Each business or industrial enterprise may have on-premises wall, window, awning, canopy, marquee, and/or freestanding pole or ground signs as regulated herein. The following signs are permitted in B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, I-1, I-2 and I-3 Commercial and Industrial Districts:
(a) All signs not requiring permits in Section 1274.05.
(b) The maximum combined on-premises sign area shall be five square feet per linear foot of frontage. Strip shopping centers and shopping malls may exclude the area of any permitted freestanding sign from the total area calculations.
(c) One on-premises wall sign per occupant not to exceed four square feet in sign area for each linear foot of that occupancy's building frontage.
Where the occupant has more than one main street frontage, one additional wall sign is allowed on the additional frontage, based on two square feet in sign area for each linear foot of that occupancy's frontage on this additional street.
Where the rear of an occupant's building faces an adjoining parking lot, one additional wall sign may be located on this rear wall, provided it does not exceed twelve square feet.
(d) A projecting sign may be used instead of the allowed wall or freestanding signs, not to exceed a sign area of two square feet for each linear foot of frontage, up to a maximum of 100 square feet. Such signs may not project over public rights of way.
(e) Permanent and changeable window, awning, canopy and marquee signs are permitted within the confines of the supporting surface.
(f) One under awning, canopy, or marquee sign that does not exceed six square feet in area, provided that such signs have a minimum sign clearance of eight feet over any pedestrian use way and a minimum setback of two feet from any vehicular traffic right of way.
(g) One identification sign on the water side of any business enterprise abutting the Lake Erie or Vermilion River waterfronts, with an area of forty eight square feet or less, provided that such signs meet all other applicable requirements of this chapter.
(h) One freestanding on-premises sign will be permitted and regulated as follows:
(1) Within the B-2 Central Business District, freestanding signs shall meet all of the regulations detailed below in subsection (h)(3) through (8) hereof, and, in addition:
A. Shall be no closer than four feet to any public right of way.
B. On a corner lot, will be no closer than ten feet to the point of intersection of intersecting street right-of-way lines.
C. Shall not exceed forty-eight square feet in area, except that for those set back at a distance of twenty or more feet from the front lot line, a maximum area of sixty-five square feet is permitted.
(2) Within the B-1 Neighborhood Business, B-3 Highway Commercial, B-4 Motorist Service, I-1 Light Industrial, I-2 Heavy Industrial and I-3 Industrial Park Districts, freestanding signs shall meet all of the regulations detailed below in paragraphs (h)(3) through (8) hereof, and, in addition:
A. They shall be located no closer to intersecting public rights of way than twenty feet or the height of the sign, whichever is greater.
B. They shall not exceed sixty-five square feet in area unless the sign is set back a distance equal to or greater than the districts front yard setback requirement, which will then permit a maximum sign area of 100 square feet.
C. There will be only one freestanding sign for each building regardless of the number of businesses conducted in said building. For the purposes of this provision, any connection between structures on the same lot or development, including open roofs, grills, paved lots or drives, handrails or the like, shall cause the structures to be considered one building.
(3) No part of a freestanding sign shall be located within or project over any public right of way.
(4) Accessory signs attached to a freestanding sign may be approved on a special use basis by the Board of Zoning Appeals for existing signs, or by the City Planning Commission for new signs. The combined area of the freestanding and accessory signs shall not exceed the allowable total freestanding sign area for the premises.
(5) All freestanding signs shall provide sufficient clearance as needed in each situation, to assure clear visibility of nearby streets, intersections and parking lots.
(6) The height of all freestanding signs shall not exceed the permitted height for buildings and structures within the zoning district in which the sign is located.
(7) Freestanding signs shall be erected to conform with the side and rear yard setback requirements of the district in which located.
(8) Freestanding signs shall not be located within 100 feet of any public square or entrance to any public park, public or parochial school, library, church or museum.
(i) Trash containers, telephone booths, benches, planters and other street furniture located on a public right of way or other public properties, when used for advertising purposes, are limited to a single sign of two square feet with letters not exceeding two inches in height.
(j) A business whose principal mailing address is Vermilion, Ohio 44089, may apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for approval of an off-premises identification sign on a special use basis. Such off-premises sign may be located only within the B-4 Motorist Service Districts. The maximum area of those special use off-premises signs shall be eight feet by sixteen feet (128 square feet) or less and shall conform to all other requirements of this chapter.
(k) Businesses located in the Harbour Town Historic District are also subject to the provisions of Section 1274.14.
(Ord. 89-8. Passed 12-4-89.)