(A) Below are the permanent sign standards for commercial, industrial and Town Center zoning district. Only the sign types below are permitted.
(1) Unified development sign. All freestanding unified development signage shall be permitted in lieu of other ground signage. Unified developments must be of a size of at least five acres to erect a unified development sign for the purpose of allowing several businesses the ability to use the sign on a single sign structure. All other signage for the development shall be as prescribed by this chapter; however, as noted above unified development signage is only permitted in lieu of other ground signage. All free-standing unified development signs shall comply with the following provisions:
(a) Free-standing unified development signs. Free-standing unified development signs shall be ground-mounted monument style signs and meets the following minimum standards:
A. The maximum height of a free-standing unified development sign shall be ten feet for all unified developments greater than five acres and less than 20 acres. The maximum height of a free-standing unified development sign shall be 16 feet for unified developments equal to or greater than 20 acres. In no instance shall a free-standing unified development sign exceed the height of the tallest building.
B. The maximum surface area of all free-standing unified development signs shall be 100 square feet for all unified developments greater than five acres and less than 20 acres. The maximum surface area of all free-standing unified development signs shall be 150 square feet for all unified developments greater than 20 acres.
(2) Ground sign. A maximum of one ground sign per public roadway frontage is permitted for each lot, property, parcel, or site provided it does not exceed 36 square feet in sign area or six feet in height as measured from grade level. Ground signs shall be no closer than ten feet from any existing or planned public right-of-way. All ground sign structures shall be constructed of decorative brick, stone, or other masonry, stucco, wood or metal, with the base of the structure constructed of decorative brick or stone. Landscaping consisting of shrubs and perennial groundcover shall be provided at the base of all ground/monument signs with a minimum of two square feet per one square foot of sign area. Under no circumstance shall any lot, parcel, property, or site have more than two ground signs.
(3) Wall sign. A maximum of one wall sign per public roadway frontage is permitted for each primary structure or occupied tenant space (within a primary structure). Wall signs shall be located on the façade of the primary structure facing a public street. In no instance shall a wall sign exceed 50% of the maximum sign area, nor shall a wall sign project more than 12 inches from the wall. Additionally, no sign shall be placed in or on an architectural designed area of a structure that is created for the sole purpose of gaining more signage or additional height for the wall sign. Wall sign area shall be limited as follows:
(a) The aggregate sign area shall be equivalent to one and one-half square feet for every one linear foot per tenant space with frontage on a public right-of-way street.
(b) In no instance shall the aggregate sign area for any tenant space exceed the aggregate sign area noted in Appendix E following this chapter.
(c) The number of graphic elements per sign shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign’s primary message and shall be composed in proportion to the overall sign area.
(4) Awning sign. Awning signs shall be considered as a type of wall sign and shall count toward the total number and total area of wall signs permitted by this subchapter. Awning signs shall be limited to those printed or sewn on awnings mounted on the façade of the principal structure. In no instance shall an awning sign be backlit, nor shall the awning itself be closer than eight and one-half feet from grade level.
(5) Projecting sign. No projecting sign shall, at its lowest point with the exception of the supporting building, structure, or column, be less than eight and one-half feet above grade level. A maximum of one such sign per business or building shall be permitted. In no instance shall a projecting sign exceed 24 square feet, nor protrude more than four feet from the building. Proof of insurance shall be required for all projecting signs. For the purpose of administering and enforcing this provision, proof of insurance shall mean proof of insurance with liability limits in amounts subject to the Administrative Officer’s approval or as established by the Board of Zoning Appeals. Projecting signs shall be considered wall signs.
(6) Changeable copy. Changeable copy signs are permitted provided the changeable copy does not change more than once in 60 minutes time and does not exceed 50% of the aggregate permitted sign area. For the purposes of administering and enforcing this chapter, changeable copy signs shall display a static message rather than a message that imitates movement and shall not be interpreted as electronic message boards.
(7) Electronic message boards. Electronic message boards are permitted provided they meet the following requirements:
(a) Location. In any district, an EMB shall be located on the site of the use identified or advertised by the sign. EMBs shall only be permitted in commercial regional and public/semi-public districts. In no instance shall an EMB be located within 125 feet of a signalized intersection.
(b) Setback from residential districts. The leading edge of any EMB shall be a minimum distance of 300 feet from any single-family residential district or use and 200 feet from any multi-family residential district or use unless the multi-family district or use is part of a mixed use development.
(c) Setback from other electronic message boards. An EMB shall be separated from all other EMBs by at least 300 feet.
(d) Orientation. When located within 500 feet of a single-family residential use wherein the residential use is located within a residential district, all parts of the electronic message board shall be oriented so that no portion of the sign face is visible from any existing or permitted principal structure on the residential lot.
(e) Duration. In no instance shall the image of an EMB update, flash, scroll, twirl, change color, fade in or out, or be anything other than static, more than once in 60 minutes time.
(f) Hours of operation. When located within 500 feet of a residential use, an EMB shall not be illuminated between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(g) Brightness. In no instance shall an EMB exceed 460 foot-candles during daylight hours or 46 foot-candles for the time period between one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise. For the purposes of administering and enforcing this provision, all EMBs shall be equipped with an ambient dimmer control and a black background.
(h) Size. The maximum EMB sign area shall be 24 square feet.
(8) Fuel station pump decals. In addition to the signage permitted elsewhere in this chapter, fuel stations may incorporate the following into their fuel pumps:
(a) Fuel stations may place a maximum of two square feet of signage on each vehicle fuel dispenser (double-sided) having a maximum of two square feet per side of each dispenser.
(9) Pedestrian blade signs. In addition to signage permitted elsewhere in this subchapter, multi-tenant commercial buildings may feature pedestrian-oriented blade signage on the ground floor with the following restrictions:
(a) One sign per tenant.
(b) Max sign area of four square feet.
(c) Maximum projection from the building facade of three feet.
(d) Minimum eight feet from grade.
(e) Non-illuminated.
(B) Below are the permanent sign standards for residential and Old Town zoning districts:
(1) Types of signs. One double-faced or two single-sided ground type signs shall be permitted at each entrance to a platted subdivision, apartment complex, or other residential development from a public roadway that is classified as a collector or arterial, as identified on the Town’s Thoroughfare Plan Map. However, under no circumstance shall any subdivision, apartment complex, or other residential development be permitted more than three double-faced or six single-sided ground mounted type signs. The sign structure, or structures, shall require a sign permit. Subdivision entrance signs, landscaping, and decorative walls shall be shown on development plans, site plans, and subdivision plats. No other permanent signs are permitted in the residential of Old Town zoning districts.
(2) Sign area. In no instance shall the sign area of a subdivision entry ground sign exceed 32 square feet.
(3) Height. In no instance shall the height of a subdivision entry ground sign exceed six feet as measured from grade level. In no instance shall mounding or other alterations of the natural grade level be used as a point of reference for measuring sign height.
(4) Setback. With the exception of subdivision entry ground signs placed within a median of a boulevard, each sign structure shall be set back a minimum of two feet from any planned right-of-way of any public street. In no instance shall a subdivision entry ground sign be placed within a required sight visibility standard (§ 154.117).
(5) Features. Ground mounted subdivision entry signs shall incorporate design features into the structure such as decorative brick or stone walls, lighting and landscaping.
(6) Landscaping. A minimum of two square feet of landscaping consisting of shrubs and perennial ground cover at the base of the sign structure shall be required for every one square foot of sign area.
(C) Below are the permanent sign standards for public/semi-public zoning districts:
(1) Types of signs.
(a) One ground type sign shall be permitted per parcel, lot, property, or site. A parcel, lot, property, or site greater than five acres may feature one ground sign per public roadway frontage, but under no circumstance shall any parcel, lot, property, or site exceed two ground signs.
(b) One wall sign shall be permitted per primary structure.
(c) No other permanent signs are permitted in the public/semi-public zoning district.
(2) Sign area. In no instance shall a ground sign exceed 36 square feet. In no instance shall a wall sign exceed one and one-half square feet of sign area per one lineal foot of building frontage, nor shall it exceed 50% of the maximum sign area, nor shall a wall sign project more than 12 inches from the wall.
(3) Height. In no instance shall the height of a ground sign exceed six feet as measured from grade level. In no instance shall mounding or other alterations of the natural grade level be used as a point of reference for measuring sign height. Wall signs shall be located on the facade of the primary structure facing a public or private street. Additionally, no sign shall be placed in or on an architectural designed area of a structure that is created for the sole purpose of gaining more signage or additional height for the wall sign.
(4) Setback. With the exception of subdivision entry ground signs placed within a median of a boulevard, each sign structure shall be set back a minimum of two feet from any planned right-of-way of any public street. In no instance shall a subdivision entry ground sign be placed within a required sight visibility standard (§ 154.117).
(5) Features. Ground mounted subdivision entry signs shall incorporate design features into the structure such as decorative brick or stone walls, lighting and landscaping.
(6) Landscaping. A minimum of two square feet of landscaping consisting of shrubs and perennial ground cover at the base of the sign structure shall be required for every one square foot of sign area.
(Ord. 121410, passed 1-11-2011; Ord. 111114, passed 11-11-2014; Ord. 041216-A, passed 4-12-2016; Ord. 111020C, passed 12-8-2020)