For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGRICULTURE. Land and associated buildings whose primary use is to produce crops or livestock or to provide boarding or storage facilities for agricultural products or animals.
COMMERCIAL/RETAIL/INDUSTRIAL/MANUFACTURING. Factories, distribution centers, shopping centers, malls, central business districts, satellite business developments and individually located businesses producing goods, storing goods or offering services or goods for sale.
DEPARTMENTS. Those village officials and/or employees who have been charged with the responsibility of administering this chapter by resolution of the Village Council.
OFFICE. Dental, medical, legal, real estate and other individual professionals or businesses whose primary source of income is provision of services rather than sale and leasing of goods.
OWNER. A person owning a sign.
PERMIT. The authorization for a sign issued by the Department.
PERSON. Any individual or entity, including a firm, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company or trustee, and their legal successors and assigns.
PROPERTY. Contiguous real estate taxed as a single parcel.
SIGN. An object, including a structure, movable object, wall or image, displaying any message visible to the public. Portable/movable signs, such as those on wheeled devices or sandwich boards, may, at the discretion of the Department, be permitted as a ground sign. Notices legally placed on public property and removed on a daily basis are not considered SIGNS. Letters individually painted on or attached to a face of a building that merely identify the owner, occupant or name of the establishment and address are not considered a SIGN.
(1) SIGN, ABANDONED.
(a) A sign which no longer advertises or identifies a business, lessor, owner or activity conducted upon, or product available on, the premises where the sign is displayed;
(b) Any sign that does not display a well-maintained message for a consecutive 60-day period; or
(c) Any sign no longer fully supported by the structure designed to support the sign for a consecutive 60-day period.
(2) SIGN, AWNING, CANOPY OR MARQUEE. A sign painted, stamped, perforated or stitched, or otherwise applied, on an awning. (See image “Various Types of Signs” below.)
(3) SIGN, BANNER. A sign, temporary, made of any flexible material, such as cloth or vinyl, which is supported by a temporary or permanent structure. (See image “Various Types of Signs” below.)
(4) SIGN, DIRECTION. A sign on private property without commercial message that gives direction, such as entrances, exits or street numbers.
(5) SIGN, FLASHING, ANIMATED. Any sign which, by method or manner of illumination, flashes on or off, winks or blinks with varying light intensity, shows motion or creates the illusion of motion, provides for a constantly changing message or revolves in a manner to create the illusion of being on or off.
(6) SIGN, FREESTANDING. A sign supported by one or more upright poles, columns or braces placed in or on the ground and not attached to any building or structure. (See image “Various Types of Signs” below.)
(7) SIGN, GOVERNMENT. A sign authorized by this village, another governmental agency, the state or the federal government.
(8) SIGN, GROUND MONUMENT. A sign resting directly on the ground or supported by short poles not attached to a building or wall.
(9) SIGN, HISTORIC. A sign that, by its construction materials, unusual age, prominent location, unique design or craftsmanship from another period makes a contribution to the cultural, historic or aesthetic quality of the village’s streetscape. HISTORIC SIGNS include ghost signs (remnants of vintage advertisements painted on the side of a building) and signs at least 50 years old which may no longer be advertising a current business activity.
(10) SIGN, ILLUMINATED. A sign illuminated in any manner by an artificial light source.
(11) SIGN, MERCHANDISE. A sign depicting any manner of merchandise manufactured or sold inside a place of business.
(12) SIGN, MESSAGE BOARD. A permanently fixed sign providing for a changing message or copy not more than once per day, illuminated or not.
(13) SIGN, MESSAGE ELECTRONIC. A permanently fixed sign providing for a changing message or copy of more than once per day, but not less than every 30 seconds, by computerized or technological illumination.
(14) SIGN, PLACARD. A sign not exceeding two square feet which provides notices of a public nature, such as “no trespassing” or “no hunting” signs.
(15) SIGN, PORTABLE. Any sign not permanently affixed to the ground or to a building, including any sign attached to or displayed on a vehicle that is used for the express purpose of advertising a business establishment, product, service or entertainment when that vehicle is so parked as to attract the attention of motoring or pedestrian traffic. (See image “Various Types of Signs” below.)
(16) SIGN, PROJECTING. A sign affixed to any part of a building or structure which extends beyond the building or structure by more than 12 inches.
(17) SIGN, ROOF. A sign erected, constructed or maintained upon, or which projects above, the roof or parapet line of a building. (See image “Various Types of Signs” below.)
(18) SIGN, SANDWICH BOARD. A sidewalk-level sign of a creative nature which expresses the unique character of a business or building, promoting special sales and specifically designed for sidewalk traffic.
(19) SIGN, SPECIAL EVENTS, TEMPORARY. A sign for events such as grand openings, vehicle shows, displays, craft shows, benefits, fund raisers, festivals and other limited-term events of more than 24 hours.
(20) SIGN, WALL. A sign attached to, painted upon, placed against or supported by the exterior surface of any building. (See image “Various Types of Signs” below.)
(21) SIGN, WINDOW. A sign painted, stenciled or affixed on a window which is visible from a right-of-way. (See image “Various Types of Signs” below.)
WETLAND. Land that, based on soils and vegetation, has been classified as WETLAND by a government agency.
ZONES AND DISTRICTS. References to ZONES AND DISTRICTS are those districts defined in the Village Zoning Ordinance. The CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT as defined by the regulating plan and zoning map.
(Prior Code, § 152.02) (Ord. 39, passed 1-19-2010)