32.24.010 Sign Face Area.
(Amended by Ordinance No. 176469, effective July 1, 2002.)
A. Sign cabinets. The area of sign faces enclosed in frames or cabinets is determined based on the outer dimensions of the frame or cabinet surrounding the sign face. See Figure 2.
B. Backed signs. Only one side of a backed sign is counted in determining the area of sign faces. Where the two sides are not of equal size, the larger of the two sides is used for the determination of sign area. For changing image features, see Section 32.32.030 F.1. See Figure 3.
C. Multiple cabinets. For freestanding and projecting signs that contain multiple cabinets on one structure and oriented in the same direction, the modules together are counted as one sign face. See Figure 4.
D. Round signs. The maximum surface area visible at one time of a round, three dimensional or three or more sided sign is counted to determine sign area.
E. Signs on a base material. When a sign is on a base material and attached without a frame, such as a wood board or Plexiglas panel, the dimensions of the base material are to be used.
F. Individual elements. When signs are constructed of individual elements attached to a building wall, the sign area is determined by calculating the area of an imaginary rectangle drawn around the sign elements. See Figure 5. Sign elements will be measured as one unit when the distance between the elements is less than two times the dimension of each element. See Figure 6.
G. Painted wall signs. Painted wall signs are measured by drawing an imaginary rectangle around the edge of each of the sign elements. Sign elements will be measured as one unit when the distance between the elements is less than two times the length of each element. See Figure 6. Visible wall area includes windows and doors, but not openings such as loading entrances.
H. Awnings and marquees. When signs are incorporated into awnings, the sign area is determined by computing the area of an imaginary rectangle drawn around the sign face. When the ends of awnings or marquees are parallel and contain sign faces, only one side is counted in addition to the sign face area on the front.
I. Changing image signs.
1. Changing image sign features are measured by drawing an imaginary rectangle around the edge of each of the changing elements. Sign elements will be measured as one unit when the distance between the elements is less than two times the length of each element. See Figure 6.
2. When used as a border around an otherwise static sign, changing image sign elements are measured by drawing a series of rectangles around the changing elements. See Figure 7.
3. When the changing image sign feature is composed of moving light from a projected source, including laser light, or other display that has the appearance of a static element moving across a static background, the changing image sign element is measured by drawing a rectangle around the entire area affected by the moving element. See Figure 8.
32.24.020 Height of Signs.
The overall height of a sign or sign structure is measured from the lowest point of the ground directly below the sign to the highest point of the sign or sign structure. See Figure 9.
32.24.030 Clearances.
Clearances are measured from the highest point of the ground directly below the sign to the bottom of the sign structure enclosing the sign face. See Figure 9.
32.24.040 Primary Building Walls.
(Amended by Ordinance No. 176469, effective July 1, 2002.) The length of a primary building wall is derived for each tenant space's ground floor exterior wall. See Figure 1. When walls are not parallel to a street, they are assigned to the street frontage to which they are most oriented. See Figure 10a. When the primary entrance is located in a building wall that is adjacent to, at an angle from, and shorter than the street-facing wall, the primary building wall will be measured as a combination of the street wall and the wall containing the entrance. Where the angled wall is on the corner of the building between two street-facing walls, the applicant may choose which street facing wall to combine with the wall containing the entrance to be considered the primary building wall. The length of the primary building wall will be measured in a straight line parallel to the street-facing wall. See Figure 10b.
32.24.050 Diagonal Corner Signs.
Diagonal corner signs that face more than one street must be assigned to a street and building frontage by the applicant. The sign must meet all standards for the street and building frontage to which it is assigned. See Figure 10.
