Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in interpretation
and enforcement of this Chapter unless otherwise specifically stated:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person,
advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, project or activity
conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is
displayed.
ANIMATED SIGNS
Any sign which includes action or motion. For purposes of
this Chapter, this term does not refer to flashing or changing, all
of which are separately defined.
BANNER
A sign made of fabric, plastic, paper or other light pliable
material, not enclosed in a rigid frame and characteristically suspended
along or across a public street.
CANOPY
Any structure attached to a building at the inner end and
supported on the other end, or a freestanding structure, with one
(1) or more supports, meant to provide shelter from weather elements
onto which signs may be affixed or incorporated.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (MANUAL)
A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, i.e.,
reader boards with changeable letters or changeable pictorial panels.
CHANGING SIGN (AUTOMATIC)
A sign such as an electronically or electrically controlled
public service time, temperature and date sign, message center or
reader board, where different copy changes are shown.
CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD
A sign attached to the exterior of a church or located elsewhere
on church premises and used to indicate the services and/or other
activities of the church, and including the church name, if desired.
CITY
The City of Valley Park, Missouri.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The officially designated representative of the City of Valley
Park responsible for the enforcement of the sign ordinance and other
ordinances.
COPY
The wording or graphics on a sign surface.
DISTRICT
As defined under the zoning ordinance and Zoning District
Map.
ERECT
To build, construct, reconstruct, attach, hang, rehang, alter,
place, affix, enlarge, move or relocate and includes the painting
and repainting of existing sign structures.
FACADE
The front or main part of a building facing a street; for
purposes of this Chapter the "facade" is defined
as measured from the ground elevation to the head beam.
FACE OF SIGN
The entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed.
The area of a sign which is visible from one (1) direction as projected
on a plane.
FLASHING SIGN
Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light
source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing
light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent
light source. Automatic changing signs such as public service time,
temperature and date signs or electronically controlled message centers
are not classed as "flashing signs".
FRONTAGE
The length of the lot along the street side. The front of
a lot bordering more than one (1) street is considered separate for
each street.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The vertical distance measured from the surrounding grade
to the highest point of sign.
ILLEGAL SIGNS
A sign which contravenes this Chapter, or a non-conforming
sign for which a permit required under a previous ordinance was not
obtained.
LOGO
A letter, character, or symbol used to represent a person,
corporation or business enterprise.
LOT
A parcel, tract, plot or area of land accessible by means
of a street or other permanently reserved principal means of access.
It may be a single parcel separately described in a deed or plat which
is recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Deeds, or it may
include parts of or a combination of such parcels when adjacent to
one another and used as one (1) as determined by the Code Enforcement
Officer.
OWNER
A person recorded as such on official records and including
duly authorized agent or notary, a purchaser, lessee, devisee, judiciary;
any person having a vested or contingent interest in the property
or business in question.
PERSON
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
PREMISES
An area of land with its appurtenances and buildings which,
because of its unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable
unit of real estate.
READER BOARD
Any sign that has changeable or removable lettering.
RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW)
The proposed right-of-way as indicated on the City of Valley
Park, Missouri, Comprehensive Plan and/or as set forth in the City
of Valley Park subdivision ordinance.
ROOFLINE
The highest point of the coping on a flat roof, false mansard,
or parapet wall; the decline of a true mansard roof; the ridge line
between the upper and lower slopes of a gambrel roof; or the mean
height level between the eaves and ridge for a gable or hip roof.
SETBACK
The minimum horizontal distance between either the face of
curb, the edge of pavement, or the right-of-way line and the sign
structure as specified in a particular Section of this Chapter.
SHOPPING CENTER
A building containing four (4) or more shops, stores, and
other places of business, and providing off-street parking facilities
in common for all of the businesses and their customers.
SHOW WINDOW SIGN
Any temporary sign advertising sales or specials attached
to or within three (3) feet of the glass surface of any fixed window
(glazing) visible from a public right-of-way.
SIGN
Any identification, description, illustration or device illuminated
or non-illuminated which is visible from any public place or is located
on private property and exposed to the public and which directs attention
to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business
or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise,
or any emblem, painting, banner, pennant or placard designed to advertise,
identify or convey information, with the exception of window displays
and national flags. For the purpose of removal, signs shall also include
all sign structures. Not included are decorative devices or emblems
as may be displayed on a residential mailbox. For the purposes of
this Chapter, this definition shall include those signs painted directly
upon a building or other structure.
SIGN AREA
The area of the sign face. The "sign area" of a multi-faced sign is the sum of the sign areas of each face,
including structural trim, which can be seen from a single location
on an adjacent street. If a sign is attached to a building or suspended
in any manner whereby there is no apparent trim or confining border,
the sign area shall be computed by drawing an imaginary straight line
around a generally rectangular margin and measuring the area so encompassed
upon a building or other structure.
SIGN, ATTACHED
A sign erected or placed upon the wall of any building with
the plane of the face parallel to the plane of the wall below the
roofline.
SIGN, COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY
A permanent pole sign designating the name of a commercial
center and listing the various tenants of the center.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION
A temporary sign used during construction of new buildings
or reconstruction of or additions to existing buildings, such as those
identifying the project and denoting the owner, architect, engineer,
contractor, and/or financing institutions of the project.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL
A sign which indicates a direction for vehicular or pedestrian
traffic or other movements.
SIGN, FLUTTERING
A sign which flutters and includes banners, flags, pennants,
or other flexible material which moves with the wind or by some artificial
means.
SIGN, GROUND
Any detached sign on the same lot or parcel as the use it
advertises which has its bottom portion erected upon or supported
by the ground, a ground planter box, or other supports.
SIGN, HANGING
Any sign hanging entirely beneath a canopy, portico, or marquee.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
Any sign which is illuminated by light sources mounted on
or in the sign or at some other location.
SIGN, MEMORIAL OR TABLETS
The permanent part of a building which denotes the name of
the building, date of erection, historical significance, dedication,
or other similar information.
SIGN, NON-CONFORMING
A sign legally erected under the previously existing ordinances
of the City, but which does not conform to the provisions of this
Chapter.
SIGN, POLE
Any detached sign located on the same lot or parcel as the
use it advertises which is supported by one (1) or more stationary
poles no taller than thirty (30) feet above the mean grade line of
the ground at its base provided that this shall not include a permitted
ground sign as set forth.
SIGN, POLITICAL
A temporary sign advocating or opposing any political proposition
or candidate for public office.
SIGN, PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
A permanent ground sign identifying an apartment complex,
condominium project, and/or street names within the project.
SIGN, PROJECTING
Any sign which projects more than twelve (12) inches beyond
the plane of the wall on which the sign is erected or attached.
SIGN, PROPERTY REAL ESTATE
A sign pertaining only to the prospective rental, lease,
or sale of the property upon which it is located. Real estate signs
shall be excluded from the definition of pole signs.
SIGN, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Any temporary sign that provides direction to any residential
development under construction, or promotes the residential development
on the project site.
SIGN, ROOF
Any sign erected on a roof but excluding marquee and canopy
signs and wall signs. The generally vertical plane of a mansard-type
roof shall be interpreted as the same as a wall of a building.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The sign and all parts associated with its construction.
SIGN SUPPORTS
All structures by which a sign is held up, including, for
example, poles, braces, guys, and anchors.
SIGN, TEMPORARY
Any sign intended for a limited or intermittent period of
display.
SPECIAL DISPLAYS
Signs not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet used for
holidays, public demonstrations, or promotion of civil welfare or
charitable purposes.
STANDARD OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURE AND/OR BILLBOARD
Any sign intended to attract general public interest concerning
a commercial enterprise, product, service, industry, or other activity
not conducted, sold or offered on the premises upon which the sign
is erected. This includes billboards, detached pole signs on separate
parcels, wall signs and signs otherwise attached to buildings and/or
supported by uprights or braces on the ground. Real estate signs and
political signs are excluded from this definition.
STREET
A public thoroughfare which affords the principal means of
access to abutting property.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign which is not permanent and is allowed for a specific
time period.
USE
The purpose for which a building, lot, sign or other structure
is arranged, intended, designed, occupied or maintained.
ZONING CODE
The Zoning Code of the City of Valley Park and the current
Zoning District Map related thereto.