(a) Signs for Bed and Breakfast Accommodations.
(1) The Planning Commission, in its sole discretion, may approve one (1) of the following types of signs: ground, wall, projecting or suspended.
(2) A ground sign shall not exceed four (4) feet in height and six (6) square feet in area per side, nor to exceed a total of twelve (12) square feet in area.
(3) A wall sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area.
(4) A projecting or suspended sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area per side, not to exceed a total of twelve (12) square feet in area. A projecting or suspended sign shall provide a minimum of eight (8) feet of ground clearance or otherwise be located so as to not interfere with pedestrian traffic.
(5) The Planning Commission shall approve the lighting of all signs.
(b) Signs on the premises of Outdoor Sales of Automobiles or Vehicles. No signs may be placed on-site other than the permitted maximum wall and/or ground signs as per this article. The prohibited signs include banners, flags and digital/electronic signs.
(c) Signs on the premises of Automobile Filling Stations, Automobile Repair Garage, Automobile Service Stations , Automobile Washes, and Automobile Dealerships. No signs may be placed on-site other than the permitted maximum wall and/or ground signs as per this article. The prohibited signs include banners and flags. Digital/electronic signs may be permitted under the following circumstances:
(d) Drive-In and Drive-Through Accessory Signs.
(1) Drive-in and drive-through businesses shall submit a plan for approval by the Planning Commission illustrating the location of accessory signs in relationship to a drive-in or drive-through.
(2) Each drive-in and drive-through accessory sign shall not exceed seven (7) feet in height.
(3) One (1) drive-in and drive-through accessory sign (in stacking lane) shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet and the other (at the speaker) shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area.
(4) The area of the drive-in and drive-through accessory sign is exclusive of the structures framing.
(5) All drive-in and drive-through accessory signs shall be single sided.
(6) No drive-in and drive-through accessory sign may be located within the front yard.
(7) The drive-in and drive-through accessory sign may include digital/electronic signage not to exceed four (4) square feet.
(8) The Planning Commission may consider a modified sign area, subject to the following:
A. Only one (1) of the drive-in and drive-through accessory signs may be increased in area.
B. The drive-in and drive-through accessory sign is completely screened from the roadway.
C. Under no circumstances shall the drive-in and drive-through accessory sign exceed forty-eight (48) square feet in area.
(e) Electronic Message Signs. Electronic message signs, where permitted, shall be subject to the following standards and requirements:
(1) General Standards.
A. Electronic message signs shall only be permitted to be incorporated in a freestanding sign in the B-1, B-2, MXD and South Michigan Avenue Form Based District;
B. The area devoted to an electronic message sign (EMS) shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the permissible ground sign area;
C. The ground sign in which the EMS is incorporated shall be in complete conformity with the ground sign requirements of the district in which the premise is located. All other signs shall conform to the requirements of the district in which the premise is located;
D. There shall be no window sign permitted, maintained or installed on a premise with an EMS; and
E. The EMS must comply with all sign display and illumination standards in Section 7.02(c).
(2) Message Display and Communication Requirements:
A. The display time of an EMS shall not be less than two (2) minutes per message display;
B. The transition or change of message shall appear instantaneous without the use of special effects such as dissolve or fade;
C. An EMS shall not exhibit any characteristics of movement or flashing and shall not use techniques defined as dynamic frame effect, scroll, or travel;
D. No EMS message display shall resemble or simulate any warning or danger signal, or any official traffic control device, sign, signal or light or have the brilliance or intensity that will interfere with any official traffic sign, device or signal;
E. An EMS shall be limited to white, black, and/or graytone lettering and images. Operation of a full color EMS is prohibited and any full color capable EMS shall only be operated on the white, black, and/or graytone mode; and
F. An EMS shall not include any audio message or audible sound.
(3) Miscellaneous Requirements.
A. No EMS shall be permitted to operate unless it is certified as follows and equipped with all of the following mechanisms, programming, and equipment in proper working order at all times:
1. A default mechanism that will cause the EMS to revert immediately to a default static display to zero lumens if the EMS or any component thereof malfunctions;
2. A non-glare panel covering the electronic changeable copy display or other equivalent method approved by the City to substantially reduce glare;
3. A sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and is programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions; and
4. A written certification from a sign manufacturer or other approved testing agency that the light intensity has been preset to conform to the brightness, illumination, and display standards established in this article and that the preset levels are protected from end user manipulation by password protected software or other method with certification shall be provided to the City.
B. The owner or controller must either turn off or adjust the sign to meet the brightness and illumination standards set forth in Section 7.02(c). The adjustment must be made within twelve (12) hours of a notice of non-compliance from the City.
(f) Business Center Signs.
(1) One (1) freestanding sign shall be permitted, where such signs are permitted in the district in which located.
A. Freestanding business center signs shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet per side, one hundred (100) square feet total.
B. Freestanding business center signs shall meet the size and height requirements of the district in which such sign is located.
C. Within a freestanding business center, individual tenants or uses shall not have a separate freestanding sign.
(2) In areas of the City where a freestanding sign is not permitted, a business center may have a business center wall sign.
A. Wall business center signs shall meet the area requirements for wall signs in the district in which located.
B. Wall business center signs shall meet all other wall sign requirements in the district in which located.