The following definitions are used in this Title:
AWNING
A cloth, plastic, or other nonstructural covering that is
permanently attached to a building or can be raised or retracted to
a position against the building when not in use.
BILLBOARD
A permanent sign in a fixed location advertising products
not made, sold, used or served on the premises where the sign is located
or which provides a noncommercial or informational message.
BLANKETING
The unreasonable obstruction of view of a sign caused by
the placement of another sign.
CANOPY
A structure other than an awning made of cloth, metal or
other material with frames affixed to a building and carried by a
frame that may extend into a setback or over the public sidewalk.
CHANGEABLE COPY
Copy that changes at intervals of more than once every six
seconds.
COMMERCIAL
Proposing or otherwise encouraging one or more commercial
transactions.
DAY
A day shall be designated as a period of time in terms of
calendar days.
DIGITAL BILLBOARD
Any billboard sign utilizing LCD, LED or similar electronic
technology, capable of changing the static message or copy on the
sign electronically.
DYNAMIC ELEMENT
Any characteristic of a sign that appears to have movement
or that appears to change, caused by any method other than physically
removing and replacing the sign face or its components, whether the
apparent movement or change is in the sign, the sign structure itself,
or any component of the sign. This definition includes a display that
incorporates a technology or method allowing the sign face to change
the image without having to replace the sign face or its components
physically or mechanically. This definition also includes any graphic
that incorporates rotating panels, LED lights manipulated through
digital input, digital ink or any other method or technology that
allows the sign face to present a series of images or displays.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER SIGN
Any sign whose message may be changed by electronic process,
including such messages as copy, art, graphics, time, date, temperature,
weather or information concerning civic, charitable or the advertising
of products or services for sale.
EXTERNAL ILLUMINATION
Illumination of a sign that is affected by an artificial
source of light not contained within the sign.
FACADE
The side of a building below the eaves.
FLAG
Flag means any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive
colors, patterns or symbols and is attached to a pole and which is
intended to be permanently affixed to the ground or attached to a
building.
GOVERNMENT SIGN
A sign that is constructed, placed or maintained by the federal,
state or local government or a sign that is required to be constructed,
placed or maintained by the federal, state or local government either
directly or to enforce a property owner's rights.
GROUND/FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign supported by one or more uprights, posts, or bases
placed upon or affixed in the ground and not attached to any part
of a building. It includes pole graphics and monument graphics.
HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from grade at the edge of
the adjacent right-of-way to the highest point of the sign. (The height
of any monument sign base or other structure erected to support or
adorn the sign is measured as part of the sign height.)
ILLUMINATION
A source of any artificial or reflective light, either directly
from a source of light incorporated in or indirectly from an artificial
source, so shielded that no direct illumination from it is visible
elsewhere than on and in the immediate vicinity of the sign.
INDIRECT ILLUMINATION
A source of external illumination, located away from the
sign, that lights the sign, but which is itself not visible to persons
viewing the sign from any street, sidewalk, or adjacent property.
INTEGRAL SIGN
A sign that is embedded, extruded or carved into the material
of a building wall facade.
INTERNAL ILLUMINATION
A light source that is concealed or contained within the
sign and becomes visible in darkness through a translucent surface.
MARQUEE
A permanent structure other than a roof attached to, supported
by, and projecting from a building and providing protection from the
elements.
MONUMENT GRAPHIC
A ground/freestanding sign permanently affixed to the ground
at its base, supported entirely by a base structure made of a decorative
feature of brick, wood, metal or other material which is intended
to serve as an entry feature or focal point.
MULTITENANT COMPLEX
A grouping of two or more business establishments that either
share common parking on the parcel where they are located or that
occupy a single structure or separate structures that are physically
or functionally related or attached. Multitenant signs are encouraged
to market shopping center destinations rather than individual businesses.
Sign regulations are based upon the applicable zoning district in
which they are located.
NIT
A photometric unit of measurement referring to luminescence.
One nit is equal to one cd/m2 (candela per square meter).
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any sign that was lawfully established or installed prior
the adoption or amendment of this Title and was in compliance with
all of the provisions of this Title then in effect, but which does
not presently comply with this Title.
OCCUPANT
A use/business establishment located in a multitenant building
or complex.
PARCEL
A lot, tract, plot or portion of a subdivision or other parcel
of land in single ownership and not divided by a public right-of-way,
so long as such area of land complies with the City of Onalaska Code
of Ordinances. The terms "lot" or "tract" may also refer to a parcel.
PEAK
The highest point on a roof or the highest point on another
architectural element that blocks the rear view of a sign.
POLE SIGN
A freestanding sign that is permanently supported in a fixed
location by a structure of poles, uprights, or braces from the ground
and not supported by a building or base structure.
PORTABLE SIGN
A structure without a permanent foundation or otherwise permanently
attached to a fixed location, which can be carried, towed, hauled
or driven and is primarily designed to be moved rather than be limited
to a fixed location regardless of modifications that limit its movability.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign attached to and projecting from the wall of a building.
RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW)
A sidewalk, curb, street, alley, bike path or lane, or other
similar public improvement located in a public right-of-way normally
used for the travel of pedestrians, motor vehicles, bicycles or like
vehicles.
ROOF SIGN
A sign that is displayed above the eaves and under the peak
of a building.
SHOPPING CENTER
A commercial development under unified control consisting
of two or more separate commercial establishments sharing a common
building, or which are in separate buildings that share a common entranceway
or parking area.
SIGN
Any structure that has a visual display of a name, identification,
description or illustration, visible from a public right-of-way, which
is affixed to, painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon
a building or other outdoor surface which directs attention to or
is designed or intended to direct attention to the sign face or to
an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization
or business. Signs located completely within an enclosed building
and not exposed to view from a street shall not be considered a sign.
SIZE
The total area of the face that is used to display a sign
not including its support poles or structures.
STRUCTURE
Anything built that requires a permanent or temporary location.
This term includes a building
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign intended to be displayed for a transitory or temporary
period that are portable or not permanently embedded in the ground
or not permanently affixed to a building or sign structure and are
constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, plastic sheet, cardboard, wallboard,
plywood or other like materials.
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE
A sign, signal, marking or other device placed on or adjacent
to a public right-of-way or private street, parking lot or highway
to regulate, warn or guide traffic.
WALL SIGN
A sign painted on or attached to a wall of a structure and
in the same plane as the wall and presented in an orientation that
is parallel to the roadway projecting.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign applied, painted, or affixed to the exterior window
of a building.