These sign regulations shall apply to all business zone districts except as specifically exempted.
(A) Wall signs. Any business use may be permitted a wall sign for each side of building fronting a public street. Wall signs shall not project more than one foot from the building wall and copy shall run parallel (horizontal) with the wall.
(1) Size. Maximum permitted wall sign area shall be one square foot of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage on a street to a maximum of 300 square feet on individual street frontages.
(B) Freestanding signs. Freestanding signs shall be permitted in all business districts.
(1) Area and number. An area ten feet in height, except for structural members, shall be maintained clear of obstruction under any freestanding sign to increase pedestrian safety, and to create a clear field of vision to recognize the location of streets and commercial entrance and exits. One freestanding sign per public street frontage.
(2) Height. Freestanding signs may not exceed 30 feet from ground elevation except as increased by variance approval.
(3) Location. Any sign may be located anywhere on the premises unless locations are given herein and provided the regulations of § 93.080 are met, and:
(a) No sign shall intrude into any public right-of-way and structural supports shall be at least ten feet from any public right-of-way line.
(b) Any sign shall be at least ten feet above a sidewalk and 15 feet above driveways or alleys.
(c) Signs may be on the vertical faces of marquees. The bottom of a marquee sign shall be no less than ten feet above the grade at any point. No part of the changeable copy shall project above or below the vertical marquee face.
(C) Message centers. Digital electronic message centers ("EMCs") may be incorporated into signs as provided in this division.
(1) Number, design, dimensions.
(a) Not more than one sign with an EMC component is allowed per street frontage.
(b) EMCs shall appear to be incorporated into the face of a permanent sign that includes text or graphics that are not part of the EMC.
(c) EMCs shall be integrated harmoniously into the design of the sign face and structure, shall not be the predominant element of the sign, and if located at the top of a sign, the sign must include a substantial cap feature above the EMC, which consists of the same material, form, color, and texture as is found on the sign face or structure.
(d) Not more than 50% of the sign area of a permitted sign may be occupied by EMCs.
(2) Operations.
(a) The message displayed on an EMC shall not change more frequently than once per 60 seconds.
(b) EMCs shall contain static messages only, and animated, dissolve, or fade transitions are not allowed.
(c) EMCs shall be controlled by dimming software and sensors to adjust brightness for nighttime viewing and variations in ambient light. The intensity of the light source shall not produce glare, the effect of which constitutes a traffic hazard or is otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare.
(D) Computation. The maximum allowable area per lot for any freestanding sign shall be based on the following formula:
Factor | Lineal Feet of Principal Frontage | Allowable Sign Area in Square Feet |
2 | First 50 feet | 100 |
1.5 | Next 50 feet | Add 75 |
1 | Remaining distance | Max. 125 |
Maximum total possible is 300 square feet of sign area.
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(Ord. 2014-18, passed 4-16-2014; Am. Ord. 2020- 02, passed 1-16-2020)