This section regulates all signs erected in all areas within the city with commercial or industrial zones.
(A) Freestanding signs. The following regulations apply to freestanding signs only. Architectural signs are regulated by division (B) of this section.
(1) Location of signs. Freestanding signs may be erected at any location on private property within the following restrictions:
(a) All freestanding signs must either have at least 20 feet of setback from the street curb line (extended vertically), or have at least eight feet of clearance between the base of the sign and the ground; and, no part of any freestanding signs may be erected on, or so as to suspend over, otherwise encroach upon, any public right-of-way.
(2) Height of signs. Freestanding signs may be erected to a maximum height of 25 feet from the ground, unless located on real estate which is zoned commercial or industrial and within 5000 feet west of the center point of the intersection of Illinois Route 16 and I-57; or on commercial or industrially zoned real estate and within 5000 feet in any compass direction of the center point of the intersection of Illinois Route 45 and I-57, in which case any such sign may be erected to a maximum height of 100 feet measured from the ground.
(3) Sign area.
(a) One and two-sided signs. A basic maximum of 150 square feet per side which may be increased to final maximum of 400 square feet per side according to the following rate: six square feet per side for each ten feet the sign is set back from the center line of the nearest street surface.
(b) Signs with more than two sides. The maximum surface area shall be determined by division (A)(3)(a) of this section. The total allowed for a two-sided sign shall be divided equally on the number of sides desired.
(c) When two signs are permitted on a street frontage pursuant to division (A)(6)(b) below, neither sign may exceed the areas permitted in division (A)(3)(a) above and the cumulative area for both signs shall not exceed 150% of the area permitted in division (A)(3)(a) above.
(4) Illumination. Signs may be illuminated. The total illumination of the sign shall not change in intervals shorter than five seconds. More rapid change in illumination constitutes a flashing sign, which is prohibited by this chapter. Time and temperature signs and electronic message boards are permitted and are not considered to be "flashing" signs.
(5) Movement. Signs may have no more than one unit, which rotates in an uninterrupted manner not to exceed six revolutions per minute. No other movement or appearance of movement is permitted, except for time and temperature signs and electronic message boards, which are permitted to have information, or objects move across their display area in a readable manner. The use of movement or change in light depicts animation or a moving scene shall be limited to such displays that take at least two seconds to complete. Individual movements or action within a display shall not occur more rapidly than at a rate of 2½ times per second (e.g. a ball bouncing, a wheel turning, a hand waving or an eye winking). The use of flashing, blinking or pulsating lights to depicting sudden intense actions such as explosion, moving borders or other like actions shall be prohibited.
(6) Number of signs.
(a) One freestanding sign per frontage located only on that street frontage except as provided in division (A)(6)(b) below.
(b) In the circumstance where the street frontage for a business on a street exceeds 200 linear feet, a second freestanding sign may be erected on that street frontage provided that the surface area for the signs complies with the requirements of division (A)(3) above and provided further that the two signs are placed at least 75 feet apart. If that business has street frontage exceeding 200 linear feet on more than one street frontage, a second freestanding sign may be only be erected on one frontage pursuant to this provision.
(7) The following businesses are permitted freestanding signs:
(a) Individual businesses in individual buildings.
(b) Business development and shopping centers showing all tenants or occupants of the development or shopping center.
(c) Satellite businesses within a shopping center area.
(d) Movie theaters and auditoriums in shopping centers and business developments.
(8) Businesses not permitted freestanding signs: Individual businesses, which are contained in a shopping center or business development, except movie theaters or auditoriums.
(B) Architectural signs. The following regulations apply to architectural signs only. Freestanding signs are regulated by division (A) of this section.
(1) Location of signs. Architectural signs may be erected any place on private property within the following restrictions:
(a) No sign may be erected closer than three feet to any street or alley curb line (projected vertically);
(b) No sign may project more than six feet from any building facade except as provided below:
1. Signs painted or mounted flush on a canopy or awning, which is located entirely on private property shall not be subject to the six foot maximum projection restriction;
2. Signs on a canopy or awning which is located entirely on private property, other than painted or flush mounted signs, shall be mounted parallel to the building facade and shall not project more than six feet from the building facade or one foot from the outer edge of the awning or canopy on which it is mounted, whichever is greater;
(c) Any sign which projects or suspends over any sidewalk, public or private, must have eight feet of clearance between the base of the sign and the sidewalk surface;
(d) All signs, which suspend over a public right-of-way must have at least eight feet of clearance between the base of the sign and ground;
(e) The owner of any sign suspended over a public right-of-way agrees to indemnify and hold the city harmless from any liability which may arise by reason of the sign being projected or suspended over the public right-of-way.
(2) Height of signs. Architectural signs may not project more than five feet above the top of the facade to which the sign is attached.
(3) Sign area. Signs may be erected on the building with a total sign area not to exceed 15% of the total area of the facade to which the sign is attached.
(4) Illumination. Signs may be illuminated. The total illumination of the sign shall not change intervals shorter than five seconds. More rapid change in illumination constitutes a flashing sign, which is prohibited by this chapter. Time and temperature signs and electronic message boards are permitted and are not considered to be "flashing" signs.
(5) Movement. Signs may have no more than one unit, which rotates in an uninterrupted manner not to exceed six revolutions per minute. No other movement or appearance of movement is permitted, except for time and temperature signs and electronic message boards, which are permitted to have information, or objects move across their display area in a readable manner. The use of movement or change in lighting to depict animation or a moving scene shall be limited to such displays that take at least two seconds to complete. Individual movements or action within a display shall not occur more rapidly than at a rate of 2½ times per second (e.g., a ball bouncing, a wheel turning, a hand waiving or an eye winking). The use of flashing, blinking or pulsating lights to depict sudden or intense actions such as explosions, moving borders or other like actions shall be prohibited.
(6) Number of signs. There is no limit on the number of architectural signs per establishment except as restricted by the sign area provisions, division (B)(3) of this section.
(7) Business permitted architectural signs. All businesses are permitted architectural signs on the premises of the business.
(Ord. 2001-5053, passed 3-6-2001)