Permitted signs must adhere to the regulations outlined below:
(a) Wall Signs (review). All such signs are subject to the following limitations:
(1) Wall signs placed in the vertical space between windows may not exceed in height more than two-thirds (2/3) of the distance between the top of a window and the sill of any above windows, or major architectural details related thereto.
(2) Wall signs shall not extend above the roof line.
(3) A sign may not cover or interrupt major architectural features.
(4) Rear and side entrances. There may be an additional sign not more than fifteen (15) square feet attached to the building at a public entrance not fronting on a street that opens from a parking lot or having access from a parking lot used by the public.
(b) Window Sign. The following regulations apply to signs affixed to or are displayed in a window:
(1) Ground Floor Occupants.
A. Permanent window signs shall have a maximum area not greater than twenty percent (20%) of the total window area of the space occupied by the occupant, but not cover more than 50% of any one window unit. If a permanent window sign is installed along a public right-of-way, the signage must allow transparency in the window and not block views in and out of the establishment. If the proposed signage is applied to a "spandrel" window or a window that serves no visibility or natural light purpose to the establishment, the sign may be opaque.
B. Temporary window signs shall have a maximum area not greater than ten percent (10%) of the total window area of the space occupied by the occupant, but not cover more than fifty percent (50%) of any one window unit. Temporary window signs must be attached to the inside of the window.
i. Temporary signs shall not be illuminated in any way.
ii. Temporary window signs used to advertise a special event (i.e. grand opening, sale, event) shall be removed within ten (10) days after the close of the event. These signs shall include the date that the sign was posted.
C. In addition to such other window signage as may be permitted by this Chapter, each occupant may display one window (1) sign, , which indicates its hours of operation and one (1) window sign, not to exceed two (2) square feet in area consisting solely of the words "open" or "closed".
(2) Upper Story Occupants. For a multi-story building, each non-residential occupant above the ground floor shall be permitted one (1) permanent sign to be placed in a window of the occupant's space.
A. Not to exceed six (6) square feet or fifty (50%) percent of the area of the window in which the sign is placed, whichever is smaller.
B. The Planning Commission may authorize the display of a window sign in or on an upper story window upon determination that such second story sign is consistent with this code and in harmony with the general character of the building and neighborhood.
(3) Permanent window signs may be illuminated only during the hours of operation of the occupant.
(c) Projecting Signs.
(1) A projecting sign shall be at least six (6) inches from the wall and extend no more than four (4) feet beyond the face of the building wall or other structure.
(2) Projecting signs shall be limited to occupants that have a minimum of 20 feet of building façade along the front lot line.
(3) All projecting signs shall be placed so that the base of the sign is at least ten 10 feet above ground level, except when the projecting sign is located above a landscaped area or other area that does not permit pedestrian or vehicular traffic beneath the sign, in which case the sign must be placed so that the base of the sign is at least six (6) feet above ground level.
(d) Permanent Freestanding Ground Signs. Permanent freestanding signs shall be permitted for business/service activities that front a public street and are accessible by vehicular or pedestrian traffic. These signs shall comply with the following regulations:
(1) Maximum Number, Area and Height, Minimum Setback of Permanent Freestanding signs. Permanent freestanding signs shall comply with the maximum number, area, and height limitations and minimum setback from the street right-of-way set forth in Schedule 1129.05(d).
SCHEDULE 1129.05(d) PERMANENT GROUND SIGNS | |||||
DISTRICT | Maximum Number Permitted | Maximum Area (sq. ft.) | Maximum Height (ft.) | Minimum Setback from ROW (ft.) | Minimum Setback from Side Lot Line (ft |
R-1 | 1 per subdivision | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
R-1A | 1 per subdivision | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
R-2 | 1 per subdivision | 8 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
R-3 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
MU-RFD | |||||
MU-COD | 1 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
MU-GD | |||||
B-1 | 1 per lot | 24 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
B-2 | 1 per lot | 24 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
B-3 | 1 per lot | 40 | 12 | 7 | 10 |
Green/ Recreation | 1 per entrance from public street | 40 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
I-1 | 1 per lot | 100 | 8 | 7 | 30 |
I-2 | 1 per lot | 100 | 8 | 7 | 30 |
P-I | 1 per lot | 30 | 6 | 7 | 30 |
Entrance/Exit Signs | 2 per driveway | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
(2) Public Safety Impact. Notwithstanding the preceding, the Planning Commission reserves the ability to review each sign application on the basis of the potential impact to public safety with regards to safe pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow.
(3) Minimum Setback from Intersections. On corner lots, freestanding signs shall comply with the minimum sign setback from both street rights-of-way, as set forth in Schedule 1129.05 (d).In addition, these signs are subject to the approval by the Chief of Police to ensure proper sight lines are maintained.
(4) Landscaping. The base and foundation area of each freestanding ground sign shall be landscaped with plant material. Landscape plans for signs shall be prepared in conformance with planting guidelines established by the City and shall be included with and reviewed as part of each application for signage and are subject to the following:
A. Freestanding signs shall be erected in a landscaped setting and not on sidewalks or drives. Signs may be located in parking lots, but must be within a landscaped island area.
B. No part of a freestanding sign, the wall or entry feature on which a sign is mounted, or the landscaping shall obstruct the view of vehicles entering or exiting the property.
C. For residential subdivisions, the freestanding sign shall have a maximum of two (2) sign faces per entrance and be either a double-faced freestanding sign or two (2) single-sided sign faces attached to walls or entry features located one on each side of the street entrance.
(5) Multi-Occupant Facilities. When a freestanding sign is permitted on a site that has more than one occupant, it is the property owner's responsibility to determine if the sign area shall be devoted to identification of the building(s), the anchor occupant, all occupants, or some combination thereof. Total area of signs erected or displayed within a given development shall not exceed two square feet for each lineal foot of street frontage.
(6) Message Boards. All signs with electronic message boards / changeable copy are subject to the following limitations:
A. Signs with electronic message boards / changeable copy are permitted as ground signs only.
B. The electronic message board portion of a sign shall not exceed thirty (30%) percent of the sign area
C. Under no circumstance shall any type of on-premises sign allowable under this section contain a message or display that appears to flash, undulate, pulse, move, scroll, portray explosions, fireworks, flashes, blinking or flashing light, appear to move toward or away from view, expand or contract, rotate, twist or display any other comparable movements as to distract drivers or pedestrians.
D. Electronic message boards can only be activated or displayed from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.
E. Brightness.
i. All digital displays shall be illuminated at a level no greater than 0.3 foot candles over ambient light levels for location and time when measured at the recommended distance based on the digital display size, and shall employ light cut-off devices, such as but not limited to louvers, in order to minimize light escaping above a horizontal plane.
ii. All digital displays must be equipped with both a dimmer control and photo sensor, which will automatically adjust the display intensity according to natural ambient light conditions.
iii. The use of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) bulbs or other technology that emits light in a highly concentrated intensity in electronic message boards is prohibited.
iv. Digital displays may not display light of an intensity or brilliance to cause glare or otherwise impair vision of the operator of a motor vehicle.
v. Color of lighting shall be designated in the permit application and be subject to approval by the Planning Commission.
vi. No electronic message boards shall be placed within one-hundred and twenty-five (125) feet of a residential district.
F. Sound Prohibited. Signs or signage devices that project sound are prohibited.
(7) Temporary Signs. The following regulations for temporary signs are in addition to the maximum sign area and height regulations set forth in Appendix A - Maximum Signage Area
A. Temporary / Political / Real Estate / Contractor: Temporary signs announcing any proposed building, a building under construction, remodeling or reconstruction, advertising the sale, rental or lease of any building, buildings, or a part thereof, or political / special event signs shall comply with the following:
i. Such signs shall be located on private property. Any signs announcing a proposed building, a building under construction or remodel, or advertising the sale, rental or lease of any building, buildings, or part thereof shall be located on the lot to be occupied or occupied by the building or use advertised.
ii. Such signs cannot be placed within the City Right-of-way.
iii. Garage or Home Sale Sign. One temporary sign promoting a garage sale shall be permitted on the site of the sale. Such sign shall be posted on private property for a period not to exceed three (3) calendar days or the length of the sale, whichever is less, on not more than two separate occasions in any given calendar year. Such sign shall not exceed a total of six (6) square feet. If the sale is to take place at a property that is within a residential subdivision, one (1) additional temporary directional sign may be placed at the logical entrance point to the subdivision. Such sign shall not be affixed to any utility poles or other infrastructure within the Right-of-Way and is limited to three (3) square feet. Any garage or home sale signs shall not be located within the Right-of-way or affixed to any infrastructure within the Right-of-way, including utility poles and street signs. Placement of a garage or home sale sign will be authorized through the issuance of a garage or home sale permit. Signs must include the property address of the sale and must be collected once sale is completed
(e) Supplementary Sign Regulations. The following sign regulations are in addition to the maximum sign area and height regulations set forth in Sections 1129.04:
(1) Freestanding Signs for Gasoline Stations. Freestanding commercial identification signs are permitted for gasoline stations in compliance with the following regulations:
A. One (1) freestanding identification sign with a maximum area of thirty-six (36) square feet per sign face is permitted per development. The area of the freestanding sign shall be in addition to the maximum area permitted by Appendix A - Maximum Signage Area.
B. No portion of any freestanding sign shall project into the public right-of-way. (Ord. 2015-8. Passed 8-25-15.)