(A) Generally. The following regulations shall apply to all signs in Summit Township.
(B) Specifically.
(1) Illuminated signs.
(a) Residential districts. Only indirectly illuminated signs shall be allowed in any residential district, provided the sign is so shielded as to prevent direct light rays from being visible from a public right-of-way or any adjacent residential property.
(b) Commercial, wholesale-warehouse, office, research development, and industrial districts. Indirectly or internally illuminated signs are permitted provided the signs are so shielded as to prevent direct light rays from being visible from a public right-of-way or any adjacent residential property.
(c) Writing or printing.
1.
No sign, including changing message signs, shall have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illuminating devices which have a changing light intensity, brightness, or color, or which are so constructed and operated as to create an appearance of writing or printing or a traffic signal, except that movement showing date, time, message, and temperature exclusively shall be permitted.
2. An electronic information display shall not flash or animate static information.
3. The only movement permitted is the changing of information against the solid background.
4. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as preventing use of lights or decorations related to religious and patriotic festivities.
5. Beacon lights or search lights shall not be permitted as a sign for advertising purposes except as provided in § 150.199.
(d) Signs and wiring. All illuminated signs shall comply with the applicable National Electrical Code provisions concerning signs and wiring.
(2) Measurement of sign area. The area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area within a regular geometric form or combination of the forms comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed as measured 3 inches in from the outside border of the geometric form or combination of forms.
(3) Height of sign. No freestanding sign shall exceed a height of 35 feet.
(4) Setback requirements for signs.
(a)
All signs shall be set back from the adjacent road by a distance of not less than ½ of the setback required for a structure on the parcel as provided for in the setback requirements of this chapter except that in office, commercial, and industrial districts where parcels adjoin a road right-of-way which is in excess of 80 feet the setback shall be not less than 1/4 of the required setback for a structure on the parcel.
(b) The Planning Commission may, as part of a site plan review, allow a sign in the above-mentioned exceptions to be closer to the road rights-of-way provided that no part of any sign extends beyond the subject parcel.
(5) Business flags. Business flags shall be permitted in commercial, office, wholesale and warehousing, research and development, and industrial zoning districts, subject to the following regulations.
(a) The flags shall be located on the same lot as the business building or use.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, business flags shall meet the yard requirements for signs and the height limits for structures in the zoning district in which located.
(c) The area of each business flag shall not be included in the sign area that is permitted on a lot.
(d) All business flags shall be set back from adjacent road/street no less than ½ of the minimum setback required for a structure on the parcel as provided for in this chapter.
(6) Official signs and notices. A sign or notice erected and maintained by public officers or a public agency within their territorial or zoning jurisdiction is permitted pursuant to and in accordance with direction or authorization contained in federal, state, or local law for the purposes of carrying out an official duty or responsibility. This includes a historical marker authorized by state law and erected by a state or local government agency or nonprofit historical society.
(Ord. -, Article V, § 5.2.3, passed 9-12-2006; Am. Ord. passed - -)
Penalty, see § 150.999