The following principals shall control the computation of sign area and sign height:
(A) Determining sign area or dimension.
(1) In the case of freestanding or projecting signs, the sign area consists of the entire surface area of the sign on which copy could be placed, and may include the surrounding frame structure, as provided herein.
(2) For a sign comprised of individual letters, figures or elements on a wall or similar surface of the building or structure, or an irregular shaped ground mounted sign, the area of the sign shall encompass a regular, or a combination of regular geometric shapes which form or approximate the perimeter of all the elements in the display. Letters of the same word or phrase are measured as a unit unless a letter, or symbol within a word, is intended as a trademark or other identifiable mark. If so, such trademark or identifiable mark shall be measured as a separate rectangular unit within the word or phrase. When separate elements are organized to form a single sign, but the elements are separated by open space, the area shall be calculated by determining the geometric form, or combination of forms, which comprise all the display areas, including the space between the elements.
(3) The supporting structure or bracing of a sign shall not be counted as part of the sign face area, unless such structure or bracing is made part of the sign's message by inclusion of a symbol, logo, or other three-dimensional figure, in which case the smallest rectangle which can encompass the area of said symbol or figure shall be included as part of the total message area calculations.
(4) The area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
(5) In the event there is a dispute in determining the sign area or any sign dimension, the Zoning Administrator shall have the final responsibility for making such determination.
(B) Determining sign height.
(1) The height of a projecting sign shall be measured from the topmost element of the sign to the ground below.
(2) The height of a wall sign shall be measured from the finished grade at the building base below the sign to the topmost element of the sign.
(3) The height of a ground mounted sign shall be measured from grade level to the top of the sign. A ground mounted sign on a man-made base, including a graded earth mound, shall be measured from the grade of the nearest street, drive or parking area.
(C) Determining clearance of a sign. The smallest vertical distance between the grade of the adjacent street or street curb and the lowest point of any sign, including framework and embellishments, extending over that grade.
(D) Determining building frontage and building unit. The building wall that faces the principal street or the building wall that contains the main entrance to the uses therein shall be considered the building frontage.
(1) The building frontage shall be measured along the front wall between the exterior faces of the exterior sidewalls.
(2) In the case of an irregular wall surface, a straight line extended along such wall surface shall be used to measure the length.
(3) For lots fronting on two or more streets, or where the building has its main entrance on a wall other than the wall that faces the street, the property owner shall determine which wall shall be the primary building frontage and which wall shall be the secondary building frontage. Only one outside wall of any business shall be considered its primary frontage.
(4) For multi-tenant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single tenant shall be considered a building unit. The building frontage for a building unit shall be measured from the centerline of the party walls defining the building unit.
(E) Determining window area. The window area of a building shall be the total glass area of windows on the first floor of the wall of the building facing a public street. A window panel shall be the area of glass separated from another window panel by an opaque panel four or more inches wide.
(Ord. 10, 2018, passed 7-11-18; Am. Ord. 2, 2022, passed 4-6-22)