[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.1), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
This Article establishes standards for the erection and maintenance
of signs in order to protect the safety of persons and property; to
promote the efficient communication of information; to protect the
public welfare; and to preserve and enhance the visual character and
economy of the City of Willard. Except as otherwise provided, no sign
shall be erected, moved, or modified except in accordance with the
provisions of this Article.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.2), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
Unless otherwise provided, words and phrases used in this Article
shall be defined in the following manner:
Any action or motion other than flashing lights, automatic
changeable copy, or indexing that attempt to develop a pictorial scene
through the movement of lights or parts of a sign.
[Ord. No. 200810A, 8-10-2020]
A sign that can be electronically or mechanically changed
by remote or automatic means.
[Ord. No. 200810A, 8-10-2020]
Any words, numbers, figures, devices, designs or trademark
by which anything is made known, such as are used to designate an
individual, a firm, profession, business or a commodity and which
are visible from any public street.
Any sign substantially and permanently attached to, painted
on, etched on or supported by any part of a building exterior.
Any sign other than an attached sign and including any inoperable
vehicle or any trailer located for the purpose of advertising.
A sign that draws attention to or communicates information
about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction or
other activity that is conducted, sold or offered at a location other
than the premises on which said sign is located.
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure or a sign designed to be transported from one
place to another, including, but not limited to, signs designed to
be transported on wheels; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons
or other inflatable figures.
Any sign that is attached to and projects away from the building
surface or face.
Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof
of a building, supported by the roof structure of a building and extending
vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
A sign in a parallel plane to and attached upon a structure's
wall.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.3), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
The following signs shall not require a sign permit, but must
be in conformance with all other applicable provisions of this Article:
Address numbers and name plates. Address numbers
and unlighted name plates not exceeding one (1) square foot in area
per dwelling unit or business. Such signs must be attached to the
principal structure, be parallel with the wall to which it is attached,
and no part of said sign may extend into any required yard setback.
Banner signs. Signs, consisting of a flexible
lightweight material, such as a banner, not exceeding twenty-four
(24) square feet of area. One (1) sign per premises is permitted,
posted for not more than thirty (30) business days per year.
Construction site signs. Construction site
identification signs, exceeding no more than one (1) sign per site,
with no more than thirty-two (32) square feet in area.
Directional signs. Signs directing and guiding
traffic on private property that do not exceed one and one-half (1 1/2)
square feet each.
Flags. Flags, pennants or insignia of any government
or non-profit organization when not displayed in connection with a
commercial promotion.
Governmental signs. Signs erected by or on
behalf of or pursuant to the authorization of a governmental body,
including legal notices, identification and information signs, traffic
and directional signs or regulatory signs.
Neighborhood identification signs. Neighborhood
identification signs, such as a masonry wall, landscaping or other
similar materials that are combined to display neighborhood identification.
The message of such signs shall display only the name of the neighborhood.
Non-commercial signs. Signs of a religious,
political or other non-commercial nature that do not exceed sixteen
(16) square feet in area and that are not internally illuminated.
Official signs. Signs of a non-commercial nature
erected by public utilities.
Real estate sale or lease signs. Detached or
attached, non-illuminated, temporary on-premises signs pertaining
to the sale or lease of the premises. Such signs shall not exceed
twelve (12) square feet in area. For lots exceeding five (5) acres
and having street frontage in excess of four hundred (400) feet, one
(1) additional sign may be erected with an area not to exceed thirty-two
(32) square feet. Such signs shall be removed within fourteen (14)
days of sale or lease of the premises.
Temporary special event signs. Temporary signs
not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area, erected to advertise
a special event of a commercial, civic, educational, philanthropic,
religious, political or similar nature. Such signs may be erected
no sooner than two (2) weeks before the event and shall be removed
no later than five (5) days after the event.
Vehicular signs. Signs painted on or permanently
attached to vehicles. Vehicular signs may not contain flashing or
blinking lights nor any animation.
Window signs. Any sign, symbol or picture designed
to provide information about a business, activity, service or event
that is placed against or near to the interior glass surface; and
is visible from the exterior of the window. Window signs shall not
exceed fifty percent (50%) of the glass square footage area.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.4), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 060508C §1, 5-8-2006; Ord.
No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
The following provisions shall apply to all signs in the City:
1.
Prohibited signs. The following signs are specifically
prohibited:
a.
Signs which advertise or promote unlawful activity.
b.
Signs which may be confused with a traffic control signal, sign
or devise, the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle or
any other governmental agency sign.
c.
Signs which hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal
or similar traffic control or directional sign.
d.
Signs which use searchlights or strobe lights that attract the
attention of the public.
2.
Sign illumination. All illuminated signs shall
be designed, constructed and located to eliminate or minimize glare.
3.
Sign condition. All signs, including supports,
braces and anchors, shall be installed and maintained as indentified
in the municipal building codes of the City of Willard.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.5), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 060508C §1, 5-8-2006; Ord.
No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
(Reserved)
C.
The total sign surface area shall include letters, emblems, background
and illuminated areas. Multiple signs on the same structure shall
all be inclusive of the total area. Supporting structure, framework
or bracing shall be excluded from calculation.
D.
The sign surface area of two-sided or multisided signs shall be calculated
in the following manner:
1.
The surface area of a two-sided, back-to-back sign shall be
calculated by totaling the area of only one (1) side of the sign,
as long as the distance between the backs of the signs does not exceed
three (3) feet. If the distance exceeds three (3) feet, both sides
will be added and used in calculation.
2.
The surface area of a double-faced sign constructed in the form
of a "V" shall be calculated by totaling the area of the largest side,
as long as the angle of the "V" does not exceed thirty degrees (30°)
and the distance between the backs of the signs does not exceed five
(5) feet. If the angle of the "V" exceeds thirty degrees (30°),
or the distance between the backs of the signs exceed five (5) feet,
or the sign has more than two sides; the area summation of all sides
shall be the calculation total.
E.
An animation display shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total
permitted square footage of sign surface.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.6), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
Unless otherwise provided in Section 400.860, the following signs shall be permitted in the "R-1," "R-2" and "R-4" Residence Districts:
1.
One (1) non-illuminated name plate or sign for each dwelling
unit, not exceeding one (1) square foot in area, indicating the name
of the occupant. Such signs must be attached to the principal structure,
be parallel with the wall to which it is attached, and no part of
said sign may extend into any required yard setback.
2.
One (1) non-illuminated name plate or identification sign not
exceeding twelve (12) square feet in area for buildings other than
dwellings, provided that said sign shall be attached to and parallel
with the front wall of the building.
3.
One (1) white, illuminated, on-premises church or school bulletin
board not exceeding eighteen (18) square feet in area.
4.
Non-illuminated real estate sale or lease sign or signs not
exceeding a total area of twelve (12) square feet pertaining to the
sale or rental of the property on which said sign is located.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.7), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
The following signs shall be permitted in the "R-3" Residence District:
1.
All signs permitted in the "R-1," "R-2" and "R-4" Residence
Districts.
2.
One (1) non-illuminated, attached or detached name plate identification
sign not exceeding six (6) square feet in area for boardinghouses
or rooming houses.
3.
One (1) white illuminated attached or detached identification
sign not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area for multiple dwellings
having four (4) or more dwelling units or for buildings other than
dwellings.
4.
All signs in the "R-3" Residence District that are not attached
to the wall of the building shall be set no more than five (5) feet
from the building.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.8), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
The maximum sign surface area inclusive of all attached signs permitted
on any lot in any commercial district shall be determined by:
1.
A maximum of one-half (0.5) square foot of sign surface area
per linear foot of lot street frontage up to two hundred (200) feet
of frontage. Lots without at least twelve (12) feet of street frontage
shall be allotted six (6) square feet of area for a sign.
2.
A maximum of three-fourths (0.75) square foot of additional
sign surface area per linear foot of lot street frontage in excess
of two hundred (200) feet shall be allowed.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.9), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
The maximum sign surface area permitted on any lot in any manufacturing
district shall be one (1.0) square foot of sign surface area per linear
foot of lot frontage.
B.
If a lot has frontage on more than one (1) street, the total sign
surface area permitted on that lot shall be the sum of the sign surface
area allotted to each street on which the lot has frontage.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.10), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
Signs At Street Intersections.
1.
Street intersection sight triangles shall reflect the street classification as established in the Willard Comprehensive Plan. Minimum requirements for sight triangles shall be in accordance with the following table. The sight triangle shall be measured along the right-of-way as illustrated in Figure 400.930 contained in Subsection (B) of this Section. The City may require additional triangle area for clear sight and safety as may be warranted by special condition as determined by the Administrative Official.
2.
Signs may be erected in the street intersection sight triangles.
However, any such sign must be at least ten (10) feet above street
grade except for supports, which may not exceed one (1) foot in width
or diameter or be spaced less than ten (10) feet apart from any other
stationary object.
|
Street Sight Triangle Requirements
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Intersecting Street
|
Highway
|
Arterial
|
Collector Single-Family Residential
|
Collector All Others
|
Local Residential Single-Family
|
Local Residential Multifamily
|
|
Highway
|
A
|
A
|
B
|
B
|
B
| |
|
Arterial
|
A
|
A
|
B
|
B
|
C
|
B
|
|
Collector: single-family residential
|
B
|
B
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
|
Collector: all others
|
B
|
B
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
|
Local residential
|
B
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
|
Key:
A — 100 feet by 100 feet sight triangle
B — 30 feet by 30 feet sight triangle
C — 10 feet by 10 feet sight triangle
| ||||||
B.
Signs At Street/Driveway Intersections.
1.
Signs may be erected in the street/driveway sight triangles.
However, any such sign shall be at least ten (10) feet above street
grade except for supports, which may not exceed one (1) foot in width
or diameter or be spaced less than ten (10) feet apart from any other
stationary object.
2.
Figure 400.930 illustrates the measurement of a street/driveway
sight triangle. A street/driveway sight triangle shall be measured
as follows:
|
A triangle formed by the intersection of a public street and
a driveway where the triangle area is that area encompassed within
two (2) intersecting lines formed by the edge of the pavement, curb,
roadway or projection thereof and extending forty (40) feet down the
street from the right edge of the driveway when standing in the driveway
facing the street and extending twelve (12) feet from the edge of
the street extending up the driveway pavement and a third imaginary
line connecting the other two (2) lines without overlaying the pavement.
On the left side of the driveway, the triangle is determined by measuring
sixty-five (65) feet down the street pavement from the edge of the
driveway and measuring twelve (12) feet down the driveway pavement
from the edge of the street and an imaginary third line connecting
the other two (2) lines without overlaying the pavement.
|
|
Figure 400.930 Sight Triangles for Street/Driveway Intersections
 |
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.11), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 060508C §1, 5-8-2006; Ord.
No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
No sign or supporting structure, other than a governmental sign,
shall be located in or over any public property or right-of-way, unless
the sign is attached to a structural element of a building and pursuant
to the appropriate Section of the Willard Municipal Building Code,
and State and Federal statute pertaining to right-of-way restrictions.
B.
No sign shall extend beyond a parapet or be located upon a roof.
This Subsection shall not apply to temporary displays, including animated
displays, erected on roofs of structures in connection with the observation
of holidays.
C.
Wall signs attached to a building shall not extend past the edge
of the exterior wall and shall not project more than eighteen (18)
inches away from the wall.
D.
Projecting signs shall have a minimum clearance of ten (10) feet
above grade and shall not project more than eighteen (18) inches from
the wall to which it is attached.
E.
No part of a detached sign may exceed a height, measured from ground
level, of twenty-five (25) feet in the "C-1" District, forty-five
(45) feet in the "C-2" District and thirty (30) feet in the "M-1"
and "M-2" Districts and fifteen (15) feet in all other districts.
F.
Freestanding signs shall meet the minimum setback requirements as
established in the following table:
|
Street Classification
|
Minimum Setback
(feet)
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Highway
|
15
| |
|
Arterial
|
15
| |
|
Collector: single-family residential
|
10
| |
|
Collector: all others
|
10
| |
|
Local residential
|
10
|
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.12), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
Detached (freestanding) signs shall be permitted according to the
following requirements:
1.
Each premises containing a multifamily use, permitted non-residential
use or legal non-conforming use shall be permitted one (1) detached
sign.
2.
If a development is located on a corner lot that has at least
one hundred (100) feet of frontage on each of the two (2) intersecting
streets, the development may have one (1) detached sign along each
street frontage.
3.
Premises with more than seven hundred fifty (750) feet of frontage
along a public street may have one (1) additional detached sign; however,
a minimum of three hundred (300) feet of separation shall be maintained
between signs and a minimum setback of twenty-five (25) feet from
adjacent property lines is maintained for both signs.
4.
A premise located in a commercial district shall be allowed
a detached sign with a sign surface area determined by adding fifty
(50) square feet to a ratio of one (1) square foot of surface area
per lineal foot of frontage along the street. The maximum surface
area for any detached sign shall be two hundred fifty (250) square
feet.
[Ord. No. 200810A, 8-10-2020]
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.13), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 060911 §1, 9-11-2006; Ord.
No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
Off-premises signs (billboards) shall be permitted only in the "C-1" and "C-2" Commercial Districts and in the "M-1" and "M-2" Industrial Districts. The surface area of a detached, off-premises sign shall be subject to the provisions of Section 400.880 if the sign is oriented towards a street classified as an arterial, collector or local street. Where the street towards which the sign is oriented is classified as a highway, a single side of a detached off-premises sign may not exceed three-fourths (0.75) square foot in surface area for every linear foot of street frontage. In no case may a single side of such sign exceed two hundred (200) square feet in surface area.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.14), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
A.
Any sign lawfully erected before the effective date of this Article,
but which does not comply with the requirements and restrictions of
this Article, shall be considered a legal, non-conforming sign and
may be continued subject to the provisions of this Section.
B.
A non-conforming sign shall not be expanded in size or effective
area or altered in any manner so as to increase the degree of non-conformity.
Illumination shall not be added to any non-conforming sign.
C.
A non-conforming sign shall not be moved or replaced except to bring
the sign into complete conformance with this Article.
D.
Except for safety requirements, a non-conforming sign shall not be
structurally altered so as to prolong the life of the sign. Non-conforming
signs may be repaired so long as the cost of materials and labor for
such work does not exceed within any twelve-month period fifty percent
(50%) of the value (tax value if listed for tax purposes) of the sign.
E.
If a non-conforming sign is destroyed, it may not be reconstructed
or replaced except in conformity with the provisions of this Article.
A sign shall be considered destroyed if more than fifty percent (50%)
of the sign structure or backing has been altered, for whatever reason,
from its original appearance.
F.
Abandoned, destroyed or discontinued non-conforming signs shall be
removed within thirty (30) days after determination by the City Administrative
Official. A sign shall be considered abandoned or discontinued if:
1.
For a period of twelve (12) consecutive months the sign advertises
a service, product or activity that is no longer operating, being
conducted or offered.
[Ord. No. 020227 §1(10.15), 2-27-2002; Ord. No. 131209 §1, 12-9-2013]
Except as otherwise provided in this Article, no sign shall be erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered without first obtaining a sign permit for each sign in conformance with the requirements of Article III, Section 400.200. Repainting or changing the message on a sign shall not be considered a substantial alteration and shall not require a sign permit.
