(a) Illumination. Illumination of signs shall be permitted in all districts. Illumination shall be from a concealed or indirect light source and shall not flash, blink, fluctuate, travel, move or in any manner fail to provide constant illumination and shall not create a hazard or visibility problem or interfere with or impair vehicular movement on any street from which the sign may be viewed. Illuminated signs shall be constructed and maintained so that the source of illumination is shielded or otherwise prevented from the beaming directly onto adjacent properties or streets.
(Ord. 27-01. Passed 9-4-01.)
(b) Animated, mechanical, and digital signs and billboards.
(1) Purpose and intent. The intent of this subsection is to provide standards allowing utilization of specific types of mechanical moving signs and billboards and digital signs and billboards that create digital images that are changed every few seconds by computers. The purpose of the standards is to protect residential areas from exposure to light and motion sequences involving lighted messages that exceed those of existing signage, and manage, for safety purposes, the exposure of motorists to excessive distractions caused by visual displays adjacent to roadways.
(2) Time-and-temperature and digital signs.
A. Time-and-temperature signs: Single line electronic time and temperature signs are allowed. All other types of mechanical or electronic changeable copy signs, flashing signs, moving signs and animation signs are prohibited, except as provided herein.
B. Digital signs:
1. Number. No more than one digital sign is allowed per site unless it is a multi-tenant location with 750 feet or more of road frontage.
2. Size. Lighted display surfaces shall not exceed 32 square feet for single-tenant sites or for multi-tenant sites having less than 200 feet of road frontage. Multi-tenant sites having more than 200 feet of road frontage may have digital signs with lighted display surfaces of up to 100 square feet in area. The entire sign must conform to the height, size, setback, and location requirements currently established for respective zoning district.
3. Style and brightness. The restriction applicable to digital billboards listed in Sections 1187.10(b)(4)(c) and (d) shall apply to digital signs.
4. Location. Digital signs are prohibited everywhere except in the B-3, M-1, and M-2 Zoning Districts. Whenever a proposed digital sign site is adjacent to a residential property or a residential district, approval of the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals is required.
5. Conversion of nonconforming signs. Whenever an owner seeks to convert a nonconforming sign to a digital sign, the sign must be brought into full compliance with existing sign- code requirements.
(3) Nonconforming uses. The requirements established in Chapter 1153, Nonconforming Uses, shall not apply to the action of substituting a static billboard face for an digital face as described in this subsection.
(4) Size, height, style, brightness of digital billboards.
A. Size: The maximum total sign area for digital billboards shall not exceed that of the billboards they replace, and in no case shall exceed 378 square feet. In cases where multiple billboards are attached to a single support system, only one billboard may be a digital billboard.
B. Height: The maximum height of digital billboard shall not exceed 35 feet above the street elevation, or the maximum height requirements of the zoning district it lies within, whichever is less.
C. Style: Other than changes of digital image, which shall not occur more frequently than once every eight seconds, restrictions listed in Sections 1187.10(a) and (b) shall apply.
D. Brightness: To protect residential areas from excessive or pulsating light, the brightness of light emitted from an electronic variable message sign shall not increase by more than 0.3 foot candles (over ambient levels) as measured using a foot candle meter at a distance of 200 feet. Within 1,000 feet of residences, the brightness may be required to be adjusted to 0.25 foot candles (over ambient levels). The foot candle readings will be taken as follows:
1. At least 30 minutes past sunset, use a foot candle meter to record the ambient light reading for the area. This is done while the digital billboard is off or displaying all black copy.
2. The reading should be taken with the meter aiming directly at the digital sign from a distance of 200 feet.
3. Turn the digital display to full white copy and take another reading.
4. If the difference between the readings is 0.3 foot candles or less (Or, if required, 0.25 foot candles if within 1,000 feet of a residence) the brightness is properly adjusted.
The desired effect of these standards is to drop the night time brightness of the sign to approximately 4% to 15% of its capable output, and is based on the daytime brightness operating near maximum output (7500 nits), which is required to overcome full sunlight.
In addition, toning of individual colors may be required to reduce brightness intensity of particular colors. Upon demand, the digital billboard owner/operator will be required to demonstrate clear and comprehensible proof that a sign is in compliance.
(5) If located on a state highway. If the sign is located on a state highway, the following information must be provided:
A. A copy of the current ODOT sign permit for the existing sign.
B. A copy of the ODOT permit allowing the proposed electronic variable message sign. In lieu of a permit for the proposed sign, a notarized statement is acceptable from the sign owner stating the current and proposed billboard conforms to all state regulations and standards established by the Ohio Revised Code and all appropriate state and federal agencies.
(6) Existing structure. Replacement sign size cannot exceed the size of the original sign. If the existing sign is nonconforming in regard to size, the replacement variable message sign must be altered to conform.
(7) Permit procedures.
A. A permit for an electronic medium billboard will be issued upon providing information stipulated on the permit application and completion of the requirements listed in this subsection and payment of the appropriate fee.
B. Permits are valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance of the permit. At the end of the two-year period, a new permit must be obtained or the electronic variable message (digital) billboard must be removed. Continuing permits will not be issued if the electronic variable message sign demonstrates a history of noncompliance.
C. Permits for electronic variable message signs may be revoked under if any of the following occur:
1. That the application for the permit, or supporting information, contains materially false, misleading or inaccurate information.
2. An electronic variable message device has been erected or maintained contrary to the terms and conditions of the permit.
3. The required fee has not been paid.
4. That the location does not conform to the rules and laws of the State and City.
5. That any other provisions of this section or the rules adopted hereunder have been violated.
(8) Emergency community notification. All digital billboard owners and operators, upon contact by the Mayor or Chief of Police (or on-duty Officer-in-Charge) are required to, within one hour of notice, post emergency announcements on the digital billboard. The duration of the announcement will be dependent upon the emergency. Such announcements will be limited to situations involving danger to citizens due to criminal activity, weather conditions or local, state or national emergencies.
(Ord. 45-2014. Passed 8-4-14.)
(c) Manual changeable copy signs. Manual changeable copy signs shall be permitted on ground signs only. Manual changeable copy signs shall comprise no more than one third (33.3%) of the total area of the sign per side or ten square feet per side, whichever is more, and shall comply with the maximum height standards specified in the schedule of sign regulations, and shall be an integral part of the sign. In residential districts, manual changeable copy signs shall not be internally illuminated and may illuminated only between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
(d) Pennants, Streamers, etc. No sign shall contain or consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers or similar moving devices.
(e) Construction. The construction of all signs, including any electrical wiring necessary for the operation of illuminates signs shall conform to the specifications of the Ohio Basic Building Code. All signs shall be adequately maintained and shall not constitute a safety hazard. The sign faces of a sign shall be kept neatly, painted or posted at all times and, where applicable, shall be painted or replaced with blank panel(s) when copy is removed.
(f) Location.
(1) All permanent signs shall be located on the site being promoted, identified or advertised. Off premise signs are prohibited.
(2) In no case shall any part of a sign be placed in, over, or extend onto any public right-of-way except for projecting nameplates on lots where no front yard exists and for publicly owned signs such as traffic control and directional signs. In no case shall any part of a sign be placed in, over or extend above the roof line of any structure.
(g) Maximum number, height, and area of signs. In addition to placement of signs, the heights, area and number permitted signs allowed per use or lot shall be regulated by districts and uses as listed under the Schedule of Sign Regulations of this chapter, except as specifically regulated elsewhere in this chapter. The height of a ground sign shall be measured from the established grade to the adjacent public street at the proposed sign location.
(h) Billboards.
(1) Billboards are hereby defined as any sign with over 100 square feet of advertising for off-premise business.
(2) Outdoor advertising billboards shall be permitted only in M-2 Districts subject to the following provisions:
A. Such billboards or signs shall not be located within 100 feet of an existing street right-of-way or in front of an established building line, whichever distance is less.
B. No billboard or sign shall be more than 35 feet above street elevation on which it fronts;
C. Such billboards or signs shall not be located within 2000 feet of any other outdoor advertising billboard situated on the same side of the street involved;
D. Such billboard or sign shall not be located on or within 50 feet any building, within 20 feet of any lot line, or within 1000 feet of any residential district.
(3) The maximum display are for any one outdoor advertising billboard shall not exceed 378 square feet for the one face, and 800 square feet for two or more faces.
(4) Billboards, signs and advertising structures as involved herein, where permitted, shall be erected or placed in conformity with the side and rear yard requirements of the district in which located, except than no billboard, sign or advertising structure as involved herein shall be erected or placed closer than 1,000 feet to the boundary of a side or rear lot in any residential district.
(i) Roof signs. Roof signs are prohibited.
(j) Permanent residential subdivision identification signage.
(1) Such identification shall be limited to wall mounted signs or graphics only, for example, with placement on a brick wall, railroad ties, entrance columns on each side of a street or on a similar architectural or landscaping entrance feature that may be used. The reverse sides of identification features shall be finished to match the fronts. Pole type signage is hereby prohibited. Sign copy shall be limited to the name and logo of the subdivision.
(2) Such identification features may not be located in the public right-of-way. Under no circumstances shall such feature be located in the tree lawn nor the clear sight triangle defined in Section 1187.02, nor impair the future utilization or expansion of public streets.
(3) The maximum area for such identification is 20 square feet at any one entry location. A maximum of one permanent residential subdivision identification is permitted on each side of the street at each entry location to a development.
(4) No part of any such sign shall be closer to any public right-of-way than ten feet.
(5) The maximum height for such identification is six feet above grade.
(6) Applications for permanent subdivision identification signs must demonstrate provisions for future maintenance and maintenance
easements at the time of final platting. Written consent of the property owner of each proposed sign location shall be submitted with each permit application. (Ord. 27-01. Passed 9-4-01.)