No person, for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the visibility of any Sign, shall damage, trim, destroy, or remove any trees, shrubs or other vegetation located:
1. Within any Public Street Right-of-Way unless the work is done pursuant to the express written authorization of the governmental department having jurisdiction over said Public Street;
2. On property that is not under ownership or control of the person doing or responsible for such work unless the work is done pursuant to the express authorization of the person owning the property where such trees or shrubs are located; or,
3. In any area where such trees or shrubs are required to remain under a permit issued under this Ordinance.
B. Maintenance of Signs
Nothing contained in this Ordinance shall be construed to prevent the maintenance, repainting or posting of legally established Signs. Maintenance shall include the replacement of Sign Surfaces within a Sign Structure provided that the Sign Structure is not removed or changed in any dimension.
C. Illuminated Signs
1. No Sign within six hundred (600) feet of any residential District shall be illuminated between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless the Sign is visibly obstructed from the residential District.
2. Lighting directed towards a Sign shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the Sign Surface and does not shine on, cause glare to or otherwise impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle traveling on a Public Right-of-Way.
3. This subsection shall not apply to the following:
a.Signs that constitute an integral part of a vending machine, telephone booth, device that indicates time or weather conditions, or similar device whose principal function is not to convey an advertising message; or,
b.Signs that do not exceed two (2) square feet in area and that convey the message that a business enterprise is open or closed or that a place of lodging does or does not have a vacancy.
D. Awning, Canopy and Marquee Signs.
In any District in which Building Identification Wall Signs are permitted, the use of an Awning, Canopy or Marquee Sign shall be allowed subject to the following provisions:
1. Total Area - The total area of the Awning, Canopy or Marquee (i.e., the combined two dimensional surface area of all sides of the Awning, Canopy or Marquee) shall not exceed the Sign Surface Area allocated to the facade of the Building upon which the Awning, Canopy or Marquee is attached.
2.Sign Surface - The portion of the Awning, Canopy or Marquee which includes a Sign Surface shall not exceed:
a. fifty (50) percent of the total area of an Awning or Canopy; or,
b. seventy-five (75) percent of the total area of a Marquee.
3. Clearance to Grade - The bottom edge of the:
a.Awning or Canopy shall:
(1) not be less than eight (8) feet above Grade over a walkway or sidewalk for any portion of a rigid framing; and,
(2) not be less than seven (7) feet above Grade over a walkway or sidewalk for any portion of a flexible cloth, canvas or similar skirt which may be suspended below the rigid framing a maximum of one (1) foot;
b.Marquee shall not be less than nine (9) feet above Grade over a walkway or sidewalk; or,
c.Awning, Canopy or Marquee shall not be less than fifteen (15) feet above Grade over a Driveway, Interior Access Drive or Alley.
4. Projection from Building - The maximum projection of an Awning, Canopy or Marquee shall:
a. not extend more than eight (8) feet from or beyond its supporting Building; and,
b. not extend any closer to an imaginary perpendicular vertical plane located at the Street pavement line, curb or outside edge of sidewalk than three (3) feet.
An Awning, Canopy or Marquee is in compliance with the above regulations and may project into the air rights of a Public Right-of-Way if approval for such encroachment into the air rights of a Public Right-of-Way is obtained from the governmental authority having jurisdiction prior to the placement of the Awning, Canopy or Marquee.
E. Freestanding On-Premise Signs as Accessory Structures.
Freestanding On-Premise Signs and Sign Structures are hereby declared to be Accessory Structures. As Accessory Structures, Freestanding On-Premise Signs and Sign Structures may not occupy a Lot without a Primary Use or Building also being legally located on the Lot.
F. Removal of Freestanding On-Premise Signs.
Notwithstanding anything contained in Article IX to the contrary, Freestanding On-Premise Signs, including Business Identification Signs and Incidental Signs, and Sign Structures, shall be subject to the following removal provisions:
1. When the Building, or any business, product, activity or service offered on the premise not located in a Building, is removed, any On-Premise Sign and Sign Structure located on the Lot to identify such Building, business, product, activity or service shall also be removed coincidently with the removal of such Building, business, product, activity or service. Any new On-Premise Sign or Sign Structure located after such coincident removal, shall be located in compliance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
2. When a Legally Established Nonconforming Building, or any business, product, activity or service not located in a Building, suffers a partial destruction in excess of two-thirds (2/3) of its the Fair Market Value (including the Fair Market Value of the Sign and Sign Structure) and such Building, business, product, activity or service must be removed and brought into compliance with the terms of this Ordinance, any On-Premise Sign or Sign Structure located on the Lot shall also be brought into compliance with the terms of this Ordinance.
G. Width of Poles / Pole Cover.
If any support, upright, bracing or framework located between Grade and ten (10) feet above Grade is proposed to support a Pole Sign and has a width or diameter in excess of ten (10) inches in any dimension, said support, upright, bracing or framework shall (i) be encased in an ornamental shell of stone, brick, ornamental metal or similar materials, or (ii) be constructed of an external support Structure including stone, brick, ornamental metal or similar materials, provided that:
1. the width of the ornamental shell or external support Structure does not exceed twenty-four (24) inches; and,
2. the maximum number of supports, uprights, bracing or framework extending between Grade and ten (10) feet above Grade shall not exceed two (2).
H. Gasoline Service Station Signs.
Gasoline Service Stations shall be subject to the following exceptions:
1. If a Freestanding Business Identification Sign is permitted, such Business Identification Sign may contain pricing information.
2.Business Identification Signs may be located on a gasoline island Canopy, spandrels, dispenser or pump islands, provided that such Signs do not exceed:
a. ten (10) percent of the surface area of the facade of the Canopy on which the Sign is located; or,
b. fifty (50) percent of the spandrel, dispenser or pump island upon which the Sign is located.
3.Business Identification Signs may be located on either a spandrel or a pump island, but not both.
See page 7.8-4 of the pdf version of this Article for a diagram of the allowed signage at a Gasoline Service Station.
I. Calculation of Sign Surface Area.
1. Multifaced Signs.
The Sign Surface Area for a Sign with more than one (1) face shall be computed by adding together the Sign Surface Area of all Sign Faces visible from any one point. When two (2) Sign Faces are placed back to back, or at no greater than fifteen (15) degrees from one another, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such Sign Faces are part of the same Sign Structure and are not more than forty-two (42) inches apart, the Sign Surface Area shall be computed by the measurement of one (1) of the Sign Faces.
See page 7.8-5 of the pdf version of this Article for a diagram demonstrating what does not constitute a multifaced sign.
2. Pole Cover in Excess of Twenty-Four (24) Inches.
In the case of a Freestanding Sign with an ornamental shell or external support Structure in excess of twenty-four (24) inches, the ornamental shell or external support Structure shall be considered to be the background of the display used to differentiate the Sign from the backdrop and the area of ornamental shell or external support Structure shall be included in the calculation of Sign Surface Area.
3.Sign Surface Area Determinations.
See pages 7.8-5 and 6 of the pdf version of this Article for diagrams showing calculation areas and support areas.
a. When calculating the Sign Surface Area of any Sign, in addition to the provisions identified in Articles 7.8, I., 1 and 2 above, a maximum of three (3) distinct and abutting "Areas" made up of circles, ovals, squares or rectangles may be used to encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the Sign from the backdrop or Structure against which it is placed.
b. In the case of a Freestanding Sign with a base or pole cover in excess of twenty-four (24) inches in width, a maximum of two (2) "Support Areas" shall be permitted which shall not be included in the count of the maximum number of "Areas". If three (3) or more "Support Areas" are used, regardless of width, such additional "Support Areas" shall be included in the count of the maximum number of "Areas". Any such additional "Support Areas" or "Support Areas" in excess of twenty-four (24) inches in width shall be included in the overall calculation of Sign Surface Area.
c. In the case of a Ground Sign or Pylon Sign, an ornamental or decorative base of brick, stone or other similar material which is not in excess of two (2) feet in height above Grade or one-half the overall height of the Ground Sign or Pylon Sign, whichever is less, shall not be included in the overall calculation of Sign Surface Area, provided that no lettering, logo, text or other display of any kind shall be allowed on such base (except for a Street number placed in compliance with Fire Code requirements).
4.Pylon Signs.
Pylon Signs shall be designed so that the Sign Surface Area begins at a point no higher above Grade than twenty-five (25) percent of the overall height of the Sign.
See page 7.8-6 of the pdf version of this Article for a diagram of Pylon Sign design.
5.Ground Sign / Pylon Sign Exceptions.
In order to encourage creativity in the design of Ground Signs and Pylon Signs which are harmonious with the built environment and the Primary Buildings on a Lot, a Ground Sign or Pylon Sign which complies with the following exceptions may be approved by the Director:
a. The overall maximum Sign Surface Area of a Ground Sign or Pylon Sign with a permitted maximum Sign Surface Area of up to one-hundred and forty (140) square feet may be increased by twenty-five (25) percent beyond the maximum Sign Surface Area permitted on the Lot;
b. The actual logo, text or message portion of the Ground Sign or Pylon Sign increased in size pursuant to paragraph (1) above, shall not exceed seventy-five (75) percent of the maximum Sign Surface Area permitted on the Lot;
c. The primary material of the Ground Sign or Pylon Sign shall be brick or stone. Along a Gateway Corridor or within six hundred feet of a residential District, other materials may be approved by the Plan Commission when requested as a waiver of this provision and such waiver request is filed as part of a Development Plan for Architectural and Site Design Review;
d. The design of the Ground Sign or Pylon Sign shall be "free form" and designed to blend with the environment rather than a design which utilizes individual or multiple squares or rectangles.
See page 7.8-7 of the pdf version of this Article for examples of Ground Signs that follow the examples listed in Article 7.8 I. 5. above.
6.Signs on Ornamental, Decorative Fence or Masonry Wall for Residential Subdivisions - The Sign Surface Area of a Sign Face located on an ornamental, decorative fence or masonry wall shall be limited to the area of the Sign Face only if the fence or wall has a length of not less than three (3) times the width of the Sign or message element. If a fence or Wall is less than three (3) times the width of the Sign or message element, the fence or wall shall be deemed to be part of the background of the display used to differentiate the Sign from the backdrop and the entire area of the fence or wall shall be considered part of the Sign Surface Area.
See page 7.8-8 of the pdf version of this Article for a photograph of an example of a sign on a masonry wall.
7. Architectural Embellishments Exception for Freestanding Signs - Architectural embellishments which simply add to the design of a Freestanding Sign but which do not contain any logos, text or other form of message, may be added to an otherwise permitted Freestanding Sign as follows:
a.Ground Signs - Twelve (12) inches above or twenty-four (24) inches in width to either side beyond the highest or widest point of any portion of a logo, text or other form of message;
b. Pylon Signs - Twenty-four (24) inches in height above or twenty-four (24) inches in width to either side beyond the highest or widest point of any portion of a logo, text or other form of message;
c. Pole Signs - Thirty-six (36) inches in height above or twenty-four (24) inches in width to either side beyond the highest or widest point of any portion of a logo, text or other form of message;
d. For the purposes of interpreting and applying this Architectural Embellishments Exception to Freestanding Signs, a base or pole cover of up to twenty-four (24) inches in width shall be considered an Architectural Embellishment.
J. Changeable Copy Signs.
Changeable Copy Signs shall be permitted as part of an otherwise permitted Identification Sign, provided that:
1. If a Single Use Site, a maximum of one (1) Changeable Copy Sign shall be permitted which may be part of either a Freestanding Identification Sign or a Wall Sign.
2. If an Integrated Center, either one (1) Changeable Copy Sign shall be permitted as part of a Freestanding Identification Sign, or each individual use within an Integrated Center shall be permitted one (1) Changeable Copy Sign as part of a Wall Sign.
3. At a Gasoline Service Station or Convenience Store, up to two Fuel Price Signs shall be permitted as individual Changeable Copy Signs.
4. A Changeable Copy Sign may be used as part of either a Freestanding Identification Sign or as part of a Wall Sign, but not both.
In the case of Fuel Price Signs at a Gasoline Service Station or Convenience Store, a Changeable Copy Sign is not required to be part of an Identification Sign.
5. The Changeable Copy Sign shall not exceed forty (40) percent of the Sign Surface Area of the permitted Identification Sign.
In the case of Fuel Price Signs at a Gasoline Service Station the Changeable Copy Sign shall not exceed forty (40) percent of the allowed Sign Surface Area as designated in Article 7.4 A., 3., Article 7.4 C., 2., or Article 7.4 D., 3. If located on a gasoline island Canopy, the Changeable Copy Sign may be the only Sign which is limited in size in Article 7.8 H. 2., a.
K. Landscaping of Freestanding Signs.
1. All Freestanding Signs shall:
a. be provided with a landscaped area at least equal to the Sign Surface Area of the Sign; and,
b. be provided with at least 6 (six) evergreen shrubs of any height.
2. Landscaping may include any size or variety of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, Hedge Plants, or trees.
3. Plant materials used to satisfy this provision shall not be used to satisfy the calculation of Plant Unit Value required by any other provision of this Ordinance.
