For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. For sign standards, see Chapter 98, Appendix A.
ABANDONED SIGN. Any sign that advertises a business, lessor, owner, product, service or activity that is no longer located on the premises where the sign is displayed.
ACCESSORY SIGN. A sign that conveys information (e.g., tenants, their use, and their location), minor business identification or amenities found in an establishment and is designed to be viewed by pedestrians and/or motorists. A sign which is clearly subordinate to a primary sign and which does not provide the principal means of identification of a building, business, occupant, development or premises. The signs are intended to convey additional information about the building, business, occupants or premises. ACCESSORY SIGNS shall not contain the logo, trademark or other identifiers that are found in the primary sign.
ANIMATION. The use of movement or some element thereof, to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
ATTACHED SIGN. Any sign, which is fastened, attached, connected, or supported to a building in a secure and permanent manner.
ATTENTION ATTRACTING DEVICE. Any flashing or moving beacon, animation, banner, clock or other object mounted onto or in a sign designed to attract the attention of the public.
AWNING SIGN. Any sign copy or logo attached to or painted on an awning.
BANNER. Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or similar non rigid material used for advertising purposes attached to any structure, staff, pole, line, framing, or vehicle that is easily detached.
BILLBOARD. See OFF-PREMISE SIGN.
CABINET SIGN. A sign that contains all the text and/or logo symbols within a single enclosed cabinet and may or may not be illuminated.
CHANNEL LETTERS. Individually illuminated letters and graphics. In addition, they may be fabricated or formed three-dimensional letters that may accommodate a light source. The use of a raceway must match the color of the facade which the sign is placed.
CIVIC EVENT SIGN. A temporary sign, other than a commercial sign, posted to advertise a civic event sponsored by a public agency, school, church, civic/fraternal organization, or similar noncommercial organization.
COPY. Words, letters, numbers, figures, designs, or other symbolic representations incorporated into a sign.
DETACHED SIGN. Any sign not attached to a building.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A sign which guides or directs pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or a sign in conjunction with a drive-thru window, which may be mounted on the ground, on a building, or in connection with a detached sign.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN. A sign constructed to display its message on the outer surfaces of two identical and opposite parallel planes.
DOWNTOWN ZONE. That area which lies within the following boundaries: Blue River as the northern boundary, Colescott Street as the southern boundary, Noble Street as the eastern boundary, and Tompkins Street as the western boundary.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER (EMC). A sign that utilizes a computer-generated message or some other electronic means of changing the sign copy. These signs include displays using incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs or a Riper Matrix.
(1) LED. Light emitting diodes are diodes that emit visible light when electricity is applied, much like a lightbulb.
(2) LCD. Liquid crystal display.
FLASHING. A pattern of changing light illumination where the sign illumination alternates suddenly between fully illuminated and fully non-illuminated for the purpose of drawing attention to the sign.
FRAME EFFECT. A visual effect on an electronic message center applied to a sign frame to transition from one message to the next.
FUTURE TENANT IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A temporary sign that identifies the names of future businesses that will occupy a site or structure.
FULLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which is illuminated by an internal light source which is visible.
ILLUMINATED SIGNS.
(1) FULLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which is illuminated by an internal light source. FULLY ILLUMINATED SIGN does not mean that a sign shall be an electronic message center.
(2) INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign, which is partially or completely illuminated at any time by an external light source, which is so shielded, as to not be visible at, eye level.
(3) SEMI-ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign, which is uniformly illuminated internally over its entire area, including the area of the sign, by use of electricity or other artificial light.
INTERSTATE CORRIDOR. The area 1000 feet in either direction from Interstate 74.
MAINTENANCE. The repair or replacement in kind of individual sign components that may include the repair or replacement of panels; electrical wiring and bulbs; paint, stucco or other exterior finishes. This may also include the repair or replacement of metal or wood cabinets, structural faces, supporting structural mechanisms and poles, or the sign in its entirety.
MONUMENT SIGN. An identification sign which rises from the ground and generally has no clearance under it. Also known as ground sign.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. An advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the adoption of this sign chapter, and which has subsequently come under the requirements of this sign chapter, but does not now completely comply.
OFF-PREMISE SIGN. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, activity, or product sold, conducted or offered off the premises where such sign is located.
ON-PREMISE SIGN. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, activity, or product sold, conducted or offered on the premises where such sign is located.
PERMANENT SIGN. A sign constructed of durable materials and intended to exist for the duration of time that the use or occupant is located on the premises.
POLE SIGN. A sign mounted on a free-standing pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign face is eight feet or more above finished grade.
POLITICAL SIGN. Any sign bearing a photograph or printed material which promotes a person or issue which will be determined by voters in an election.
PORTABLE SIGN. A sign that is not permanently affixed to one location and has the capability of being moved from one site to the next.
PROJECT SIGN. A sign that states the name of the developer and contractor(s) working on the site and any related engineering, architectural or financial firms involved with the project.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign extending more than one foot from the face of the building to which it is attached.
PROMOTIONAL SIGN. A sign erected on a temporary basis to promote the sale of new products, new management, new hours of operation, a new service, or to promote a special sale.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign indicating that a property or any portion thereof is available for inspection, sale, lease, rent, or directing people to a property, but not including temporary subdivision signs.
ROOF SIGN. A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or which is wholly dependent upon a building for support and which projects above the highest point of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with a gambrel, gable, or hip roof, or the deck line of a building with a mansard roof.
SIGN AREA. The area of a sign set out in these regulations shall mean the area encompassed by the perimeter of the sign. The area of the sign shall be computed from the area enclosed by the perimeter upon which the letters, logo, and the like are placed, except that when individual letters or logos are mounted individually and directly upon a building surface without change in the color or appearance of the surface background, the area of the sign shall be deemed to be rectangle or some other geometric form that encompasses the letters, logo, and the like. (See Chapter 98, Appendix A, Figures 2 and 3)
SIGN PERMIT. A discretionary written authorization issued through the office of the Plan Commission upon a finding that the proposed activity permitted by such use permit is in conformance with the intent of this code. A use permit may be limited to a specific period of time.
STREET FRONTAGE. That building elevation that fronts on a public street where customer access to the building is available.
SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT AMENITY SIGN. A sign directing traffic to amenities such as a clubhouse or swimming pool within the subdivision.
SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT SIGN. A detached sign identifying the subdivision, located at one or more of the subdivision entrances.
TALL SIGN. A sign located within 1,000 feet of Interstate 74 for the purpose of advertising a commercial establishment to interstate vehicular traffic.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign of cloth or other combustible material, with or without a frame, which is usually attached to the outside of a building on a
wall or store front, for a limited period of time; or a sign which is not permanently attached to the ground, building, or other load bearing structure.
UNDER CANOPY SIGN. A display attached to the underside of a marquee or canopy and projecting perpendicular from a structure over public or private sidewalks or right-of-way.
VARIANCE. A discretionary authorization issued by the Zoning Administrator/ Board of Zoning Appeals only upon finding, through a public hearing, that the proposed activity permitted by such variance is in conformance with the intent of this code, the general plan and/ or other specified plans or council policies, and will be compatible with, and not detrimental to, adjacent properties or the neighborhood in general and may be limited by specific conditions, restrictions, terms or time periods. This could be in the form of a departure from the literal requirements of the municipal code generally involving dimensional and location provisions, but excluding land use.
WALL SIGN. A sign attached to or erected against an exterior wall of a building or structure, which projects not more than 12 inches from a wall and presents only one face with advertising copy to the public and does not extend above the roof line.
WINDOW SIGN. Any sign placed on, affixed to, painted on or located within the confines of a window.
YARD CARD. A temporary sign used to advertise a special sale, event or occasion.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR. The Plan Commission staff or the Mayor's designee.
(Ord. 07-2604, passed 1-7-08; Am. Ord. 11-2670, passed 5-2-11)