GUIDELINES FOR SIGNS: TOWN CENTER DISTRICT

Accessory signs in the Town Center District shall be designed, erected, altered, moved and maintained, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following regulations.

The type of signs permitted, structure, size, number and location shall be regulated as follows:

(a)        Use types permitted:

(1)        Business and public and governmental facilities identification signs directing attention to the building, business establishment, public or governmental facility; street numbers to be indicated on the sign for building.

(2)        Public facility and governmental bulletin board.

(3)        Directional signs to direct pedestrians and vehicles, to be close to the ground, and

(4)        Professional nameplates.

(b)        Structural types permitted per building:

(1)        Wall or panel, across the top of the door area or attached flat on the building.  The latter is the preferred type.

            (2)        Ground and pole.

            (3)        Signs perpendicular to the building attached by brackets.

            (4)        It is urged that window sign not be used in the historic district.

            (5)        For suggested types of signs see the attached sheet.

(c)        Sign face area and number of signs permitted.

(1)        One permanent identification sign with street umber shall be permitted for each building in accordance with the following schedule.

                        MAXIMUM HEIGHT               MAXIMUM SINGLE FACE

                        FT ABOVE GROUND              SIGN AREA SQ FT

Wall                                         -                                                           12

Ground

            Business                       3                                                          12

            Public Facility &

            Governmental               5                                                          15

Pole                                         8                                                          12

Bracket Sign                    appropriate                                                    12

Bulletin Board                           5                                                          18

(Public &

Governmental)

(2)        The owner of the building, not the tenant, designates the type of sign.

(3)        Smaller buildings should have smaller signs than the maximum.  Consider size in relation to the building.

(4)        One professional nameplate indicating the name and or profession of the person, persons, or business occupying a building, or part thereof may be permitted provided said nameplate is a single face area.  This must be part of the one sign per building.

(5)        Directional signs not exceeding 3 sq ft in single face area and 2 ft in height may be permitted on any lot provided said signs are located not less than 5 ft from any lot or street right of way line.

(d)        Sign Location:

(1)        The location of all signs in the Town Center District or other historic districts shall be determined by the Town Center Commission and the Building Commissioner.

(2)        The Commission requests that all signs be placed flat on the building if possible.  If this is not feasible, other locations may be permitted.

(3)        In buildings of 10,000 square feet and over, tenant signs must be in the lobby.  Just the name of the building and the address will be on the outside sign.

(e)        Sign construction materials permitted:

(1)        All signs within the Town Center District shall be of wood construction.  The base of ground signs may however, be constructed of masonry or stone.  The message panel of all signs shall be painted, routed, or individually formed wooden letters.  Bulletin boards my have interchangeable letters of appropriate material.

(2)        It is urged that all signs be limited to three tone color combinations.

(3)        Official historic designation nameplates of metal are permitted on a building in addition to the building sign.

(f)         Sign illumination:

Signs may be illuminated provided only exterior lighting fixtures are used for this

purpose.  No neon lights are permitted.  No portable signs are permitted.

(g)        Maintenance Standards:

                        (1)        Signs should be kept painted and looking neat.

(2)        Signs must be taken down if tenant or owner moves.

(3)        If the owner fails to take the signs down when the tenant is no longer there, the City may do so.

(4)        Real estate “For Sale” or “For Rent” signs are permitted in keeping with regulations as to size in the district.

(h)        Application procedures:

A sign permit shall be required for all signage in a Historical District in accordance with Section 1137.20 of this Chapter.

Application for all signs shall be reviewed and approved by the Town Center Commission, The Architectural Review Board, and the Building Commissioner before a sign permit may be issued.