The standards in this section apply to all signage within the Downtown Retail Overlay District, as defined in Chapter 17.58.
A. Size Standards.
1. Two square feet of sign area is permitted for each lineal foot of occupancy frontage to a maximum of 50 square feet.
2. Users may choose any exterior side of the building as the primary frontage for the purpose of calculating the permitted sign area. The building sign so calculated must then be mounted on that side of the building.
3. A building sign may be affixed to or incorporated as a part of the design of an awning; however, such sign area shall be deducted from that calculated for the exterior building wall to which the awning is attached. Numerals used for the purpose of identifying street addresses need not be deducted from the calculated sign area.
4. Additional signs of a maximum 25 percent of the sign area calculated for the primary occupancy frontage will be allowed for each remaining exterior wall, provided that the sign for any given wall does not exceed two square feet per linear foot of the wall length. This subsection does not apply to alley frontages or buildings that have frontages on two streets with no common visibility for vehicles or pedestrians. In these latter two cases, the allowable signage is in additional to the amount calculated above, and shall be calculated on the basis of two square feet of sign area per lineal foot of public street or alley frontage.
B. Projecting Signs Beneath a Canopy/Awning Structure.
1. One double-faced sign not exceeding an area of three square feet per face is permitted. Signs shall be a minimum of 7 feet above the sidewalk and shall not exceed a maximum height of 12 feet.
2. A sign may also be affixed to or incorporated into the design of the side valance of awnings which are perpendicular to the store frontage. Both side valances of an awning may be so utilized, however, only one sign face per awning side is allowed. Each sign face shall not exceed three square feet for each individual shop or tenant.
C. Alley Signs. The maximum building sign area on an alley frontage is calculated separately from that permitted for the primary occupancy frontage, using the same allowance as for the primary occupancy frontage (two square feet per linear foot of the wall length).
D. Reader Boards and Multi-Tenant Buildings.
1. Each building may display a reader board of a maximum area of 20 square feet indicating the name, address and type of business of the businesses within the building. If the reader board is located on a part of the building qualifying as an occupancy frontage for which sign area is calculated, the sign area used for the reader board shall be deducted from the total permitted for that building; otherwise it is considered exempt from sign area limits. Reader boards shall be designed as one with each copy panel consisting of similar materials and designs. Permits for reader boards shall not be issued without the consent of the property owner.
2. Each commercial use which has direct pedestrian access through an exterior building wall which is visible from a public right-of-way, shall be allowed at least 10 square feet of building sign area, regardless of building occupancy frontage. Commercial uses have a sole access from the interior of any building or from an enclosed lobby or court shall not be allowed the minimum building sign area referred to in this section.
F. Enclosed Bulletin Boards and Message Centers. Enclosed bulletin boards or message centers shall be allowed in the Downtown Retail Overlay District, subject to the following requirements.
1. Locations Allowed. Unless located on private property, enclosed bulletin boards and message centers shall require an encroachment permit.
2. Size. Enclosed bulletin boards and message centers shall not be greater than eight feet in height and 12 feet in width.
3. Materials and Maintenance. Enclosed bulletin boards and message centers shall be constructed of metal painted frames, shall have lockable display cases with shatter resistant glass or similar materials, and
may only include internal illumination. Enclosed bulletin boards and message centers shall be maintained in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.48.170.
4. Prohibitions. Enclosed bulletin boards and message centers shall not include electronic message displays.
G. Temporary Signs. Banners shall be allowed in the Downtown Retail Overlay District pursuant to the requirements of Section 17.48.130(C). All portable signs covered in Section 17.48.130.B shall be prohibited in the Downtown Retail Overlay District, except A-frame signs, which shall be allowed subject to the following requirements. A-Frames and easels are generally allowed for the purpose of advertising the location, goods or services offered on the premises, however, they may be used as general advertising for hire subject to the limitations in this section.
1. Prohibitions. A-Frame signs are prohibited from any form of broadcasting or audio presentation.
2. Materials and Maintenance. A-frame signs must be made of a durable, rigid material not subject to rapid deterioration, such as, without limitation, wood, plastic or metal, and must be professional in appearance. A-frame signs must be maintained in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.48.170.
3. Locations Allowed. A-Frame signs are allowed within a front or corner side setback area and in the public right-of-way directly in front of a business.
4. Maximum Height and Area. The A-Frame sign, when placed in an open position must not exceed a height of four feet from ground level to the top of the sign and be no more than 7.5 square feet per sign face.
5. Maximum Number: One A-Frame sign is allowed per business, which does not count against maximum allowed permanent sign area. They must be removed at the close of business.
6. Placement: A-Frame signs shall be placed so that a minimum of four feet is left clear for pedestrian passage on all sidewalks and walkways. They shall only be placed at grade level and shall not be placed in site visibility triangles or on walls or boulders, within planters, flower beds or tree wells, on vehicles, on other signs or on or affixed to any other type of structure.
7. City's Right to Remove: If at any time any portion of the public right-of-way occupied and used by the A-Frame sign may be needed or required by the City, or the business fails to maintain the permitted sign in accordance with the requirements of this subsection, it may be removed by the City.
H. Projecting Signs Mounted to Building Face.
1. Projecting signs shall be located no higher than the cornice or parapet line, whichever is lower, and must be located so as to not obscure any architectural detail of the façade. A double face projecting sign shall be considered one sign.
2. The maximum size of a projecting sign shall be 40 square feet (20 square feet per side). Projecting signs shall not project more than five feet horizontally. In no case may the sign come within 2.5 feet of the curb.
3. Projecting signs shall be clear of street trees, traffic signals, street lighting and regulatory signs.
4. Projecting signs shall be counted against overall allowed signage square footage per location. (Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: Ord. 2016-11 § 2 (part), 2016)