A. GENERAL PURPOSE: The purpose of the Sign Overlay District is to enhance the unique character and identity of the area by encouraging iconographic and inventively illuminated graphics and signage that establish Newport, Kentucky as “the” entertainment destination center for the region.
B. OVERALL DESCRIPTION: These provisions shall apply to the Sign Overlay District and signs may be erected, altered and maintained for the uses permitted in the underlying zone and may be used for outdoor advertising devices.
C. BOUNDARIES OF SIGN OVERLAY DISTRICT: The boundaries of the Sign Overlay District are the same as the boundary of the RFD zone, west of Washington Street, as depicted on the official zoning map.
D. MEDIA AND SIGN TYPES: The following wall, window, ground, arcade, roof, freestanding and projecting signs and media may be permitted within the Sign Overlay District. Fascia Mounted, Pre-Printed Media, Blade, Hanging, Painted Wall, Window Graphics, Pan Channel Lettering, Electronic Message Center, Fiber Optic Display, Kinetic, Sculptural, Neon, Scrim/Translucent/Mesh Material, Marquee, Projected Light, Tri-Vision, Sign with 3D Extension, Monument and Kiosk signs (“Signs”).
E. PERMITTED SIGN LOCATIONS AND DIMENSIONS: Signs will be permitted on the building facades as shown on the attached approved diagrams (“Approved Signs”), made a part hereof and incorporated by reference and limited to the percentage of the total square footage areas set forth in the Facade Coverage indications as to each. The inclusion of any new diagrams and Signs in the Sign Overlay District shall require a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission before approval and submission to the Board of Commissioners. Ground signs, if approved, shall have a maximum height of 30 feet and must be located within 10 feet of an existing building structure.
F. PERMITTED ILLUMINATION: Application of media and Signs may be illuminated, provided those Signs visible from highways abide by any existing regulations as stipulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
G. SIGN APPROVAL:
1. Signs within a development, either internally projecting or facing the interior of a project, such as Newport on the Levee, which may or may not be visible from the exterior of a project (“Interior Facing/Oriented Signs”) are permitted and may be animated.
2. Any Application (“Application”) for a permit for any Interior Facing/Oriented Sign shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for approval and issuance of a permit. In the event that an Application is denied by the Zoning Administrator, an appeal of the denial shall be made to the Planning and Zoning Commission within 30 days of the action of the Zoning Administrator.
3. Any Application for a permit for any Sign on the exterior facades (“Exterior Signs”) shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for review, who shall then, along with his or her recommendation, submit the Application to the Urban Design Review Board (“Board”) for review and approval. The Board shall, when considering such request, review and apply the purposes set forth in the Sign Overlay District and make such decision in the spirit thereof. The Application for an Exterior Sign shall include the proposed location, size and type of Sign(s) requested. In the event the Board shall approve the same, the Zoning Administrator shall then issue the requisite permit. In the event any such Application is denied by the Board, an appeal shall be made to the Planning and Zoning Commission within 30 days of the action of the Board.
4. If an Application is denied, a new Application with a revised plan may be submitted at any time.
5. Any stylistic change as to the types of Exterior Signs which are not included in the Approved Signs shall be submitted to the Board for approval.
H. MINOR DEVIATIONS TO THE APPROVED APPLICATION: The Zoning Administrator may authorize minor deviations from the approved Application or the approved plan for individual signs, including, but not limited to, when such deviations appear necessary in light of technical or engineering advances.
I. CONFLICT BETWEEN PROVISIONS: In the event of any conflict between these provisions and the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, the provisions of the Sign Overlay District shall prevail; provided, however, pre-existing signs within the Sign Overlay District will be administered in accordance with the applicable sign sections in the Zoning Ordinance.
(Am. Ord. O-2020-021, passed 11-16-2020)
Site Specific Signs NOTL
Location: East Facade Galleria Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] must occur within the defined shaded area.
Roof Line notes: No sign will extend above roofline
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Painted Wall, Scrim/Translucent/Mesh Material, Projected Light, Pan Channel, Fascia Mounted
Location: North Facade Galleria Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 35% of the total square footage of the building’s north facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Roof Line notes: Sign[s] may NOT exceed roofline [The current Newport sign will remain alone on the roof]
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Painted Wall, Pan Channel Lettering, Scrim/Translucent/Mesh Material, Projected Light.
Location: North Facade Building C [Barnes & Noble, Mitchell’s]
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 35% of the total square footage of the building s north facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Roof Line notes: Sign[s] may exceed roofline by no more than 20 feet
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Painted Wall, Pan Channel Lettering Scrim/Translucent/Mesh Material, Projected Light, which shall be for a single advertiser and which shall enhance the architectural relevance and integrity of the building’s structure.
Location: West Facade Imax Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 80% of the building’s west facing facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Roof Line notes: Sign[s] will not exceed roofline
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Painted Wall, Projected Light, Sign with 3D Extension.
Location: South Facade Imax Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 90% of the building's south facing facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Roof Line notes: Sign[s] will not exceed roofline
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Painted Wall, Pan Channel Lettering Projected Light, Sign with 3D Extension.
Location: South Facade Galleria Building
Facade Coverage : Sign[s] will not exceed 30% of the square footage of the buildings’ south-facing facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Roof Line notes: Sign[s] will not exceed roofline
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Blade, Painted Wall Scrim/Translucent/Mesh Material, Projected Light, Sign with 3D Extension.
Location: West Facade Galleria Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 30% of the square footage of the building’s west facing facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Roof Line notes: Sign[s] will not exceed roofline
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Painted Wall, Electronic Message Center Projected Light, Sign with 3D Extension.
Location: West facing facade of Banding C [Barnes and Noble, Mitchell’s & Brothers]
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] to be placed on the building’s facade, within the defined shaded area
Roof line notes: Sign[s] may not be placed on the roof of the 1 story structure
Approved Sign Types: Facia Mounted, Pre-Printed Media, Painted Wall, Electronic Message Center, Scrim/Translucent/Mesh Material, Projected Light, Sign with 3D Extension
Location: East Facade Imax Building [current sign ]
Sizes: Approximate square footage of existing sign 1,125 [45' X 25'] and must occur within the existing sign support structure
Roof Line notes: Sign currently exceeds roofline
Approved Sign Types: Pre-Printed Media, Electronic Message Center, Projected Light, Sign with 3D Extension
Location: North Facade Music Venue Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] must occur within the defined shaded area
Roof Line notes: No sign will extend above roofline
Approved Sign Types: Facia mounted, LED illuminated cabinet signs, illuminated channel letters, projected light, sign with 3D extension, blade sign, projecting signs
Sizes: Blade or projecting signs may not exceed 44 square feet in size, and are limited to one per street facing facade. Blade/projecting signs are not restricted to the defined shaded area.
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 35% of the square footage of the buildings' north-facing facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Location: West Facade Music Venue Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] must occur within the defined shaded area
Roof Line notes: No sign will extend above roofline
Approved Sign Types: Facia mounted, LED illuminated cabinet signs, illuminated channel letters
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 50% of the square footage of the buildings' west-facing facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
Location: South Facade Music Venue Building
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] must occur within the defined shaded area
Roof Line notes: No sign will extend above roofline
Approved Sign Types: Facia mounted, LED illuminated cabinet signs, illuminated channel letters
Facade Coverage: Sign[s] will not exceed 35% of the square footage of the buildings' south-facing facade and must occur within the defined shaded area.
