The following signs are prohibited:
(A) Any sign that obstructs the clear vision of any motor vehicle operator;
(B) Any sign that interferes with, misleads, disrupts or confuses any motor vehicle operator, such as signs that contain the words “stop”, “look” or “danger”;
(C) Any sign that impedes travel on any pedestrian or vehicular travel surface;
(D) (1) Any sign with flashing, moving or animated lights, letters or visuals, except athletic score boards. Exception: signs that flash or move will be allowed on auxiliary (side) streets and businesses that set back at least ten feet from the adjoining public right-of-way, (for example in shops in malls); provided, the signs are turned off not later than the earlier of the close of business or 9:00 p.m. and do not operate on any day when the use described on the sign is inoperative.
(2) Lights must be directed to face the Commercial Zone and backed so that they do not encroach the Residential Zone. These signs must comply with exception of division (A) above.
(E) Portable signs within the public right-of-way.
(1) No signs shall be placed within the public right-of-way, except:
(a) One freestanding sandwich board sign shall be permitted in the public right-of-way to advertise community interest events sponsored by public or non-profit entities, during the period which begins six hours before the applicable event begins and ends at the conclusion of the event or if the event continues for more than one day, at the conclusion of the portion of the event conducted each day;
(b) One freestanding sandwich board sign shall be permitted in the public right-of-way to advertise a lawful use conducted in a building immediately adjacent to such a portion of the public right-of-way, during any period of time the use is actual in operation.
(2) Despite any other provisions of divisions (E)(1)(a) and (E)(1)(b) above to the contrary:
(a) No sign shall be placed or maintained in the public right-of-way between the period beginning one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise;
(b) No sign shall be placed or maintained in the public right-of-way if there will remain less than five feet of unobstructed width in the immediately adjacent public sidewalk, or if the sign will obstruct any fire hydrant, access ramp or other site specific public improvement of any nature;
(c) No sign placed or maintained under divisions (E)(1)(a) and (E)(1)(b) above shall be more than 48 inches from the highest surface of the public right-of-way to the highest point of the sign, nor be more than 36 inches wide; and
(d) No sign shall be permitted under divisions (E)(1)(a) and (E)(1)(b) above unless professionally prepared.
(F) Abandoned signs must be removed within 60 days of closure or relocation of business. Exception: a sign in compliance with this subchapter in every other manner may remain in place if the business name is for sale along with the business at the signage location;
(G) No bench signs shall be permitted in any public right-of-way, except on benches authorized by the city in writing. Authorization to place a bench within any public right-of-way shall be month-to-month and shall never be authorized if placement of the bench would leave less than five feet if unobstructed width on the immediately adjacent public sidewalk. Any authorization granted under this division (G) shall be limited to a specific location;
(H) Signs which extend above the lowest point of the roof of the building to which they are attached. Exception: signs may extend above the lowest point of the roof of the building to which they are attached so long as the highest point of the sign does not exceed the lessor of:
(1) The maximum building height permitted under Ch. 156 of this code of ordinances or other governing law; or
(2) Sixteen inches above the lowest point of the roof of the building to which the sign is attached.
(I) Overhanging signs which are less than eight feet vertically from the surface of the public right-of-way or which extend more than six feet over the public right-of-way. Exceptions are:
(1) Commemorative plaques are allowed on city-sanctioned artwork;
(2) Lawful uses conducted in building fronting auxiliary streets (those streets which are not state highway and which are oriented in an east-westerly fashion) are allowed one overhanging sign that meets all of the following requirements:
(a) The sign is safely and securely attached to structure (or other foundation) located outside the public right-of-way;
(b) The sign is not supported by any vertical supports located within the public right-of-way;
(c) The sign has a minimum vertical clearance of seven feet over the public right-of-way or walkway;
(d) The sign does not block the visibility of traffic control signs to motorists;
(e) The sign does not extend (overhang) more than six feet into the public right-of-way;
(f) No more than 18 square feet of any otherwise allowable perpendicular sign shall extend (overhang) the public right-of-way; and
(g) The sign is the only overhanging sign for the business at the signage location.
(3) Lawful uses conducted in building adjoining the state right-of-way, may erect and maintain a freestanding sign in any space between the properly line and the adjoining public sidewalk, which shall not overhang the sidewalk, nor be closer than 12 inches from the perimeter of the public sidewalk closest to the property line; and
(4) The city may revoke the authorization to erect and maintain a sign under division (I)(3) above on any reasonable grounds on 60 days’ prior notice to the owner of the applicable building.
(Ord. 2018-04, passed 9-23-2019)