§ 20.58.070. Signs in commercial and industrial districts.

The standards set forth below shall apply to signs in all commercial and industrial districts, including the CR, commercial residential district. Signs in commercial and industrial districts, unless otherwise exempted in this chapter, shall require sign permits consistent with Section 20.58.020 and shall be subject to the findings contained in Section 20.58.040. Signs in excess of the listed standards shall be prohibited.

A. Comprehensive Sign Programs.

1. Construction of new commercial or industrial projects which are ten thousand square feet or larger in gross floor area shall include a comprehensive sign program to be reviewed by the planning commission in conjunction with the project's site plan and design review application.

2. Construction of new commercial or industrial projects which are less than ten thousand square feet in gross floor area but are intended to include or could accommodate two or more businesses shall include a comprehensive sign program to be reviewed by the director of planning and community development in conjunction with the project's site plan and design review application.

3. The standards included in a comprehensive sign program may be more restrictive than those prescribed in this chapter, but shall not be less restrictive, unless an exception consistent with subsection D of this section is granted by the planning commission. All signs installed at the project with an approved comprehensive sign program shall adhere to the requirements of the approved comprehensive sign program.

B. Project Signs. General standards for project signs are as follows:

1. Project Identification. The developer or owner(s) of any multitenant project over ten thousand square feet in gross floor area shall be eligible to install project identification signs as follows:

Location: Wall or ground (may be located in required setback area except for corner cutoff as defined in Section 20.20.070 or where otherwise may obstruct line of site as determined by the city engineer)

Maximum number: 1 per driveway, up to 2 per project

Maximum area: 50 square feet

Maximum height: 6 feet

Permitted copy: Project name, address and project logo. Identification of individual tenants is prohibited

2. Ground Sign. The developer, owner(s) and business owner shall be eligible to install a ground sign as follows:

Location: Ground (may be located in required setback area except for corner cutoff as determined in Section 20.20.070 or where otherwise may obstruct line of site as determined by the city engineer.)

Maximum number: 1 per tenant and no more than 2 per project with adequate spacing subject to community development director approval.

Maximum area: 36 square feet (excluding decorative roof elements).

Maximum height: 6 feet (excluding decorative roof elements).

Maximum letter height: 2 feet for signs with one line of copy and three feet for signs with two lines of copy (no one line may exceed two feet).

Permitted copy: Business name and logo, project name and logo, address, lawful use and names of up to 6 tenants. Slogans or any other advertisement are prohibited.

Other standards: Architectural elements reflecting the design of the building the sign serves shall be required, subject to community development director approval. (See examples on file at community development department.)

3. Directional. The developer or owner(s) of any project shall be eligible to install directional signs as follows:

Location: Wall or ground (ground sign may be located in required setback area except for corner cutoff as defined in Section 20.20.070 or where otherwise may obstruct line of site as determined by the city engineer)

Maximum number: 2 per project

Maximum area: 10 square feet

Maximum height: 3 feet

Permitted copy: Limited to general directions or instructions, such as "parking," "entrance," and "exit." Identification of project name or individual tenant(s) is prohibited

C. Business Signs. General standards for business signs are as follows:

1. Wall Sign. A business owner or operator shall be eligible to install a wall sign as follows:

Location: Building wall or awning

Maximum number: 1 per tenant

Maximum area: Variable depending on linear distance of business frontage to which sign pertains. For business frontages of 20 feet or less, maximum area is 1 square foot for each linear foot of business frontage. For business frontages larger than 20 feet, maximum area is .7 square feet for each lineal foot of business frontage. Maximum area includes logo field, if any

Maximum height: 2 feet for signs with one line of copy and three feet for signs with two lines of copy (no one line may exceed two feet.)

Permitted copy: Business name, lawful use and logo. Slogans or any other advertisement are prohibited

Maximum logo field: 3 feet by 3 feet

2. Secondary Wall Sign. A business owner or operator shall be eligible to install a secondary wall sign if the business has at least two business frontages. Standards for secondary wall signs are as follows:

Location: Building, wall or awning

Maximum number: 1 per tenant

Maximum frontage: Variable depending on linear distance of business frontage to which sign pertains. For business frontages of 20 feet or less, maximum area is .75 square feet for each linear foot of business frontage. For business frontage larger than 20 feet, maximum area is .5 square feet for each lineal foot of business frontage. Maximum area includes logo field, if any

Maximum height: 2 feet for signs with one line of copy and three feet for signs with two lines of copy (no one line may exceed two feet.)

Maximum length: 20 feet

Permitted copy: Business name, lawful use or logo. Slogans or any other advertisement are prohibited

Maximum logo field: 3 feet by 3 feet

3. Window Signs. A tenant of a project shall be eligible to install window signs as follows:

Location: Window

Maximum number: 1 per business front, up to 2

Maximum area: 10 percent of window area

Maximum height: Individual characters not to exceed 1 foot

Permitted copy: Business name, lawful use, logo, address and phone number

4. Temporary signs. See Section 20.58.080(B).

D. Exceptions. Project and business signs exceeding the standards prescribed in this chapter may be permitted for commercial projects located in the CTC zoning district or that are larger than fifty thousand square feet, subject to planning commission approval of a comprehensive sign program for the project. In permitting a comprehensive sign program which exceeds general standards, the planning commission shall, in addition to making the findings required under Section 20.58.040, determine that the proposed signs will not have an adverse impact on or detract from the design of the overall project it is intended to serve.

(Ord. 99-04-1252 §§ 4 and 5; Ord. 93-10-1169 § 2 (part); Ord. 2008-03-1379 § 6)