§ 54-79. Nonresidential zoning district sign requirements.
The following regulations shall apply to signs in nonresidential zoning districts:
(1)
Ground signs. Ground signs are permitted in nonresidential zoning districts as provided in this section.
(2)
Number of signs. Only one ground sign may be erected on any premise or lot.
(3)
Single-occupant structures.
a.
A ground sign shall not exceed the maximum height allowed for the zoning district in which the building is located.
b.
A ground sign may be single or double faced.
c.
A ground sign may be located next to but not into the public right-of-way provided it does not create hazards to traffic or pedestrians. The building official shall approve the location of the sign as to its compliance with this ordinance.
d.
A ground sign shall not exceed 16 square feet of gross surface area.
(4)
Multioccupant structures.
a.
Ground signs. Structures containing two or more businesses, as permitted by individual certificate of occupancy permits, may have one ground sign which advertises multiple occupants. The sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in gross surface area or ten feet in height.
b.
Wall signs. The front and sides of leasable space abutting a public street shall be used along with the formulation in section 54-80(e) to determine the maximum amount of wall signage for a structure which contains two or more business.
(5)
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted in nonresidential zoning districts in accordance with the provisions of this section.
a.
The term "effective area" means the area enclosed by the smallest imaginary regular shapes that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed. Effective area includes such features as decorative or ornamental elements or features, boarders, trims, but not including any supporting structure which is used solely for support of the sign, such as poles, columns and cable, or decorative fence, screening device or wall.
1.
Sign copy mounted or painted on a background panel or area distinctively painted, textured or constructed as a background for the sign copy, shall be measured as the area contained within the outside dimensions of the background panel or surface.
2.
Sign copy mounted as individual letters and/or graphics against a wall, fence, screening device, awning or facia of a building or other structure that has not been painted, textured or otherwise altered to provide a distinctive background of the sign copy, shall be measured as the area enclosed by each individual word or graphic.
3.
Three-dimensional signs such as spherical, free form, sculptural, other nonplanar signs. The area enclosed by the smallest imaginary regular shape or combination of shapes which would fully contain all portions of the sign when rotated horizontally around the sign shall be measured to determine size.
b.
Formulation. The effective area of a wall sign or signs shall not exceed or cover more than the maximum square footage of the formulation calculated using the following method:
1.
The building front and all sides which abut a public street shall be measured to determine the maximum amount of wall signage permitted.
2.
The maximum square footage of wall signage shall be the width (as calculated in subsection (5)b.1 of this section) multiplied by the building height, including all door and window openings, multiplied by 15 percent.
3.
For buildings or leasable space with a wall height of less than twenty foot measured from ground level to the bottom of the roofline, the following method of measurement shall be used: Width (as calculated in subsection (5)b.1 of this section) multiplied by 20 feet and multiplied by 15 percent.
c.
Projection from building surface. All wall signs and sign copy shall be mounted parallel to the building surface to which they are attached, and shall project no more than 18 inches from the surface.
(6)
Awning, canopy, marquee and letter signs. All awning, canopy, marquee and letter signs shall be considered as wall signs and shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (5) of this section.
(7)
Off-premises signs.
a.
Wall signs. Wall signs being used as "off-premises" signs shall be calculated into the maximum square footage of wall signage permitted for the building on which the wall sign is located. Nothing in this section shall allow the erection of additional signage in excess of the maximum square footage of wall signage permitted by subection (5) of this section.
b.
Ground signs. Ground signs shall be permitted as off-premises signs. Nothing in this section shall allow the erection of an additional ground sign in excess of the maximum number permitted on any premises.
(8)
Window signs. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the use of window signs.
(9)
Portable signs.
a.
Portable signs are not permitted in the city. Upon the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, no new portable signs shall be allowed to be used within the city limits but all portable signs currently in use are hereby determined to be legal but nonconforming and are subject to the permitting and fee structure as provided for herein.
b.
Legal nonconforming portable signs shall be permitted on a temporary basis for a period not to exceed 12 months subject to the following requirements:
1.
Portable sign location must be approved by the city council and may not constitute a traffic hazard.
2.
The maximum gross surface area per side shall be no more than 32 square feet.
3.
No portable sign may be converted to a permanent sign.
4.
Annual fee must be paid within 30 days of January 1.
5.
Failure to comply with these conditions will result in a revocation of legal nonconforming use status and the portable signs may be abated and removed as provided for herein.
(10)
Temporary signs. Temporary signs are allowed on a temporary basis for a period not to exceed 60 days. The temporary sign shall be removed in its entirety for a minimum of 60 days. No temporary sign shall be converted to a permanent sign.
(Ord. No. 2006-36, § 10.01, 12-12-2006)