs.
   (q)   Nonconforming Sign.  A sign that was legally installed by permit in conformance with all municipal sign regulations and ordinances in effect at the time of its installation, but which may no longer comply with subsequently enacted laws and ordinances having jurisdiction relative to the sign.
   (r)   Parapet.  The extension of a building facade above the line of the structural roof.
   (s)   Portable Sign. Any cord-connected sign not permanently attached to the ground and can be removed without the use of tools.
   (t)   Projecting Sign. A sign which projects from and is supported by a wall or parapet of a building with the display surface of the sign in a plane perpendicular to or approximately perpendicular to the wall.
   (u)   Roof Sign. Any sign erected upon a roof, parapet, or roof-mounted equipment structure and extending above a roof, parapet, or roof-mounted equipment structure of a building or structure.
   (v)   Scroll. A mode of message transition on an Electronic Message Sign in which the message appears to move vertically across the display surface.
   (w)   Sign. Any device visible from a public place whose essential purpose and design is to convey either commercial or noncommercial messages by means of graphic presentation of alphabetic or pictorial symbols or representations.
   (x)   Sign Structure. Any structure designed for the support of a sign.
   (y)   Sign Copy. The letters, numerals, figures, symbols, logos and graphic elements comprising the content or message of a sign, exclusive of numerals identifying a street address only.
   (z)   Temporary Sign - A sign intended to display either commercial or noncommercial messages of a transitory or temporary nature. Portable signs or any sign not permanently embedded in the ground, or not permanently affixed to a building or sign structure that is permanently embedded in the ground, are considered temporary signs.
   (aa)   Transition. A visual effect used on an Electronic Message Sign to change from one message to another.
   (bb)   Travel. A mode of message transition on an Electronic Message Sign in which the message appears to move horizontally across the display surface.
   (cc)   Wall or Fascia Sign. A sign that is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure and that projects not more than twelve (12) inches from the building or structure wall. Also includes signs affixed to architectural projections that project from a building provided the copy area of such signs remains on a parallel plane to the face of the building facade or to the face or faces of the architectural projection to which it is affixed.
   (dd)   Window Sign. Any sign viewable through and/or affixed in any manner to a window or exterior glass door such that it is intended to be viewable from the exterior (beyond the sidewalk immediately adjacent to the window), including signs located inside a building but visible primarily from the outside of the building.
(Ord. 2016-07-24. Passed 8-3-16.)