(a) In the "C-4" Downtown Commercial District, no person, firm, or corporation shall erect, place or maintain any sign that projects as right angles from the building to which it is attached, nor extend more than two (2) feet in any direction from the building to which it is attached, nor that extends or projects over any street, sidewalk, or other public way in the “C-4" District, except as provided herein.
(b) (1) Preexisting Marquees: Preexisting marquees as currently defined in Section 905.06 of the Codified Ordinances in the City of Marietta, Ohio may be internally and externally illuminated and may display or advertise the name of the business, address of the business, business greeting, and current activities of that business address, provided the person, firm, or corporation first obtains a building permit from the Southeast Ohio Building Department and a zoning permit from the City of Marietta, Ohio. Said zoning permit shall be issued only if the building to which the sign is to be attached has a preexisting marquee as currently defined in Section 905.06 of the Codified Ordinances in the City of Marietta, Ohio with the proposed signage being attached above the marquee having a vertical, historically relevant design element.
(2) Restoration of Former Marquee: Historically significant buildings that continue to display their past historical structural components and facades, that are located in the C-4 Downtown Commercial Business District, which encompasses the 100 and 200 block of Putnam Street, that have had a prior sign or marquee as defined in Section 905.06 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Marietta, Ohio, said sign or marquee having previously been modified, or removed, may, upon proper application, to-wit: after first obtaining a building permit from the Southeast Ohio Building Department, and a zoning permit from the City of Marietta, restore the sign or marquee by installing or attaching a vertical sign to the structure, that is of a historically relevant design element.
(3) That signs with a vertical, historical design element installed or attached and located above the preexisting marquee must be internally illuminated.
(4) All internally illuminated portions of the signs and the vertical, historical design element, if any, must be constructed so as to allow for the reduction of the brightness/luminosity level.
(c) Whoever violated any provision of this section or takes part or assists in any such violation or maintains any premises upon which any such violation exists shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). Whenever such person shall have been notified in writing by the City Engineer that he is in violation of any provision of this section then each day thereafter that he shall continue such violation shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). (Ord. 92(24-25). Passed 9-19-24.)