Merton Village City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Signs
§ 250-43 Purpose and intent.
All signs erected or modified within the Village of Merton shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Article VI and any amendments thereto which may hereafter be adopted by the Village. The intent of this article is to provide for and regulate the location and construction of signs and to ensure that they are compatible with surrounding land uses and that signs express the identity of individual proprietors and the community as a whole.
§ 250-44 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply to words, terms and phrases, as used within this article.
Proactive measures are being taken to connect and engage with potential customers, which may include listing with a real estate agent, publishing advertisements in a newspaper or other print publications, or engaging in online advertising activities, such as posting on a website; and
These actions are repeated, updated, and modified regularly to continue to seek engagement with potential purchasers. The mere fact of placing a sign on a lot does not itself demonstrate that the property is being actively marketed.
A sign carrying advertising or information to the public. A directory-type sign with changeable copy carrying advertising or information for the public in conjunction with government functions, religious institutions or schools.
Any property with an assigned zoning district of HD Historic Downtown Business District or B-1 Neighborhood Business District.
Sign legend or message.
A sign whose purpose is to indicate the presence of a residential subdivision or multifamily development.
A sign or a portion thereof that identifies the names of tenants in a multitenant building or a development made up of a group of buildings advertising two or more businesses on the same property. The directory sign shall be part of a freestanding ground or pole sign located on the same property of the tenants so identified on the sign.
A sign which has two readable areas, placed back-to-back.
A portion of a permitted sign referring to any type of programmable sign, with an electronic display or changeable copy.
A sign which has lights which operate in a pulsating or intermittent manner.
Any sign that is owned, operated, or required by a governmental entity having jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, the signs designated in this article as government signs, and signs that are required by applicable laws. Such signs include signs on municipally-owned vehicles, official traffic, fire and police signs, signals, devices, and markings of the State of Wisconsin and the Village or other public authorities, or posted notices required by law.
A sign designed to give forth or reflect artificial light from a light source incorporated in the sign or indirectly from another light source.
Any property with an assigned zoning district of I-1 Limited Industrial District.
A sign not intended to be temporary (see "temporary sign"), and advertising or promoting a use not conducted on the parcel where the sign is located, excluding on-premises signs.
A small sign placed directly onto the ground or surrounding surface with the purpose of directing customers, visitors or deliveries to a node or landmark on the same property on which the sign is located.
A sign intended to be displayed and permanent in place for the duration of the permit use, and which is not a temporary or promotional sign. Examples of permanent signs may include but are not limited to freestanding signs, pole signs, wall-supported signs and projecting signs.
Any structure without a permanent foundation or not 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. The sign copy area of a portable sign may be double-sided.
Any property with an assigned zoning district of P-1 Public and Semi-Public District.
Any property with an assigned zoning district of any of the residential districts, the R-1 Residential District, the R-2 Residential District, the R-3 Residential District, the R-4 Multifamily District, and any detached single-family dwelling within the A-1 Agricultural District.
Land covered by a public road or sidewalk, either owned by the federal, state or local government.
A two-sided portable sign constructed of wood, metal or similar rigid and durable material displayed outside and near the main building entrance of a business to temporarily identify a product or service, a special sale item or a special sales event of the on-site business. The sandwich board sign is two individual sign surfaces connected at a pivot point at the top of the sign surfaces so that each sign surface can support itself and be placed on a flat solid surface in the form of an inverted "v" shape.
The shortest lineal distance measured from the public right-of-way to the structure.
Any words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, trade names, or trademarks by which anything is made known, which are used to advertise or promote an individual, firm, association, corporation, profession, business, commodity, or product, and which are visible from any public street or highway.
That area of copy enclosed by one continuous line, connecting the extreme points or edges of a sign face. The area shall be determined using the largest sign area or silhouette visible at any one time from any point. This area includes ornamental attachments but does not include the main supporting sign structure.
A nonilluminated identification sign affixed flat to the surface of an awning and not extending vertically or horizontally beyond the limits of such awning.
A sign suspended from or forming part of a canopy or marquee and which does not extend horizontally beyond the limits of such canopy or marquee.
Any sign that is supported by a pole or pylon and is independent from any building.
Collectively, freestanding and monument signs.
A sign independent from any building that has a structural base of not less than 75% of the width of the sign face. (Ex.: A sign with a face eight feet wide would require a structural base of six feet or more in length.)
A sign, other than a wall sign, attached to or supported by a building or structure and projecting more than 12 inches from the face of the building or structure.
A sign erected on or over the roof of a building.
A sign that is attached to a wall of a building, projects not more than 12 inches from such wall, and does not extend above the ceiling line of the top floor of the building.
A sign painted on or affixed inside a window.
Any major alteration to a sign, but not including routine maintenance, painting or change of copy of an existing sign.
A sign or other advertising device pertaining to a promotion or an event of a fixed and limited time that identifies a brief, commercial- or business-related, local or seasonal activity, without a permanent foundation or not otherwise permanently attached to a fixed location. A temporary sign is further subject to the standards of this article for temporary signs. A temporary sign may include but is not limited to real estate signs advertising actively marketed land or property available for purchase, election/political signs, noncommercial sales of personal property such as rummage sale and garage sale signs, agricultural farm stand signs, special program of a public institution or special community event signs, grand opening signs, and employment and help wanted signs.
A sign displaying the time and temperature.
A contiguous business- or industrial-zoned property of at least one acre in size consisting of a single building or group of buildings containing a variety of business establishments and having a common identification and with privately owned access and parking facilities available to use by customers of the business or businesses located on the subject site.
A vehicle or trailer sign is a temporary, promotional or permanent sign affixed, painted on, or placed in or on any vehicle, trailer or other device capable of being driven or towed, which is displayed in public view so that the primary purpose is to attract the attention of the public, rather than the vehicle or trailer to serve the business of the owner thereof in a manner which is customary for said vehicle or trailer for transportation or carrying of materials.
The person or team of individuals assigned by the Village Board to ensure compliance with this Article VI and other applicable Village codes through review and issuance of permits, inspections and code enforcement, pertaining to signs.
§ 250-45 General sign regulations.
The following general signs regulations shall apply to all signs within the Village of Merton.
A.
Sign permit required. All signs to be located, erected, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, converted, or structurally altered shall conform to the requirements of this article. All such signs shall require a permit (see Subsection B of this section for permit procedures), except those signs specifically exempted by § 250-47. The authority to approve, deny or conditionally approve sign permits rests with the Plan Commission, following receipt of a recommendation by the Zoning Administrator. The Plan Commission may grant a special exception to the dimensional requirements of § 250-48A if consistent with the purpose of this chapter as set forth in § 250-2.
B.
Sign permit procedures. Applications for sign permits shall be made on forms provided by the Zoning Administrator and shall contain or have attached the following information, unless the need for the item is waived in writing by the Zoning Administrator.
(1)
Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant.
(2)
Location of the building, structure or lot where the sign will be located.
(3)
Name of the person, firm, corporation, or association erecting the sign.
(4)
Written consent of the owners or lessee of the building, structure or land to which or upon which the sign is to be affixed.
(5)
A scale drawing of the sign indicating the dimensions, the materials to be used, the type of illumination, if any, and the method of construction and attachment.
(6)
A scale drawing indicating the location and position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings or structures.
(7)
A fee in accordance with the current Village fee schedule shall be payable to the Village Treasurer to defray the Village's cost of administration, investigation, and review.
(8)
Copies of any other permits required and issued for said sign, such as an electrical permit for an illuminated sign.
(9)
Additional information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator or Village Plan Commission.
C.
Sign permit filing. Sign permit applications shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator, who shall review the application for its completeness and accuracy. The Zoning Administrator shall make a recommendation to the Plan Commission and forward the application for their consideration. The Plan Commission shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application within 60 days of receipt, unless the time is extended by written agreement with the applicant. A sign permit shall become null and void if work authorized under the permit has not been completed within six months of the date of issuance. If the sign permit filing is denied by the Plan Commission because the proposed sign does not conform to standards within this Article VI or any other applicable code, the Zoning Administrator shall inform the application of the reason(s) for denial of said permit in writing with 10 days of denial.
D.
Measuring sign display. In calculating the sign display area to determine whether it meets the requirements of this article, the Building Inspector shall include the sign copy and any border or frame surrounding that copy. Supporting members of a sign shall be excluded from the sign display area calculation. Sign display area of irregular-shaped signs or signs containing two or more detached elements shall be determined by the area of the smallest regular polygon that will encompass all elements of the sign.
E.
Facing. No sign, except those exempted by § 250-47 and those approved for construction in the HD Historic Downtown District, shall be permitted to face any residential district within 60 feet of its boundary or to face any residential property in the HD Historic Downtown District.
F.
Lighting and color. Signs shall not resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form, or color of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. Signs shall not obstruct or interfere with the effectiveness of railroad or traffic signs, signals, or devices. Signs shall not be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress to any door, window or fire escape, and no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape. Signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct or interfere with traffic visibility, nor be lighted in such a way as to cause glare otherwise impair driver visibility upon public streets. Signs may be illuminated but shall not be flashing.
G.
Audible component. No sign shall be permitted to contain any audible component.
H.
Off-premises signs prohibited. Off-premises signs are not allowed or permitted. Only signs which carry advertisements strictly incidental to a lawful use of the premises on which they are located are permitted. Permitted signs indicate the business transacted, services rendered, or goods sold or produced on the premises, or the name of the business, person, firm or corporation occupying the premises.
I.
Sign construction and maintenance standards.
(1)
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All signs and other advertising structures shall be designed and constructed to withstand wind pressure of not less than 20 pounds per square foot of area.
(2)
Protection of the public. The temporary occupancy of a sidewalk or street or other public property during construction, removal, repair, alteration, or maintenance of a sign is permitted, provided the space occupied is roped off, fenced off, or otherwise isolated.
(3)
Maintenance. The owner of any sign shall keep it in good maintenance and repair, which includes restoring, repainting, or replacement of a worn or damaged legal conforming sign to its original condition, and shall maintain the premises on which the sign is erected in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition, free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish, weeds and grass.
(4)
Supporting members or braces. Supporting members or braces of all signs shall be constructed of galvanized iron, properly-treated wood, steel, copper, brass, or other noncorrosive, fire-resistant material. Every means or device used for attaching any sign shall make use of sound engineering practices.
(5)
Sign placement for fire safety. No signs or any part thereof or sign anchors, braces, or guy rods shall be attached, fastened, or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder, or standpipe and no such sign or any part of any anchor, brace or guy rod shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to hinder or prevent ingress or egress through such door, doorway, or window or so as to hinder or prevent the raising or placing of ladders against such building by the Fire Department of the Village, as necessity may require.
(6)
Sign placement for visibility. A sign shall not be located within any vision setback as required by this chapter.
J.
Sign illumination and nuisance prevention. Illumination of all signs permitted in the Village must conform to the following restrictions:
(1)
Signs which are internally illuminated shall not face adjacent lands which are zoned for, or used as, single-family or duplex use.
(2)
Signs shall not resemble, imitate or approximate traffic or railroad signs, signals or devices; shall not cause glare, mislead or confuse traffic, or impair driver visibility on public ways, private roadways, or adjoining properties; shall not be flashing, revolving, blinking, strobe or animated, except for the display of the time and temperature as approved by the Village Plan Commission.
(3)
No illuminating elements of any kind may be visually exposed.
(4)
Signs shall conform to the requirements of Ch. SPS 316, Wis. Adm. Code (National Electrical Code).
(5)
Signs shall not be constructed, operated, or maintained so as to constitute a nuisance to adjoining properties, or materially affect or detract from the value of the adjoining properties.
K.
Electronic message centers. Electronic message centers, as defined, shall be allowed, with the following standards:
(1)
The electronic message center shall be a portion of a ground sign or a wall-supported sign providing other sign copy, such as the name of a business. The electronic message center can be a directory sign advertising multiple businesses located on the same property as the subject sign or as an allowed shared frontage sign.
(2)
The electronic message center shall not provide images that flash, revolve, blink, strobe or are animated or any other traveling messages or similar actions that convey motion.
(3)
The electronic message center may provide the display of time and temperature.
(4)
The electronic message center informational cycle shall be no shorter than 10 seconds.
(5)
The electronic message center shall be equipped with photosensitive equipment which automatically adjusts the brightness and contrast in relation to the ambient outdoor illumination. At no time shall the sign brightness cause glare or temporary blindness to drivers of vehicles along the abutting right-of-way. The sign owner shall adjust the brightness and contrast to an acceptable level if so directed by the Building Inspector.
L.
Unified business center master sign plan. The owner of a unified business center may request a deviation or deviations from sign size and number of signs standards of § 250-48 by submitting a master sign plan for the entire site for Plan Commission approval under site plan and architectural review standards and procedures. Deviations shall be requested in accordance to the procedures for a special exception pursuant to § 250-55 and may be applied to wall signs, projecting signs or ground signs that include wall signs, or projecting signs located on a building with multiple tenants, or the amount of area on a ground sign applied to a tenant, for example. In approving the deviations via a special exception, the Plan Commission approval shall adhere to the purpose and intent statement of this Article VI and may apply conditions. The approved master sign plan shall become the regulations for permanent permitted signs for the unified business center until terminated or amended, and the signs shall conform to all other applicable standards of this Article VI.
§ 250-46 Prohibited signs.
The following sign types are prohibited.
A.
Off-premises signs. An off-premises sign, as defined, is prohibited.
B.
Roof sign. A roof sign, as defined, is prohibited except in the I-1 Limited Industrial District.
C.
Vehicle or trailer sign. A vehicle or trailer sign, as defined, is prohibited.
D.
Parking of advertising vehicles. No person shall park any vehicle or trailer on a public right-of-way or public property or on private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the sole purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property of any premises. This section is not intended to prohibit any form of vehicular signage, such as a sign attached to a bus or lettered on a motor vehicle and not used as regulated above, nor is this section intended to prohibit advertising of personally owned vehicles offered from the private property of the vehicle owner or owner's immediate family.
E.
Signs on utility poles. No signs, temporary or permanent, shall be affixed to utility poles, except for government signs.
F.
Permanent signs on residential-zoned properties. Any permanent sign or signs on residential-zoned properties are prohibited, except as allowed with an approved home occupation or a permanent development identification sign.
§ 250-47 Signs allowed in all zoning districts without permit.
A.
Temporary signs without a permit. Temporary signs, as defined, and as regulated below, are allowed without a permit. Types of temporary signs may include a portable sign, a banner, a flag or any sign consisting of wood, plastic, vinyl or any other sturdy and durable material with posts securing the sign to the ground. If the standards below are more restrictive than State of Wisconsin statutes for election/political signs, then state law applies.
(1)
Temporary signs on any property shall be allowed for a maximum period of six months and a maximum duration of six months in any calendar year, unless the Zoning Administrator approves of a temporary sign time frame extension if requested in writing by property owner or sign owner with justification indicating the need and the length of time for the extension. The Zoning Administrator shall grant the extension if all required standards for a temporary sign are met. Only one extension shall be granted at a maximum of six months. The following exceptions to these time limitations apply:
(a)
Signs on property under construction. Temporary signs are permitted in any district for the duration of a building permit, where a building permit is in effect and construction is occurring.
(b)
Signs on property marketed for sale for lease. Temporary signs may remain on a property for all time that the property is actively marketed, as defined herein, for sale or lease. Whether the property is being actively marketed for sale or lease shall be subject to the determination of the Zoning Administrator. The sign must be removed no later than 10 calendar days after the marketing of the property is concluded. The total sign area requirements of the district in which the sign is located shall apply.
(c)
Signs on property under development. Temporary signs may remain on a property under some circumstances while the property is under development, subject to the following limitations. A sign permit is required for any such sign. Such sign shall be treated as a permanent sign for purposes of permitting, but shall remain a temporary sign for purposes of removal once the approval expires. Such signs may remain on the lot for one year following the date the sign permit is granted, unless otherwise restricted in the grant of the sign permit. Prior to expiration of the sign permit or an extension thereof, upon request of the owner or developer, the Plan Commission may extend the sign permit for successive periods of up to one year each, if the Plan Commission finds the development is actively proceeding and the sign is not otherwise in violation of the standards of this Article VI. The sign must be removed no later than 30 calendar days following the expiration of the permit unless specified otherwise by the Plan Commission. The total sign area requirements of the district in which the sign is located shall apply, except as follows: if during the process of development the property is rezoned, the sign area calculations of the original zoning district shall continue to apply for the duration of the development; and if the property being developed includes multiple contiguous parcels, the calculation of sign area shall include all such contiguous parcels as though they were one parcel.
(2)
A temporary sign on residential zoned property shall not exceed 12 square feet per temporary sign, and only one temporary sign is permitted on properties up to one acre in size, and only two temporary signs are permitted on properties one acre in size or larger.
(3)
A temporary sign on business- or industrial-zoned property shall not exceed 32 square feet per temporary sign, and only one temporary sign is permitted on properties up to one acre in size, and only two temporary signs are permitted on properties one acre in size or larger.
(4)
A temporary sign shall not be located within any public right-of-way. Any Village official shall be allowed to remove any temporary sign located within any public right-of-way without notification of the sign owner.
(5)
A temporary sign shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from any property line, except if the temporary sign is placed on the front facade of a building.
(6)
A temporary sign shall not be located within any vision setback area as required by this chapter.
(7)
A temporary sign shall be safely secured to the ground or building to prevent damage to persons or property during high wind occurrences.
(8)
A temporary sign shall be placed on a property with approval of the property owner.
(9)
A temporary sign shall be properly maintained to be not torn or tattered and readable at all times.
B.
Permanent signs without a permit. Certain permanent signs are allowed without a permit in accordance with the categories listed below. However, any of the following categories of signs that are illuminated may require an electrical permit and shall comply with the standards of illumination of this Article VI.
(1)
Property address numbers assigned by the Village or of a design approved by the Building Inspector that are required to be placed on every principal structure or as designated by the Village in clear view from the public right-of-way on which the address is assigned.
(2)
Government signs, as defined, which control traffic, parking restrictions, public information and notices.
(3)
Name and warning signs which identify premises or describe a hazardous condition which may exist on a premises, not more than three square feet in area and located a minimum of 10 feet from any property line, except if placed on the front facade of a building.
(4)
Any flag, emblem or insignia of a nation, state, county or local governmental unit or school, limited to three flagpoles per property, located a minimum of 10 feet from any property line with a flagpole height not exceeding the maximum height restriction for the zoning district on which the flagpole is located.
(5)
Home occupation and professional home office signs, limited to one per residential-zoned property, not exceeding three square feet in sign display area and located mounted flush against the dwelling or on a private light post.
(6)
Window signs on business-zoned or industrial-zoned properties which are painted, placed in, or affixed to, on the interior of a window surface, subject to the sign display area not exceeding 25% of the window area on which the sign is displayed. Window signs may be illuminated and may require an electrical permit.
(7)
Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and such sign is not placed in a window facing outward for the purpose of being readable from outside the building.
(8)
Traffic control signs on private property, such as "Stop," "Yield," and similar signs, that serve the same purpose on private property as government signs serve on public property. Traffic control signs include directional signs giving directions to areas such as drive-through or drive-up lanes, visitor or employee parking, or shipping and loading zones.
(9)
Signs posted on or attached to the top of motor vehicle fuel dispensers, not exceeding four square feet in area.
(10)
A sandwich board sign, as defined, not higher than four feet in height and not larger than 16 square feet in size each side, must not be located within a public right-of-way, not blocking any ingress/egress or handicapped accessibility, and must be removed when the business the sign advertises is closed for business.
§ 250-48 Specific district permanent sign regulations with permit.
Permanent signs types may be allowed in accordance with the standards within this section after approval by the Plan Commission and permit from the Zoning Administrator, in addition to conformance with all applicable standards of this Article VI.
A.
A-1 Zoning District | B-1 Zoning District | HD Zoning District | I-1 Zoning District | P-1 Zoning District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wall Sign Size | See § 250-48B | Maximum of 200 square feet | 30 square feet | Maximum of 500 square feet | Not allowed |
Projecting Sign Size | Not allowed | 100 square feet | 20 square feet | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Projecting Sign Location | Not allowed | Max. 6 feet into any yard, 10 feet from all lot lines | Max. 6 feet into any yard, 10 feet from all lot lines, 3 feet into ROW | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Projecting Sign Height | Not allowed | Max. 20 feet | Max. 20 feet | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Projecting Sign Clearance | Not allowed | 10 feet above sidewalk, 15 feet above driveway | 10 feet above sidewalk, 15 feet above driveway | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Ground Sign Height | 10 feet | 20 feet | 5 feet | 20 feet | 10 feet |
Ground Sign Setbacks | 5 feet from all lot lines | 5 feet from all lot lines | 5 feet from all lot lines | 5 feet from all lot lines | 5 feet from all lot lines |
Ground Sign Maximum Size | See § 250-48B | 60 square feet one side or 120 square feet all sides | 30 square feet per side | 80 square feet one side or 160 square feet all sides | 50 square feet |
Ground Sign Separation | 80 feet between ground signs | 80 feet between ground signs | 80 feet between ground signs | 80 feet between ground signs | 80 feet between ground signs |
Window Sign Maximum Coverage | Not allowed | 25% of glass area | 25% of glass area | 25% of glass area | 25% of glass area |
Total Signs Maximum Area | See § 250-48B | 400 square feet | 80 square feet | 500 square feet | 50 square feet |
B.
Agricultural District signs. In the A-1 Agricultural District, wall or ground signs that pertain to agricultural products produced on the premises or the sale of other items allowed as a conditional use in A-1 are permitted, provided that the combined area of all signs for any one farm or sale site shall not exceed 150 square feet, with no one sign face exceeding 50 square feet.
C.
Development identification signs. In all residential districts the following signs are permitted:
(1)
Ground signs, whose area shall not exceed 50 square feet for any one side or 100 square feet for all sides, that identify a residential neighborhood, a subdivision, or a housing development, if the sign therefor: 1) is to be placed at the entrance of the area; 2) will not create a traffic hazard; 3) is in keeping with the character of the area; 4) will not depreciate property value of the area; and 5) has been approved by the Plan Commission.
(2)
A wall sign not exceeding two feet in height and 10 feet in width that announces, without display or elaboration, the name and occupation of the proprietor of a legal nonconforming business. Such sign shall be placed only over a show window or door.
D.
B-1 Neighborhood Business District signs. In addition to § 250-48A, in all B-1 Business Districts the following additional sign standards apply:
(1)
Projecting, awning, and canopy signs shall not exceed 100 square feet in area for any one premises, shall not extend more than six feet into any required yard, shall be at least 10 feet from all side lot lines, shall not exceed a height of 20 feet above the mean center-line street grade, and shall be at least 10 feet above the sidewalk or 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.
(2)
Ground signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center-line street grade, shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all lot lines, and shall not exceed 60 square feet on one side or 120 square feet on all sides for any one premises. No ground sign shall be placed closer than 80 feet to another ground, projecting, awning, or canopy sign.
(3)
Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed. To eliminate scattering of copy by wind action, all window signs are to be affixed to the inside surface of the window.
E.
HD Downtown Historic District signs. In addition to § 250-48A, in the HD District the following additional sign standards apply:
(1)
Projecting, awning and canopy signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area for any one premises, shall not exceed more than six feet into any required yard, shall not extend more than three feet into any public right-of-way, shall be at least 10 feet from all side lot lines, shall not exceed a height of 20 feet above the mean center-line street grade, and shall be at least 10 feet about a sidewalk or 15 feet above a driveway or an alley.
(2)
Ground signs shall not exceed five feet in height above the mean center-line street grade, shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all lot lines, and shall not exceed 30 square feet per side. No ground sign shall be placed closer than 80 feet to another ground, projecting, awning, or canopy sign.
(3)
Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed. All window signs are to be affixed to the inside surface of the window.
F.
I-1 Limited Industrial District signs. In addition to § 250-48A, in all I-1 Industrial Districts the following additional sign standards apply:
(1)
Ground signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height above the mean center-line street grade, shall be set back a minimum of five feet from all lot lines, and shall not exceed 80 square feet per side or 160 square feet on all sides for any premises. No ground sign shall be placed closer than 80 feet to another ground, projecting, awning, or canopy sign.
(2)
Roof signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height above the roof, shall meet the height requirements for the district in which they are located, and shall not exceed 300 square feet on all sides for any one premises.
(3)
Window signs shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the pane upon which the sign is displayed. To eliminate the scattering of copy by wind action, all window signs are to be affixed to the inside surface of the window.
§ 250-49 Existing signs.
Signs lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of or amendment to this article may be continued although their size or location does not conform to this article. Nonconforming signs shall be kept in good repair. The Plan Commission shall approve all repairs and reconstruction of signs authorized under this Article VI and, in each case, determines the structural type of sign permitted and the maximum sign permitted, and the time period said sign may remain in place.