As used in this chapter:
(a) "A-frame sign" means a sign that consists of two sign boards that are hinged together at the top and on which information has been factory-imprinted, handwritten, or displays manual changeable copy.
(b) "Awning sign" means a sign made of non-rigid material such as heavy canvas that is supported by a framework, which is attached to a building's substrate. An awning sign extends outward from the building and so provides shaded cover and protection from weather for customers and pedestrians. An awning sign may have lettering and/or graphics painted or screen printed on its exterior surface.
(c) "Awning valance" means that portion of an awning sign that consists of short strips or bands of material hung at the lower edge of the awning.
(d) "Balloon sign" means a temporary sign which is an inflatable device, regardless of size. Unlike inflatable signs, balloon signs retain their shape due to the insertion of helium or other lightweight gas, which allows the device to be suspended in midair, independent of any structure other than that which keeps the device from floating away.
(e) "Banner sign" means a sign made of fabric, cloth, paper, or other non-rigid material that is typically not enclosed in a frame.
(f) "Billboard" means a sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located. This type of sign may also be known by the term "off-premise sign."
(g) "Building" or "structure" means a building or structure as defined by the Code of Ordinances and Zoning Code for the City of Lincoln Park.
(h) "Building Official" means the Building and Engineering Manager for the City of Lincoln Park.
(i) "Building sign" means a sign affixed to, painted on, or printed on a wall, roof, door, window, marquee, or awning of a building.
(j) "Canopy" means a rigid structure that acts as a roof over the area it covers, providing weather protection for customers, pedestrians, and vehicles. Such structures will only be considered canopies if they are of sufficient size to require roof drainage per the adopted Building Code.
(k) "Canopy valance" means the face of the side of a canopy, perpendicular to the ground.
(l) "Changeable copy sign (manual)" means a sign, which has a readerboard for the display of text information in which each alphanumeric character, graphic, or symbol is changed manually.
(m) "Electronic display signs" means any sign containing or using electrical wiring, but not including signs illuminated by an exterior light source, that uses electronic display technology to convey information. Electronic display signs may include electronic changeable copy; fading, repixalization, or dissolving to display a series of images; and signs composed of a series of slats or cylinders designed to rotate at intervals.
(n) "Electronic display technology" means any portion of a sign that contains alphanumeric characters, graphics or symbols that are defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LED), fiber optics, light bulbs, or other illuminating devices within the display area. Electronic display technology (EDT) includes computer programmable, microprocessor-controlled devices.
(o) "Entranceway sign" means a sign affixed to an entranceway structure as described in the landscaping provisions of the Lincoln Park Zoning Code.
(p) "Entranceway structure" means wall, column, or gate at the entrance to a subdivision or industrial or business park as permitted in the landscaping provisions of the Lincoln Park Zoning Code.
(q) "Facade" means the exterior side of a building which faces, and is most nearly parallel to, a public or private street.
(r) "Face of sign" means the area of the sign upon, against, or through which information is displayed or illuminated.
(s) "Feather flag sign" means a temporary sign supported by a single pole that curves at the top, to which sign face made of non-rigid material such as cloth is attached.
(t) "Festoon" means a string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels, or lights.
(u) "Flashing, animated, or moving sign" means a sign that has intermittently or sequentially reflecting lights, or signs which have movement of any illumination such as intermittent, flashing, scintillating, or varying intensity, or a sign that has any visible portions in motion, either constantly or at intervals, whether caused by artificial or natural sources. Electronic Display Signs, as defined in this chapter, may not constitute a flashing sign for the purpose of this chapter.
(v) "Freestanding sign" means any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure.
(w) "Frontage" means the length of the property line of anyone premise along a right-of-way on which it borders.
(x) "Illegal sign" means a sign which does not meet the requirements of this chapter and which has not received legal nonconforming status and has not received a sign variance as permitted in this chapter.
(y) "Illuminance" means the amount of light that is incident to the surface of an object. This is the method for describing ambient light levels or the amount of light that is projected onto a front-lit sign. This parameter is typically measured in lux (footcandles x meters). For the purposes of dimming, illuminance is the amount of ambient light that hits a photocell.
(z) "Illuminated sign" means any sign which contains a mechanism that emits artificial light internally or externally.
(aa) "Indirect illumination" means a sign that is affected by a source of light not contained within the sign itself.
(bb) "Inflatable sign" means a temporary sign consisting of a flexible material or fabric that takes on a three-dimensional shape when filled with air or other gas.
(cc) "Landmark sign" means an older sign of artistic or historic merit, uniqueness, or extraordinary significance to the City of Lincoln Park, as determined by the Planning Commission.
(dd) "Luminance" means the amount of light that emanates from an internally illuminated sign. This parameter is measured in nits (candelas/square meter). The nit levels necessary for a sign to be legible varies with the ambient light conditions. For example, on a sunny day, the nit levels must be very high, while at night, the nit levels must be very low to prevent the image from distorting and to prevent glare.
(ee) "Mansard" means a sloped roof or roof-like facade. Signs mounted on the face of a mansard roof are considered wall signs.
(ff) "Marquee sign" means a display sign, with or without electronic display technology, attached to or hung from a rigid permanent structure projecting from and supported by the building, and extending beyond the building wall, building line, or right-of-way line.
(gg) "Monument sign" means a freestanding sign where the base of the sign structure is on the ground or a maximum of 24 inches above the adjacent grade.
(hh) "Movement" means physical movement or revolution up or down; around or sideways that completes a cycle of change at intervals of less than six (6) seconds.
(ii) "Moving sign" means a sign in which the sign itself or any portion of the sign moves, revolves, or otherwise is in motion. A "rotating sign" is a type of moving sign. Such motion does not refer to the method of changing the information on the sign.
(jj) "Neon sign." See "Outline tubing sign."
(kk) "Nonconforming sign" means a sign which is prohibited under the terms of this chapter but was erected lawfully and was in use on the date of enactment of this chapter, or amendment to this chapter.
(ll) "Outline tubing sign" means a sign consisting of glass tubing, filled with a gas such as neon, which glows when electric current is sent through it.
(mm) "Painted wall sign" means a sign which is applied with paint or similar substance directly upon the face of a wall.
(nn) "Parapet" means the extension of a false front or wall above a roof line. Signs mounted on the face of a parapet are considered wall signs.
(oo) "People sign" means a type of portable signs which is worn, carried, or held by a person.
(pp) "Permanent sign" means a sign constructed of durable materials and intended to exist for the duration of time that the use or occupant is located on the premises.
(qq) "Planning Commission" means the Planning Commission for the City of Lincoln Park.
(rr) "Portable sign" means a sign not permanently anchored or secured to either the building or the ground.
(ss) "Poster panel" means a board, panel or tablet used for information display.
(tt) "Pole sign" means a freestanding sign mounted on one or more poles or other type of support which has its base anchored in the ground and with a specified clear space between the bottom of the face of the sign and the established grade of eight (8) feet or more.
(uu) "Projecting sign" means a type of building-mounted sign that contains two faces, is attached to a building along one side of the sign, and which is perpendicular to the building on which it is mounted.
(vv) "Public sign" means a sign erected in the public interest by or upon orders from a local, state, or federal public official.
(ww) "Roofline" means the top edge of a roof or building parapet, whichever is higher, excluding cupolas, pylons, chimneys or similar minor projections.
(xx) "Roof sign"means a display sign which is erected, constructed and maintained on or above the roof of the building or structure, or above the exterior wall of a building or structure, or which is attached to any exterior wall at a height above the horizontal plane of the roof abutting such wall.
(yy) "Rotating sign" See "Moving sign."
(zz) "Sign" means a device for visual communication that is used to bring the subject to the attention of the public, but does not include flags, or other insignia of any government, fraternal or similar organization. A sign includes any device, structure, fixture, or placard, which uses words, numbers, figures, graphic designs, logos or trademarks. Unless otherwise indicated, the definition of "sign" includes interior and exterior signs, which are visible from any public street, sidewalk, alley, park, public property, but not signs which are primarily directed at persons within the premises upon which the sign is located.
(aaa) "Sign Board of Appeals" means the Zoning Board of Appeals for the City of Lincoln Park.
(bbb) "Sign structure" means any structure that supports or is capable of supporting a sign as defined in this code.
(ccc) "Sign variance" means a nonuse variance granted to provide relief from a specific standard of this chapter which relates to an area, dimension, or construction requirement.
(ddd) "Shopping center" means a grouping of two (2) or more commercial or office business establishments on one (1) or more parcels which may share parking and access and are linked architecturally or otherwise present the appearance of a unified grouping of establishments.
(eee) "Snipe signs" means a temporary sign or poster attached or affixed to a tree, fence, utility pole, streetlamp, etc.
(fff) "Temporary sign" means a sign, banner or other advertising device with or without a structural frame, but which is not permanently fastened to any structure, including posts and footings, which is constructed, designed or intended for a limited display period.
(ggg) "Three-dimensional sign" means a sign that has depth or relief on its surface of greater than six inches. A three-dimensional sign permanently attached to a building or structure is considered a projecting sign.
(hhh) "Vehicle sign" means a type of portable sign that is attached to or painted on a vehicle.
(iii) "Video display sign" means a sign characterized by motion, movement, or pictorial imagery that imitates movement through the progression of frames that give the illusion of motion. Video display signs may or may not include text, moving objects, moving patterns or bands of light, or expanding or contracting shapes. Video display signs use electronic display technology and may be combined with an electronic display sign.
(jjj) "Wall sign" means a sign which is attached parallel to and extending not more than fifteen (15) inches from, the face of the wall of a building. Painted signs, signs which consist of individual letters, cabinet signs, signs mounted on the face of a mansard roof, parapet, or on the slope below a roofline are considered wall signs.
(kkk) "Window lighting" means rope-style lighting, generally placed around the perimeter of window and door openings.
(lll) "Window sign" means a sign located in or on a window which is intended to be viewed from the outside. Window signs may be permanent or temporary. Signs whi ch are positioned next to a window so that they are visible from the outside are considered window signs.
(mmm) "Yard sign" means a specific type of freestanding sign generally with a wire frame or crossbar, not permanently attached to the ground; common types of yard sign are the "H-Frame" and the "I- Frame." Yard signs may have a semi-flexible frame made of wire, or a rigid frame constructed or wood or metal.
(Res. 2020-059A. Passed 4- 20-20.)