The following provisions shall apply to signs in commercial and industrial districts including but not limited to "C-1", "C-2, "C-3", "O" and "M-1" districts.
(a) Permitted Signs. The following signs shall be permitted, provided that the total sign surface area of such signs shall comply with the provisions of Section 1351.06(b)(3) and any other provisions or exceptions relating to total sign surface area.
(1) Wall, Freestanding and Window Signs.
A. Wall Sign. One or more signs may be located on the front wall of a building. Such sign or signs shall be attached to the front wall of the building in a plane parallel to the plane of the wall and shall not extend more than twelve (12) inches from the wall of the building. For a building located on a corner lot, one additional wall sign may be located on that wall which most nearly parallels the right-of-way of the side street, provided that such side wall sign shall not have an area larger than fifty percent (50%) of the total sign surface area permitted for the lot. In place of a front wall sign on a building or part of a building which does not face a street, a wall sign may be located on a wall facing a parking lot open to the public as approved by the Planning Commission.
B. Rear or Side Entrance Wall Sign. One rear or side entrance wall sign is permitted on a building which has a rear or side entrance from a parking lot open to the public, provided that the surface area shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total sign surface area permitted for the lot. The sign shall be located on the wall next to or above the rear or side entrance.
C. Freestanding Sign. One (1) freestanding sign for each lot may be permitted in the "C-1", "C-2" and "C-3" commercial districts, "O"/Office District and in the "M-1" Light Industrial District. A freestanding sign shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height, shall not exceed a total of sixty-four (64) square feet in area for a sign with two or more faces and thirty-two (32) square feet for a sign with a single face. Such sign shall not be located closer to the public right-of-way than fifteen (15) feet and not closer than five (5) feet to any other lot line.
On a lot where the visibility of a freestanding sign will be obstructed by the location of existing buildings on adjacent lots, a freestanding sign may be permitted with a setback from the right-of- way of no less than two (2) feet, provided that such sign shall have only one (1) face which shall be parallel to the right-of-way line and shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in surface area.
D. Permanent Window Sign. One (1) or more permanent signs attached to windows or visible from the street through windows are permitted provided that each such sign shall not have a surface area greater than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the window to which it is attached or through which it is visible. A permanent window sign shall be included in calculation of the total sign surface area permitted for the lot.
(2) Temporary Signs. Sign permits are not required for the following signs:
A. One (1) temporary sign with a commercial message is permitted per lot.
B. Temporary signs communicating non-commercial messages.
C. Temporary signs shall have a surface area not greater than twelve (12) square feet if one sign face, or up to two sign faces back to back not exceeding twelve (12) square feet each.
(3) Sidewalk Signs.
A. Sidewalk signs shall be permitted if they comply with applicable provisions of Chapter 795 of the Codified Ordinances and are located in front of properties in that part of the "C-1"/Central Business District bounded by Lorain, Pleasant, Vine and Professor Streets. The area of a sidewalk sign shall not be included in the calculation of the total sign surface area permitted for a building.
(b) Special Commercial and Industrial District Regulations.
(1) Sign Location. Except where specifically permitted by this chapter at a different distance, no sign shall be permitted closer to the public right-of-way than fifteen (15) feet and no sign shall be permitted closer to any lot line than five (5) feet.
(2) Wall and Window Signs. No sign shall project beyond or above the wall of the building it is attached to. No wall or window sign shall be placed higher than the lowest point of the following unless approved by the Planning Commission:
A. Twenty-five (25) feet above the elevation of the sidewalk or natural ground level at the base of the wall to which the sign is attached; or
B. The bottom of the sills of the first level of windows above the first story of the building.
(3) Total Sign Surface Area:
A. "C-1" District: the total sign surface area per lot shall not exceed an area equal to two (2) square feet in area per lineal foot of the front wall of the building.
B. "C-2", "C-3", "O" and "M-1" Districts: the total sign surface area per lot shall not exceed an area equal to three (3) square feet in area per lineal foot of the front wall of the building (or front walls of buildings).
(4) Changeable Message Sign, Electronic Message Display. A changeable message sign is permitted complying with all other applicable sign regulations. An electronic message display may be permitted subject to approval by the Planning Commission and the following:
A. In the C-1 and C-2 Districts, an electronic message center sign is only permitted as part of the permitted window sign area but not greater than ten (10) square feet.
B. In the C-3 District, one (1) electronic message center sign may be incorporated into a permitted wall or freestanding sign provided it does not exceed 40% of the allowable sign area for each sign face.
C. Changes to messages, copy, or images shall be accomplished in not more than three (3) seconds.
D. No sign shall be of such intensity as to create a distraction or nuisance for motorists.
E. Displays shall not emulate traffic control devices.
F. Signs shall contain a default design function that will freeze the display in one position or cause it to go dark if a malfunction occurs.
G. A sign located within one hundred feet (100') of a residentially zoned district shall be turned off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
H. All electronic message centers shall be equipped with sensors or other devices that automatically determine the ambient illumination and are programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions.
(5) Awning Sign. One or more awning signs are permitted. All or part of the sign area permitted upon the face of the building upon which such awning is located may be placed on the awning and shall be included in the calculation of the total sign surface area permitted for the lot.
(Ord. 21-72 AC CMS. Passed 11-15-21.)