The following provisions define the categories of signs permitted by this chapter in nonresidential districts and set forth certain specific regulations with respect to each category. Nonresidential Districts shall include the D-1 Downtown District, the I-P Industrial Park District, Glendale Milford Corridor Overlay District, the Springfield Pike Overlay District, the C- C Civic Center District, and the O-S Open Space District.
All other provisions of this shall apply to such categories, where applicable.
(a) Wall signs. The owner or occupant of any commercial, business, industrial or institutional use located in a nonresidential district may erect and maintain, a wall sign, either illuminated or non- illuminated, for the business or service that is being conducted in the building on which the sign is posted.
(1) Such signs may be attached to the exterior walls or other vertical surfaces of such buildings but may not extend beyond the parapet of such building.
(2) The face of such signs shall be parallel to the face of the building.
(3) The total permissible wall sign area on a building shall not exceed 10 percent of the front building face area. For example, if the front building face was 1,200 square feet (80 feet in length by 15 feet in height), the total permissible square footage for wall signs shall be 120 square feet.
(4) No portion of any wall sign shall project more than one foot beyond the face of the building, nor extend beyond the end of the building face.
(5) No building shall have a sign or lettering painted directly on the building surfaces.
(6) No building shall have a roof-mounted sign, except for signs mounted on the face of a mansard roof.
(7) A property owner may allocate up to 50 percent of the allowable total wall sign area to a building wall other than the front wall of the building, however, in no case shall the total wall sign area for the entire building exceed 10 percent of the front building face.
(8) No wall sign shall exceed 150 square feet in area.
(9) When there more is one building on a lot, the allowable sign area may be distributed among the buildings so long as the maximum permitted sign area is not exceeded.
(b) Ground signs. A ground sign shall be set on the ground or mounted on a foundation which is set directly on or into the ground. Materials used for the base of the sign should be similar in material or color to the principal building on the lot.
(1) Height and setback - requirements for ground signs. No portion of any ground sign may be closer than five feet to any property line. No portion of any such sign may be closer than 15 feet to any street right-of-way. All such signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from a radius at all lot corners. No portion of any such sign shall exceed six feet in height.
(c) Distance between ground signs. No ground sign shall be closer than 50 feet to any other such sign. Distance shall be measured on a straight line directly between such signs.
(d) Number of signs permitted. Every commercial, business or industrial use or multiple development located in a nonresidential district, the road or street frontage of whose premises measures 100 feet or more, may erect and maintain one ground sign. As used in this section, “multiple development” means a shopping center or other nonresidential development containing two or more separate uses in one building or in a collection of buildings located on one tract or parcel of real estate so as to give the visual impression of a unified development. In the case of a use or multiple developments located on a corner lot, the minimum frontage shall be computed by adding together the frontages on each abutting street or road. Every commercial, business or industrial use or multiple developments whose street frontage is less than 100 feet may erect a sign which conforms to the regulations provided in § 1292.04(a) for professional signs.
(e) Number of ground signs permitted. Shall be as follows:
(1) Every commercial, business or industrial use or multiple development located in a nonresidential zoning district may erect and maintain one or more ground signs as follows:
Road Frontage | Number of Signs Permitted |
0 to 400 feet | One sign |
401 to 800 feet | Two signs |
801 feet or more | Three signs |
(2) In the case of a user or multiple development located on a corner lot, the aforesaid minimum frontage shall be computed by adding together the frontages on each abutting street or road.
(3) If the premises upon which a ground sign is erected fronting on more than one public street, other than a corner lot, the street frontage nearest the sign(s) shall be used in determining the maximum number of permitted signs on such streets.
(f) Display surface area for ground signs. The aggregate area of any display surface of a ground sign may not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of street frontage of the premises upon which such sign is located, provided that in no event shall such sign have a single face area exceeding 80 square feet, nor shall the total area of all display surfaces exceed 160 square feet for ground signs. If the premises upon which a ground sign is erected front on more than one public street, other than a corner lot, the longest of such frontages may be used in determining the maximum permitted sign area in accordance with this subsection. However, in the case of a multiple development, the permitted total aggregate area of display surfaces of a ground sign shall include all of the display surfaces of any individual signs identifying separate uses in such multiple developments which may be attached to such ground sign. The allowable area of a ground sign may include a section for changeable letters. Such area shall not exceed 50 percent of the sign area.
(g) Motor vehicle service stations and motor vehicle filling stations. Motor vehicle service stations and filling stations may have, in addition to the signs permitted and regulated in this section, an additional area for display of gasoline prices, provided that such area does not total more than sixteen square feet.
(h) Landscaping of signs. Any ground-mounted sign shall have landscaping at the base of the sign according to the following standards:
(1) The minimum landscaped area shall be equal to the area of the sign face.
(2) The landscaped area shall include all points of structural support attachment to the ground.
(3) Where the required landscaped area is adjacent to a paved surface accessible to vehicular traffic, a raised curb suitable to prevent the encroachment of vehicles is required. The minimum horizontal distance between the face of any required curb and any part of the sign is 36 inches.
(4) The landscaped area shall include live plantings that provide year around coverage and shall be maintained at all times. The use of concrete, asphalt or other paved surface inside the required landscaped area beneath the sign is prohibited with the exception of the supports for the base of the sign.
(5) Landscaping shall include living plant material. The use of grass, crushed rock, mulch or stone by itself shall not be considered landscaping. An example of landscaping is identified in the illustration below:
(i) Temporary signs and displays. Signs, banners, flags, streamers or other display devices, including inflatable's, which are of a temporary nature and which advertise or call attention to grand openings, special sales or other temporary business promotions may be erected or installed only upon prior approval of the Zoning Officer.
(1) All such signs and displays may be displayed for not more than 14 consecutive days, and 60 days shall elapse before another such sign or display may be permitted.
(2) The Zoning Officer may withhold approval if it is determined that the number, size or placement of such temporary signs or displays would be a hazard to the public safety.
(3) The location of such signs shall be in accordance with § 1292.03(b).
(4) Such signs shall not be illuminated.
(5) Inflatable signs shall only be permitted as regulated in § 1292.09, Inflatable Signs.
(6) Portable signs on wheels or skids are not permitted.
(j) Real estate signs. Free-standing real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which they are maintained shall be set back at least five feet from the street right-of-way line. Such real estate sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in a nonresidential district and, at the seller's option, may be mounted flat against the building to which it pertains. Such signs shall not be illuminated and shall be removed no more than seven days after the closing on the property.
(k) Window signs. Signs pasted, painted or hung on windows or in the window casement, whether on the interior or exterior of a building, shall not cover more than 30% of each window area. This limited coverage will permit interior visibility from the exterior of the building in order to promote public safety. Signs are inclusive of advertisements, business name, or informational type signs such as “Open”, “Closed” or “Now Hiring”.
(l) Contractor's signs. Signs announcing the names of contractors, subcontractors, materials, suppliers or architects participating in the construction or improvement of a building shall be permitted during the actual construction period, provided that such signs shall be located only on the parcel of land being improved and shall not exceed 80 square feet in area. Such signs shall be at least 12 feet from all front property lines. Such signs shall not be illuminated and shall be removed no more than seven days after completion of the project.
(m) Signs permitted as a conditional use. The following signs may be permitted within a nonresidential district following review and approval by the Planning Commission using the standards established in Chapter 1254 and the following regulations.
(1) Variable message signs.
A. The maximum surface display area shall not exceed 25 square feet.
B. No more than one sign per lot shall be permitted.
C. Maximum flashing rate shall not exceed 1 line in 4 seconds, 2 lines in 7 seconds, 3 or more lines in 10 seconds.
D. Running copy shall not be permitted.
E. Lighting shall be on a sensor that dims or reduces the intensity of the light as it becomes darker outside.
(Ord. 17-2013, passed 9-24-2013)