10.1700 Signs in Community Commercial District (C-C) and Heavy Commercial District (C-H, and Regional Commercial District (C-R): Basic Regulations.
Signs shall be permitted as follows in the C-C, C-R, and C-H districts:
(1) Ground Signs: Each parcel of land is permitted one ground sign per street frontage, subject to the following limitations:
(a) Maximum Height: 20 feet
(b) Maximum Square Footage: 150 square feet per sign
(c) Minimum Setback: Shall not project into public right-of-way
(d) Electronic Message Signs are permitted as a ground sign subject to the following limitations:
(i) Each parcel of land is permitted one (1) electronic message sign if the sign is 150 feet or farther from any residential zoning district.
(ii) All text displayed on an electronic message sign must be static for a minimum of five seconds. The continuous scrolling of text is prohibited. This restriction shall not apply to animated images and images which move, or give the appearance of movement.
(iii) All electronic message signs shall have automatic dimming capabilities that adjust the brightness to the ambient light at all times of day and night.
(iv) The conversion of an existing, conforming ground sign to an electronic message sign is permitted.
(v) The conversion of an existing, nonconforming ground sign to an electronic message sign is prohibited.
(2) Wall Signs: Wall signs are permitted, subject to the following limitations:
(a) Principal Facade: The aggregate area of all signs shall not exceed one and one-half square feet for each linear foot of business frontage, except if the building is set back more than 20 feet from the right-of-way, in which case the aggregate area of all signs shall not exceed two square feet for each linear foot of business frontage. No part of any sign shall be higher than the building height as defined in Section 10.705.
(b) Secondary Facade: The aggregate area of all signs shall be limited in area to two square feet for each linear foot of business frontage and shall be placed flat against the building supporting the sign. No part of any sign shall be higher than the building height as defined in Section 10.705.
(c) Electronic Message Signs are permitted as a primary or secondary facade wall sign subject to the following limitations:
(i) The electronic message sign must be 150 feet, or farther, from any residential zoning district.
(ii) All text displayed on an electronic message sign must be static for a minimum of five seconds. The continuous scrolling of text is prohibited. This restriction shall not apply to animated images and images which move, or give the appearance of movement.
(iii) All electronic message signs shall have automatic dimming capabilities that adjust the brightness to the ambient light at all times of day and night.
(iv) The conversion of an existing, conforming wall sign to an electronic message sign is permitted.
(v) The conversion of an existing, nonconforming wall sign to an electronic message sign is prohibited.
(3) Projecting Signs: No sign shall project more than 18 inches into the public right-of-way except under the following conditions:
(a) The building is set back less than two feet from public right-of-way, and
(b) The sign is less than 25 square feet in area.
(c) No part of any sign shall be higher than the building height as defined in Section 10.705.
(4) Awning/Canopy/Marquee Signs: All such signs shall be assessed against the aggregate wall signage for the facade.
(5) Shopping Center Sign: In the case of shopping areas which are developed as a unit with common parking areas, one ground sign per vehicular access on a public street is permitted on the premises of a shopping center. The size of the ground signs shall be determined as follows: For shopping centers with less than 300,000 square feet of gross floor area, one sign may be up to 150 square feet in area and 20 feet in height. For shopping centers that contain or have master site plan approval for a gross floor area between 300,000 square feet and 500,000 square feet, one sign may be up to 200 square feet in area each and 35 feet in height. For shopping centers that contain or have master site plan approval for a gross floor area that exceeds 500,000 square feet, two signs may be up to 200 square feet in area each and 35 feet in height, but no less than 1,000 feet apart. Each additional ground sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in area and 12 feet in height. The shopping center ground signs allowed by this subsection (5) are in lieu of all other ground signs permitted in the zoning district, as listed under the Basic Regulations in Subsection (1) of this section. Such signs shall not project into public right-of-way. Shopping center signs are permitted as electronic message signs subject to the criteria contained in Section 10.1700(1)(d).