(a) Dimensional requirements.
(1) Maximum sign area. The maximum number of signs and the maximum sign areas, as provided herein, shall be applied on a per lot basis (except in the RM-44A zoning district where they shall be applied on a per building basis.)
A. Free standing and monument signs. An individual sign area allowance is the sum of the total areas of all the sign faces of that sign.
B. The building wall sign allowance shall be calculated based on the square feet of the wall on to which the sign will be placed. The wall sign maximum area allowance shall be determined as percentage of the overall wall area of the wall onto which the sign will be placed. In the case of two or more uses or occupants in a single building, the allowable maximum wall signage for each user shall be calculated as a percentage of the building elevation area devoted to that tenant.
(2) Sign wall area. Where maximum size of a sign is determined by the sign wall area, the sign wall area shall be the total area of the building elevation on to which the sign is to be mounted.
(3) Sign area determination. The area of each sign, regardless of shape, shall be computed by determining the area of a triangle, rectangle or circle which completely encloses the outer perimeter of the sign face exclusive of the structural supports but inclusive of architectural features, or which completely encloses the whole group of characters or words in the case of a sign composed of characters or words attached directly to a building or an appurtenance to a building.
(4) Sign height determination. The maximum height of a sign shall be measured from the established grade of the ground on which the sign is erected to the highest point of the sign. In the case where a minimum height is established, the minimum height shall be measured from the established grade of the ground on which the sign is erected to the highest point of the sign face.
(b) Locational requirements.
(1) Except in the Downtown sign district, no off premise sign, canopy, free standing or monument sign which is over two-and-one-half feet above grade shall be located within a triangular area at street intersections, where the triangle is measured from the intersection of right-of-way lines and its sides are 60 feet in length along arterial streets, 40 feet in length along collector streets, and 20 feet in length along local streets except if the sign is 10 feet or more above grade with its single support structure being one foot wide or less.
(2) Except in the Downtown sign district, no off premise sign, canopy, free standing or monument sign which is over two-and-one-half feet above grade shall be located within a triangular area where an alley or private drive intersects a street where the triangle is measured from the intersection of street right-of-way line and edge of the alley or drive and its sides are 70 feet in length along the right-of-way line and eight feet along the alley or drive edge except if the sign is 10 feet or more above grade with its single support structure being one foot wide or less.
(3) No part of a monument sign or freestanding sign support shall be located within five feet of any lot line and no part of any other sign or sign support shall overhang any lot lines except for signs projecting over right-of-way lines as hereinbefore permitted in the Downtown sign district.
(4) No sign shall obstruct ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
(5) Building signs maybe located on any building wall.
(c) Requirements for illuminated signs. Illuminated signs shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) All permitted signs may be internally or externally illuminated. Those signs permitted in the Residential Sign District or residentially zoned lots may only be illuminated with white light.
(2) All types of artificial light sources used to illuminate a sign face which are not shaded or concealed so that the light will not interfere with the vision of motor vehicle operators or shine directly on residential property in any Residential Sign District or residentially zoned area, and illumination which flashes or simulates movement, shall be prohibited.
(3) No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance as to impair the vision of a motor vehicle driver or to otherwise interfere with the driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
(4) No sign may be of such intensity or brilliance that it interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, device or signal.
(5) These signs must be equipped with a mechanism that automatically adjusts the brightness to maintain compliance with the illumination standards of this subdivision (c).
(6) These signs must be equipped with a means to immediately turn off the display or lighting if it malfunctions and/or poses a threat to public safety. The owner of these signs must immediately turn off the sign and/or lighting when ordered to do so by the City if the sign cannot be immediately adjusted to comply with the illuminated sign standards set forth in these regulations or it otherwise poses a threat to public safety.
(7) Illuminated signs must adhere to the following standards listed in Tables 1 and 2.
Table 1: These are the Maximum Luminance Standards for daytime hours and are measured in nits (one candela per square meter (1 cd/m²). During the time between the First Sunday in November through the Second Sunday in March the standard daytime hours are 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. During the time between the Second Sunday in March through the First Sunday in November the standard daytime hours are 6 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. (Times based on information provided by the Astronomical Application Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory)
DAYTIME MAXIMUM NITS BY SIGN DISTRICT | |||
Ag and Residential | Mixed Neighborhood | Mixed Urban and Manufacturing | Commercial Arterial, Commercial Highway, and Downtown |
100 | 600 | 800 (600 in inclement weather, such as fog, rain, or snow) | 1000 (600 in inclement weather, such as fog, rain, or snow) |
Table 2: These are the Maximum Luminance Standards for nighttime hours and are measured in nits (one candela per square meter (1 cd/m²). During the time between the First Sunday in November through the Second Sunday in March the standard nighttime hours are 6 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. During the time between the Second Sunday in March through the First Sunday in November the standard nighttime hours are 7:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. (Times based on information provided by the Astronomical Application Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory)
Nighttime Maximum Nits by Sign District | |||
Ag and Residential | Mixed Neighborhood | Mixed Urban and Manufacturing | Commercial Arterial, Commercial Highway, and Downtown |
30 | 200 | 200 | 500 (200 in inclement weather, such as fog, rain, or snow) |
(d) Non conforming status.
(1) All signs, which are not obsolete and which are or become non conforming by adoption of these regulations, shall be permitted to remain as non conforming signs.
(2) Non-conforming signs that are obsolete, being signs on which the copy face no longer contains advertising material or is not used for advertising purposes, the business is no longer at that location, the event has past, or the sign is illegible, must be removed after a 365 consecutive day period of obsolescence. The following process will be adhered to for such non-conforming :
A. Notice to be sent to property owner notifying them that their sign has 365 days to become conforming.
B. Notice to be sent to property owner notifying them that their sign has 90 days to become conforming.
C. Notice to be sent to property owner notifying them that their sign has 30 days to become conforming.
D. Notice to be sent to property owner on the 366th day with a scheduled date of demolition to be paid for by the property owner.
(3) Owners of non conforming signs shall be required to comply with the maintenance provisions of Section 1155.09. Any change or alteration to a non conforming sign shall require compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.
(4) Owners of non-conforming single-faced off-premises billboard signs may double-face such structure (up to 300 square feet) by one square foot for every two square feet of lawfully existing non-conforming off-premises billboard sign area (in applicant's ownership) removed from the City of Springfield.
(e) Signs for nonconforming uses. Refer to Section 1171.02(b)(3).
(f) Historic and Cultural sign provisions. The following signs shall be regulated in accordance with the criteria indicated:
(1) Historic signs, signs for historic structures and signs on structures in historic districts. The Board of Zoning Appeals may, by conditional use, allow signs which do not conform to the provisions of this Chapter under the circumstances described below. All applications for special exceptions in a Historic District shall be referred to the Historic Landmarks Commission for review and comment before and after the Board of Zoning Appeals hearing, and shall be subject to the specific standards listed below and to the general standards of Section 1172.05
A. For buildings placed on the National Register of Historic Places or located in an OHP district, signage which does not conform with the provisions of this chapter may be allowed if it is in keeping with the architectural character of the structure, and is appropriate to a particular period in the building's history or an integral part of its identity.
B. The Board may exempt a proposed or an existing sign from the provisions of Subsection 1155.07(f)(1)A if it can be demonstrated that said sign makes a significant artistic or historic contribution to the community or neighborhood in which the sign is located.
(2) Drive-thru menu displays. The portion of the sign face of a drive-thru menu display on which items for sale and their prices are listed shall not be included in calculating the number of square feet of signage in applying maximum signage allowance specified in each sign district; provided that such portion of the sign face of a drive-thru menu display on which items for sale and their prices are listed does not exceed 40 square feet.
(g) Digital Dynamic Display Sign Operational Regulations.
(1) Digital Dynamic Display Sign (Single Color). Owners of Digital Dynamic Display Single Color Signs shall operate their sign in conformance with the following :
A. Shall comply with all locational and development regulations in tables located in Section 1155.06.
B. These signs shall be operated so that the sign message remains constant for a period of at least eight seconds before changing to another sign message.
C. These signs shall not have continual motion.
D. The images and messages displayed must be static, and the transition from one static display to another must be instantaneous without any special effects.
i. There shall be no left and right flow of messages
ii. No up and down scrolling or otherwise
iii. No moving or flashing of images displayed on the sign
iv. No cross fade with simultaneous dissolve and appearance of sign messages.
E. Each sign shall be operated in conformance with the illuminated sign standards in Section 1155.07(c).
F. Digital Dynamic Display Single Color Signs shall use automatic level controls to reduce light levels at night and under cloudy and other darkened conditions, in accordance with the following:
i. All Digital Dynamic Display signs shall have installed equipment that will automatically adjust luminance based on time of day in order to be compliant with this Ordinance.
ii. These signs must be equipped with a means to immediately turn off the display or lighting if it malfunctions and/or poses a threat to public safety, such as fails or ceases to operate in its usual or normal programmed manner, causing motion, movement, flashing or any similar effects.
iii. The owner of these signs must immediately turn off the sign and/or lighting when ordered to do so by the City when the City has determined that it is not complying with the illuminated sign standards set forth in these regulations or it otherwise poses a threat to public safety, if the sign cannot be immediately adjusted to comply with the illuminated sign standards set forth in these regulations and cease to pose a threat to public safety. A malfunctioning sign or a sign not in compliance with these operational standards shall remain turned off until it may be restored to operate in conformity to the requirements of this ordinance.
iv. Written certification and photometric plan from the sign manufacturer or a professional engineer must be provided at the time of application for a sign permit certifying that the light intensity of the sign has been preset not to exceed the illumination levels established by this Ordinance, and an affidavit signed by the owner that the preset intensity level will not be increased in excess of standards set forth in Section 1155.07(c).
v. A copy of the operations manual must be submitted with sign permit application.
(2) Digital Dynamic Display Sign (Multiple Color). Owners of Digital Dynamic Display Multi-Color Signs shall operate their sign in conformance with the following regulations:
A. Shall comply with all locational and development regulations in tables located in Section 1155.06.
B. These signs shall not have continual motion.
C. The images and messages displayed must be static, and the transition from one static display to another must be instantaneous without any special effects.
i. There shall be no left and right flow of messages
ii. No up and down scrolling or otherwise traveling
iii. No moving or flashing of images displayed on the sign
iv. No cross fade with simultaneous dissolve and appearance of sign messages.
D. Each sign shall be operated in conformance with the illuminated sign standards in Section 1155.07(c).
E. Image transition timing requirements:
i. ommercial Highway Sign District: All signs shall be operated so that the sign message remains static for a period of eight seconds before changing to another sign message.
ii. Commercial Arterial Sign District: All signs shall be operated so that the sign message remains static for a period of 12 seconds before changing to another sign message.
iii. Downtown Sign District: All signs shall be operated so that the sign message remains static for a period of 15 seconds before changing to another sign message.
iv. Mixed Urban Sign District: All signs shall be operated so that the sign message remains static for a period of 15 seconds before changing to another sign message.
v. Mixed Neighborhood: Sign District: All signs shall be operated so that the sign message remains static for a period of 20 seconds before changing to another sign message.
vi. Manufacturing Sign District: All signs shall be operated so that the sign message remains static for a period of 20 seconds before changing to another sign message.
F. Digital Dynamic Display Multiple Color Signs shall use automatic level controls to reduce light levels at night and under cloudy and other darkened conditions, in accordance with the following:
i. All Digital Dynamic Display signs shall have installed equipment that will automatically adjust luminance based on time of day in order to be compliant with this Ordinance.
ii. These signs must be equipped with a means to immediately turn off the display or lighting if it malfunctions and/or poses a threat to public safety, such as fails or ceases to operate in its usual or normal programmed manner, causing motion, movement, flashing or any similar effects.
iii. The owner of these signs must immediately turn off the sign and/or lighting when ordered to do so by the City when the City has determined that it is not complying with the illuminated sign standards set forth in these regulations or it otherwise poses a threat to public safety, if the sign cannot be immediately adjusted to comply with the illuminated sign standards set forth in these regulations and cease to pose a threat to public safety. A malfunctioning sign or a sign not in compliance with these operational standards shall remain turned off until it may be restored to operate in conformity to the requirements of this ordinance.
iv. Written certification and photometric plan from the sign manufacturer or a professional engineer must be provided at the time of application for a sign permit certifying that the light intensity of the sign has been preset not to exceed the illumination levels established by this Ordinance, and an affidavit signed by the owner that the preset intensity level will not be increased in excess of standards set forth in Section 1155.07(c).
v. A copy of the operations manual must be submitted with sign permit application.
G. The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have power and original jurisdiction to hear and decide applications for a conditional use permit to allow Digital Dynamic Display Multiple Color Signs in Commercial Arterial, Mixed Neighborhood, Mixed Urban, Downtown, and Manufacturing Sign Districts. In determining whether to issue a conditional use permit, the Board of Zoning Appeals shall review the facts and circumstances of each proposed conditional use and apply the provisions of Subdivisions 1172.05 (c) through (e) of the Zoning Code and the following standards:
i. Longitudinal Location. Digital Dynamic Display Multiple color Signs should not be erected in locations that already place high demands upon driver attention, such as intersections, interchange entry and exit points, channelization features, close proximity to traffic control devices (including official route markings and directional signing), highway structures (bridges, viaducts, overpasses), and other roadway features which require a high level of attention to the driving task (by way of example, sharp curves, land drops, "weaving" areas, areas of reduced sight distance).
ii. Spacing and Density. This refers to the number of digital signs that are located within a specified linear distance adjacent to the roadside areas, and how these signs affect highway traffic safety and successful delivery of informational messages to motorists. An approaching driver should not be able to see two or more Dynamic Display Multiple Color signs within his field of view at the same time. Each Sign district has a different potential detection distance that defines the distance of a driver's field of vision. The following table lists the detection distance of each sign code district:
Sign District | Detection Distance |
Commercial Highway Sign District | 1,200 ft + |
Commercial Arterial Sign District | 1,000 ft + |
Mixed Neighborhood Sign District | 800 ft + |
Mixed Urban Sign District | 500 ft + |
Downtown Sign District | 300 ft + |
Residential Sign Districts | 400 ft + |
Manufacturing Sign District | 500 ft + |
Agricultural Sign District | NA |
iii. Lateral Location. In determining conditions to impose on the distance that Digital Display Multiple Color Signs are set back from the highway, measured in distance from the edge of the main traveled way or the angle of a Digital Display Multiple Color Sign on which the messages are displayed relative to the line of sight of motorists on the adjacent highway. Dynamic Display Multiple Color Signs should be located and angled so as to reduce the need for a driver to turn their head to read them as they .
iv. Interaction with Traffic Signs. Dynamic Display Multiple Color Signs should be located so as not to be detrimentally affect the effectiveness of official traffic control devices. Dynamic Display Multiple Color Signs should not be erected in locations that distract drivers from or prevent drivers from seeing traffic control information (i.e. road markings, traffic signs and traffic signals) in roadway settings where drivers must make decision and take actions.
v. Compatibility with Ambient Environment: Dynamic Display Multiple Color Signs should not be located where they will create a harsh visual contrast with the ambient environment where they will not be harmonious and appropriate in appearance with the existing or intended character of the general vicinity or where they will change the essential character of the area.
(Ord. No. 10-242. Passed 8-3-10.)