§ 165-105. Regulations governing nonresidential signs.

A. 

Freestanding signs.

(1) 

Freestanding signs shall comply with the following:

(a) 

No freestanding sign shall exceed an area of 24 square feet;

(b) 

The maximum height of a freestanding sign shall be 10 feet;

(c) 

Freestanding signs shall have an open area not less than three feet between the baseline of said sign and the ground level. This open space may be filled in with a platform or decorative latticework which does not close off more than 1/2 of any square foot of such open space;

(d) 

Freestanding signs shall be set back minimally 10 feet from the street right-of-way line and 10 feet from side lot lines;

(e) 

Only one freestanding sign shall be permitted for any single development or lot, as the case may be; and

(f) 

Freestanding signs shall advertise only the permitted use, products or service located on the premise on which they are placed.

(2) 

Freestanding signs within the CBD and the B-1 Districts shall consist of hanging signs or ground signs only and shall comply with the following.

(a) 

Hanging signs.

[1] 

Shall have a maximum area of eight square feet.

[2] 

Should have mounting hardware that is attractive and an integral part of the sign design.

[3] 

The bottom edge of the sign shall not exceed eight feet above grade level.

(b) 

Ground signs.

[1] 

Supported by two columns, posts or uprights or have a solid footing in or upon the ground.

[2] 

Should be constructed out of materials that complement the building structure and its use.

[3] 

Architectural lines which complement that of the building should be incorporated, especially along the top of the sign.

[4] 

Maximum height should not exceed 10 feet.

(3) 

Freestanding signs for gas stations have separate and distinct regulations from other freestanding business signs and are enumerated below.

B. 

Wall signs.

(1) 

Wall-mounted signs shall comply with the following:

(a) 

Wall signs shall advertise only the permitted use, products or service on the premises on which they are displayed.

(b) 

Each business shall be entitled to only one wall-mounted sign, except that, where a building has street frontage on more than one street, one additional sign may be permitted.

(c) 

No wall sign shall cover, wholly or partially, any wall opening nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is attached.

(d) 

No wall sign which is placed parallel to the building wall shall be permitted to project forward more than six inches from the building nor be attached to a wall at a height of less than eight feet above the sidewalk or ground. Wall signs which are placed perpendicular to the wall of the building shall be attached at a height of no less than 12 feet.

(e) 

No wall sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.

(f) 

Wall signs shall be located on the upper portion of a storefront within or above the enframed storefront opening. The length of the sign should not exceed the width of the enframed storefront opening.

(g) 

Signs shall be designed to create a clearly defined edge, provide shadow relief and a substantial appearance.

(h) 

Wall signs shall be placed within a clearly defined sign area. Sign areas are defined as an architecturally continuous wall surface uninterrupted by doors; windows are architectural detail.

(i) 

Signs shall be located in areas that respect the building and should not obscure windows, grill work, piers, pilasters or ornamental features. They shall be centered horizontally. They shall be compatible with the storefront in scale, proportion and color.

(j) 

Plaque signs:

[1] 

A plaque sign or a restaurant sign is permitted in addition to the single permitted wall sign in the CBD and the B-1 Zones.

[2] 

Shall be located on flat wall surfaces adjacent to the front entry.

[3] 

Maximum two square feet in area.

[4] 

Maximum two-inch projection from wall surface.

[5] 

Encouraged to include unique designs, logos or other visually stimulating decorations and may be irregular in outline shape relevant to business.

(k) 

Restaurant signs.

[1] 

A restaurant sign or a plaque sign is permitted in addition to the single permitted wall sign in the CBD and the B-1 Zones.

[2] 

Shall be enclosed in a weathertight permanently mounted display box mounted on a flat wall surface adjacent to the main entry.

[3] 

Permitted only for eateries that provide table service.

[4] 

Shall be appropriate in size, location, design and materials consistent with the character and architectural details of the building as well as to the character of the restaurant.

[5] 

Maximum area: six square feet.

[6] 

Maximum two-inch projection from wall surface.

(l) 

Projecting signs.

[1] 

Shall have a maximum area of six square feet.

[2] 

Shall extend a maximum of four feet away from the building wall surface.

[3] 

Shall not extend lower than eight feet above the ground.

[4] 

Shall consider visually interesting elements such as square or rectangular shapes with painted or applied letters, two- or three-dimensional symbols or icons, irregular outlines and or internal cutouts.

[5] 

Shall have mounting hardware that is attractive and an integral part of the sign design.

(m) 

Size and design.

[1] 

Each commercial use in a building in a business zone shall be entitled to a wall sign, but in no event shall the total square footage of all wall signs exceed 10% of the square footage of the front facade;

[2] 

Wall signs shall not exceed two square feet of signage for every linear foot of the front facade of the portion of the building occupied by the use being advertised; and

[3] 

The horizontal linear dimensions of wall-mounted signs in an industrial zone shall not exceed 30% of the width of the building wall to which it is to be affixed. The maximum height of such sign shall not exceed two feet if the building wall is 40 feet or less in width, 2 1/2 feet if the building wall is more than 40 feet but less than 80 feet in width, 2 1/2 feet if the building wall is more than 40 feet but less than 80 feet in width, and three feet if the building wall is 80 feet or more in width.

(n) 

Roof signs, often known also as a "sky sign," may be authorized as a conditional use in business districts if:

[1] 

The sign is a business or identification sign;

[2] 

The sign is located on the side of a roof structure that forms a backdrop for it:.

[3] 

The sign is externally illuminated; and

[4] 

The sign does not produce a halo effect.

(o) 

Gas station signs.

[1] 

Gas station signs have separate and distinct regulations from other business signs and are enumerated below.

[2] 

Gas station ground signs.

[a] 

One nonilluminated or externally illuminated freestanding ground or pylon sign supported by a maximum of two columns or posts is permitted per gas station site.

[b] 

The height of any freestanding ground sign shall not extend more than 25 feet above the ground and shall not exceed a width of 10 feet or an area of 80 feet.

[c] 

The freestanding ground sign should be constructed out of materials that complement the building structure and its use. Architectural lines which complement that of the building should be incorporated, especially along the top of the sign.

[d] 

Gas station ground signs may include digital fuel pricing, meaning electronically changeable fuel prices. However, electronic messaging centers and digital billboards are prohibited.

[3] 

Gas station canopy signs.

[a] 

For each gas station canopy, one canopy sign and logo shall be permitted on each side of a canopy which faces a dedicated street or parking area. Signs shall not extend beyond the ends or extremities of the canopy to which they are attached.

[b] 

The total area of canopy signs shall not exceed one square foot per foot of length of such canopy to which the sign is attached or a total area of 50 square feet, whichever is less.

[4] 

Gas station signs shall conform to the general sign regulations enumerated in § 165-109. General regulations for signs, below, including those regulations pertaining to sign colors.

[5] 

Gas station signs shall conform to the standards for illumination enumerated in § 165-108, Illumination, below.

(2) 

In addition to any sign or signs permitted pursuant to this section, window display signs as well as affixed window signs, that are limited to indicate membership in a retail or professional organization or credit card or credit association, to show manufacturers' or required licenses or advertisements referring to sales within, shall be permitted to be attached to windows on the interior of the business use, provided that the aggregate area employed for such purpose shall not exceed 15% of the total window area on which it is located.