(A) To install a permanent or temporary sign in the village except as provided for in § 154.127, a permit application shall be submitted to the village. The Mayor, or his or her designee, may authorize a permit for a sign that will be posted for no more than 60 days. A permit for all other signs shall be submitted to Village Council for approval.
(B) In the B-2 Highway Business District, there may be ground signs, wall signs, projecting signs, post signs, marquee signs, window and awning signs when displaying no advertising matter except pertaining to the business conducted in the building or on the premises on which such signs are placed. The total square foot area of wall signs, projecting signs, marquee signs and awning signs shall not exceed one-fifth of the total square foot area of the face of the building on which they are placed. There shall not be more than one post sign for each lot with street frontage. No post sign shall extend closer than ten feet to a lot line or a right-of-way line.
(C) The following additional sign regulations shall be observed in the B-2 Highway Business District:
(1) Billboard and roof signs. Billboard and roof signs are prohibited in all districts.
(2) Changeable copy signs. Changeable copy is prohibited except for bulletin boards and motion picture marquees.
(3) Gasoline service stations. Gasoline service stations whose principal business is the sale of motor fuel may display signs in addition to those herein authorized. Such additional signs shall be limited to the following:
(a) One double-faced sign not exceeding five square feet on a side is permitted for each set of motor fuel pumps identifying "self-service" or "full-service."
(b) Signs, not exceeding three in number, with each sign being single or double-faced having a total aggregate area including the sign frame and surrounding surfaces of not more than fifteen square feet on each side are permitted for the display of motor fuel price information. The top of such signs shall not extend more than five feet above the finished grade of the service station. Such signs may be fixed or portable but shall not be located nearer to the street than the motor fuel pump islands that are nearest such street and such signs shall not be internally illuminated. These signs are limited to the identification of the grade or type of motor fuel sold and the price.
(4) Ground and post signs. No ground sign or post sign shall exceed 15 square feet in size. No ground sign or post sign shall impair or impede the safe and ordinary flow of vehicular or pedestrian travel or traffic or extend higher than five feet above the finished grade. No ground or post sign shall be located closer than ten feet to an adjoining property line. There shall be no more than one ground sign or post sign per parcel.
(5) Illumination. Internally illuminated signs shall be constructed so as to allow the illumination of only letters, numbers or other identifying symbols on the display surface. Internally illuminated signs shall not exceed 800 milliampere fluorescent tubes mounted not closer than twelve inches on center. No internally illuminated signs shall be permitted in residential districts. External illumination shall be subject to review and approval by Village Council.
(6) Lettering and colors. There shall be no more than two styles nor three sizes of lettering used for any sign including characters or trademarks. No more than four colors, including black and white, shall be used.
(7) Movement. No sign shall incorporate movement or the illusion of movement.
(8) Numerical address. The owner of a residential, commercial, or public building shall display the numerical address of the building in numbers not less than three inches in height in front of or on the structure. The color of the numbers shall be in contrast to the color of the surface on which they are mounted. The view of the numbers from the street shall be clear and unobstructed. Numbers shall not be painted on residential and public buildings.
(9) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited unless approved by Village Council.
(10) Paper posters and certain signs or devices prohibited. Paper posters applied directly to the wall, building, pole or other support and letters or pictures in the form of advertising, printed or applied directly on the wall of a building are prohibited.
(11) Political signs. Political signs having reference to a candidate for elective office or a public question or an issue to be submitted to the voters at a general, special or primary election shall not exceed six square feet in area, shall not be illuminated, shall not exceed five feet in height above the ground level and shall not create a safety or visibility hazard or be affixed to any public utility pole or tree or be located within a public right-of-way. Permission shall be obtained from the property owner in order to place a political sign on his or her property. Signs shall be maintained in a reasonable fashion.
(12) Portable signs. Portable signs are prohibited unless approved by Village Council.
(13) Projecting signs. Projecting signs shall not extend more than four feet six inches from the building into the front yard.
(14) Window signs. The total area of window signs shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the frontal glass area.
(15) Not permitted. In addition to the prohibitions and restrictions of divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the following are not permitted in B-2 Highway Business District:
(a) Signs which impede the safe and ordinary flow of traffic;
(b) Signs posted on trees, utility poles or street signs;
(c) Banners, pennants or streamers;
(d) Signs on trailers; and
(e) Any other sign that is not identified in divisions (B) or (C) of this section.
(D) In the B-1 Central Business District and R-1 Residential District, only the following signs are permitted:
(1) "Sale," "Open House" for purposes of sale, or "Lease/Rent" signs not exceeding ten square feet on each of two sides. Signs shall be ground signs. Signs are limited to one sign per lot with the exception of corner lots, which shall be permitted to have two signs.
(2) Political signs. Political signs having reference to a candidate for elective office or a public question or an issue to be submitted to the voters at a general, special or primary election shall not exceed six square feet in area, shall not be illuminated, shall not exceed five feet in height above the ground level and shall not create a safety or visibility hazard or be affixed to any public utility pole or tree or be located within a public right-of-way. Permission shall be obtained from the property owner in order to place a political sign on his or her property. Signs shall be maintained is a reasonable fashion.
(3) Numerical address. The owner of a residential, commercial, or public building shall display the numerical address of the building in numbers not less than three nor more than eight inches in height in front of or on the structure. The color of the numbers shall be in contrast to the color of the surface on which they are mounted. The view of the numbers from the street shall be clear and unobstructed. Numbers shall not be painted on residential and public buildings.
(4) Student achievement. A sign that acknowledges a scholastic, athletic, artistic, or other community accomplishment of a student residing in the village. The sign shall be less than eight square feet.
(5) Not permitted. The following are not permitted in B-1 Central Business District and R-1 Residential District:
(a) Illuminated or signs with motion;
(b) Signs which impede the safe and ordinary flow of traffic;
(c) Signs which extend more than five feet above the finished grade;
(d) Signs located closer than ten feet to an adjoining property line or the existing right-of- way line;
(e) Signs posted on trees, utility poles or street signs;
(f) Banners, pennants or streamers;
(g) Signs on trailers;
(h) Signs with changeable copy; and
(i) Any sign that is not identified in division (D)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section.
(E) Temporary signs. Any person wishing to post a sign that will be posted for no more than 60 days, shall submit a permit application to the village. The Mayor, or his or her designee, may approve the posting of the temporary sign. The Mayor, or his or her designee, may authorize a permit for a temporary sign, a sign that will be posted for no more than 60 days. The Mayor may set reasonable guidelines for submission standards for temporary signs. The Mayor may also decide to submit the temporary sign permit to Village Council for their approval or disapproval.
(F) Nonconforming signs. A sign which is nonconforming on the effective date of this chapter which does not conform with the regulations of this or a subsequent amendment, shall be deemed a nonconforming sign. The purpose of this chapter, in addition to providing specific standards for the designs, construction and erection of every new graphic, sign marquee, canopy and awning, is to cause every graphic or other sign in violation of any provision of this chapter to be removed, altered or replaced so as to conform with the provisions of this chapter.
(1) Authority to continue existing nonconforming sings. Any permanent graphic, sign, marquee, canopy or awning other than a temporary sign, which is deemed to be a nonconforming sign, which was erected prior to the effective date of this chapter, and which remains or becomes a nonconforming sign upon the adoption of this chapter or any subsequent amendment thereto, may be continued only in accordance with the following regulations.
(a) Repairs. Ordinary repairs and nonstructural alterations may be made to a nonconforming sign. No structural alterations shall be made in, to or upon such nonconforming sign, except those required by law to make the sign conform to the regulations of this chapter.
(b) Additions and enlargements. A nonconforming sign shall not be added to or enlarged in any manner, except to make the sign conform to the regulations of this chapter.
(c) Moving. No nonconforming sign shall be moved in whole or in part to any other location unless such sign, and the use thereof, is made to conform to all regulations of this chapter.
(d) Restoration of damaged nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign which is destroyed or damaged by fire or other cause to the extent that the cost of restoration will exceed 51% of the replacement cost of such sign, shall not be restored unless it is made to conform to all the regulations of this chapter, or any subsequent amendment thereto. In the event that such damage or destruction is less than 51% of the original cost of such sign, no repairs or construction shall be made unless such restoration is started within six months from the date of the partial destruction and is diligently pursued to completion.
(e) Discontinuance of use of nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign, the use of which is discontinued for a period of thirty days, shall thereafter conform to the regulations of this chapter.
(f) Change of use of nonconforming signs. Where the business, use or identity associated with the nonconforming sign at the time of the adoption of this chapter thereafter terminates or changes, such termination or change of use shall require termination of the nonconforming sign, and the use of such sign shall thereafter conform to the regulations of this chapter.
(g) Conformance date. All graphics, signs, marquees, canopies, and awnings rendered nonconforming by the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared a nuisance and shall be removed, altered or remodeled to conform to the provisions of this chapter no later than January 1, 2006.
(h) When a sign is nonconforming and the signage restrictions for the district in which it is located would cause hardship, the regulations of the district most compatible with the current and/or proposed use shall be used.
(i) Any sign, graphic, or numeral display embossed, etched, engraved or otherwise an integral party of the original building's masonry architecture which was in existence prior to the effective date of this chapter may be continued provided such sign, graphic or numeral display is maintained as originally designed and intended.
(G) Enforcement. The Village Council or Mayor may order, in writing, the property owner or occupant of property upon which any sign has been erected in violation of the above conditions, to remove the sign forthwith or to bring it into compliance with this section. Any property owner or occupant of property that fails to obey the order of the Village Council or Mayor within seventy-two hours of receiving written notice shall be deemed in violation of this section for each improper sign listed in the order. Each day of such continued violation of each sign shall be deemed a separate offense. The Village Council or Mayor shall order removed and impounded all signs placed on any public property, street, or right of way. Signs not claimed within 48 hours of impoundment may be destroyed.
(H) Maintenance. All signs erected in the village shall be maintained and kept in good repair.
(I) Penalty. Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than $200 for each offense. Each day that a sign is erected or maintained in violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. O-1847-01, passed 12-17-01; Am. Ord. O-1963-03, passed 9-15-03; Am. Ord. O-2040-04, passed 1-18-05; Am. Ord. O-2100-05, passed 10-17-05)