Wall signs shall be permitted in all zones. Wall signs in residential and agricultural zones may only be installed in conjunction with an approved church site, school, institutional or recreational facility. Wall signs shall be placed only on building facades. The city has identified that there are three (3) different commercial areas of the city where the development goals for these areas have an impact on wall signage; therefore, this section shall have three (3) separate subsections defining the criteria for these separate types of wall signs. The three (3) commercial areas are the grove district, State Street district, and the downtown village district. Please refer to the map on file with the city. All wall sign applications are to follow the criteria below, unless otherwise stated in this chapter:
A. The Grove District: The grove district area for wall signs is identical to the combined grove and BMP zoning districts. The requirements of this subsection shall apply to any property with a grove or BMP zoning designation. The city’s objective is to keep the highest standards for every aspect of commercial development in these commercial zoned areas. Wall signs in the grove and BMP zones are to adhere to the following standards:
1. Design: Wall signs shall have individual opaque or translucent (nontransparent) plex faced pan channel letters or raised molded letters no less than a half inch (0.5") thick. Logos may take the form of a flat faced cabinet sign. Wall signs shall be harmonious with other signs and structures to which they are attached. Wall signs may extend from the wall, but no more than eighteen inches (18") from the surface of the wall. Wall signs shall not extend above the roofline, parapet or eaves (see figures 11 and 12 of this section)
Figure 11 - Wall Sign
Figure 12 - Wall Sign
a. A sign cabinet or panel box may be used with the above criteria, only if it is a logo or secondary verbiage to the main company name/title. The area of the cabinet shall be counted towards the maximum allowed area of the wall sign (see figure 13 of this section).
Figure 13 - Channel Letters
b. Residential developments may be identified with wall signs composed of metal, concrete or masonry, not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area, and may be mounted on a masonry wall at the entrance to a development.
2. Area: Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, the sign area shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the front building or retail space facade. The maximum allowable area for the sides and rear of a building or retail space facade shall be five percent (5%) of that facade (see figure 15 of this section).
3. Construction: Wall signs shall be constructed of low maintenance materials. All wiring, mounting hardware and similar components shall be concealed.
4. Illumination: Wall signs may be internally or externally lit. Exposed bulbs or neon may only be permitted through the design review board if consistent with the design theme for the area.
B. State Street District: This district is represented by the C-G, C-S, CS-2, and P-O zones boundaries, unless otherwise stated in this chapter. The State Street district has been created mainly in part to the significant amount of existing commercial business in this district that already use flat faced cabinet signage. The regulations of this section shall also be applied to residential zoned properties that are home to a church, school, institutional or recreational facilities only.
1. Design: Individual channel or raised/molded letter signs are preferred; however, a flat faced cabinet sign may be allowed in this district. All wall signs shall be harmonious with other signs and structures to which they are attached. Wall signs may extend from the wall, but no more than eighteen inches (18") from the surface of the wall. All signs shall not extend above the roofline, parapet or eaves (see figures 13 and 14 of this section).
Figure 14 - Sign Cabinet Details
2. Area: Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, the sign area shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the front building or retail space facade. The maximum allowable area for the sides and rear of a building or retail space facade shall be five percent (5%) of that facade (see figure 15 of this section).
Figure 15 - Wall Sign Placement
a. In the C-N zone, wall sign areas shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total facade of the retail space or building facade which faces a property that is residential in use.
3. Construction: Wall signs shall be constructed of low maintenance materials. All wiring, mounting hardware and similar components shall be concealed.
4. Illumination: Unless otherwise stated in this section, wall signs may be internally or externally lit in commercial, mixed commercial and industrial zones. Wall signs in the commercial neighborhood (C-N) zone and residential zones shall only use concealed lighting. Exposed bulbs or neon shall not be permitted unless otherwise stated in this chapter.
C. Downtown Village District: This district area is identical to the downtown village zone boundaries, which includes all subdistricts. The objective of this district is to match the goals and objectives of the zone and the downtown 2020 action plan. The intent is to preserve the old downtown character while creating new growth, business, and living opportunities in the downtown area, and maintain a consistent image. The city shall require that all signage follows these objectives:
1. Wall signs during this period is a lost art, so the city requires the use of suspended/projecting, or awning signage as a first priority for businesses seeking facade advertisement. For these preferred signage options, refer to the subsequent section (section 10-19-12 of this chapter) for the specific criteria needed to comply.
2. A molded sign with raised lettering or a channel letter sign may be used as a secondary sign once a suspended/projecting or awning sign is installed. If a molded wall sign is to be installed the following regulations are to be met:
a. Design: For the molded signs, these signs are to have raised lettering, a minimum one-fourth inch (1/4") thick, and the sign structure may extend from the wall, but no more than eighteen inches (18") from the surface. All signs shall not extend above the roofline, parapet or eaves.
b. Area: Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, the sign area shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the front building or retail space facade. The maximum allowable area for the sides and rear of a building or retail space facade shall be five percent (5%) of that facade (see figure 15 of this section).
c. Construction: Wall signs shall be constructed of low maintenance materials. All wiring, mounting hardware and similar components shall be concealed.
d. Illumination: Unless otherwise stated in this section, these wall signs are to have external lighting in the form of gooseneck lighting fixtures, or other appropriate lighting fixtures that meet the design restrictions for the downtown area. Any lighting must be shielded to prevent glare. Exposed bulbs or neon shall not be permitted unless otherwise stated in this chapter.
(Ord. 2010-20, 12-7-2010; amd. Ord. 2023-24, 10-17-2023)