In construing the intended meaning of the terminology used in
this Part 2, the following rules shall be observed:
A.Â
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in § 302-2.6; terms not defined in § 302-2.6 shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in the Zoning Ordinance of the City; if any term is not defined either in § 302-2.6 or in the Zoning Ordinance of the City, the term shall have the meaning ascribed to it by Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary.
B.Â
Words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the
feminine and neuter genders.
C.Â
Words used in the present tense shall include the future tense.
D.Â
Words used in the singular number shall include the plural number,
and the plural the singular.
E.Â
The word "shall" is mandatory; the word "may" is discretionary.
F.Â
The term "the City" means the City of Columbia, Illinois.
G.Â
The word "person" means any individual, firm, partnership, unincorporated
association or private or public corporation.
H.Â
All distances shall be measured to the nearest integral foot; six
inches or more shall be deemed to be one foot.
I.Â
References to sections shall be deemed to include all subsections
within that section; but a reference to a particular subsection designates
only that subsection.
J.Â
A general term that follows or is followed by enumeration of specific
terms shall not be limited to the enumerated class unless expressly
limited.
[Amended 1998 by Ord. No. 1705; 5-20-2002 by Ord. No. 2055; 2-17-2003 by Ord. No.
2144; 5-1-2006 by Ord. No. 2458; 11-2-2006 by Ord. No. 2513]
As used in this Part 2, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The Building Official of the City or his or her duly authorized
representative.
To change the size, shape, height or other physical characteristics
of a street graphic.
A change in the provisions of this Part 2, properly effected
in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.
The elimination of nonconforming street graphics over time
in accordance with the schedule set forth in this Part 2.
A procedure whereby any person aggrieved by any decision
or order of the administrator in any matter related to the interpretation
or enforcement of this Part 2 may seek relief from the City Council.
Any rooflike structure made of cloth, metal or other material
attached to a building and erected over window, doorway or other openings
in a building in such manner as to permit its being raised or retracted
to a position against the building when not in use.
Any single- or double-faced street graphic that is permanently
fixed or placed on real estate premises or improvements and that is
used for the display of a message or advertising not associated with
the establishment located on the premises. A billboard typically has
provisions for changing the message or advertisement thereon.
The lineal extent of the building facing a street or public
way, or the lineal extent of a building facing a public parking area
if the building does not abut a street; except that:
If a building has lot frontage on two intersecting streets,
the total building frontage shall be the lineal distance measured
along the building line of the lot on each of the two intersecting
streets;
If a building has lot frontage on two streets which do not intersect,
the total building frontage of the building shall be the lineal distance
measured along the building line of the lot on the street on which
the building on the lot faces (or if there is no building on the lot,
then on the street containing the shorter lineal distance); and
If a building is visible from the right-of-way of an interstate
highway, the extent or boundary of the building line on the lot that
is parallel to the highway shall not be considered building frontage
unless the building does not have access to any other street, public
way or parking lot.
A rooflike structure similar to an awning, except that it
cannot be raised or retracted to a position against the building.
A sign or portion of a larger sign whereon different messages
are displayed, including but not necessarily limited to public service
messages, advertising for the business or businesses on site, etc.,
and which has provision for changing the individual numbers, letters,
or symbols in the message manually only with no electronic components.
A monument sign used to identify a commercial zoned building
complex/development. The sign is located on the common ground of the
building development complex.
A legally binding order to effect compliance with this Part
2, issued by the administrator in accordance with the procedures set
forth herein.
A sign or portion of a larger sign whereon different messages
are displayed, including but not necessarily limited to public service
messages, advertising for the business or businesses on site, projection
of on-site activities in real time, time, and temperature, etc., and
which has provision for changing the message thereon electronically.
Such signs shall include those devices that display information using
panels of individual lamps, rotating panels, liquid crystal displays
(or similar technology) or rear projection screens.
Either of the following:
An institutional, business, commercial or industrial activity
that is carried on or performed in one or more buildings; or
An institutional, business, commercial or industrial activity
that occupies a portion of a building such that:
The activity is a logical and separate entity from the other
activities within the building and not a department of the whole;
and
The activity has either a separate entrance from the exterior
of the building or a separate entrance from a common and clearly defined
entryway that has direct access to the exterior of the building.
Any sign attached to or erected against any wall, with the
exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the
plane of the wall and not projected more than six inches out or away
from the wall. Such signs shall not be painted directly on any exterior
wall.
Any sign supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces
placed in or upon the ground in a permanent manner.
The lineal extent of the lot abutting a street or public
way, or the lineal extent of a lot abutting a public parking area
if the lot does not have street frontage; except that:
If a lot has frontage on two intersecting streets, the total
frontage shall be the lineal distance measured along the right-of-way
line of the two intersecting streets;
If a lot has frontage on two streets which do not intersect,
the total frontage of the lot shall be the lineal distance measured
along the right-of-way of the street on which the building on the
lot faces (or if there is no building on the lot, then on the street
containing the shorter lineal distance); and
If a lot adjoins the right-of-way of an interstate highway,
the extent or boundary of the lot abutting the highway shall not be
considered frontage unless the lot does not have access to any other
street, public way or parking lot.
A sign as a numerical component of a permitted freestanding,
flush-mounted, or monument sign that depicts the current price only
of automotive fuel sold by the establishment. In such cases where
digital price signs are utilized, such signs shall be constant in
nature, and shall not travel, flash, inverse, write-on, up or down
scroll, roll, grow, melt, x-ray, twinkle, snow, or otherwise change
their nature.
Any tract or parcel of land which is a single unit for the
purpose (whether present or future) of development and which is under
one ownership. The term "lot" may or may not be synonymous with "lot
of record."
The lineal extent of the lot abutting a street or public
way, or the lineal extent of a lot abutting a public parking area
if the lot does not have street frontage; except that:
If a lot has frontage on two intersecting streets, the total
frontage shall be the lineal distance measured along the right-of-way
line of the two intersecting streets that is adjacent to the lot frontage;
If a lot has frontage on two streets which do not intersect,
the total frontage of the lot shall be the lineal distance measured
along the right-of-way of the street on which the building on the
lot faces (or if there is no building on the lot, then on the street
containing the shorter lineal distance); and
If a lot adjoins the right-of-way of an interstate highway,
the extent or boundary of the lot abutting the highway shall not be
considered frontage unless the lot does not have access to any other
street, public way or parking lot.
Any canopy made of durable materials that is a permanent
fixture of the building to which it is attached.
A communication of identification or advertising information
visually perceived. Communications may consist of words, abbreviations,
numbers, symbols, pictures, geometric shapes, etc.
Any street graphic not designed to be presently attached
to a building or part thereof or to be permanently anchored to the
ground. Such street graphic primarily includes, but is not limited
to, signs attached to wood or metal frames designed to be self-supporting
and movable; paper, cardboard or canvas signs wrapped around supporting
poles, etc.
A freestanding type of sign in which the entire bottom of
the sign is generally in contact with or in close proximity to the
ground. It is not attached to a building but is erected upon or supported
by the ground, a ground planter box, or similar low support structure.
The total height of a monument sign measured from the surface of the
ground at the highest elevation closest to the base of the sign to
the top of the sign shall not exceed six lineal feet.
Any sign, street graphic, or other informational display
controlled by this Part 2 and which existed on the effective date
of the ordinance codified in this Part 2 which does not comply with
the regulations set forth in this Part 2.
Any street graphic which existed on the effective date of
the ordinance codified in this Part 2 which does not comply with the
regulations set forth herein.
Signs identifying or advertising goods, products, services,
a business, or a person not located on the premises where the sign
is installed and maintained.
Any lot and all of the structures, improvements and uses
located thereon or thereat.
Any sign which is supported by an exterior wall of a building
or suspended beneath any awning, canopy or marquee, with the exposed
face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel or perpendicular
to the plane of the wall, awning, canopy or marquee and projecting
more than six inches out or away from the wall, awning, canopy or
marquee, including any awning, canopy or marquee where graphics are
displayed thereon or therefrom.
To re-erect a street graphic after it has been damaged or
destroyed.
To move a street graphic to another portion of the premises
or to different premises.
To substitute a street graphic for an existing street graphic.
Real estate owned by the City or any other unit of government
which is dedicated for street, alley or other public travel uses and
purposes.
The edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever
forms the top line of the building silhouette, on the side of the
building where the street graphic is located.
Any sign erected or maintained on the roof of any building.
Any sign identifying a building or a group of buildings that
provides common off-street parking facilities and that is occupied
by three or more retail establishments. The identification sign shall
identify the name of the complex as the most prominent and topmost
message.
Any object, device, display or structure or part thereof
that is used to advertise, identify, display or attract attention
to any object, person, institution, organization, business, product,
service or event, whether or not related to the premises on which
the sign is situated, by any means, including words, letters, figures,
designs, symbols, fixtures, colors or illumination.
The area of the one imaginary square or rectangle that would
completely enclose all parts of a sign, including the background.
The total of the areas of all signs which a particular establishment
is permitted to display under the terms of this Part 2.
See "frontage."
Any on-premises identification or advertising sign, or any
billboard or off-premises advertising sign, visible from the public
right-of-way or from any parking area used by the general public.
A permit issued by the administrator to regulate the erection,
expansion, alteration, relocation or reconstruction of street graphics
in all parts of the City.
A relaxation of the requirements of this Part 2 that are
applicable to a particular street graphic.
Any sign visible from the exterior of a building which is
painted on, affixed to, or suspended immediately in front of or behind
a window. A permanent window sign is one that is displayed for 30
days or more. A temporary window sign is one that is displayed for
30 days or less.
