The following regulations shall control the computation and measurement of sign area, sign
height, window area, and building frontage:
(a) Determining Sign Area or Dimension.
(1) Sign area shall include the face of the entire display area of the sign. Sign area shall not include the structural support unless such structural support is an integral part of the sign design.
(2) The surface area of a sign shall be computed by calculating the area of the sign face. For a sign that is framed, outlined, painted or otherwise prepared and intended to include a background for the sign display, the area or dimensions shall include the entire portion within such frame or background.
(3) For a sign comprised of individual elements such as letters, symbols, or other graphic objects or representations that are painted, attached to, or otherwise affixed to a surface such as a wall, window, canopy, or awning, the sign area shall be based on the sum of the individual areas of the smallest geometric shape or combination of geometric shapes capable of encompassing the perimeters of the individual elements comprising the sign. When separate elements are organized to form a single sign, but are separated by open space, the sign area and dimensions shall be calculated by determining the geometric shape, or combination of shapes, that comprises all of the display areas, including the space between different elements. Minor appendages to a particular regular shape, as determined by the Village Administrator, shall not be included in the total area of a sign.
(4) For freestanding signs:
A. The sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces as prescribed above when two (2) identical display faces are joined parallel to each other and are within two (2) feet of each other.
B. No more than two (2) display faces shall be permitted for one sign.
(b) Determining Building Frontage and Building Unit. The length of the building that faces the street or the length of the wall of the building that contains the main entrance to the uses therein shall be considered the building frontage.
(1) The building frontage shall be measured along the front wall between the exterior faces of the exterior side walls. In the case of an irregular wall surface, a straight line extended along such wall surface shall be used to measure the length.
(2) For lots fronting on two (2) or more streets, or where the building has its main entrance on a wall other than the wall that faces the street, the building frontage shall be calculated separately for each building wall facing a street or having a main entrance. The sign area that is located on a particular building wall shall not exceed the area permitted for such building wall.
(3) For multi-tenant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single tenant shall be considered a building unit. The building frontage for a building unit shall be measured from the centerline of the party walls defining the building unit.
(c) Determining Sign Height.
(1) The height of a freestanding sign shall be measured from average finished grade level adjacent to the base of the sign at its point of attachment to the ground to the highest point of the sign including frame and structural members. A freestanding sign on a manmade base, including a graded earth mound, shall be measured from the top of the nearest street curb.
(2) Clearance for freestanding and projecting signs shall be measured as the smallest vertical distance between finished grade and the lowest point of the sign, including any framework or other embellishments.
(d) Determining Window Area. The window area of a building shall be the total glass area of windows on the building frontage. For the purposes of these regulations, a single glass window shall be the area of all the glass and mullions that has less than four (4) inches of separation from other glass areas. For the purposes of determining window area for ground floor occupants, the ground floor shall only include the glass area to a height of fifteen (15) feet above the elevation of the first floor of the building.
(e) Sign Setbacks. The required setbacks for freestanding signs are set forth in Section 1139.04 for lots in Residential Districts and in Section 1139.05 for lots in Business and Industrial Districts. The required setbacks for a sign shall apply to all elements of the sign, including its frame and base.
(Ord. 1291-2021. Passed 4-5-21.)