The following criteria shall be used in measuring a sign or building facade in order to determine compliance with this Chapter. The illustrations provided in this Section are provided to offer clarification, not replace the written requirements of this Chapter. These illustrations do not reflect every sign type.
(A) Sign Area, Ground Sign
1. The sign area shall be the extreme outer dimension of the ground structure, excluding the support structure and architectural features. For ground signs that contain multiple cabinets on one structure, the modules together are counted as one sign face in order to compute the sign area.
(B) Sign Height, Ground Sign
1. The overall height of a ground sign or sign structure is measured from the average finished grade at the base of the sign to the highest point of the sign structure.
(C) Sign Setback, Ground Sign
1. The minimum setback of a ground sign shall be the distance from the extreme outer dimension of the structure to the applicable property line. This extreme outer dimension shall include, but not be limited to, the sign face, support structures, and architectural features.
(D) Ground Sign, Landscape Requirement
1. Ground Sign (Landscape Requirement): The landscape requirement is determined by calculating the area of the landscaped area located around the base of the ground sign. Examples of a rectangular and circular area are provided below:
(E) Sign Area, Wall Sign (Single Element)
1. The sign area is determined by calculating the measurement of the outer dimensions of the frame surrounding the sign. See Illustration below.
(F) Sign Area, Wall Sign (Multiple Elements)
1. When signs are constructed of individual letters and / or elements, the area will be measured as one sign when the distance between the elements is less than the largest dimension of the largest sign letter or element. The sign area is determined by calculating the combined area of an imaginary rectangle, circle, triangle, or parallelogram drawn around the sign elements. See Illustrations below.
(G) Sign Area, Awning And Canopy
1. When signs are incorporated into the awning or canopy, the sign area is determined by calculating the combined area of an imaginary rectangle, circle, triangle, or parallelogram drawn around the sign elements. See Illustration below.
(H) Measurement of Qualifying Façade
1. Qualifying facades include facades that directly face public or private streets, sidewalks, alleys, courtyards, and parking lots.
2. For the purposes of determining maximum wall sign area:
(a) The linear width of first floor tenant spaces shall be calculated as the width of the exterior building wall (or walls) that directly abut the tenant’s interior floor space. Exterior wall dimensions shall be measured at the base of the ground floor, excluding screened walls, fences, etc. Alcoves, entryways and extruding portions shall be measured through as though along a flat wall of a building.
(b) All tenant spaces located above or below the first floor of a building shall be eligible for a combined / cumulative pool of wall sign square footage equal to one-half (1/2) the width of the overall qualifying facade on which these wall signs are located.
(I) Clearance, Awning / Canopy And Blade Sign
1. Awnings and canopies shall be installed with a minimum clear ance of eight (8) feet measured from grade to the bottom of awning or canopy. Blade signs shall have a minimum clearance of eight (8) feet measured from grade to the bottom of the sign and shall extend a maximum of three (3) feet from the building facade to which it is attached.
(J) Sign Area, Window Signs
1. Shall occupy a maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) percent of a single window pane and no more than fifty percent (50%) of the total window surface area per storefront elevation. The area of a window includes only the glass or glazed elements of the window. Frames, mullions and similar features shall not be counted as part of the window area.
(K) Measurement Of Non-Planar Signs
1. The area in square feet of a non-planar sign is measured as 50% of the sum of the areas using only the 4 vertical sides of the smallest 4-sided polyhedron that will encompass the sign structure.
(Ord. 2021-4931, 11-15-2021; amd. Ord. 2023-5042, 12-18-2023)