A.
General freestanding sign regulations.
(1)
All freestanding signs, with all parts, braces and supports thereof,
shall be located entirely behind the property line and shall not project
over the public right-of-way or other adjoining lands.
(2)
All freestanding signs shall not be placed as to obstruct sight distance
for both on-site and off-site traffic.
(3)
No residential land use shall have a freestanding sign except as exempted in § 170-8, exempted signs or temporarily permitted in § 170-14, temporary signs. However, a freestanding sign(s) shall be permitted at the entrance from an existing road to a residential development and maintained by a property owner's association or similar entity.
B.
Sign area. All freestanding signs unless stated otherwise herein
shall have a maximum area of 32 square feet if single-faced and 64
square feet if double-faced, with no dimension being longer than 12
feet. However, the sign area of freestanding signs may be increased
by 50% if the height of the freestanding sign, including support structure,
is no greater than eight feet.
C.
Number of freestanding signs permitted.
(1)
Residential developments. One freestanding sign per motor vehicle
entrance to a residential development shall be permitted with a maximum
of three freestanding signs permitted per residential development.
The sign permit and license shall be in the name of the property owner's
association or the name of the property owner in the case of a residential
development with dwelling units for rent.
(2)
Nonresidential developments. The number of freestanding signs shall
be calculated as follows:
(a)
Each individual lot shall be permitted to have one freestanding
sign.
(b)
Additional freestanding signs shall be permitted on a lot if
said lot abuts more than one public or private street, with a maximum
of three freestanding signs per lot. The freestanding signs shall
not be placed along the same road frontage, each of which shall be
situated in a manner to be visible from each corresponding street.
(c)
If an individual lot is located at the intersection of two arterial
streets or an arterial and collector streets, one freestanding sign
in addition to that permitted above shall be permitted provided that
the freestanding sign is no greater than 10 square feet in sign area
if single-faced or 20 square feet in sign area if double-faced.
(d)
Drive-through establishments. In addition to the number of freestanding
signs permitted above, a drive-through establishment shall be permitted
to have one freestanding sign per drive-through lane located adjacent
to each lane.
D.
Height. The height of all freestanding signs shall be no greater
than 15 feet.
E.
Nonstructural wall signs. Signs attached to a wall not incorporated
into the structural support of a building shall be considered freestanding
signs and in addition to the regulations stipulated above have the
following regulations:
(1)
The wall in which the sign is attached is made of permanent structural
material which can withstand the natural elements and is considered
decorative in color and texture and incorporates landscaping into
the overall design of the sign. An example would be the placement
of a sign on a brick retaining wall.
(2)
The area of the sign on the wall shall not exceed 48 square feet.
(3)
The top of the sign attached to the wall shall be no higher than
eight feet.
F.
Freestanding sign bonus. A development located in the Planned Research and Business Park or Medical Campus District shall be permitted to receive the following regulatory relief from the freestanding sign regulations noted above if the development is covered by an approved signage master plan pursuant to § 170-21, Signage master plan.
(1)
Freestanding signs located in the Planned Research and Business Park Zoning District or the Medical Campus Zoning District shall have maximum sign area of 64 square feet if single-faced and 128 square feet if double-faced. However, the sign area of freestanding signs may be increased by 50% if the height of the freestanding sign, including support structure, is no greater than 10 feet. Otherwise the number shall be calculated based on § 170-10B above.
(2)
If a development within the Planned Research and Business Park or Medical Campus Zoning Districts has applied for approval of a signage master plan, it shall be permitted to have one freestanding sign for every four acres of development with the acreage dependent on the land planning unit size of the approved preliminary plan for such. Otherwise the number shall be calculated based on § 170-10C(2) above.
All signs affixed to a building or structure shall be regulated
as follows:
A.
General building sign regulations.
(1)
A building sign shall not project horizontally more than five feet
from the wall of a building or side of a structure.
(2)
A building sign shall not project vertically above the top of a building,
structure wall or parapet. A building sign is also permitted on the
roof of a building or structure only if such sign does not project
vertically above the roofline of a building or structure. See Figure
10 for examples.
 Figure 10. The top image would be permitted as a roof sign that
does not extend above the highest point of the roof. The bottom image
would not be permitted as the sign extends above the highest point
of the roof.
|
(3)
No building sign shall be closer than two feet to the right-of-way
line.
(4)
Any building sign which extends laterally from a building wall above
a sidewalk or similar pedestrian/bicycle facility by more than 12
inches shall have a clearance of at least eight feet below a building
sign.
(5)
Any building sign located above a driving surface shall have a minimum
clearance of 16 feet.
B.
Sign area. All building signs shall be restricted in terms of area,
as noted below including an overall sign area for all signs as follows:
(1)
No sign which projects more than 12 inches horizontally from the
wall of a building or structure shall have a sign area greater than
15 square feet if single-faced or 30 square feet if double-faced.
(2)
Any sign located on the roof of a building or structure as permitted in § 170-11A(2) shall not be permitted to have a sign area greater than 32 square feet if single-faced or 64 square feet if double-faced.
C.
Total permissible sign area. The total sum of the area of all signs affixed to a building except those exempted pursuant to § 170-8, Exempted signs, shall be calculated as follows:
(1)
Calculating the total permissible sign area of building signs shall
be done based on the gross floor area (GFA) of either the entire building
or individual tenant spaces using the following methods:
(a)
Single-tenant building. Permissible sign area shall be based
on the GFA of the entire structure.
(b)
Multitenant building.
[1]
For multitenant buildings in which all tenants have their own
external entrance available for use by the general public, the total
permissible sign area shall be based on the GFA of the individual
tenant space.
[2]
If a multitenant building has a mixture of tenants with their
own external entrances available for use by the general public and
tenants that do not, the total permissible sign area shall be calculated
based on the GFA of each individual tenant space with their own external
entrances plus the total calculated permissible sign area calculated
on the GFA of the remainder of the building.
(c)
Multibuilding lot. Gross floor area shall be measured for each
building on a given lot separately utilizing one of the two appropriate
methods above.
(2)
The total permissible sign area for all building signs that are not exempt pursuant to § 170-8, Exempted signs, or located in the Planned Research and Business Park District or the Medical Campus District shall be calculated based on the GFA as noted above utilizing the following formula.
|
Formula for Calculating Total Permissible Sign Area for
Building Signs
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Gross Floor Area1
(square feet)
|
Formula per Gross Floor Area
|
Maximum Sign Area per Class
|
|
Up to 4,500
|
1 square foot of sign area per 30 square feet of GFA
|
150 square feet
|
|
4,501 - 30,000
|
Maximum sign area of previous class + 1 square foot per additional
300 GFA (150 + [(GFA - 4,500)/300])
|
235 square feet
|
|
30,001 and up
|
Maximum sign area of previous class + 1 square foot per additional
3,000 GFA (235 + [(GFA - 30,000)/3,000])
|
No maximum
|
|
1.
|
Gross floor area (GFA) shall be calculated using one of the methods in § 170-11C
|
|
Examples of Calculated Total Permissible Area for Building
Signs
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Gross Floor Area1
(square feet)
|
Formula per Gross Floor Area
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
|
900
|
1 square foot per 30 GFA
|
30
|
|
1,800
|
1 square foot per 30 GFA
|
60
|
|
2,700
|
1 square foot per 30 GFA
|
90
|
|
3,600
|
1 square foot per 30 GFA
|
120
|
|
4,500
|
1 square foot per 30 GFA
|
150
|
|
4,800
|
1 square foot per additional 300 GFA (150 + [(GFA-4,500)/300])
|
151
|
|
6,000
|
1 square foot per additional 300 GFA (150 + [(GFA-4,500)/300])
|
155
|
|
12,000
|
1 square foot per additional 300 GFA (150 + [(GFA-4,500)/300])
|
175
|
|
18,000
|
1 square foot per additional 300 GFA (150 + [(GFA-4,500)/300])
|
195
|
|
24,000
|
1 square foot per additional 300 GFA (150 + [(GFA-4,500)/300])
|
215
|
|
30,000
|
1 square foot per additional 300 GFA (150 + [(GFA-4,500)/300])
|
235
|
|
42,000
|
1 square foot per additional 3,000 GFA (235 + [(GFA-30,000)/3,000])
|
239
|
|
54,000
|
1 square foot per additional 3,000 GFA (235 + [(GFA-30,000)/3,000])
|
243
|
|
66,000
|
1 square foot per additional 3,000 GFA (235 + [(GFA-30,000)/3,000])
|
247
|
|
75,000
|
1 square foot per additional 3,000 GFA (235 + [(GFA-30,000)/3,000])
|
250
|
|
1.
|
Gross floor area (GFA) shall be calculated using one of the methods in § 170-11C
|
(3)
PRBD and MC. The total permissible sign area for all building signs that are not exempt pursuant to § 170-8, Exempted signs, and located in the Planned Research and Business Park District or the Medical Campus District shall be calculated based on the GFA as noted above utilizing the following formula.
|
Formula for Calculating Total Permissible Sign Area for
Building Signs in the PRBD and MC Zoning Districts
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Gross Floor Area1
(square feet)
|
Formula per Gross Floor Area
|
Maximum Sign Area per Class
|
|
Up to 4,500
|
1 square foot of sign area per 25 square feet of GFA
|
180 square feet
|
|
4,501 - 30,000
|
Maximum sign area of previous class + 1 square foot per additional
250 GFA (180 + [(GFA - 4,500)/250])
|
282 square feet
|
|
30,001 and up
|
Maximum sign area of previous class + 1 square foot per additional
2,500 GFA (282 + [(GFA - 30,000)/2,500])
|
No maximum
|
|
1.
|
Gross floor area (GFA) shall be calculated using one of the methods in § 170-11C
|
|
Examples of Calculated Total Permissible Area for Building
Signs in the PRBD and MC Zoning Districts
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Gross Floor Area1
(square feet)
|
Formula per Gross Floor Area
|
Maximum Sign Area
(square feet)
|
|
900
|
1 square foot per 25 GFA
|
36
|
|
1,800
|
1 square foot per 25 GFA
|
72
|
|
2,700
|
1 square foot per 25 GFA
|
108
|
|
3,600
|
1 square foot per 25 GFA
|
144
|
|
4,500
|
1 square foot per 25 GFA
|
180
|
|
4,800
|
1 square foot per additional 250 GFA (180 + [(GFA-4,500)/250])
|
181
|
|
6,000
|
1 square foot per additional 250 GFA (180 + [(GFA-4,500)/250])
|
186
|
|
12,000
|
1 square foot per additional 250 GFA (180 + [(GFA-4,500)/250])
|
210
|
|
18,000
|
1 square foot per additional 250 GFA (180 + [(GFA-4,500)/250])
|
234
|
|
24,000
|
1 square foot per additional 250 GFA (180 + [(GFA-4,500)/250])
|
258
|
|
30,000
|
1 square foot per additional 250 GFA (180 + [(GFA-4,500)/250])
|
282
|
|
42,000
|
1 square foot per additional 2,500 GFA (282 + [(GFA-30,000)/2,500])
|
286
|
|
54,000
|
1 square foot per additional 2,500 GFA (282 + [(GFA-30,000)/2,500])
|
292
|
|
66,000
|
1 square foot per additional 2,500 GFA (282 + [(GFA-30,000)/2,500])
|
296
|
|
75,000
|
1 square foot per additional 2,500 GFA (282 + [(GFA-30,000)/2,500])
|
300
|
|
1.
|
Gross floor area (GFA) shall be calculated using one of the methods in § 170-11C
|
(4)
Number of. The number of building signs shall not be limited given that the area of all building signs meet the total permissible sign area standards as noted in § 170-11C above or except as follows:
(a)
There shall be no more than one sign that extends horizontally from the wall of a building or structure as permitted in § 170-11A(1). If the building is a multiple-tenant building, then there shall be no more than one building sign that extends horizontally from the wall per tenant.
(b)
There shall be no more than one sign that extends vertically above the wall of a building or structure as permitted in § 170-11A(2). If the building is a multiple-tenant building then there shall be no more than one building sign vertically above the wall per tenant.
(5)
Height. A building sign may be mounted at any elevation on the side
of a building. However, if said sign is mounted to a parapet, it shall
be mounted in a fashion that no portion of such a sign exceeds 25
feet in height as measured from the existing average grade directly
below the sign on said parapet.
(6)
Exemptions from sign area calculations. Signs conveying messages
on buildings of importance for the purposes of public health, safety
and welfare shall be exempted, as follows:
(a)
The following words shall be exempt from area calculations of § 170-11:
[1]
"Fire" or "Fire Station."
[2]
"Police" or "Police Station."
[3]
"H" or "Hospital."
[4]
"Emergency" or "Emergency Room."
[5]
"Ambulance."
[6]
Any other similar term or symbol conveying the identification
of a building which is narrowly tailored to serve the compelling interest
of public health, safety, and welfare given that such words or symbols
be as basic as possible, limited to generally accepted terms or symbols
recognizable to most, and contain no commercial advertisement.
(b)
Such signs shall be located on the buildings for which they
are identifying.
All permanent signs contained within Article III shall be permitted to contain an electronic or digital sign face with the following additional regulations:
A.
Sign display/message. The display or message of all electronic or
digital signs shall be regulated as follows:
(1)
The display or message shall remain static or unchanged for a length
of time to limit the number of displays or messages seen by motorists
passing by. The formula and table below shall determine the time that
the message stays static or unchanged.
(a)
Formula: Distance in which a sign is visible, divided by the
speed limit of adjacent street in feet per second. For purposes of
this formula, 1,200 feet shall be used in calculation of visibility
distance. The table below provides the minimum duration of messages
for select speed limits.
|
Speed Limit (mph) of Adjacent Street
|
Minimum Duration of Individual Display/Message
(seconds)
|
|---|---|
|
25
|
33
|
|
35
|
23
|
|
45
|
18
|
|
55
|
15
|
(2)
The display or message of any electronic or digital sign shall not
or shall not appear to scroll, flash, undulate, pulse or portray explosions,
fireworks, flashes of light or blinking or chasing lights; the display
shall not appear to move toward or away from the viewer, expand or
contract, bounce, rotate, spin, twist or otherwise portray movement
or animation as it comes onto, is displayed on or leaves the sign
board.
(3)
Electronic or digital signs shall be exempt from the above display time regulations, § 170-12A(1) if it is part of a drive-through menu board of which the display or message is that of a customer's order and the sign is not legible or visible from the public right-of-way.
B.
Location. Electronic or digital signs shall only be permitted in the Commercial or Industrial Districts as defined by § 200-8, Districts established.
C.
Size. The area of a sign face on an electronic or digital sign shall
be restricted as follows:
D.
Brightness. All electronic or digital signs shall be equipped with
automatic brightness level controls to reduce light levels at night,
and under cloudy or other darkened conditions in accordance with the
following:
(1)
All electronic or digital signs shall have installed ambient light
monitors and shall at all times allow such monitor to automatically
adjust the brightness level of the electronic or digital sign based
on ambient light conditions so as to minimize and keep consistent
sign brightness.
(2)
The maximum brightness levels for such signs shall not exceed 5,000
nits when measured from the sign's face at its maximum brightness
during daylight hours.
(3)
The maximum brightness levels for such signs shall not exceed 500
nits when measured from the sign's face at its maximum brightness
between sunset and sunrise, as those times are determined by the National
Weather Service.
(4)
Written certification from the sign manufacturer must be provided
at time of sign permit application certifying that the light intensity
of the sign has been preset not to exceed the illumination levels
established by this section, and that the preset intensity level is
protected from end user manipulation by an approved method such as
password protected software.
(5)
Upon written request from the College Township Zoning Officer, the
electronic or digital sign owner shall have the sign tested to determine
if it does not exceed the acceptable brightness levels for daylight
and night time operation.
E.
All electronic or digital signs shall contain a default design that
will freeze the device and/or message in one position with no more
than a maximum illumination of 500 nits if a malfunction occurs.
