(A) Additional signage for drive-in and drive-through establishments (all districts).
(1) Additional signage for drive-in establishments shall be permitted subject to the following:
(a) Such signage shall only be located adjacent to, and shall be oriented to only be visible from, designated drive-in parking spaces. No such signage shall be located within a required front yard.
(b) No more than one sign per designated drive-in parking space is allowed, not to exceed 12 square feet in area and six feet in height.
(c) Internally illuminated signs, including electronic or digital signage, shall only be allowed within the GC District and shall be at least 50 feet from any Residential District.
(d) Approval by the Sign Review Committee shall be required.
(2) Additional signage for drive-through establishments shall be permitted subject to the following:
(a) Such signage shall only be located adjacent to, and shall be oriented to only be visible from, designated drive-through lanes. No such signage shall be located within a required front yard.
(b) No more than two signs per designated drive-through lane are allowed, one not exceeding the maximum allowable area for ground signs for the district in which the property is located, and the second not exceeding 50% of the maximum allowable area for ground signs for the district in which the property is located. Such signs may not exceed eight feet in height.
(c) Internally illuminated signs, including electronic or digital signage, shall only be allowed within the GC District and shall be at least 50 feet from any Residential District.
(d) Approval by the Sign Review Committee shall be required.
(B) Changeable copy signs (LS, GC, and LI Districts). Changeable copy signs shall be permitted when incorporated into a permitted wall or ground sign provided that the area devoted to changeable copy does not exceed 50% of the wall or ground sign area.
(1) Lettering used on changeable copy signs directed to local streets shall not exceed three inches in height.
(2) Lettering used on changeable copy signs directed to major arterial streets shall not exceed six inches in height.
(3) The message on a changeable copy sign controlled by electronic or electrical signal shall not change more than eight times per day and shall not incorporate or involve action, motion, or the appearance of action or motion, such as the use of flashing lights, progressive color changes (only one color per message is allowed), scrolling messages, or video-like features.
(4) A changeable copy sign controlled by electronic or electrical signal shall not be allowed within the CBD District, any residential district, or within 50 feet of any residential district.
(C) Historic markers (all districts).
(1) If a structure within the city has been designated a State Historical Site or listed in the National Register of Historic Places, then a marker designating that fact, obtained from the appropriate state or federal agency, shall be permitted in addition to any other sign or signs which may lawfully be placed on the structure or the property on which the structure is located.
(2) Anyone wishing to place a historic marker on a structure or property shall complete and file a sign permit application with the Zoning Administrator. No fee shall be charged for a historic marker application.
(D) Window signs (all districts except CBD).
(1) Permanent window signs which promote product shall be made of clear materials, such as transparent plastic, with lettering painted or attached to them. Incidental signs shall be exempt from this regulation.
(2) Window signs do not require sign permits, nor count in the calculation of total building signage permitted. However, window signs shall not exceed more than 30% of the total window area on the floor level and no more than 50% coverage per window.
(3) If window signs occupy more than 50% of the window area in which they are displayed, they shall be treated as wall signs and shall conform to all provisions applicable to wall signs. However, in no case shall windows providing interior views to passersby be more than 75% covered.
(4) Window signs shall not be illuminated except as provided in division (D)(5) below.
(5) Signs whose sole function is to indicate whether or not the establishment is open shall be a permitted window sign, subject to the following:
(a) No more than one such sign shall be permitted per storefront;
(b) Such sign is no more than two square feet in area; and
(c) Illumination of such signs may only occur within a non-residential district and shall: be limited to no more than two colors; and have a static display and not include blinking, flashing, scrolling, animation, or any other actual or simulated movement.
(6) A temporary sign or banner sign installed inside a window shall be regulated under § 154.160(A).
(E) Mural signs (all districts).
(1) Commercial mural signs, as defined in this chapter, may be allowed after review and approval by the Planning Commission, and are further subject to the following standards:
(a) No such mural may be placed on any building or structure that includes nonconforming signs;
(b) Only one wall, facade, or surface of a building or structure may be used for the mural;
(c) The wall, facade, or surface that is used for the mural shall be counted as one sign. The mural will count towards the total wall signage allowed for the business; however, the Planning Commission in its sole discretion may permit murals of larger size. Larger murals shall be permitted when it is determined to demonstrate at least one of the following:
1. Accentuates the historic features of the building;
2. Masks an unattractive building facade;
3. Creates an aesthetically pleasing amenity; and
4. Superior in aesthetics to an attached wall sign.
(d) The owner of record of the building or structure on which the proposed mural is to be placed shall, in writing, consent to the placement of said mural on the property, and shall agree to restore the wall, facade, or surface upon which the mural is placed to its prior existing condition if and at such time the mural is not maintained by the applicant. The permit application shall include a statement detailing the applicant’s plans for the maintenance of the mural; and
(e) In the review of a commercial mural sign, the Planning Commission shall grant approval only if the following criteria are met:
1. The placing of the proposed mural at the location selected by the applicant would not constitute a significant traffic safety hazard;
2. Neither the mural, nor the placement of the mural, would endanger the public health, safety, or general welfare; and
3. Neither the mural, nor the placement of the mural, would be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity of the proposed location.
(2) Noncommercial mural signs, as defined in this chapter, may be allowed after review and approval by the Sign Review Committee, and are further subject to the following standards:
(a) Approval by the Historic District Commission is obtained when such sign is located within the city’s Historic District;
(b) Only one wall, facade, or surface of a building or structure may be used for the mural;
(c) Murals shall only be permitted on the side or rear walls of buildings;
(d) Murals shall be allowed only on building walls that do not contain wall signs on the same wall as occupants of the building;
(e) Murals depicting offensive or obscene materials, or partially nude or seminude persons, shall be prohibited;
(f) Materials utilized in painting a mural shall have proven durability and shall be maintained or removed if not maintained; and
(g) The unauthorized inscribing, spraying of paint, or making symbols using chalk, dye, ink, paint, spray paint, or similar materials on public or private places, structures, or other surfaces shall not be permitted.
(F) Residential development entry signs (all districts).
(1) For each residential development of four or more dwelling units for which a building permit has been issued, a ground sign may be located adjacent to each public street entrance, at least ten feet from the adjacent public street right-of-way. Such sign location(s) shall have been depicted on a preliminary plat, site condominium plan, or a final site plan approved by the Planning Commission and shall meet standards set forth in this chapter.
(2) Whenever a landscape wall with entrance signage is proposed at or near the entrance to a residential development, the following requirements will apply: the length of the wall may not exceed 25% of the width of the lot on which it is located nor more than 10% of total frontage if a corner lot; a landscape wall shall be designed and located to assure proper vision and site distance at the nearest intersection of public streets or a public street and private driveway; the landscape wall height shall not exceed four feet; and illumination of the landscape wall shall be subject to the standards of § 154.156(B).
(G) Poster panel, “A” frame, and sandwich signs (all districts except CBD). Poster panel, “A” frame, and sandwich signs may be allowed subject to the following standards.
(1) The signs shall be made of quality materials.
(2) The signs shall be removed daily.
(3) Only one such sign per occupied storefront shall be permitted.
(4) The signs shall have a maximum of two faces, each face ten square feet or less in area. The maximum height of the sign shall be four feet.
(5) Letters, graphics, or images shall be professionally hand-lettered, or die-cut self-adhesive, manual changeable copy, or black board hand-lettered.
(6) A poster panel, “A” frame, or sandwich sign shall be permitted within the right-of-way only if the sign has no negative effects on public safety and visibility for all vehicles and pedestrians is unobstructed. A minimum of five feet of unobstructed, pedestrian access along the sidewalk is required.
(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 372, passed 6-8-2015; Ord. 380, passed 9-25-2017) Penalty, see § 154.999