Signs in office, business, service, and mixed use districts shall conform to the standards set forth in this Section.
(a) Maximum Number and Area of Permanent Signs Attached to Buildings. Permanent signs attached to buildings shall conform to the maximum number and area limitations set forth in Schedule 1193.07(a).
Permanent Signs Attached to Buildings | |||||
Type | Maximum Number Permitted | Maximum Area | |||
OB-1, OB-2 | LB, GB | SM | CBD, MX | ||
(1) Address Sign | 1 | 2 sq. ft. | 2 sq. ft. | 2 sq. ft. | 2 sq. ft. |
(2) Wall Sign | Based on eligible frontages | 40% of signable area | 40% of signable area | 40% of signable area | As approved by the Design & Construction Board of Review |
(3) Projecting Sign (a) | 1 | -- | 6 sq. ft. | -- | 6 sq. ft. |
(4) Window Sign | 1 | -- | -- | ||
(5) Instructional Signs | |||||
Notes (a) Building shall be located within six (6) feet of the public right-of-way. | |||||
(b) Wall and Roof Signs. All such signs are subject to the following limitations:
(1) Wall signs placed in the vertical space between windows may not exceed in height more than two-thirds (2/3) of the distance between the top of a window and the sill of the window above, or major architectural details related thereto.
(2) All or a portion of the signable area may be contained in a roof sign. For commercial activities, no roof sign may be higher than the freestanding ground sign permitted in the Schedule 1193.07(c) for the same activity at the same location.
(3) Wall signs shall not extend above the roof line.
(4) A sign may not cover or interrupt major architectural features.
(5) Sign Bonuses for Large Building Setbacks. The maximum allowable area for a building sign may be increased by 25% for each 100 feet or fraction thereof of building setback when the principal building is located more than 100 feet from the principal street on which the building is located and the building is visible from the street, not to exceed 200% of the maximum allowable area.
(c) Window Sign. These signs shall be in addition to the maximum signable area for building signs pursuant to Schedule 1193.07(a).
(1) Ground Floor Occupants.
A. Permanent window signs, which shall be any window sign displayed for more than thirty (30) days, shall have a maximum area not greater than twenty percent (20%) of the total window area of the space occupied by the occupant.
B. The total area of window signage permitted may be aggregated onto one or more window panels provided that such signs do not cover more than thirty percent (30%) of the window panel to which they are affixed or behind which they are placed.
C. The total area of permanent and temporary window signage shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total window area of the space occupied by the occupant.
D. A temporary window sign is to be displayed not more than thirty (30) days. Temporary window signs must be attached to the inside of the window.
E. In addition to such other window signage as may be permitted by this Chapter, each occupant may display one window (1) sign, not to exceed a maximum of one (1) square foot in area, which indicates its hours of operation and one (1) window sign, not to exceed two (2) square feet in area consisting solely of the words "open" or "closed".
(2) Upper Story Occupants. For a multi-story building, each occupant above the ground floor shall be permitted one permanent sign to be placed in a window of the occupant's space.
A. Not to exceed six (6) square feet or 25 percent of the area of the window in which the sign is placed, whichever is smaller.
B. The Zoning Administrator may authorize the display of a window sign in or on a second story window upon determination that such second story sign is consistent with this code and in harmony with the general character of the building and neighborhood.
(Ord. 91-95. Passed 9-11-95.)
C. Larger signs may be considered by Design and Construction Board of Review.
(3) All Occupants.
A. The use of light sources (such as lighting strips consisting of florescent bulbs or tubes, neon tubing, individual bulbs) to outline or border any edge of a window panel shall be prohibited.
B. Window signs may be illuminated only during the hours of operation of the occupant.
(d) Projecting Signs.
(1) A projecting sign shall be at least six (6) inches from the wall and extend no more than three (3) feet beyond the face of the building wall or other structure.
(2) A projecting sign may be displayed only if the building is located within six (6) feet of the public right-of-way.
(3) Projecting signs shall be limited to occupants that have a minimum of 20 feet of building frontage.
(4) All projecting signs shall be placed at least 10 feet above ground level, except when the projecting sign is located above a landscaped area or other area that does not permit pedestrian traffic beneath the sign.
(e) Permanent Freestanding Ground Signs. Permanent freestanding signs shall be permitted for business/service activities that are accessible by automobile and served by off-street parking and shall comply with the following regulations:
(1) Maximum Number, Area and Height, Minimum Setback of Permanent Freestanding signs. Permanent freestanding signs shall comply with the maximum number, area, and height limitations and minimum setback from the street right-of-way set forth in Schedule 1193.07(e).
Permanent Freestanding Signs | |||||
Maximum Number | Maximum Area | Maximum Height | Minimum Setback from ROW | Minimum Setback from Side Lot Line | |
1. Primary Freestanding Sign (a) | |||||
a. Office District | 1 per lot (b) | 30 sq. ft. | 6 ft. | 5 ft. | 30 ft. |
b. LB District | 1 per lot (b) | 30 sq. ft. | 8 ft. | 5 ft. | 30 ft. |
c. GB District | 1 per lot (b) | 30 sq. ft. | 8 ft. | 5 ft. | 30 ft. |
d. SM District | 1 per lot (b) | 25 sq. ft. | 8 ft. | 5 ft. | 30 ft. |
e. CBD District | As approved by the Design and Construction Board of Review. | ||||
f. MX District | As approved by the Design and Construction Board of Review. | ||||
2. Entrance/Exit Signs | 2 per driveway | 6 sq. ft. | 4 ft. | 0 | 0 |
3. Instructional Signs | |||||
(a) Not permitted on the site when the building is setback less than 35 feet from the street right-of-way. (b) Except as otherwise permitted in Section 1193.07(e)(2) for lots that have 100 feet or more of street frontage. | |||||
(2) Additional Freestanding Signs for Large Lots. Where frontage exceeds one hundred (100) feet, only one (1) freestanding ground sign shall be permitted to common multiple use. For each one hundred (100) feet of frontage no more than eight (8) items of information shall be displayed. Eight (8) items of information may be displayed on one (1) or both sides of a freestanding ground sign.
(3) Minimum Separation of Freestanding Sign. Freestanding signs on the same lot shall be separated by a minimum of 100 feet, as measured along the street right-of-way line. For corner lots, both sides of the intersection shall be used in measuring spacing.
(4) Minimum Sign Setback from Intersection. On corner lots, freestanding signs shall comply with the minimum sign setback from both street rights-of-way, as set forth in Schedule 1193.07
(e).
(5) Landscaping. The base and foundation area of each freestanding ground sign shall be landscaped with plant material. Landscape plans for signs shall be prepared in conformance with planting guidelines established by the City and shall be included with and reviewed as part of each application for signage.
(6) Multi-Occupant Facilities. When a freestanding sign is permitted on a site that has more than one occupant, it is the property owner's responsibility to determine if the sign area shall be devoted to identification of the building(s), the anchor occupant, all occupants, or some combination thereof.
(7) Electronic Message Boards. All signs with electronic message boards/changeable copy are subject to the following limitations:
A. Signs with electronic message boards/changeable copy are permitted as ground signs only.
B. The electronic message board portion of a sign shall not exceed 40% of the sign area.
C. The electronic message boards/changeable copy shall not flash, blink, scroll, strobe, or otherwise create a distraction to vehicular traffic.
D. Electronic message boards shall be permitted 1 new message per day, except for time and temperature signage.
E. Animation which uses movement or change of lighting to depict action, create a special effect, or scene is prohibited.
F. Electronic message boards can only be activated or displayed from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m, or during business hours of operation, whichever period is lesser.
G. Brightness.
1. All digital displays shall be illuminated at a level no greater than 0.3 foot candles over ambient light levels for location and time when measured at the recommended distance based on the digital display size, and shall employ light cut-off devices, such as but not limited to louvers, in order to minimize light escaping above a horizontal plane.
2. All digital displays must be equipped with both a dimmer control and photo sensor, which will automatically adjust the display intensity according to natural ambient light conditions.
3. Digital displays may not display light of an intensity or brilliance to cause glare or otherwise impair vision of the operator of a motor vehicle.
H. Color of lighting shall be designated in the permit application and be subject to approval by the Design and Construction Board of Review.
I. No electronic message boards shall be placed within 125 feet of a residential structure.
(f) Temporary Signs. The following regulations for temporary signs are in addition to the maximum sign area and height regulations set forth in Section 1193.07
.
(1) Temporary Construction/Development Signs. Temporary construction or development signs announcing any proposed building or a building under construction, remodeling or reconstruction, or advertising the sale, rental or lease of any building, buildings, or a part thereof, shall comply with the following:
A. Such signs shall be located on the lot to be occupied or occupied by the building or use advertised not less than twenty-five (25) feet from any street.
B. The maximum area shall be thirty-two (32) square feet, and the maximum height shall be six (6) feet.
C. A temporary sign permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Administrator before the placement of any temporary construction or development sign authorized hereunder with the permit fee to be as set forth in Section 1321.05 of the Code.
D. Any sign authorized hereunder shall be permitted only for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days from the issuance of the temporary sign permit or the period of construction, remodeling or reconstruction, whichever time period is shorter, and then shall be removed. However, the Zoning Administrator may extend the time period for delays caused by conditions beyond the control of the owner or contractor or for other good and sufficient reasons.
E. Any temporary construction or development sign may only be replaced by a sign conforming to the requirements of this Chapter.
(2) Temporary Business Signs. An occupant located within a Local Business (LB) District, General Business (GB) District, a Central Business Mixed Use District (CBD), a Mixed Use Overlay District (MX), whose main entrance is located beyond six (6) feet of the public right-of-way, may display one (1) temporary business sign subject to the following restrictions:
A. The sign shall be attached to either a permanent sign or a building structure, or placed in the ground, or freestanding by weight of at least thirty-five (35) pounds, and is limited to two (2) sides, with no side exceeding eight (8) square feet in size.
B. The signs may be utilized for advertising during business hours for no more than thirty (30) consecutive days and no more than (90) total days within a calendar year, excepting licensed food service businesses, which shall be permitted to display such signs any time during business hours.
C. No signs shall be displayed between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
D. No signs shall be displayed when any wind speed, either constant or gusting, exceeds twenty (20) miles per hour.
E. The signs shall be compatible with both the business purpose and the architectural design of the building for said business.
F. An application for consent and review must be submitted to the Building Department, which includes a site drawing and measurements, depicting (a) a rendition of the proposed sign, (b) the specific location of intended posting, (c) the surrounding area, and (d) other required information which demonstrates compliance with all provisions concerning such signs.
(g) Auxiliary Design Elements. Rules may be enacted for the following auxiliary design elements, subject to the limitations established for each sign:
Awnings, canopies and marquees are permitted for all activities in all areas provided, however, they must clear sidewalks by at least eight (8) feet. However, any letters over three (3) inches in height which are displayed on an awning or canopy are applied against the items of information allowance established by Section 1193.03. A single identifying double-faced nameplate sign may be suspended from a canopy, at right angles to an establishment or store unit. Dimensions of such a sign shall be no greater than twelve (12) inches high and seventy-four (74) inches wide and shall be centered at the symmetrical centerline of the canopy ceiling. Such signs shall be surface mounted to underside of the canopy. (Ord. 39-11. Passed 12-12-11.)