Business identification signs shall only be permitted in the CC, CBD, CS, ML and MH Districts, and shall meet the following additional requirements, as applicable.
(a) Permit. A zoning permit is issued by the city.
(b) Number. No more than two ground, wall or roof-mounted signs may be erected or maintained on any premises at any one time, except when a building is located on a corner lot and has a public entrance on two or more public ways; or when a building has both a front and rear public entrance, one additional sign may be erected. A double faced sign shall count as a single sign.
(c) Height. Signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height when erected within ten feet of the right-of-way line of a street, road or highway adjoining the premises. In no event may a sign exceed the height limit imposed by zoning regulations for the district in which it is located.
(d) Area.
(1) Single business on one lot. The total sign area of pole-mounted, wall- or roof- mounted signs per premises shall not exceed four square feet per one lineal foot of property frontage upon a street. No business shall be limited to less than 32 square feet of total sign area, nor exceed more than 300 square feet of sign area; except that, the maximum total sign area shall be 60 square feet along each street frontage within the CBD District.
(2) More than one business on one lot. The total sign area of pole-, wall- or roof-mounted signs per premises shall not exceed four square feet per one lineal foot of frontage of the portion of the building occupied by the occupant of such premises. No business shall be limited to less than 32 square feet of total sign area nor exceed more than 300 square feet of sign area; except that, the maximum total sign area shall be 60 square feet along each street frontage within the CBD District.
(e) Shopping center. (More than six individual businesses.) A sign advertising the premises shall not exceed 300 square feet in area. Signs identifying the individual businesses within the shopping center may be attached to the shopping center sign structure. Such identification signs shall not exceed an aggregate area of 300 square feet in area as provided for by subsection (d)(2) hereof.
(f) Projecting signs. A sign shall only be permitted to project over public sidewalk if the following requirements are met.
(1) Such sign shall only be permitted in the CBD District.
(2) Such sign shall meet the City Building Code, including requirements for secure attachment and minimum clearance.
(3) Such sign area shall be constructed entirely of weather-resistant wood (preferably relief-cut) or materials with a closely similar appearance, and shall not include plywood. Such sign shall not be internally-illuminated.
(4) Such sign shall not exceed eight square feet on each of two sides.
(5) Such sign shall not exceed a total height above the ground of 15 feet, and should be located below the second floor window ledge.
(6) Such sign shall be placed a minimum of six inches from the building, and extend a maximum total of five feet from the building.
(7) The applicant shall comply with applicable city requirements concerning encroachment into a right-of-way.
(g) Awning signs. A sign may be incorporated into an awning that is attached to a principal building if the following requirements are met.
(1) The sign area shall be counted within the maximum permitted sign area for wall signs.
(2) Such sign shall meet the City Building Code, including requirements for secure attachment and minimum clearance.
(3) The applicant shall comply with applicable city requirements concerning any encroachment into a right-of-way.
(4) Such awning shall not extend more than 12 feet in height above the adjacent ground level.
(5) Such awning shall be durably constructed of attractive material.
(h) Additional. In addition, signs meeting the requirements of § 1346.04 shall be permitted in any commercial or industrial district.
(i) Sign review within the CBD District. The Planning Commission shall review the following provisions that shall apply to any sign proposed to have a sign area of one square foot or larger (except as exempted by subsection (i)(1) below) within the CBD Zoning District that will be visible from a public street.
(1) (A) As part of any application for a sign permit under this section, the applicant shall submit to the Zoning Officer:
1. A sketch of the proposed sign;
2. A description of the proposed types of materials and colors;
3. A sketch or description of the proposed location and height of the sign; and
4. A description of any proposed lighting.
(B) Such information shall be submitted and comments of the Planning Commission received before an applicant constructs or formally orders a new sign.
(2) Such sign information shall be provided to the Planning Commission for a review in advance of being permitted, erected, posted or otherwise placed.
(3) The Zoning Officer shall not approve the final issuance of a sign permit until after the Planning Commission has had an opportunity to provide a review, or until 30 or more days have passed from the date the application was forwarded to the Chairperson of the Planning Commission.
(4) The Planning Commission shall provide advice to the applicant concerning how a sign could be attractively designed to be compatible with the exterior of the building and with adjacent buildings. Specifically, an emphasis should be placed on uncovering, restoring and highlighting the central business district features.
(5) CBD Sign Guidelines. The following guidelines should be followed in the design of any signs within the CBD Zoning District.
(A) All signs should contribute to the overall traditional and historic nature of the Central Business District.
(B) Signs should be primarily oriented to pedestrians, as opposed to motor vehicles.
(C) All signs should be permanently attached to a building.
(D) Signs should not dominate the facade of a building, but should relate in placement and size to the other architectural elements of the exterior of the building.
(E) Signs should not cover windows, cornices and other decorative features.
(F) Older lettering styles should be considered for signs on older buildings.
(G) Signs should be limited in number, such as one primary and one secondary sign, to avoid clutter.
(H) Signs should avoid excessive numbers of words. Simpler messages are the easiest to read.
(I) The colors of signs should complement the colors of the building. Light letters on a darker background are often easiest to read, such as a relief-cut wood sign.
(J) The following types of signs are specifically encouraged within the CBD District.
1. Long horizontal signs or individual carved lettering mounted flat against the building are encouraged, in a manner that does not obstruct architectural features. Such signs in most cases should be placed between the first and second floor windows.
2. Signs may be mounted flat against the building next to a door way. These signs should not exceed 12 square feet, although a six square foot maximum size is preferable.
3. Signs may project from the building; provided, they meet the standards for “projecting signs” in § 1346.06.
4. Signs are encouraged to be integrated with awnings and canopies.
5. Lettering is encouraged on clear doors or windows. The image should not obscure more than 20% of the total area of a window or door.
6. Wood signs with relief-cut lettering are encouraged.
7. Wood signs are encouraged with painted lettering or carved lettering attached to the sign.
8. Signs are encouraged to be constructed from wood, metal or materials with an appearance very similar to wood.
9. Any lighting of signs should be external to the sign face, and be carefully directed to avoid nuisances to motorists, pedestrians and neighbors.
(K) The following types of signs are strongly discouraged within the CBD District:
1. Plastic signs, particularly with internal lighting;
2. Signs extending above the roof of a building;
3. Signs covering the second or third stories;
4. Flashing signs;
5. Neon signs; and
6. Signs with garish or day glow colors.
(L) The following types of signs shall not require review under this section:
1. A sign meeting the requirements of § 1346.04, such as, but not limited to, temporary political signs and real estate for sale signs;
2. An official sign placed by a government agency; and
3. A non-illuminated window sign of less than four square feet that is posted for a maximum total period of 60 days in any calendar year.
(Ord. 5745, approved 4-16-1998; Ord. 6135, approved 4-30-2009)