In an NMU zone, businesses should be identified by an appropriate blend of the six (6) sign types that are permitted hereunder. These include monument, facade mounted, suspended/supported, projecting, awning/canopy and window signs.
A. Character: Sign character will be compatible with the character of surrounding neighborhoods.
B. Material: Wood and similar appearing material, metal, canvaslike materials and window stencil are the materials of preference. Plastic, lexan and other similar appearing materials will be allowed in limited amounts on individual signs. Repetitive use of signs utilizing pan channel letters is not allowed. No plastic face box signs shall be allowed.
C. Exterior Building Signs: All exterior building signs must present the name of the business for that tenant space and may include the business/company logo. The sign may identify products sold or produced by the business. Brand names and logos shall not be allowed in a sign unless they are specifically part of the name/trademark of the business in that tenant space.
D. Address Numbers: Address numbers shall be a maximum of six inches (6") in vertical dimension, but may be larger if required by the city. The location of the address sign shall be in close proximity to the main entrance to the business/tenant space.
1. Light may be cast directly onto the face of the sign by an external light source. In such instances, the light must be focused on the sign face.
2. Halo signs are permitted.
3. Backlighting through routed letters/copy or through the material that comprises the letters/copy in the sign face is permitted as long as the light source is screened from direct view.
4. Exposed neon tubing and/or individual light bulbs forming the sign copy shall not be permitted on any sign. Exposed neon signs shall be permitted inside a business/tenant space but shall not be placed within ten feet (10') of the inside surface of the storefront window.
F. Number: Number of signs permitted per business/tenant space shall be as follows:
1. Highway orientation: Up to two (2) of the six (6) sign types permitted.
2. Parking lot orientation: Up to two (2) of the six (6) sign types permitted.
3. Pedestrian area orientation: Up to three (3) of the six (6) sign types permitted.
G. Prohibited Signs: Handwritten and taped signs to storefronts are prohibited.
H. Temporary Or Promotional Signs: Individual business temporary event, sale or promotional signs are permitted for the duration of the sales event not to exceed thirty (30) days per sales event and four (4) times per year or alternatively in conjunction with planned sales events carried out by a retail business through its system of stores. Such signs shall be located in a window display area and shall not exceed fifteen (15) square feet.
I. Restaurants And Food Service Tenants: Restaurants and food service tenants shall be permitted one freestanding A-frame, signboard, which can be placed on the sidewalk, provided the sign does not interfere with pedestrian movement. The sign shall not exceed two feet (2') in width and three feet (3') in height.
J. Awnings, Canopies: Awnings and canopies are permitted without signs. Once letters and/or graphics are attached, it must comply with the provisions of this regulation.
a. Up to two (2) facade mounted signs are permitted per tenant space with a maximum of one per twenty (20) linear feet of frontage.
b. Restaurants may have one additional facade mounted menu sign, which shall be a maximum of three (3) square feet in area.
a. One pedestrian area oriented projecting sign (shingle) may be attached to a building perpendicular to the facade facing a pedestrian sidewalk.
b. A projecting sign may extend up to four feet (4') from the facade.
c. Projecting signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in size.
d. Projecting signs shall be a minimum of eight feet (8') above any pedestrian walkway.
3. Suspended Or Supported Signs:
a. One pedestrian area oriented suspended sign or more supported sign may be placed so as to be supported by building canopies of other elements near the entrance to the business/tenant space.
b. Signs shall be limited in size to one square foot of sign area for each four (4) linear feet of business/tenant space frontage, not to exceed twenty five (25) square feet in size. Letters will not exceed twelve inches (12") in height.
a. A window sign may be up to eighteen inches (18") in height and four feet (4') wide.
b. A window sign may be stenciled on two (2) windows of the facade on which the sign will be located.
c. Storefront windows and doors shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) square feet of coverage with stickers, credit card decals, hours of operation, etc.
d. There may be one window sign listing the names of tenants of the second floor commercial space near the entrance to the elevator/stairs to the second floor. This sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in size.
e. A second floor tenant may have two (2) stenciled window signs not to exceed six (6) square feet, one with a parking lot orientation and one with a pedestrian area orientation.
a. The vertical drip of an awning or canopy may be stenciled with letters that are up to seven inches (7") in vertical dimension by any length. When the vertical drip of an awning exceeds the vertical dimension of the slope, then it may be stenciled with letters that are up to nine inches (9") in height.
b. The sloped portion of an awning may be stenciled with business logo or graphic representation of nine (9) square feet.
c. All awning or canopy signs shall be constructed of a canvaslike material or architectural metal. Primary colors and glossy finishes on the fabric are not permitted.
6. Entry Arch Sign: An entry arch sign may be permitted for a master planned project, depending on the character and proximity of existing uses in the vicinity of the NMU zone area.
7. Directional And Street Name Signs: Street name identification signs may be provided at key intersections. The street name signs shall be of a design that is compatible with the neighborhood. (Ord. 2006-62, 9-19-2006)