As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates a contrary intent, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth herein:
(a) "Alter" means to change in any way, including but not limited to reconstruction, redesign, re-illumination that changes the lighting design, sign face replacement that changes the sign face design, sign face change, and painting in a different color than the present color, excluding changes in changeable copy on signs.
(b) "Back-lighted letter" means an illuminated reverse channel letter (open or translucent back) such that light from the letter is directed against the surface behind the letter producing a halo lighting effect around the letter.
(d) "Building frontage" means the linear dimension of the width of the widest portion of a building face including all appurtenant overhangs or other structures, either:
(1) Closest to parallel to the nearest principal street, or
(2) Containing the primary building entrance, of any building on any lot.
(e) "Building marker" means a sign typically indicating, but not hereby limited to, the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into the masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
(f) "Building unit" means each separately occupied space within a building. "Separately occupied" means a distinct owner, occupant, or tenant in possession of and occupying the unit to the exclusion of others. A separately occupied unit consists of interior subdivided space which (1) has its own exterior entrance and (2) is separated from other such spaces by a party wall or other such dividing walls. Where a building unit is bounded by a party wall or other such dividing walls, the measurement of width shall be to the centerline(s) of such wall or walls.
(g) "Changeable copy" means the area of a sign on which copy can be changed through the use of attachable letters and/or numbers, by the flipping of fixed letters and/or numbers, by the scrolling of tape or other medium, or by the electronic switching of lamps or illuminated tubes, LED, or any other such like technology. See, also, "electronic message center."
(h) "Copy" means the words, message, symbols, or artwork displayed on a sign.
(Ord. 12-O-60. Passed 9-4-12.)
(i) "Department" means the City's Department of Planning and Development.
(Ord. 18-O-075. Passed 9-4-18.)
(j) "Development unit" refers to the land area, ascertained pursuant to the provisions of Section 1171.04, from which the nature, number, and area of permitted signage is determined.
(k) "Election cycle" means a period of time which commences with the filing of a declaration of candidacy, nominating petition, or other petition with the Lake County Board of Elections or Ohio Secretary of State, as applicable, and continuing until the first Friday subsequent to the election for which said declaration or petition pertained.
(l) "Electronic message center" means a sign that utilizes computer-generated messages or some other electronic means of changing copy. Electronic message centers are included within the definition of "changeable copy."
(m) Erect" means to build, construct, alter, relocate, modify, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix, and shall also include the painting of signs.
(n) "Flag" means any fabric or similar light-weight material containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, used for the display of non-commercial copy such as, but not limited to, a symbol of a government or political subdivision.
(o) Frontage" or "Lot Frontage" means the lot dimension (or development unit, as applicable) along the adjacent principal street. Limited access highways shall not be considered frontage for purposes of this chapter.
(p) "Lighting tube" means a tube, strip or band made of any material, whether clear or colored, which by any means produces a light source including, but necessarily limited to, neon, LED, rope lighting, and other such manner of lighting.
(q) "Marquee" means any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of a building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
(r) "Non-conforming" means a sign or related structure that is not in full compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter and all other applicable City ordinances.
(Ord. 12-O-60. Passed 9-4-12.)
(s) "Old Village Commercial Corridor" means the area identified by said name in the City's Comprehensive Plan in which are sited parcels zoned B-1, B-2, and/or OV and more fully described as parcels located within the following area:
(1) All parcels along the Rt. 20 corridor (and inclusive of secondary streets) between and inclusive of permanent parcel numbers 16-B-035-L-00-015-0 and 16-A-010-B-00-009-0 on the north and south, respectively, of said corridor, which represents the western end of the corridor, to the Jackson Street / Little Mountain Road right-of-way and including the parcels on the westerly side of said Jackson Street / Little Mountain Road right-of way north up to and including permanent parcel number 16-B-052-B-00-018-0 and south up to and including permanent parcel number 16-A-018-C-00-033-0 which represents the eastern end of said corridor; and
(2) Parcels along the Rt. 615 corridor (and inclusive of secondary streets) between and inclusive of permanent parcel numbers 16-A-010-B-00-001-0 and 16-A-012-A-00-009-0 on the east and west, respectively, of said corridor, which represents the southern end of the corridor, to and including permanent parcel numbers 16-B-038-C-00-001-0 and 16-B-045-O-00-022-0 on the east and west of said corridor, respectively, which represents the northern end of said corridor; and
(3) The area is fully illustrated in the following graphic:
(Ord. 22-O-025. Passed 4-19-22.)
(t) "Permanent" when used in relation to a sign means a sign attached to a building, structure, or the ground in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and precludes ready removal or movement of the sign, and, which is constructed of durable materials (wood, plastic, metal) which are able to withstand environmental exposure for long durations of time without degradation.
(u) "Pennant" means any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in a series.
(v) "Related structure" means all components supporting, and comprising, the parts of a sign.
(w) "Sight triangle" has the same meaning set forth in Section 1162.02(a)(29) of this Code.
(x) "Sign" as used in the general sense means any visual display that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to convey information or attract attention. The term "signage" and other such derivations shall be synonymous with this definition.
In the context of this chapter "sign" may also refer to the structure or medium upon which is placed any visual display that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to convey information or attract attention.
(1) "Sign, abandoned" means a sign which no longer advertises, announces the purpose of, or identifies the purpose of any person or entity, or communicates information to the public regarding a bona fide business, lessor, lessee, owner, product or activity conducted or available on the premises where the sign is located.
(2) "Sign, animated" means a sign depicting action, motion, light or color changes through electrical, mechanical, or any other means.
(3) "Sign, bench" means a sign located on the seat or back of a bench or seat placed on or adjacent to a public right-of-way.
(4) "Sign, canopy" means a sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or other outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
(5) "Sign, commercial" means any sign that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, profession, service or other commercial activity.
(6) "Sign, double-faced" means a sign with two parallel opposing (back-to-back) faces.
(7) "Sign, ground" means a sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on or anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure. Ground signs are classified within this chapter according to the manner of their construction, to wit: permanent or temporary.
(8) "Sign, mansard" means a sign attached to a mansard structure. A mansard sign is included within the definition of "roof sign."
(9) "Sign, marquee" means a sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a marquee.
(10) "Sign, non-commercial" means a sign which does not fall within the definition of a "commercial sign."
(11) "Sign, off-premise" means a sign that is not appurtenant to the lawful use of the property on which it is displayed; advertises a product, merchandise, service, business, entertainment, or any other activity not sold, offered or occurring on the property on which it is displayed; or which advertises the sale or lease of property other than the property on which it is displayed.
(12) "Sign, on-premise" means a sign that is appurtenant to the lawful use of the property on which it is displayed; advertises a product, merchandise, service, business or any other activity actually sold, offered or occurring on the property on which it is displayed, or which advertises the sale or lease of property on which it is displayed.
(13) "Sign, parapet" means a sign mounted on the vertical surface of, or on top of, the parapet of a building. A parapet sign is included within the definition of "roof sign."
(14) "Sign, pole" means a sign supported by and placed upon a visible pole or standard.
(15) "Sign, portable" means a sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on a vehicle parked and visible from the public right-of-way.
(16) "Sign, projecting" means a sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that (i) its copy is perpendicular to the building or wall to which it is affixed and/or (ii) its leading edge extends more than eighteen (18) inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
(17) "Sign, roof" means a sign erected and constructed on or over the roof of a building and/or which extends vertically any distance above the lowest portion of the roof. Signs placed on cupolas fall within this definition. See, also, "mansard sign" and "parapet sign."
(18) "Sign, sandwich" means a temporary sign not secured or attached to the ground or surface upon which it is located, but supported by its own frame and most often forming the cross-sectional shape of an A. A sandwich sign is included within the definition of "portable sign."
(19) "Sign, suspended" means a sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
(20) "Sign, wall" means a sign attached parallel to (but within eighteen (18) inches of) a wall, painted on the wall surface, or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface.
(21) "Sign, window and door" means a sign that is placed upon or over a window or door, upon a window pane, or in proximity to a window or door, and which is visible from the exterior of the window or door.
(y) "Sign area" means the permitted area upon, against or through which signage may be placed.
(z) "Sign band" means a horizontal area above a multi-tenant building's entrances, architecturally designed to accommodate signage in a sign-centric manner.
(aa) "Temporary" when used in relation to a sign means a sign not permanently affixed to any point or thing, is lightweight, and which is readily removable with simple hand tools without causing any damage to any point or thing.
(bb) "User" means the owner of a development unit and any tenants or others in lawful possession and occupancy of that development unit.
(Ord. 12-O-60. Passed 9-4-12; Ord. 18-O-075. Passed 9-4-18.)
(Ord. 12-O-60. Passed 9-4-12; Ord. 18-O-075. Passed 9-4-18.)