(a) Signs in Public Rights-of-Way. Except as provided herein, no sign shall be erected, constructed, or placed within any public right-of-way or on any tree, pole, post, meter, or similar object located within the public right-of-way. Under no circumstance may any sign that is permitted in the right-of-way interfere with vehicular or pedestrian visibility. Signs interfering with visibility will be removed.
(1) The following signs may be installed in the public rights-of-way without a permit:
A. Signs conforming to the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices;
B. Signs installed by employees or officials of a municipal, state or federal agency in the course of their governmental duties;
C. Signs required by a state or federal statute;
D. Signs required by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction;
E. Public directional and safety signs.
The Community Development Coordinator may remove any sign illegally placed within the right-of-way. The Community Development Coordinator may attempt to contact the owner of the sign and may retain the sign for five (5) days. If the owner fails to contact the Community Development Coordinator or claim the sign within five (5) days, it will be destroyed
(2) Blade signs attached to a building may project a maximum of forty (40) inches over a public right-of-way provided the lowest part of the sign is at least eight feet but no more than fifteen (15) feet above the pedestrian thoroughfare and provided said sign has received a permit from the Community Development Coordinator. Blade signs shall not project over any curb line or street.
(b) Colors. Not more than five (5) colors may be used per sign. For purposes of this Section, black or white shall be considered a color.
(c) Lettering Styles and Sign Coverage. No more than two letter styles or more than three sizes of letters are permitted per sign. Letters may not occupy more than seventy-five percent (75%) of any sign panel.
(d) Measurement of Sign Area.
(1) The surface area of a sign shall be calculated by enclosing the extreme limits of all lettering, background, emblem, logo, representation, or other display within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles with no more than eight lines drawn at right angles.
(2) Supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental to the display itself shall not be computed as sign area.
(3) Double-faced (back-to-back) signs shall be regarded as a single sign only if mounted on a single structure, and the distance between each sign face does not exceed two feet at any point. Only one face of an identical double-faced sign shall be measured when determining maximum allowable area.
The aggregate sign area or display surface of all exterior signs not otherwise described in this chapter, shall not exceed two (2) square feet for each lineal foot of the street frontage of a one (1) story building, or three (3) square feet per lineal foot of street frontage, if more than a one (1) story building. Street frontage is defined as the total width of the side of the building which faces the street, excluding any extension of a building wall beyond the building itself. In the case of a building which does not front a public street, as in shopping centers, the signage shall be determined by the lineal footage of the store front in lieu of street frontage.
(e) Measurement of Sign Height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at a computed grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign (including the sign face, sign structure, or any other appurtenance). The computed grade shall be the elevation of the nearest point to the proposed sign location of the crown of the nearest public street providing access; or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the lot, whichever is higher.
(f) Alterations. No sign shall hereafter be altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended or relocated except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. The repainting of signs shall not be deemed to be an alteration within the meaning of this chapter.
(g) Sign Maintenance. Signs and supporting hardware shall be structurally safe, clean, free of visible defects, and functioning properly at all times. Visible rot or rust, exposed lighting sources or wires, falling parts, or broken and missing parts are prima fascia evidence that a sign is in a state of disrepair. A sign shall maintained such that its condition does not, directly or indirectly, represent a threat to the health or safety of the general public or to persons living on adjoining property or in the area; constitute an unsanitary condition; lend itself to habitation or infestation by rodents, termites or other vermin; represent a threat to property values or to the residential or commercial desirability of adjoining property or other property within the area; or unreasonably interfere with the reasonable and lawful use and enjoyment of other premises within the area. Repairs to signs shall be equal to or better in quality of materials and design than the original sign.
(h) Notice to Repair. When the Community Development Coordinator determines that a sign exists in a state of disrepair, the he/she shall issue, via regular mail and certified mail, to the owner of the sign and/or the owner of the real estate a notice of such disrepair and the need for corrective action. The repair work shall be accomplished within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice, unless the person undertaking the work files a request with the Community Development Coordinator for an extension. If such request shows diligence and good faith such as ordering materials or signing a contract with a licensed contractor, the Community Development Coordinator may grant an extension for completion of the work. If the Community Development Coordinator believes the lack of repair constitutes a danger to persons or to property other than that of those persons receiving the notice, he/she shall so state in the notice and the Village may seek immediate relief under the Zoning Code or under the laws of public nuisance.
(i) Sign Removal or Replacement. When a sign is removed or replaced, all brackets, poles, and other structural elements that supported the sign shall also be removed. Affected building surfaces shall be restored to match the adjacent portion of the structure.
(Ord. 19-20. Passed 11-4-20.)