All freestanding signs shall be subject to the following standards, regardless of the district in which they are located:
(1) General Standards
(a) All freestanding signs shall be located in a landscaped area equal to or larger than the total sign area of the applicable sign. Such landscaped area may be an area that fulfills any landscaping requirements of this code.
(b) The landscaped area shall include all points where sign structural supports attach to the ground.
(c) Exposed foundations for sign shall be constructed with a finished material such as brick, stone, or wood, or be screened with evergreens to the top of the anchor bolts.
(d) Freestanding signs shall not be located in such a way that they interfere with the safe movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic including compliance with the intersection visibility requirements of this code.
(e) All wiring, fittings, and materials used in the construction, connection and operation of electrically illuminated signs shall be in accordance with the provisions of the applicable building or electrical codes.
(f) Any sign requiring a structural steel foundation and/or electricity shall obtain foundation and/or electric permits from the Miami County Building Regulations Department.
(g) Signs shall not resemble the color, shape, design or other characteristics of any common traffic-control device, directional or warning signs directed or maintained by the state, city, or any railroad, public utility, or similar agency concerned with the protection of the public health and safety.
(h) The back side of all permanent signs (that do not contain a second sign face) and structural supports shall be completely enclosed.
(i) If any sign projects into a right-of-way, such sign may require a license of encroachment that is issued by City Council.
(2) Maintenance of Permanent Signs
(a) Where a permanent sign is located on a common area controlled by a homeowners' or property owners' association, such association shall be responsible for the maintenance of the sign and surrounding landscaped area. Failure to maintain the sign in good working order in accordance with this section may result in the city maintaining the sign and assessing the applicable property owners for the related costs.
(b) Where the sign is located on a private property, the property owner shall be responsible for maintenance in accordance with the applicable provisions of this code. Failure of a private property owner to maintain the sign shall be considered a violation of this code.
(3) Electronic Message Centers
Where an electronic message center is permitted, the following standards shall apply:
(a) Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
(b) Messages can only change once every 10 seconds or more.
(c) The transition time between messages shall be less than 1 second.
(d) The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
(e) The brightness level shall not increase by more than 0.3 foot candles (or 3.23 lumens per square meter or lux) (over ambient levels) as measured using a foot candle meter at a pre-set distance.
(f) The procedure and distances for measurement of brightness shall be as established by the International Sign Association's Recommend Night-time Brightness Levels for On-Premise Electronic Message Centers.
(g) Only liquid crystal display (LCD) and light emitting diodes (LED) technology shall be permitted for electronic message centers. The maximum pitch for LED sign shall be 35 millimeters. The pitch is the industry standard for measuring the distance between light points.
(h) In case of any malfunction resulting in changes of message that are more frequent than allowed, or a malfunction in the appearance of the messages, the malfunction shall be repaired within 1 business day or the changing mechanism shall be disabled or the sign shall be turned off until repair.
(4) Lighting
Unless otherwise stated, signs may be illuminated from an internal or external light source provided that the lighting complies with the following standards:
(a) By a white, steady, stationary light of reasonable intensity, directed solely at the sign and/or otherwise prevented from beaming directly onto adjacent properties or rights-of-way in compliance with this code.
(b) Light fixtures shall be screened from view by light shields, site grading, or evergreen shrubs. No exposed light sources are permitted.
(c) The level of illumination emitted or reflected from a sign shall not be of an intensity sufficient to constitute a demonstrable hazard to vehicular traffic on any right-of-way or parking lot from which the sign may be viewed.
(Ord. 5-14, passed 3-17-2014)