An “A-frame sign”is a temporary sign which is positioned on a sidewalk area and is hinged at the top with support legs spread to form a triangular arrangement.
An “abandoned sign”is a sign which no longer displays the use or name of the business establishment which the sign was approved for or has discontinued the operation and use of the business for a period of six (6) months.
Aggregate Area.The total sign area for all signs on the site shall be calculated for conformance to the area allowed in the category applied for.
“Amortization”means the process by which nonconforming uses and structures must be discontinued or made to conform to requirements of the current zoning ordinance at the end of a specified period of time.
The “area”of a sign is the total square feet of the sign within the border of the outside perimeter or the total area within the outside dimensions of the letters of the sign if there is no outside perimeter. The total area of a sign shall not exceed the size specified in the categories listed in this Chapter.
An “awning”is a roof-like cover extending over the sidewalk area in front of a building that maintains height clearance for pedestrian foot traffic and is structurally secured to the building and/or sidewalk.
An “awning sign”is a hanging sign suspended from the structural supports of the awning cover and conforms to the height clearance and size allowed in the category applied for.
A “bulletin board”is a wall-hung board capable of allowing tacks, pins, or tape to mount notices, advertisements or information.
“Clearance”means the measured distance from the ground, sidewalk, or pavement surface to the lowest point of the sign or sign frame above the surface.
A “comprehensive sign program”is for multiple-tenant buildings. The building may be a commercial or residential complex, structure or center under single ownership.
“Conforming sign”means a sign that is legally installed in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances.
A “corner lot”has two (2) or more street frontages on a public street or road. An open vacant lot or alley adjacent to a building or structure is not a public street or road.
“Flag”means a banner that is the emblem of a governmental agency.
A “flag lot”is a lot that has a small minimum street frontage and where the building or structure is situated behind a narrow access corridor.
“Freestanding sign”means a sign standing alone or on its own foundation free of support or attachment to a building, structure, post, or pole.
A “hanging sign”is any sign hanging from an awning, covered roof, building roof overhang or structural projecting frame over a sidewalk area.
“Height of sign”means the measured distance from the ground, sidewalk, or pavement surface to the highest point on the sign or sign frame above the surface.
“Historic buildings”means any building identified as a historical building, registered State historical building, registered Federal historical building, or building of local significant historical value within the Historic District of the City.
Historical Information Sign (Also Known As Plaques).Any organization or property owner placing an approved City of San Juan Bautista historic plaque on a building indicating historic significance of a site, building, or structure must make an application to the Historic Resources Board. All fees will be exempted for the application and installation.
“Illuminated sign”means any sign that requires some type of lighting element for enhancing or increasing the visibility.
“Illuminated window sign”means any sign that requires some type of lighting element for enhancing or increasing the visibility and is placed within twelve inches (12") of an interior window.
“Internally illuminated sign”means any sign that is internally illuminated by neon, LED (lightemitting diode), fluorescence, mercury vapor, helium, plasma, or cathode gas discharged lights.
“Indemnity”means security against hurt, loss or damage; a promise to pay for the cost of possible damage, loss or injury.
“Kiosk”means a small independent open structure with one (1) or more sides that is used for advertisement, public information, directional assistance or merchandising services.
“Lot”means a parcel of land that is shown on the San Benito County assessor’s map, having an assigned assessor parcel number and fronts on a city street or road.
“Monument sign”means a sign that is freestanding, secured to a concrete foundation that is embedded in the ground, not exceeding six feet (6') in height and fifteen feet (15') in length. The sign identification area shall not be greater than fifteen percent (15%) of the surface area of the monument sign facing the direction of exposure to traffic or visible view.
A “mural”is a picture or representation, in any type of medium, on an exterior surface of a building, structure, fence or garden wall that commemorates local culture or history, tells a story, or celebrates the unique features of our community. All mural designs must be submitted for approval by the Historic Resources Board and the Planning Commission.
A “neon sign”is a gas-filled electrical powered sign that is internally illuminated. A neon sign may be individual letters or bulbs encased in a bordered frame. See “Internally illuminated sign.”
“Nonconforming sign”means a sign legal when erected or installed, but which no longer conforms to sign regulations.
“Nonilluminated sign”means any internal or external sign that does not require electrical power to display the sign’s contents other than natural daytime sunlight.
“Portable sign”means a sign that is not attached or secured to any building, structure or foundation, capable of being relocated or moved and has its own supporting frame.
“Projecting sign”means a sign that is attached to a frame, secured to a building or structure, which projects over the sidewalk area by a frame and is perpendicular to the pedestrian foot traffic.
“San Juan Bautista Design Guidelines”means “...a tool to help implement these plans [the SJB General Plan and Historic San Juan Bautista Preservation and Enhancement Plan] and enhance the community of San Juan Bautista,” as adopted by Resolution No. 2004-09 of the City Council on April 20, 2004, and as may be amended from time to time thereafter.
“San Juan Bautista General Plan”means the document adopted by the City Council in accordance with State Planning and Zoning Law regarding the goals, objectives, and policies for the City. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. “…Intended to promote responsible preservation practices that help protect our Nation’s irreplaceable cultural resources…”
“Sign” or “signage”means a visual communication device, including any structure, display, balloon or graphic used to convey a message to its viewers, including every advertising message, announcement, declaration, insignia, color, surface, or space erected or maintained in view of the observer for identification, advertisement, or promotion of the interests of any person, entity, product or service.
“Special event signs”are allowed for businesses that feature special events at their establishment. The signs are restricted to the size, number of events per year and the period between events during the year. See SJBMC 11-10-060(E).
“Street frontage”means the side or those sides of the building where the main entrance to each business conducted therein is located. For purposes of computing sign area hereunder, no single business may have a main entrance on more than one (1) side of the same building.
A “strobe light”is a high intensity flashing light that emits random and periodical flash rays of light on a recurring basis. Strobe lights located externally or internally on a building shall be strictly prohibited unless an exception is approved by the Planning Commission.
“Wall sign”means any sign that is painted on or attached to an exterior wall of a building conforming to the area specified in the zoning district in which it is located and meeting the California Uniform Codes requirements for attachments.