(A) Zoning districts. Electronic message center, EMC, shall only be allowed in the following zoning districts: BP, Business Professional, BG, Business General, and BH, Business Highway. Non-conforming uses shall obtain approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) as they are not automatically granted an EMC due to current building use.
(B) Quantity. Only one EMC shall be permitted per property, the EMC is only allowed in any signs allowed in § 98.06(C).
(C) Size.
(1) Single tenant signs EMC signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in size.
(2) Multi-tenant signs EMCs signs shall not exceed 64 square feet in size, (or 50% of the total sign area permitted on this site in article, whichever is the smallest size permitted).
(D) Message copy.
(1) All electronic message copy shall be a static image.
(2) The message copy shall not change more than once every 12 seconds.
(3) Frame effects (transitional elements) allowed: fade in, fade out, dissolve, entire frame change. Message copy cannot scroll.
(4) As mentioned in § 98.04, all electronic message copy cannot advertise for goods, products, services, or facilities that are not at the location where the sign is installed.
(E) Illumination.
(1) EMC illumination measurement criteria: the luminance of an EMC shall be measured with a luminance meter set to measure foot-candles accurate to at least two decimals. Luminance shall be measured with the EMC off, and again with the EMC displaying a white image for a full color capable EMC, or a solid message for a single color EMC. All measurements shall be taken perpendicular to the face of the EMC at the distance determined by the total square footage of the EMC as set forth in the accompanying Sign Area Versus Measurement Distance Table.
(2) EMC illumination limits: the difference between the off and solid-message measurements using the EMC measurement criteria shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candles.
(3) Dimming capabilities: all permitted EMCs shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and programmed to automatically dim according to ambient light conditions, or that can be adjusted to comply with the 0.3 foot-candle measurements.
(4) Inspection: all EMCs will be inspected for illumination standards after installation of the sign. Inspection should be done at least one hour after sunset. The Plan Commission shall have the right to inspection illumination thereafter to ensure compliance.
(F) The default setting for all EMCs will be a black screen in the event of a malfunction.
(G) The owner of an EMC shall provide current contact information to the Office of the Plan Commission so that contact can be made as needed in the event of a malfunctioning sign.
(H) Sign area versus measurement distance.
Area of Sign | Measurement Distance (ft.) |
10 | 32 |
15 | 39 |
20 | 45 |
25 | 50 |
30 | 55 |
35 | 59 |
40 | 63 |
45 | 67 |
50 | 71 |
55 | 74 |
60 | 77 |
Area of Sign | Measurement Distance (ft.) |
65 | 81 |
70 | 84 |
75 | 87 |
80 | 89 |
(Ord. 11-2670, passed 5-2-11) Penalty, see § 98.99