DIVISION
1. GENERALLY
Sec. 84-230. Purpose and intent.
The
purpose of this section is to represent a comprehensive, balanced system of
street graphics and signs that create safe, easy to understand and
aesthetically pleasing communication. To meet this purpose these regulations
authorize the use of street graphics and signs which are reflective of the
community's aesthetics as a whole, are compatible with their surroundings,
while allowing the expression of the identity of individual proprietors,
appropriate to the type of activity to which they pertain, and legible in the
environment in which they are seen. Specific objectives are:
(1) Preserve and enhance the city's own unique set of visual
aesthetics which will attract potential residents, commercial customers, and
tourists to the area because of the community's overall appearance: and,
(2) Enhance the visibility and effectiveness of all signs through
the elimination of clutter and redundancy; and,
(3) Eliminate and lessen the confusion, unsightliness or visual
obscurity of adjacent properties that could be created; and,
(4) Recognize and appreciate the value of advertising and signage
to a successful business climate.
(Ord.
No. 1667, § I,
Sec. 84-231. Applicability.
All
signs within the city limits of
(Ord.
No. 1667, § I,
Sec. 84-232. Definitions
The
following words and phrases contained in this section shall apply with respect
to this article.
Advertising
matter The placement on, or anchoring of or
suspension from any building, pole sign, sidewalk, parkway, driveway, lawn,
area or parking area of any goods, wares, merchandise or other advertising
object which is, but not limited to, light, inflatable objects, pennants, or
flags for the purpose of calling attention to the area or business erecting
such devices.
Balloon: A nonporous, flexible devise capable of being
inflated and used as advertising matter.
Banner
signs (temporary): Means
possessing characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentation; applied to
non-rigid light weight fabric or similar material; intended to be hung without
frames; can only be used if there is a legally permitted permanent name sign;
must be used ancillary to the legally permanent name sign; and, must obtain
special event permit.
Decorative
flag: A flag or banner that
contains no name, initials, logos, insignia or similar items and is used
primarily to attract attention or convey a message.
Facade: Any separate face of a building, including
parapet walls and omitted wall line, or any part of a building, which encloses
or covers usable space.
Facade
signs (exterior): Means
possessing characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentation; constructed of
rigid and non/flexible materials, framed, flush mounted to facade; must not
cover windows or doors; and, total sign coverage on any wall or window signs
may not exceed 30 percent of wall elevation inclusive of windows and
doors.
Flag: A piece of cloth or fabric typically
rectangular in shape, of a distinctive color and design inclusive of a logo,
used as a symbol, a standard or signal to attract attention. Exemptions to this
are federal, state, municipal flags.
Logo: A design or insignia of an organization,
individual, company or product which is commonly used in advertising to
identify that organization, individual, company or product.
Off-premises
sign: A sign which advises
the general public of goods and services available at a remote location from
the parcel where the sign is located.
On-premises
sign: A sign which advises
the general public of goods and services available on the lot where the sign is
located.
Pennant: A device typically made of a lightweight
plastic, fabric or other material usually triangular in shape and attached to a
single cord.
Preformed
sign faces: Any sign that is
fabricated at another site whose message is not designed to change. Such signs
include, but are not limited to, plastic or fabric signs that may be supported
by a frame and may be illuminated from within.
Roadway
type: Roadway type shall be
defined as per the latest adopted thoroughfare plan of the city and are specifically
listed here. Thoroughfares are divided up into the following:
(1) Freeways
shall include those roadways which are classified as federally aided primary
highways. These are more specifically described as S.H. 183, S.H. 121 and S.H.
360.
(2) Major
arterials shall include those roadways whose primary function is to carry
multi-jurisdictional traffic and, for the purpose of this chapter, are hereby
specifically limited to S.H. 10, FM 157, and
(3) Minor
arterials shall include
(4) Collector
and local roadways shall be considered all other roads not specifically named
herein.
Setback
of sign (front): The distance
a sign must set back from any street right-of-way line which shall be
calculated in all cases to property lines, except as otherwise provided
herein.
Setback
of sign (side): The distance
a sign must set back from the side property lines except for lots having more
than one frontage, in which case the side setback shall apply to the property
lines running most parallel to the sign face.
Sign: Any structure or part thereof, or any device
attached to, painted on, or represented on a building, fence, or other
structure, upon which is displayed or included any letter, word, mode, banner,
flag, permanent insignia, decoration, device, logo, design, advertising matter
or representation used as, or which is the nature of, an announcement,
direction, advertisement or other attention getting device.
Sign,
advertising: Any off-premise
sign advertising any goods or services offered remotely from the site where the
sign is located.
Sign,
announcement: Any temporary
on-premise sign which announces a character or description of proposed buildings
or use (i.e., coming soon . ., future site of . . ., etc.).
Sign
area, calculation of: The
area of a sign shall be computed by drawing a line or lines around the sign in
such a way as to form not more than four regular geometric figures such as a
triangle, circle, rectangle, or trapezoid. The sum square footage of these
figures shall be considered as the total area of the sign face. A sign face may
be single sided or double sided, as with a typical pole sign; however, to
calculate the area of a multi-sided sign, the sum of all sides of the sign
shall not exceed twice the area specified for the sign face.
Sign,
banner: Signs intended to be
hung on-premise either with or without frames, possessing characters, letters,
illustrations or ornamentation applied to paper, plastic or fiber of any kind.
For the purpose of this chapter, federal, state and municipal flags shall not
be considered banners. A special event sign permit must be obtained.
Sign,
billboard: Any sign whose
message may be changed by painting on or posting a bill upon the sign's
face.
Sign,
business center directory:
Any on-premise sign that conveys the name of the business center, and the
tenants that occupy the center.
Sign,
changeable reader board: Any
on-premise sign with strips or devices attached to the face of the sign to hold
readily moveable manual letters and numbers.
Sign,
construction: Any on-premise
temporary sign that describes the contractor(s), architect(s), lending
institution, etc., responsible for the on-site construction currently in
progress.
Sign,
development: Any temporary
on-premise sign that promotes new developments or additions.
Sign,
electronic message: Any
on-premise sign that has the ability to electronically change the messages that
they display.
Sign
face: The actual surface upon
which the message of a sign is displayed. In the case of wall, fence or facade
mounted signs, the area contained within the outermost limits of the letters,
logos, numbers, insignias, etc., shall be considered the sign face. Except for
wall signs that use the wall as its sole background, only those sign faces
defined below shall be deemed in compliance with this chapter:
Sign
function: The purpose the
sign serves.
Sign,
general: Any on-premise sign
or graphic device that advises the general public of goods and services
offered.
Sign,
ground: Signs supported by
poles or supports in or upon the ground, independent of support from any
building and having less than seven feet from the bottom of the sign face to
the ground.
Sign,
institutional: Any on-premise
sign used for the purpose of identifying school, church, hospital, or similar
public or quasi-public institution.
Sign,
pole: Signs supported by
poles or supports in or upon the ground, independent of support from any
building, and maintaining a minimum distance of seven feet from the bottom of
the sign face to the ground.
Sign,
portable: Ridged signs
constructed off the site and not permanently affixed or attached to the ground
or to the permanent building or structure and shall include any sign originally
designed to be easily moved from place to place whether rigidly attached to the
ground or permanent structure.
Sign,
real estate: Any temporary
on-premise sign offering to sell, lease, or rent individual dwellings, real
property, or lease spaces other than those for self storage facilities which
are defined by general business signs.
Sign,
special event: Any on-premise
temporary signage including banners used for special events or business grand
openings.
Sign,
subdivision entry: Any sign
that identifies the entrance of various subdivisions and developments within
the city.
Sign,
temporary: A sign which is
not structurally affixed to a foundation or building and by its nature,
construction materials, or placement is intended to last for a fixed period of
time.
Sign,
vehicle: Signs mounted on a
vehicle, including trailers, normally licensed by the State of
Sign,
wall: Signs erected flat
against any wall, supported by the wall, having the sign face parallel to and
not more than 12 inches from the wall surface in any direction. Neon tubing
attached directly to a wall surface shall be considered a "wall
sign."
Sign,
weekend parkway: Any
temporary on or off-premise sign located within the public right-of-way.
Zoning district: The primary use of the zoning district where the sign may be
located.
(Ord.
No. 1667, § I,
Sec. 84-233. Permissible signs.
Except
as specified by section 84-130 herein, it shall be a violation of this code to
erect, place, or locate any sign that serves any function other than those
specified herein, and then only when in compliance with the zoning district,
qualifications, maximum area, maximum height, minimum setbacks, maximum number
of signs, minimum sign separation, permit and other requirements specified
herein.
(Ord.
No. 1667, § I,
Sec. 84-234. Permanent on-premise signs.
The
following standards shall apply to permanent on-premise signs located at a site
where the sign directs attention to:
(1) Wall
signs: Wall signs may be erected on any building not zoned or used
for single-family or single-family attached dwelling purposes. Such signs may
serve the same function as on-premise pole or ground signs specified herein.
Wall signs shall not exceed 30 percent of the wall elevation nor shall they
extend above the roof line or parapet line of the building on which it is
located. Any number of wall signs may be permitted per building; however, the
sum of the areas of the wall signs on each wall elevation shall notexceed 30 percent of the wall elevation. For the purpose
of this chapter, pitched or mansard roofs shall not be used in calculation of
wall elevation.
(2) Roof
signs: Roof signs may be erected on nonresidential buildings in
commercial or industrial zoning districts having pitched roofs provided the top
of the roof sign extends no higher than the roof peak. Roof signs erected on
mansard roofs shall not extend above the mansard. The maximum sign area for
roof signs shall be limited to 15 percent of the exterior wall elevation over
which the roof sign is oriented.
(3) Projection
signs: Projection signs may be erected on nonresidential buildings in
commercial or industrial zoning districts provided no portion of the sign
extends over any property line nor extends over the required building line more
than 25 percent of the minimum building setback requirement for that zoning
district. The maximum area for
any projection of sign shall be limited to 50 square feet per sign face and
that no pole or ground sign is or shall be located on the property. No
projection sign shall extend above the top plate line nor be less than seven
feet from the bottom of the sign to the ground.
(4) Pole/ground
signs.
TABLE 6-A. PERMANENT
ON-PREMISE POLE/GROUND SIGNS
The following standards are
applicable to permanent, on-premise pole and ground signs. The applicable
maximum area and height shall be determined by the classification of the
street(s) the property fronts on.
TABLE INSET:
|
Sign
Function |
Zoning
District |
Qualifications
|
Front
Setback |
Side
Setback |
Number
Signs Allowed |
Street
Classification |
|||||
|
Local
and Collectors |
Minor
Arterials |
Major
Arterials |
|||||||||
|
Maximum
Area |
Maximum
Height |
Maximum
Area |
Maximum
Height |
Maximum
Area |
Maximum
Height |
||||||
|
Apartment/ Condominium Identification
Sign i.e., signs that identify the name, owner or other identifying
characteristics about any residential complex developed under a unified
plan |
single-family
|
lawfully
existing nonconforming use |
5
feet |
15
percent of lot width |
1 per
street front |
20
square feet |
4
feet |
20
square feet |
4
feet |
20
square feet |
4
feet |
|
multifamily
|
none
|
5
feet |
10
percent of lot width |
1 per
200 feet of street frontage or portion of |
20
square feet |
6
feet |
40
square feet |
8
square feet |
100
square feet |
15
square feet |
|
|
commercial
|
lawfully
existing nonconforming use |
||||||||||
|
General
Business Signs
i.e., signs advising the public of goods and services offered on the
premises |
commercial
and industrial |
none
|
5
feet |
10
percent of lot width |
1 per
200 feet of street frontage or portion of |
50
square feet |
15
feet |
100 square
feet |
20
feet |
150
square feet |
30
feet |
|
Business
Center Directory
Signs i.e., signs that convey the name of the business center, and
the tenants that occupy the center |
commercial
and industrial |
must
contain more than 4 separate lease spaces |
10
feet |
15
percent of lot width |
1 per
street frontage |
20
square feet per tenant up to 260 square feet inclusive of shop center
ID |
15
feet |
25
square feet per tenant up to 325 square feet inclusive of shop center
ID |
20
feet |
30
square feet per tenant up to 325 square feet inclusive of shop center
ID |
30
feet |
|
Institutional
Signs i.e.,
signs that identify schools, churches, hospitals, or other similar public or
semi-public institutions |
all
|
none
|
10
feet |
15 percent
of lot width |
1 per
200 feet of street frontage or portion of |
50
square feet |
15
feet |
100
square feet |
20
feet |
150
square feet |
30
feet |
|
Subdivision
Entry Signs
i.e., signs that identify various subdivisions and developments within the
city |
single-family
|
must
contain 5 or more acres of land or 20 or more platted lots |
10
feet |
none
|
two
per entry (1 per side of street) |
30
square feet |
6
feet |
40
square feet |
6
feet |
50
square feet |
8
feet |
|
commercial
and industrial |
10
feet |
none
|
two
per entry (1 per side of street) |
20
square feet per gross platted acre |
6
feet |
20
square feet per gross platted acre |
6
feet |
40
square feet per gross platted acre |
150
feet |
||
(5) Pole/ground
signs along freeways.
Table 6-B. Permanent
On-Premise Pole/Ground Signs on State Highways
The following standards are
applicable to permanent, on-premise pole and ground signs located along
freeways and freeway frontage roads.
TABLE INSET:
|
Sign Function
|
Zoning
District |
Qualifications
|
Maximum
Area |
Maximum
Height |
Front
Setback |
Side
Setback |
Number Signs
Permitted |
|
Apartment/ Condominium Identification
Sign i.e., signs that identify the name, owner or other identifying
characteristics about any residential complex developed under a unified
plan |
single-family
|
lawfully existing
nonconforming use |
20 square feet
|
4 feet |
5 feet |
15 percent of lot
width |
1 per street
front |
|
multifamily
|
none |
150 feet |
20 feet |
5 feet |
10 percent of lot
width |
1 per 200 feet of
street frontage or portion of |
|
|
commercial
|
lawfully existing
nonconforming use |
||||||
|
General Business
Signs i.e., signs advising
the public of goods and services offered on the premises |
commercial
and industrial |
none |
250 square feet
|
50 feet |
5 feet |
15 percent of lot
width |
1 per 200 feet of
street frontage or portion of |
|
hotels/motels, retail
fuel sales, and restaurants within 300 feet of freeway right-of-way
|
300 square feet
|
60 feet |
5 feet |
15 percent of lot
width |
one |
||
|
Business Center Directory Signs i.e., signs
that convey the name of the business center, and the tenants that occupy the
center |
commercial
and industrial |
must contain more
than 4 separate lease spaces |
40 square feet per
tenant up to 600 square feet inclusive of shop center ID |
40 feet |
10 feet |
15 percent of lot
width |
one per street
frontage |
|
Institutional
Signs i.e., signs that
identify schools, churches, hospitals, or other similar public or semi-public
institutions |
all |
none |
250 square feet
|
50 feet |
5 feet |
15 percent of lot
width |
1 per 200 feet of
street frontage or portion of |
|
Subdivision Entry
Signs i.e., signs that
identify various subdivisions and developments within the city |
single-family
|
must contain 5 or
more acres of land or 20 or more platted lots |
50 square feet
|
8 feet |
10 feet |
none |
two per entry (one
per side of street) |
|
commercial
and industrial |
50 square feet
|
30 feet |
10 feet |
none |
two per entry (1 per
side of street) |
(6) Corporate
flags: In addition to national, state, or municipal flags, a business
may erect a single corporate flag provided that such flag meets all of the following
requirements:
a. The
corporate flag is flown with the national flag or with the state and national
flag.
b. The
corporate flag is not larger in size or flown higher than the national and
state flag.
c. The
proper rules of flag etiquette are followed.
(7) Electronic
message signs. Electronic message signs are intended to be static and
are subject to the same size and location restrictions as other signs regulated
by this article. The electronic message portion of a sign shall not exceed 40
percent of the total sign face permitted, nor shall it be the only sign face.
In addition, an electronic message board is subject to the following
restrictions:
a. Any
change of information on the electronic message board shall not produce the
illusion of moving objects, scrolling, blinking, flashing, expanding or
contracting shapes, rotation or any similar visual effect of animation or
movement.
b. Any
change in information on the electronic message shall not change more often
than every 15 seconds. Any changes shall occur with an instant on/off cycle.
(Ord.
No. 1667, § I,
Sec.
84-235. Permanent off-premises signs.
The
following standards are applicable to permanent off-premise advertising signs
or billboards which promote or advertise commodities or services not limited to
being offered on the premises where such sign is located. Off-premises signs
shall be permissible as a permanent sign provided all of the following
requirements have been met:
(1) The
subject property is zoned limited industrial (L1), light industrial (I-1) or
heavy industrial (I-2) as per the current zoning ordinance of the city.
(2) Maximum
area of the advertising sign does not exceed 1,000 square feet per sign face.
(3) Maximum
height of the sign does not exceed 35 feet in height.
(4) The
sign is set back from all property lines a minimum of 25 feet.
(5) The
sign is located no closer than 250 feet, measured parallel with the street
right-of-way, from any other off-premise advertising sign whether existing or a
permit for such sign has been authorized.
(6) The
sign is located a minimum of 250 feet from any property used for residential
purposes or zoned for residential usage.
(7) The
property is not located within 3,000 feet of S.H. 183, S.H. 121, or S.H. 360.
(8) A
current annual use permit has been issued.
(9) None
of the prohibitive characteristics contained within this section are violated.
(Ord.
No. 1667, § I,
Sec.
84-236. Special event and other temporary signage.
In
addition to the permissible permanent signs authorized herein, the following
temporary on-premise signs are permitted.
(1) Special
event signs. Upon approval of a special event sign permit by the
building official or his designee, banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, advertising
matter and additional parkway signs may be displayed to alert the public of
business grand openings, special sales, or events and the like. Special event
signage shall be confined to the location that has obtained the permit for
such, and displayed in a manner as to not interfere with the movement or sight
visibility of pedestrian or vehicle traffic. All signage shall be made of safe
materials and erected and displayed in a safe manner.
a. Special
event signage shall not be erected, placed or displayed for without first
obtaining a permit for same.
b. Special
event signage shall be permitted for a duration of no
more than 14 consecutive days per permit.
c. No more
than four special event permits shall be issued for any one business during any
calendar year.
d. Special
event permits cannot be issued in a consecutive nature. A minimum 30-day
interval must pass from the expiration of one special event permit to the
issuance of another.
e. Applications
for special event signs shall consist of an application fee, as established by
the city fee ordinance, and two sets of drawings that depict the nature, size,
shape, content, height, type of materials and location
of such requested signage.
f. No such
signage shall be placed, erected, or maintained unless the responsible party
has executed an instrument agreeing to indemnify and hold harmless the city
from any and all liability, directly or indirectly occurring from the erection,
placement, maintenance, removal or failure to remove such signs pursuant to the
provisions to this chapter. Any signage erected in violation of this chapter or
deemed unsafe to pedestrian or vehicular traffic shall be subject to all the
penalties for violation stated herein and may be subject to immediate removal.
(2) Pole/ground
signs.
TABLE 6-C. TEMPORARY
ON-PREMISE POLE/GROUND SIGNS
The following standards are
applicable to temporary, on-premise pole and ground signs located on all
streets. Such signs shall be valid only for the duration specified herein or
upon expiration of the annual permit.
TABLE INSET:
|
Sign Function
|
Zoning
District |
Qualifications
|
Duration |
Maximum
Area |
Maximum
Height |
Front
Setback |
Side
Setback |
Number Signs
Permitted |
|
Real Estate Signs i.e., signs offering the sale, lease or rent of
individual dwelling units, real property, or lease space, other than
self-storage facilities. Self-storage facilities: see general business
signs |
single-family
|
developed land
greater than 2 acres |
temporary
removal upon expiration of annual permit or within 7 days of sale or rental
of property |
16 square feet
|
6 feet |
none |
10 percent lot
width |