The following shall apply to signs in mixed-use areas:

A. Signs affixed to the exterior of a building shall be architecturally compatible with the style, composition, materials, colors, and details of the building.

B. Signs shall fit within the existing facade features, shall be confined to signable areas, and shall not interfere with door and window openings, conceal architectural details or obscure the composition of the facade where they are located. Signs shall be placed on a facade only in a manner historically appropriate to the style of the building.

C. Whenever possible, signs located on buildings within the same blockface shall be placed at the same height, in order to create a unified sign band.

D. Wood and painted metal are the preferred materials for signs. Flat signs shall be framed with raised edges. Wood signs shall use only high-quality exterior-grade wood with suitable grade finishes.

E. Sign colors shall be compatible with the colors of the building facade. A dull or matte finish is recommended.

F. Signs shall be mounted so that the method of installation is concealed.

The following shall apply to signs in other commercial areas:

A. Signs affixed to the exterior of a building shall be architecturally compatible with the style, material, colors and details of the building and other signs used on the site. The design of buildings and sites shall identify locations and sizes for future signs. As tenants install signs, such signs shall be in conformance with an overall sign program and plan that allows for advertising which fits with the architectural character, proportions, and details of the development. The sign program and plan, submitted at the time of application, shall indicate location, size, and general design.

B. Each business not situated on a corner lot may have one main business sign of either the wall-facade type, projecting type, or freestanding type subject to the following limitations:

(1) Wall-facade type. In the Neighborhood Commercial Zone, the sign area shall not exceed 20% of the area of the first- or ground-story facade. In the other business zones the sign area shall not exceed 25% of the area of the first- or ground-story facade. A story shall not exceed 12 feet in height for the purpose of these calculations.

(2) Projecting type. Business signs projecting from the side of the building, provided that such signs shall not project further than 60 inches from said building, and further provided that such signs shall not exceed 25 square feet in area and shall have a minimum of 10 feet clearance from the ground level or sidewalk level. No such projecting sign shall extend over an area used by vehicular traffic.

(3) Freestanding/pole sign. Business signs standing apart from any other structure, provided that such signs shall maintain a ten-foot minimum clearance from all property lines and a seven-foot clearance from established grade and further provided that no such sign shall exceed 80 square feet in area, and in the highway business zones no such sign shall be placed closer than 20 feet to the right-of-way line of any highway.

C. Businesses situated on corner locations shall be permitted to have two signs of the types described in Subsection B above, subject to the same limitations and provided that both such signs not face on the same street.

D. A shopping center may have two identification signs of the type described in Subsection B above, showing the name of the center and individual offices or business therein, provided that no such sign shall exceed 80 square feet in area measured on each side and the signs, if of the ground type, shall not be closer than 100 feet to each other.

E. Directional signs indicating the location and direction of premises available for or in the process of being developed, not erected on the site of said premises, may be erected and maintained, provided that no such sign shall exceed 25 square feet in area. Any such sign shall not be closer to any property line than 20 feet and shall not be greater than 12 feet in height.

F. The height of a sign in any zone shall not be greater than 50 feet in height, inclusive of the advertising structure.

G. Window signs are permitted on the first floor of the building only. All window signs shall be attached to the inside of the store window and shall not have a total gross advertising area greater than 10% of the principal facade of the ground floor or 200 square feet, whichever is less.

H. Pole signs. Pole signs are permitted with an apron and landscaping.

I. Nonresidential areas, excluding highway-zoned districts, shall provide a monument sign. Setbacks shall be a minimum of 20 feet from the right-of-way. Each structure shall be permitted one monument sign indicating either the name or logo of the structure, the address of the building, or both. These signs shall be located where they are visible from the adjacent street. They shall be monument-based and ground-mounted horizontally, and shall not be raised in the air on poles. They shall not be greater than 12 feet long by three feet high, or four feet long by 10 feet high, excluding the base, which is to be a maximum of two feet in height. The base of any monument sign shall be planted with shrubs and seasonal flowers.

J. External spot or floodlighting shall be arranged so that the light source is screened from direct view by passersby, and so that the light is directed against the sign and does not shine into adjacent property or blind motorists and pedestrians.

K. Halo-lit or backlit letters are encouraged for both office and retail use. Such signs convey a subtle and attractive appearance and are very legible under moderate ambient lighting conditions. Face-illuminated letters may be appropriate for retail use.

L. Illumination of individual letter signs by shining light upon them is discouraged for both skyline signs and signs placed high on building walls.

M. Where individual letter signs face nearby residential areas, a low level of brightness shall be maintained. This can be achieved using halo-lit letters.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ARCADE An area contiguous to a street or plaza that is open and unobstructed and that is accessible to the public at all times. Arcades may include building columns, landscaping, statuary and fountains. Arcades do not include off-street loading/unloading areas, driveways or parking areas.

ARTICULATE To give emphasis to or distinctly identify a particular element. An articulated facade would be the emphasis of elements on the face of a wall, including a change in setback, materials, roof pitch, or height.

BERM An earthen mound designed to provide visual interest on a site, screen undesirable views, reduce noise or provide a buffer from adjoining uses.

BUFFER See also "screen." An area provided to reduce the conflict between two different land uses. Buffers are intended to mitigate undesired views, noise and glare, effectively providing greater privacy to neighboring land uses. Typical buffers consist of materials that serve this purpose and include, but are not limited to, plant materials, walls, fences, and/or significant land area to separate the uses.

BUILDING MASS The building's expanse or bulk and is typically used in reference to structures of considerable size.

CAFE A coffee house, restaurant or bar.

DESIGN STANDARDS Statements and graphics intended to direct the planning and development of the built environment in a particular manner or style so that the end result contributes positively to the overall development.

DORMER A window set vertically in a gable projecting from a sloping roof.

FACADE The portion of any exterior elevation on the building extending from grade to the top of the parapet, wall or eaves and extending the entire length of the building.

GABLE A triangular wall section at the end of a pitched roof, bounded by the two roof slopes.

HIP ROOF Roof without gables.

MANSARD ROOF A roof with two slopes on all four sides, the lower slope being nearly vertical and the upper nearly horizontal.

PARAPET The portion of a wall that extends above the roofline.

PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY A surfaced walkway, separate from the traveled portion of a public or private right-of-way or parking lot/driving aisle.

PORTICO A porch or walkway with a roof supported by columns, often leading to the entrance to a building.

RESTAURANT A place for serving meals to the public.

SCREEN See also "buffer." The sole purpose of a screen is to block views. A screen shall be constructed of opaque materials, the height of which will be effective in obstructing unwanted views.

SETBACK A prescribed distance or an area between one element and another (i.e., a building and the road right-of-way). Within these guidelines, the term also refers to:

A. The minimum distance and the area measured from the property line to the interior of a parcel where buildings may be constructed.

B. The required distance and the area between the edge of the parking lot pavement/curb and the property line or buildings/structures.

C. Placing a building face on a line to the rear of another building line.