Accessory signs in any Business District shall be controlled by locational and supplementary area regulations as follows:
(a) A single wall sign shall not exceed 150 square feet in total area.
(b) Projecting signs shall be limited to not more than one for each establishment or store unit and shall not exceed twenty square in total area for each face visible from any location on a public way. Projecting signs shall be located not less than five feet from a side lot line and not less than thirty-five feet from a Residential District boundary line. Signs shall not project into any dedicated right-of-way or private drive.
(c) Marquee, canopy or covered-walk signs may be attached to the underside of a structural member over a walkway. However, the vertical dimension of such signs shall not exceed eighteen inches, and the lowest member shall be not less than eight feet above the sidewalk grade. The total area of any sign attached to a canopy or covered walk shall not exceed five square feet. For canopy structures which shelter gas station service islands, no signs shall be displayed on the canopy fascia area, and the fascia area shall be nonilluminated and shall be designed in a manner which does not call attention to the canopy structure.
(Ord. 1988-175. Passed 10-17-88.)
(d) One ground sign may be located within a required yard, provided that it is on a lot with a minimum street frontage of 75 feet and that it is not less than 25 feet from another business lot, or not less than 25 feet from edge of the street pavement, and not less than 50 feet from a Residential District line. The maximum gross area of a ground sign shall be 80 square feet. Ground signs are not permitted in TCD-1 through TCD-5 except as provided in Section 1284.17(s).
(Ord. 90-241. Passed 1-2-91.)
(e) In lieu of the above permitted ground sign, a unified commercial or office complex under a common ownership exceeding 100,000 square feet in gross floor area shall be permitted a pylon sign where the area per side does not exceed the area as defined in Section 1284.03(c)(2)C. and ten feet in height. The contents of the sign shall be limited to the name of the unified commercial or office complex.
Individual store or business signage shall not be permitted on a pylon sign and shall be limited to business signage attached to the building or unit thereof proposed. Pylon, or unit sign details shall be submitted to and approved by the Building Commissioner.
(f) Permanent directional signs indicating traffic routes and similar functions shall be permitted in addition to the limitations of this section, provided that each sign does not exceed six square feet in area and is not closer than twenty-five feet to any side lot line and five feet to the street right- of-way line.
(g) A project sign may be removed immediately upon commencement of the intended use, but not later than the period covered by permit.
(h) Other temporary signs including but not limited to temporary banners announcing sales, new products or special business events may be permitted in addition to the maximum gross area of a permanent business sign, and such signs may be placed on the inside of windows and doors and on the exterior of the building, provided that the gross area of all the temporary signs does not exceed twenty percent of the maximum area of permanent signs permitted for each establishment and provided that such temporary signs are not displayed more than 90 consecutive days.
(i) Special Signs Districts (to include oversized ground or wall signs), for purposes of creating an integrated sign theme, may be established by ordinance in response to a petition by a majority of sign users within a Business District. The sign theme must not violate safety standards of the Building and Housing Code of the City and/or other requirements of this Zoning Code (with the exception of size requirements). A detailed plan should be submitted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 1276.13 and 1276.14 for approval. Upon approval, a two-thirds affirmative vote by Council is required to establish a Special Sign District.
(j) Multiple business signs, i.e. signs identifying stores and services located within the same building, shall be designed in such a manner that their appearance will be harmonious and compatible in character regarding their method of construction, materials, color illumination and combined size so as to achieve an overall unified effect.
(k) Within a commercial area or development, where multiple storefronts are situated side by side, the level of variety or cohesiveness in the design of the signs should be commensurate with the architecture of the building:
(1) Variety in the design of signs among different storefronts should be encouraged when the architecture of the buildings suggests variety.
(2) Storefronts with common architectural elements should have signs that share continuity of design so that the design and placement of individual signs contribute to the cohesive appearance created by the common architectural elements.
(3) Franchise standard signage located within TCD-1 through TCD-5 may be required to be modified for aesthetic reasons at the discretion of the Building Commissioner.
(Ord. 1988-175. Passed 10-17-88; Ord. 98-172. Passed 11-4-98; Ord. 06-112. Passed 11-8-06; Ord. 07-103. Passed 4-1-08; Ord. 08-164. Passed 7-15-08; Ord. 13-152. Passed 2-4-14.)