(A) Freestanding identification signs. Freestanding identification signs shall not be permitted within the TC - Town Center District.
(B) Building identification signs.
(1) Lower level building identification signs.
(a) Building identification signs located on the first 18 feet of building height or the actual building height, whichever is less, shall be considered lower level building identification signs. Lower level building identification signs shall be limited to: wall signs; awning signs, canopy signs or marquee signs subject to the provisions of division (B)(4), below; or projecting signs subject to the provisions of division (B)(3), below.
(b) The total sign surface area of all lower level building identification signs oriented to an individual façade shall not exceed:
1. Front façade. Five percent of the total area of the first 18 feet or the actual building height, whichever is lesser, of front façade of a building; and
2. Side façade and rear façade. Five percent of the total area of the first 18 feet or the actual building height, whichever is lesser, of a side or rear façade of a building.
(2) Upper level building identification signs.
(a) Building identification signs located above the first 18 feet of building height shall be considered upper level building identification signs. Upper level building identification signs shall be limited to wall signs or, projecting signs subject to the provisions of division (B)(3), below.
(b) The total sign surface area of all upper level building identification signs oriented to an individual façade shall not exceed:
1. Front façade. Three percent of the total area of the front façade of a building located above 18 feet above grade; and
2. Side and rear façades. Three percent of the total area of a side or rear façade of a building located above 18 feet above grade.
(3) Projecting building identification signs.
(a) Maximum height of projecting building identification signs. Projecting building identification signs shall not extend above the roof line.
(b) Sign surface area.
1. Total area. The sign surface area of a projecting building identification sign shall not exceed the sign surface area allocated to either: lower level building identification signs; or upper level building identification signs, whichever is applicable based upon the location on façade of the building upon which the projecting building identification sign is attached.
2. Sign split between upper and lower levels. In the case of a projecting building identification sign located partially as a lower level sign and partially as an upper level sign, the sign surface area regulations regarding upper level building identification signs shall apply.
3. Corner lots. In the case of a projecting building identification sign located on the corner of a building oriented toward the intersection of 2 or more streets, the corner projecting building identification sign shall count against the total sign surface area of building identification signs authorized on the smaller front façade.
(c) Maximum number of projecting building identification signs.
1. Front façade. One projecting building identification sign shall be permitted for each 200 feet in width of a front façade of a building oriented toward a street. Whenever more than 1 projecting building identification sign is permitted, the minimum separation between projecting building identification signs oriented toward the same street shall be 100 feet.
2. Corner lots. In the case of a building located on a corner lot, a projecting building identification sign may be located at the corner of the building oriented toward the intersection of 2 or more streets; provided, however, that no other projecting building identification signs shall be located on the same building within 100 feet of a corner projecting building identification sign, regardless of orientation.
(d) Maximum projection from building for projecting building identification signs.
1. Projection from building. No projecting building identification sign or sign structure supporting a projecting building identification sign shall extend more than 5 feet from or beyond its supporting building.
2. Distance from curb. No projecting building identification sign or sign structure shall not extend any closer to an imaginary perpendicular vertical plane located at the street pavement line, curb, or outside edge of sidewalk than 3 feet.
3. Encroachment over right-of-way. Projecting building identification signs in compliance with the above regulations may project into the air rights of a public right-of-way if approval for the encroachment into the air rights of a public right-of-way is obtained from the town, prior to the placement of the projecting building identification sign.
(e) Minimum height above grade for a projecting building identification sign. The bottom edge of a projecting building identification sign shall not be less than 10 feet above grade over a walkway or 15 feet above grade over a driveway.
(4) Awning sign, canopy sign or marquee sign. Wherever a lower level building identification sign is permitted, the use of an awning sign, canopy sign or marquee sign shall be allowed subject to the following provisions:
(a) Sign surface. The portion of the awning, canopy or marquee which includes a sign surface shall not exceed 5% of the area of the applicable façade and further shall not exceed:
1. Fifty percent of the total area of an awning or canopy; or
2. Seventy-five percent of the total area of a marquee.
(b) Relative size. No building identification sign located on an awning, canopy or marquee shall occupy more than 80% of the width of the awning, canopy, or marquee.
(c) Marquee sign. A marquee sign shall be limited to theater uses and may include a non-changeable copy sign attached to or mounted on top of a marquee, subject to the sign surface area limitations set forth above.
(5) Suspended signs. Suspended signs shall be permitted on any building containing an awning or canopy sign subject to the following regulations.
(a) There shall be no more than 1 suspended sign per front façade of the structure or tenant space of each grade-level tenant.
(b) The maximum sign surface area of a suspended sign shall not exceed 5 square feet, which shall not be counted against the maximum permitted sign surface area for lower level building identification signs.
(c) All portions of the suspended sign or sign structure shall be not less than 8 feet, 6 inches above finished grade.
(C) Incidental signs.
(1) Type of signs. Incidental signs shall be monument signs or wall signs.
(2) Number of signs.
(a) If a lot has 1 driveway, 2 incidental directional signs shall be permitted at the driveway entrance or exit;
(b) If a lot has more than 1 driveway, 1 incidental directional sign shall be permitted for each driveway; and
(c) One incidental directional sign or 1 incidental parking and loading sign shall be permitted at each critical turning point along an interior access drive when required to safely direct vehicular traffic (e.g., to direct vehicular traffic to: a drive-up window; a customer or employee parking area; or a delivery or loading area).
(3) Maximum sign surface area of incidental signs. The maximum sign surface area of incidental signs shall not exceed 4 square feet in sign surface area per sign.
(4) Minimum front yard setback, side yard setback, and rear yard setback for freestanding incidental signs. There shall be no minimum required front yard setback, side yard setback, or rear yard setback for freestanding incidental signs; provided, however, such signs shall not encroach into any public right-of-way.
(5) Maximum height of freestanding incidental signs. The maximum height of a freestanding incidental monument sign shall not exceed 4 feet in height above grade.
(D) General regulations for signs in the TC - Town Center District.
(1) Illumination.
(a) No sign located in the TC - Town Center District shall be internally illuminated.
(b) Sign illumination, if provided, shall be provided by way of:
1. Wall or structure mounted decorative sconces or coach lights which are architecturally compatible with the building;
2. Wall or structure mounted gooseneck lamps with a metal shade and decorative mounting which are architecturally compatible with the building;
3. Wall-wash lights mounted behind opaque individual letters or elements; or
4. Shielded up-lights mounted in an open area beneath the sign.
(2) Design.
(a) Sign band. Building identification signs installed above storefronts or on the ground floor façade should form a clearly articulated band and be integrated into the overall building façade design.
(b) Architectural detail. Building identification signs shall be designed so as to not interfere with architectural details or interrupt the rhythm of columns or fenestration.
(c) Maximum size of letters or logos. The maximum size of any individual letter or logo used as part of any building identification sign shall not exceed 2.5 feet in any horizontal or vertical dimension.
(Ord. 1221, § 8.03(e), passed 1-26-2010)