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Part 2 Measurements and Calculations – General Design Standards – Content
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1. Sign clearance. Sign clearance is the distance between the bottom of a sign face or structural element that is not affixed to the ground and the nearest point on the ground-level surface under it. See Figure 7.6(1), Measurement of Sign Clearance.

Figure 7.6(1). Measurement of Sign Clearance

2. Sign height.

a. Generally. In general, for detached signs (temporary and permanent), sign height is the vertical distance to the top of the sign face or sign structure, whichever is higher, measured from the elevation of the average grade around the base of the sign. See Figure 7.6(2)(a), Measurement of Sign Height.

Figure 7.6(2)(a). Measurement of Sign Height

b. Exception where abutting street is significantly higher than property upon which sign is located. If the average grade around the base of the sign is more than two (2) feet lower than the average grade of the abutting street, then the height of the sign shall be measured from the average elevation of the portion of the street that abuts the property upon which the sign is to be installed to the top of the higher of the sign face or sign structure.

Figure 7.6(2)(b). Measurement of Sign Height

3. Sign area.

a. Generally. Sign area is the area within a continuous polygon with up to eight (8) straight sides that completely encloses the limits of text and graphics of a sign, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign’s message from the background against which it is placed.

b. Three (3) dimensional signs. The sign area of signs that include one (1) or more three (3) dimensional objects (i.e., balls, cubes, clusters of objects, sculpture) shall be measured from the cross-section that represents the sign’s maximum projection upon a vertical plane.

c. Inclusions and exclusions. The sign area does not include the structure upon which the sign is placed (unless the structure is an integral part of the display or used to differentiate it), but does include any open space contained within the outer limits of the display face of a sign, or between any component, panel, strip, or figure of any kind composing the display face, whether this open space is enclosed by a frame or border or not. See Figure 7.6(3)(a), Measurement of Sign Area, Generally.

Figure 7.6(3)(a). Measurement of Sign Area, Generally

d. Signs with more than one (1) face. For projecting, suspended, detached, or other signs with more than one (1) face:

(1) Only one (1) sign face is measured if the sign has two (2) faces that are parallel or form an interior angle of less than thirty (30) degrees and the sign faces are mounted on the same structure. If the sign faces are not equal in area, the larger sign face is measured.

(2) The combined area of all sign faces is measured if the sign has three (3) or more faces, or if the sign has two (2) faces and the interior angle between the sign faces is more than thirty (30) degrees. See Figure 7.6(3)(d)(2), Measurement of Sign Area, Double-Faced Signs.

Figure 7.6(3)(d)(2). Measurement of Sign Area, Double-Faced Signs

4. Signable area.

a. Building walls. Signable area is that portion of a building facade that is at least two (2) feet in horizontal and vertical dimension that is uninterrupted by doors, windows or architectural details, upon which a wall-mounted sign is or may be located (except as provided in Section 7.7(6)). Its area is calculated by selecting a continuous facade, then drawing the largest possible imaginary rectangle uninterrupted by and not including doors, windows or architectural details and computing the area of said rectangle. The applicant shall designate signable areas that comply with this Subsection, and such signable areas shall not overlap. Signable areas shall not be redrawn upon subsequent application in a manner that would render existing signage nonconforming. See Figure 7.6(4), Measurement of Signable Area, Building Walls.

Figure 7.6(4). Measurement of Signable Area, Building Walls

b. Awnings and fascia. Signable area with regard to awnings and building fascia is the area of each plane of the awning or fascia.

c. Storage tanks and utility cabinets or pedestals. All parts of storage tanks and utility cabinets or pedestals that are used for optional signage pursuant to Section 7.5(5)(b) are signable. (Ord. 1216 §1 (Exh. A), 2016)