Motorist serving businesses and regional shopping centers and new automobile dealerships which are within the areas identified in figure 16 of this section herein may install freeway oriented signs, subject to the regulations and standards of this code. The following regulations and standards shall apply to freeway oriented signs:
A. Only regional shopping centers, new automobile dealerships in accordance with subsection 15.36.390
D of this chapter, and businesses which are "motorist serving" as defined in this chapter may install freeway oriented signs. In no case may a regional mall or any use within a "regional mall" (as defined in this chapter) install a freeway oriented sign.
B. The maximum height of freeway oriented signs shall be twenty five feet (25'), unless a taller sign is necessary to achieve visibility a minimum of three-tenths (3/10) of one mile from at least one approach to an off ramp serving the business. If determined necessary by a flag test as described below, a sign higher than twenty five feet (25') may be constructed.
C. The maximum size of a freeway oriented sign shall be one hundred twenty (120) square feet, unless a conditional use permit is approved for such a sign pursuant to subsection 15.36.100
F of this chapter. The area of a freeway oriented sign shall not be counted toward the maximum sign area for the business.
D. Flag tests for freeway oriented signs shall be conducted as follows:
1. A flag or object no smaller than thirty two (32) square feet shall be lifted vertically in the location of the proposed freeway oriented sign, starting at a height of twenty five feet (25') (measured from the bottom of the object).
2. City personnel shall be stationed at locations three-tenths (3/10) of one mile from the beginning of the off ramps directly serving the business for which the sign will be installed.
3. City personnel shall observe whether the object is visible at a height of twenty five feet (25'). If the object is not visible, it shall be raised in ten foot (10') increments until it is visible from one direction at a distance of three-tenths (3/10) of one mile from the start of the off ramp approach. If a greater height is needed for visibility from one of the two (2) off ramp approaches, the planning commission may permit the greater height to be used if it is determined that visibility from that direction is needed.
4. The height established in subsection D3 of this section (or by the planning commission, as noted in subsection D3 of this section) shall be maximum height for the sign.
E. No freeway oriented sign shall be erected which would obscure another sign when viewed from the freeway.
F. No freeway oriented sign shall be erected that will be closer than one hundred feet (100') from another freeway oriented sign.
G. The minimum size letter in the text of a freeway oriented sign shall be one foot (1') in vertical or horizontal dimension. The maximum size letter shall be three feet (3'), vertical or horizontal dimension.
H. No more than one freeway oriented sign is permitted per property; provided, however, that a freeway oriented property which is located within a freeway oriented unified shopping center may be permitted an additional freeway oriented sign if it is located on a separate parcel and the sign would meet all other standards in this section.
(Ord. 2963, 2024: Ord. 2744, 2014: Ord. 2552 § 1, 2004)