The regulations contained in this section shall apply to On-Premise EMCs. All EMC signage must obtain appropriate permits from the Division of Building Inspection. Signage shall be installed and maintained in accordance with all applicable regulations. Off-Premise EMCs (Billboards) are subject to the standards contained in TMC 1387.05.K. for Off-Premise Signage.
(a) An EMC is allowed on any parcel with CR, CR-SO, IL, IG, or IC zoning provided the parcel is located on a major street. An EMC is allowed on any parcel with RS12, RS9, RS6, RD6, RM12, RM24, or RM36 zoning provided: the parcel is located on a major street and the structure(s) exceeds 5,000 square feet of floor area.
(1) Regardless of the underlying zoning district, an EMC shall not be installed in any Historic Overlay District (-HO), the Downtown Overlay District (-DOD), or the Maumee River Overlay (-MRO).
(2) An EMC shall not be installed in any other overlay district without review and approval by the respective architectural review committee or neighborhood group.
(b) Only one (1) EMC shall be permitted per premise. If there is an EMC on the premises, the premise shall only be allowed one other permitted sign.
(c) An EMC is only allowed as part of a solid base freestanding sign or as a fascia sign.
(1) Solid Base Freestanding Sign. For purposes of this section, a solid base freestanding sign means that the entire sign is enclosed from the ground to the top of the sign with no exposed poles. The base of the sign must be equal to or greater than the width of the sign face.
A. In any residential district, an EMC shall not exceed the maximum allowable height of 6 feet and 50% of allowable sign area of TMC 1387.02 up to a maximum of 16SF. Sign area restriction is for EMC copy only.
(Ord. 16-18. Passed 1-16-18.)
B. In the CR, IL, IG, and IC districts the maximum height is limited to ten (10) feet and 60% of the allowable sign area of TMC 1387.05 Table 1. Sign area restriction is for EMC and non-EMC copy.
(2) Fascia Sign: An EMC may be incorporated into a fascia sign, where allowed by the underlying zoning district, provided it does not exceed 40% of the allowable sign area. An EMC fascia sign cannot be used on a premise with multiple tenants. Sign area restriction is for EMC copy only.
(d) Displayed messages may change no more than one time every eight (8) seconds.
(e) Movement including animation, flashing and scrolling is prohibited at all times. Only static text or images are permitted.
(f) Any sign that uses an EMC element shall incorporate design elements for the entire sign. The EMC portion of the sign and any exposed poles must be enclosed on all sides using high quality materials as defined in TMC 1109.0501. The design must be compatible with the existing development in the area. Design elements will not count towards the total sign area, but cannot exceed maximum height limits.
(1) Design elements size shall be reviewed and approved in consultation with Plan Commission staff.
(2) The use of an identification panel with the address is required for any solid base freestanding sign, unless the sign would be located on a parcel with multiple frontages and on a frontage that does not correspond to the building address.
(g) EMC's shall be designed and operated with automatic dimming features that adjust illumination from daylight to night time maximums and provide the owner/operator of the EMC the ability to reduce the illumination and/or brightness to adjust to background and ambient light conditions. These controls may include an auxiliary photocell on or near the sign.
(h) The eye illuminance limit shall effectively be 0.0 foot- candles (fc); which means that the increase above ambient levels of lighting caused by switching on the sign shall not exceed 0.3 fc measured at one-hundred (100) feet from the sign standing as near as perpendicular to the sign as possible, or at the edge of the pavement no more than one-hundred (100) feet from the sign using a foot-candle meter held five (5) feet above grade.
(1) Brightness shall be verified with two measurements. The first is taken at least 30 minutes past sunset and records the ambient light while the sign is off or displaying all black copy, or with the sign's illumination blocked. The second reading is taken while the sign is on and not blocked. Measurements shall be taken at the same location, with the meter aimed toward the center of the sign.
(2) If the difference between the measurements is equal to or less than 0.3 fcs, the brightness is properly adjusted; otherwise the sign must comply with the bright standards set forth above.
(i) EMC's located within one hundred (100) feet of a residentially zoned district or use must be turned off when the use is closed or between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., whichever is earlier.
(j) Red, yellow or green lights may be used, unless in the opinion of the Director of Public Safety, such colors would create a driving hazard. White or mostly white lighting shall be prohibited.
(k) Illumination shall be so arranged as to reflect light away from residential premises and in such a manner so as not to cast glare.
(l) Any EMC that was legally established at the time of adoption of these regulations shall comply with items (e), (g), (h), and (i) within six (6) months of the date of passage.
(m) EMC's at commercial/business establishments shall only display activities that occur on that premise and not advertise or promote off site businesses, products or services.
(Ord. 466-17. Passed 10-31-17.)