§ 28-64. Sign standards.

(a)

General. Ordinances establishing specific urban corridors may include requirements for on- and off-premises signs subject to the guidelines included herein. Specific corridor ordinances may include more or less restrictive standards for off-premises signs. In event of a conflict between a specific corridor ordinance and other provisions of this chapter, the most restrictive shall apply.

(b)

Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited in urban corridors unless expressly authorized by the city council to create a unifying theme in a specific urban corridor:

(1)

Animated, moving, flashing, or rotating signs. However, digital displays, including but not limited to, electronic message centers up to twenty-five (25) percent of the allowable sign area are permitted.

(2)

Three-dimensional objects such as vehicles, animals, instruments or other figures; propellers, wind powered or other similar devices or objects; and air-filled figures other than balloons one (1) foot or less in diameter.

(3)

Signs which (1) utilize intermittent or flashing illumination devices; (2) which change light intensity, brightness or color; or (3) which are constructed and operated so as to create an appearance or illusion of motion unless specifically authorized by the city council to create a unifying theme in an urban corridor. This prohibition includes digital displays.

(4)

Roof signs.

(c)

Temporary signs within urban corridors. Banners, pennants, streamers, and balloons one (1) foot or less in diameter may be used as temporary advertising for a maximum duration of thirty (30) days each six (6) months. Permits in accordance with the City Code and this chapter are required for signs over fifteen (15) square feet in size.

(d)

On-premises pole sign.

(1)

Platted lots along designated urban corridors shall be permitted one (1) pole sign for each two hundred (200) linear feet of street frontage or fraction thereof, but in any event shall be permitted at least one (1) sign. A pole sign shall not be erected closer than two hundred (200) feet along one (1) side of the street to another pole sign within the same platted lot.

(2)

In lieu of the signs permitted in subsection (1) above, platted lots along expressways shall be permitted one (1) pole sign for each one hundred (100) linear feet of street frontage or fraction thereof provided the sign area for each sign does not exceed two hundred fifty (250) square feet.

(3)

The maximum height for pole signs shall be in accordance with the table below. The height of a sign shall be measured from the adjacent primary street grade provided that the overall height of the sign does not exceed sixty (60) feet above ground level.

Maximum Sign Height (in Feet)

Designated Street	Pole Sign	Multiple Tenant Sign
Local street	10—15	15—25
Collector/arterial street	30—40	40—50
Expressway	40—50	50—60

 

(4)

The maximum allowable sign area for each pole sign shall be established in accordance with the table below. For signs with more than one (1) face, only the area of one (1) face shall be counted, provided only one (1) face is visible from any one (1) direction.

Maximum Sign Area (in Square Feet)

Designated Street	Pole Sign	Multiple Tenant Sign
Local street	64—96	96—160
Collector/arterial street	200—300	350—500
Expressway	350—500	500—650

 

(5)

The following signs shall not be included in the total allowable sign area: temporary signs, signs which are designed not to be visible from or directed to traffic on the adjacent street, electric directional signs less than five (5) feet in height, and signs which are exempted from the permit requirement in subsection (g) below.

(e)

Wall signs. Wall signs shall not extend or project more than one-third (⅓) the vertical height of the sign above the roof or parapet of a building or structure. The maximum allowable sign area for wall signs along all street frontages shall be as follows:

Cabinet Signs	20% of the wall area
Channel Letter Signs	25% of the wall area

 

(f)

Maintenance. The director may order the removal of any sign not meeting these standards at the expense of the sign or property owner within sixty (60) days of notification by the city. If the business or activity for which a sign was permitted, ceases to operate for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days, the sign shall be considered abandoned and the sign shall be removed by the sign or property owner.

(g)

Permit requirement. A permit must be obtained from the Department before a sign may be erected within an urban corridor. Applications for a permit shall be made upon forms provided by the department. All signs shall display a decal as evidence of the permit. However, the following signs are exempt from the permit requirement:

(1)

Governmental signs. Governmental agencies are encouraged to coordinate their signs with respect to color size, height and placement.

(2)

Non-electric directional signs not exceeding fifteen (15) square feet in size. These signs must be composed of durable material, situated wholly upon private property and not exceed a maximum height of eight (8) feet.

(3)

Signs less than fifteen (15) square feet in size and designed not to be read by the traveling public, including menu boards, service station pump decals and spanners.

(h)

Nonconforming signs. Nonconforming signs shall be brought into conformance with the requirements of the urban corridor ordinance when there are alterations or repairs to the sign exceeding fifty (50) percent of the sign's value.

(i)

Map requirement. All urban corridors shall include a map, either indented or in an appendix detailing location at a minimum.

(Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297 , § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)