§ 17.32.100. Special cases.

A.

Citywide Sizes of Signs on Businesses and Storefronts Without Windows. Up to a maximum of twenty-five percent or fifty square feet is allowed for main signage per the current sign code. For example, a storefront of 10° × 50° = 500 square feet × 25% = 125 square feet for the main sign which would still be allowed a maximum of fifty square feet for the largest main sign. For storefronts without windows, using the above example, the five hundred feet minus the fifty square foot maximum leaves four hundred fifty square feet allowed for additional signs for a store or business with no windows. With no windows, a store or business may then have additional signs equal to ten percent of the remaining space. In the example given, then, forty-five more square feet of signs would be allowed for additional exterior signs. It could be either one sign of forty-five square feet or two secondary wall signs of twenty-two and one-half square feet for example.

B.

Business Parking Area Signs. Sometimes a business or store has its own private parking lot and wishes to have signs to alert the general visitor that the parking space(s) are reserved for that business's use only. These signs may be handled in two ways: by individual signs at each designated parking space or by one large wall sign which is meant to be read by all potential parkers.

For individual spaces, a sign with a maximum size of twelve by eighteen inches is allowed per space, such sign either wall mounted or in a freestanding mounting, such as found in a parking meter, For one large wall sign, the amount of space allowed is for one square foot of sign per parking space to a maximum of fifty square feet.

C.

Supermarket Temporary Paper Signs. Supermarkets may have the following temporary paper signs per each window:

A sign or signs of any dimension and shape which comprise no more than sixty percent of the total area of each window is allowed. In each window, supermarkets will be permitted to use the largest paper sign or combination of signs which comes closest to but does not exceed sixty percent of the total window surface. However, they must still remain within the total allowable sign area permitted for the building.

D.

Businesses with More than One Main Entrance. Some businesses have more than one main entrance. By a main entrance is meant a regular facade or doorway inviting the general public or specific customers to enter to do business at that establishment. It is not meant to be an incidental side door, an employee entrance or a casual rear entrance. For example, a business may have a main entrance on Hancock Street and another main entrance on the Parkingway. In such cases, where the business owner has the consent and agreement of the landlord, the business may erect another "main business sign" at the other main entrance as long as the business follows the general rules and size guidelines for main business signs.

Further, there are some buildings, such as the Monroe Building and the Green-leaf Buildings, which have independent, separate businesses on two opposite sides of the same building on the same floor. In such cases, the general rules for signage in this chapter shall also apply for the other main entrance.

E.

Businesses whose Rear Wall(s) Face Arterial Roadways/State Highways/Public Parking Lots/Public Ways. Businesses located in such a way that the rear or side of their businesses face state highways, major arterial roadways, public parking lots, or public ways are allowed to install signs that meet the requirements of this chapter on said facades. Businesses wishing to apply for such signs must obtain a special permit from the zoning board of appeals and obtain the property owner's written consent to erect such a sign.

(Ord. 98-024 § 2 (part))