Permitted Signs

(A) Except for nonconforming and exempt signs, all signs shall comply with the terms of this section. A sign may vary from the requirements set forth in this section only upon the issuance of a special use permit by the Zoning Board of Review. In making the decision for special use permits to exceed requirements set forth in this section, the Zoning Board of Review shall consider the following factors and characteristics, in addition to those requirements set forth in § 902:

(1) Quality, character, and appropriateness of proposed sign;

(2) Aesthetic impact of the sign on the public right-of-way;

(3) The total amount of sign area on the premises;

(4) Existence of non-conforming sign(s) on the premises;

(5) Site design and layout of the property.

(B) Number allowed.

(1) No more than three types of signs may be displayed per building or parcel, regardless of the number of occupancies. For example, a building may have pole, awning, and wall signs; or wall, projecting and awning signs.

(2) The total number of signs per building is limited to two, unless the building has more than one occupancy, in which case there can be one sign per occupancy plus one additional sign for the building. In addition, the number of signs per building/use shall comply with the Number Permitted table set forth below.

(3) Buildings located on parcels fronting on two public ways may display one building-mounted sign in addition to the number of building-mounted signs permitted in Number Permitted table set forth below. In no case shall more than one of the permitted building mounted signs be visible from any single public way.

(4) In addition to the signs permitted by the Number Permitted table set forth below, any use with more than one public entrance is permitted one sign for each additional public entrance. Such sign may be wall-mounted or projecting, shall not exceed three square feet in area, and must be displayed adjacent to or above a public entrance.

(C)Design.

(1) Color.No more than four colors may be used in a sign, except for pictures or illustrations. Day-Glow and similar super-bright colors are prohibited.

(2) Type.

(a) Entry signs shall either be a monument or post sign, or else incorporated into an architectural feature such as a stone wall.

(b) Directory signs shall be of monument design.

(3) Plaza signs.The design/display board of plaza, directory or any other multi-tenant sign shall be of an integrated and uniform design.

(D) Dimensional criteria.

(1) Freestanding signs.

(a) Freestanding signs shall meet the requirements set forth in the Maximum Sign Area and Height: Freestanding Signs table set forth below.

(b) Pole signs shall have a minimum ground clearance of eight feet.

(2)Building-mounted signs.

(a) In a single-tenant building, the size of the building-mounted sign shall not exceed one square foot in area for each lineal foot of the facade on which it is displayed up to the maximum area specified in the Maximum Sign Area: Building-mounted Signs table set forth below.

(b) In a multiple-tenant building, the size of each individual building-mounted sign shall not exceed one square foot in area for each lineal foot of the wall of the portion of the building containing the individual use and on which the sign is located, up to the maximum specified in Maximum Sign Area: Building-mounted Signs table set forth below.

(E)Placement.

(1) General.

(a) No sign may be affixed to a utility pole, or traffic control structure, or to a tree, shrub, or other natural object.

(b) Signs shall not obscure arches, sills, moldings, cornices, and transoms and similar architectural features.

(2) Building-mounted signs.

(a) Wall-mounted signs shall project no more than 16 inches from the surface upon which they are mounted. No wall-mounted sign shall extend above the lowest point of the roof, nor beyond the ends of the wall to which it is attached.

(b) Awning signs over a sidewalk or public way shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk or way, measured from the lowest point of the sign. No awning sign shall extend beyond the valance of an awning or be attached to the underside of an awning.

(c) Projecting signs shall not extend into a vehicular public way or be less than eight feet above a pedestrian public way or less than 13 feet over a lane way, alley or driveway measured from the lowest point of the sign. No projecting sign shall extend above the roof line or extend into a vehicular public way.

(3) Freestanding signs shall be setback a minimum of five feet from any public right-of-way.

(F) Illumination.Signs shall only be illuminated in accordance with this division and with the Illumination table set forth below.

(1) No sign may be illuminated if, because of intensity or direction of illumination, it unreasonably interferes with neighboring land uses or constitutes a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

(2) Exposed electrical wires may not be used in connection with illuminated signs.

(3) Signs shall not be illuminated after 11:00 p.m. unless the premises are open during such hours.

(4) Internal illumination.

(a) Internally illuminated box/cabinet signs shall have dark opaque backgrounds with light colored letters and graphics.

(b) Signs internally illuminated by gas-filled light tubes must be placed so that the tubes are not exposed to view from a sidewalk or public way.

(5) External illumination.

(a) Signs with exterior illumination shall be illuminated only with steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely onto the sign.

(b) Box/cabinet signs shall not be externally illuminated.

(Ord. passed 10-30-06; Am. Ord. 07-08, As Amended, passed 6-18-07; Am. Ord. 2012-1, passed 4-2-12)