For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(a) "Architectural Review Board" means a Board composed of the Chairman of the Planning Commission, the Mayor and three electors of the Village appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council, who shall be professional architects, engineers, advertising and marketing specialists or related occupations. Appointments shall be for four year overlapping terms. The Mayor will act as chairman and will vote only when necessary to break a tie.
(b) "Awning" means any structure made of cloth or vinyl attached to a metal frame connected to a building and projecting over a sidewalk or when not in use erected so that it may be raised flat against the building. (See Appendix D for example) Also see“ Canopy”.
(c) "Banner" shall mean any non-rigid cloth, plastic, paper or canvas sign typically related to a special event or promotion and intended for short term temporary use.
(d) "Building frontage", for the purpose of this chapter, shall be measured along the building face most parallel to the street line. In the case of a corner lot, either frontage may be used, but the primary sign shall be erected on the face of the building used in computing the business frontage.
(d-1) “Building Sign” – A building sign may include any awning, banner, canopy, marquis, projecting sign, wall sign or window signs that may be affixed to the walls or façade of a building.
(e) "Canopy" means any structure, other than an awning, projecting over a sidewalk or parking lot and carried by a frame supported by the ground, sidewalk or face of the building. (See Appendix D for example)
(f) "Changeable copy sign" means:
(1) A sign, or portion thereof, designed so that characters, letters or messages can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or surface of the sign. A Changeable Copy Sign may also be an electronic or mechanical device where the letters or graphics remain unchanged for at least five seconds.
(2) A changeable copy sign surface that may contain no lettering shall still be considered to be a sign.
(f-1) Construction Sign – A Temporary freestanding sign or a sign affixed to a building or other structure that usually contains an advertising message regarding the contractor, materials, products or services being provided on that site.
(g) "Curbline" means a line at the face of the curb nearest to the street or roadway. In the absence of a curb, the curbline shall be established by the Zoning Inspector.
(h) "Development signs" means a permanent sign usually located at the entrance to a residential subdivision, apartment complex, or commercial park identifying the name of the development or complex, and containing no advertising message.
(i) "Directory sign" means a sign utilized by more than one business and containing only the name and address of the business or owners and containing no other advertising messages. All directory signs shall be wall-mounted.
(j) "Directional sign" means signs having an above grade height of not more than four feet and a total sign area of not more than four square feet and containing no advertising message, but which are typically erected to designate entrances or exits, provide direction for traffic, operational instructions and the like.
(k) "Display surface" means the area made available by the "sign structure" for the purpose of displaying the advertising message.
(l) "Free-standing sign" means any sign or sign structure which is supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of support from any building. Free-standing signs are further defined as "Ground signs" or "Pole signs".
(m) "Flashing sign" means any directly or indirectly illuminated sign that exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever.
(m-1) Flag - Any fabric containing any distinctive colors, patterns, shapes, symbols or logos of a government, school, corporation, or other similar entity.
(m-2) Freestanding sign - Any sign supported by poles, posts or similar structural supports attached to or anchored into the ground, and not attached to any building or other structure.
(n) "Ground sign" means any free-standing sign mounted directly on a pedestal or planter base as distinguished from a sign supported by poles or columns, and not exceeding six feet in height to the top of the display surface. (See Appendix D for example)
(n-1) Identification Sign - Any freestanding sign or a sign attached to a fence or wall which only identifies the name and/or address of the subdivision, residential complex, or commercial or industrial building on the premises where the sign is located.
(n-2) Incidental signs - A sign less than three square feet in size that contains no advertising message and which is not legible from the adjoining public street. Such signs typically include notices such as “no trespassing”, “entrance or exit”, “Loading Zone”, ‘No Parking”, or similar informational or directional messages.
(o) "Integral part" means an essential part of the entire sign, or an essential component of the sign structure; contained within, or having a visual linkage to the rest of the sign face, or integrated into the face of a sign by the use of a common border or similar treatment.
(p) "New business" includes a newly established business or an existing business under new ownership which has been in operation less than sixty days.
(q) "Non-conforming sign" means a pre-existing legal sign that does not conform to the standards set forth in this current sign code.
(r) "Off-site advertising" means a sign or billboard describing a business, product or service not offered or sold on the premises on which the sign is located.
(s) "Permanent sign" means any permitted or legal non-conforming sign intended to remain in place until a change of occupancy occurs. A permanent sign must be securely attached or installed upon a building, structure or the ground.
(t) "Pole sign" means a sign that is erected on or supported by one or more columns, pipes, posts or other similar method of support and which is not supported by or connected to a building and having the area for display purposes at least seven feet above grade at the base of the sign. (See Appendix D for example)
(u) "Portable sign" means any sign that is designed to be, or capable of being moved or transported for any distance on a site, or from one site to another, and which is not permanently attached to any building, structure or the ground.
(v) "Product sign" means a sign usually made of paper, cardboard, vinyl or similar material, located inside a building window, advertising a certain product or service offered by the business, such as ads for foods or beverages, tobacco products, etc., typically offered at convenience or food stores.
(w) "Projecting sign" means any sign which is attached to the building and extends perpendicular from the face of the building or structure to which it is attached. (See Appendix D for example)
(x) "Projection" means the total distance by which a sign extends beyond the face of a building or structure.
(x-1) Real Estate Sign - Any sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of real estate which is placed upon the lot or building being so advertised.
(y) "Roof sign" means any sign erected on the roof of a building where all or part of the sign would extend above the roof line of the building.
(z) "Sign" means any card, cloth, paper, metal, painted glass, neon tubes, wood, plaster, stone, plastic, vinyl or other material of any kind or character whatsoever which shall be used to attract attention to any object, product, place, activity, person, institution or organization offered or sold on the premises on which the sign is located.
(aa) "Sign area" means where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces of the sign shall be included in determining the total area of the sign except when two faces of a sign are joined back to back and not more than twelve inches apart, or form a V angle of less than thirty (30) degrees. For spherical signs, the sphere shall be bisected by an imaginary line through the center, and the surface area of the half sphere shall be counted as the sign face. For cubical signs, the area of all display surfaces shall be included in determining the sign area. The area of letters, numbers, emblems or logos comprising a wall sign shall be computed by enclosing such sign with the smallest single perimeter around such letters, numbers, emblems or logos. (See Appendix B)
(bb) "Sign structure" means the supports, uprights, braces and framework used to support any of the types of signs as defined in this chapter. A "sign structure" may be a single pole or be an integral part of a building or other structure.
(cc) "Temporary sign" means a sign not intended for permanent installation, such as a banner, portable sign, or contractors sign. They may also include signs such as real estate signs and garage sale signs.
(dd) "Wall sign" means any signs attached to or erected against the outside wall of any building or structure, with the exposed display surface of the sign parallel to the plane of the building wall and extending less than twelve (12) inches from the building or structure.
(ee) "Window sign" means a sign, symbols, letters or logos that are directly attached to a door or window or attached to the inside of the building and visible through a door or window from the public R.O.W. These signs are permanent and shall not be considered "product signs". (See Appendix D for example)
(ff) "Zoning Inspector" means the officer authorized to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In the Municipality, that person is the Administrative Director.
(Ord. 07-32. Passed 7-2-07.)
(Ord. 07-32. Passed 7-2-07.)