No on-site signs shall be altered or relocated within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the exterior right-of-way line of any portion of a freeway or of a route for a freeway which has been adopted by the State Highway Commission, if the copy of such on-site sign is or would be visible by persons traveling on those portions of the freeway or proposed freeway located within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the sign, unless such signs comply with all applicable regulations of this chapter and with the following additional regulations. Where the regulations of this section conflict with regulations of another section, the more restrictive regulation shall prevail.
A. Detached signs in the C-2, C-3, C-4, SC Commercial Zones; M-1 and M-2 Industrial Zones.
1. Detached signs shall have a maximum area of twenty-four (24) square feet.
2. Detached signs shall have a maximum height of twelve (12) feet measured from grade level.
3. Detached signs shall be of a monument type and shall be located within a landscaped planter of at least a four-foot radius measured from the perimeter of the sign.
4. Notwithstanding the above, motels, hotels, restaurants and gas stations located in the C-2, C-3, C-4, SC commercial zones, M-1 and M-2 industrial zones are allowed to have the signage allowed in the highway commercial zone due to the freeway services these uses provide.
B. Detached Signs in the H-C Commercial Zone.
1. Detached signs shall have a maximum area of two hundred (200) square feet.
2. Detached signs shall have a maximum height of thirty-five (35) feet.
3. Detached signs shall be constructed in a style and out of materials compatible to the structure located on the same site and shall be located within a landscaped planter of at least a four-foot radius measured from the perimeter of the sign.
4. One detached sign for each developed parcel not exceeding one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of street frontage abutting the developed portion of said parcel.
C. Attached Signs in All Zones.
1. Attached signs shall have a maximum area of one square foot for each front foot of first floor building occupancy; provided that in no event shall the total area of attached signs visible by persons traveling on the freeway exceed two hundred (200) square feet for each occupancy.
2. Attached signs shall have a maximum height of twenty (20) feet measured from grade level.
3. Attached signs for office buildings shall be allowed as follows:
a. Materials, Construction and Design.
i. Signs may be constructed of solid metal individual letters, marble, granite, ceramic tile or other comparable materials. Examples of acceptable metal materials are chrome, brass, stainless steel or fabricated sheet metal. Plastic or wood signs are specifically prohibited.
ii. Individual solid metal letters shall be applied to the building face with a nondistinguishable background. Letters shall be pegged-out from the building face at least one and one-half inches and be reverse pan channel construction in one of the following:
(A) Fabricated aluminum letters with a polished chrome plated finish in fourteen (14) gauge aluminum with three inch returns; or
(B) Fabricated polished brass letters with clear lacquer finish in fourteen (14) gauge brass plate with three inch returns; or
(C) Fabricated sheet metal letters painted duranodic bronze #313 or semi-gloss enamel in fourteen (14) gauge sheet metal with three inch returns.
b. Number. One sign per building of freeway frontage above twenty (20) feet in height. If the building has multiple freeway frontage, the applicant/owner may select which building face on which to attach the sign.
c. Illumination.
i. Letters may be internally illuminated to create a halo back-lighted effect or unilluminated. Internally illuminated letters shall be lighted with white neon tubing and thirty (30) milliamperes transformers.
ii. Lighting shall not produce a glare on other properties in the vicinity and the source of light shall not be visible from adjacent property or a public street.
iii. Internally lit plastic signs are prohibited.
d. Location.
i. Signs must be attached to and parallel to a building face. A sign may not project above the wall on which it is located.
ii. Signs may be located anywhere on face of building subject to subsection (C)(3)(d)(iii) of this section and may be oriented toward the freeway.
iii. A sign may be in the upper signage area.
e. Maximum Signage. A maximum area of one square foot for each front foot of first-floor building occupancy provided that in no event shall the total area of an attached sign exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet.
f. Review and Approval. Proposed signs shall be subject to review and approval by the planning director prior to issuance of building and/or sign permits. When deciding whether to approve a sign, the director: (a) shall consider all of the factors relating to the proposed sign and, based on the evidence submitted, make the findings set forth in subsections (E)(1) through (E)(8) of Section 15.148.1110 that apply to the sign; and (b) shall not consider the content or graphic design of messages other than to determine legality under federal or state law.
4. Attached signs for shopping centers shall be allowed as follows:
Signage for shopping center uses shall comply with subsections (C)(3)(d) and (C)(3)(e) of this section. For the purpose of this section "shopping center" shall be defined as a retail commercial business consisting of three or more retail tenants having shared parking facilities. In addition, the shopping center signage shall comply with the following standards:
a. Maximum Signage. Attached signs shall have a maximum area of one square foot for each front foot of first-floor building occupancy provided that in no event shall the total area of attached signs visible by persons traveling on the freeway exceed two hundred (200) square feet.
b. Number of Signs. One sign per building and no more than two signs per site to be located above twenty (20) feet in height.
c. Prohibited Signs. No attached sign shall in any manner identify a specific product(s) to be sold on the site. Sign may consist of a company logo and/or a company name only.
d. Materials and Design. All attached signs shall be constructed in a manner which is compatible with the design and materials of the structure on which it is to be affixed.
e. Review and Approval. Proposed signs shall require a zoning administrator's conditional use permit pursuant to Chapter 17.808 of this code. (Ord. 2017-0044 § 5; Ord. 2016-0010 § 39; Ord. 2013-0021 § 71; prior code § 3.12.192)