(a) Sign Construction/Materials.
(1) All signs shall be properly constructed to withstand a wind pressure of thirty pounds per square foot. All signs shall be built in conformity with the Ohio Building Code. Ground signs require footer inspection by the Building Department.
(2) Sign material. The replacement of an existing sign for a new sign shall be constructed of the same or nearly the same material. Any material change shall require comprehensive sign plan approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(b) Location in Public Right-of-Way. No sign or any part of any sign shall be placed in, over or extend into any public right-of-way. Exceptions include publicly-owned signs, such as traffic control signs or directional signs, and projected signs, which may be permitted in the C2 District.
(c) Illuminated Signs.
(1) The level of illumination emitted or reflected from a sign shall not be of an intensity sufficient to constitute a safety hazard to vehicular movement on any street from which the sign may be viewed.
(2) Illuminated signs shall be constructed and maintained so that the source of illumination is shielded or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent lots or streets.
(d) Safety. All signs shall be properly constructed and maintained to ensure that no safety hazard is created.
(e) Sign Measurement.
(1) Sign areas shall include the face of all the display areas of the sign, including logos, graphics, stripes or combinations of colors and designs that extend the visual effect of the size of the sign, but shall not include the bracing, framing and structural supports of the sign, unless such supports are made part of the message or face of the sign.
(2) Where a sign has two or more display faces, the area of all faces of the sign shall be included in determining the area of the sign, unless two display faces, joined back-to-back, are parallel to each other and are not more than twenty-four inches apart, or form a V-angle of less than forty-five degrees. For spherical signs, the sphere shall be bisected by an imaginary line through the center of the sphere and the surface area of the half sphere shall be counted as the sign face.
(3) The area of letters, numbers, emblems, logos, stripes or combinations thereof; mounted on a building wall or wall extension, shall be computed by enclosing such a sign with the smallest single continuous perimeter around the letters, numbers or emblems.
(4) For structures and uses having no direct frontage on public roads, as within shopping centers, frontage shall be based upon the actual frontage of the business structure, whether or not it is on a common mall or sidewalk.
(f) Maximum Number, Height and Area of Signs.
(1) In addition to placement of signs, the height, area and number of permitted signs allowed per use or lot shall be allowed as specifically regulated in the schedule of regulations in Section 1292.07. The height of the sign shall be measured from the established grade, which shall be defined as that point where the grade line intersects the fronting wall of the building. The height of a sign may not be artificially increased beyond the permitted height by placement of signage on earth mounds that are created during site development.
(2) The replacement of an existing sign for a new sign shall encompass the same amount of area or less. Any area increase shall require comprehensive sign plan approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(g) Colors. No individual sign shall be limited to a number of colors. All signs shall have a matte finish. Ground signs with more than one tenant shall meet the requirements of Section 1292.03(a)(3).
(h) Comprehensive Sign Plans.
(1) In any district, except the AGR District and all Residential Districts, the owner of the property may submit a comprehensive sign plan which includes all sign uses for the entire site. If any variance to the Sign Code is requested, then the property owner must apply for comprehensive sign plan.
(2) Prohibited signs shall not be included in the comprehensive sign plan. Off-premises signs and co-op signs are prohibited in comprehensive sign plans. After review and approval, the comprehensive plan shall become the sign regulations for the subject site.
(3) All plans shall be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Department for completeness and attention to detail. The Planning and Zoning Department shall submit the plan with their comments to the Planning and Zoning Commission at the next scheduled meeting. The Planning and Zoning Department's comments shall be carefully considered by the Commission in its review of the plan. The Commission may approve, modify or reject a plan.
(4) Comprehensive sign plans shall include all signs, permanent and temporary, which are proposed for use on the site. Exterior and window signs which are not visible from the public right-of-way shall be included in such plans for information purposes, but are generally exempt from regulation.
(5) A comprehensive sign plan shall not restrict the number of colors for individual signs. All signs shall have a matte finish. The owner has the authority to restrict the number of colors per tenant and building. Ground signs with more than one tenant shall meet the requirements of Section 1292.03(a)(3).
(i) Setbacks. All ground signs shall be set back from the right-of-way line at least five feet and be located outside the site triangle (20 ft. by 20 ft.).
(j) Sign Materials. Channel letters shall be required with face, trim and return uniformity. The channel letter cabinet shall be located behind the wall and internally illuminated. However, non-channel letter comprehensive sign plans can be considered in circumstances deemed special by staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission (office, industrial uses, etc.).
(k) High-Rise Signs. Any sign on top of a building that exceeds thirty-five feet in height is considered a high-rise sign. High-rise signs shall only be considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission when:
(1) The product or service to be advertised or identified is the principal product or service available on the site.
(2) The site contains a property line of not less than fifty feet in length which is contiguous to an interstate highway right-of-way. Contiguity may be established where a public street or service road is parallel and contiguous to the interstate highway right-of-way and where the subject site is contiguous to such street or service road.
(Ord. 2014-27. Passed 8-5-14.)