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Home My WebLink AboutORDINANCES-1993-051-O-9311/4/92 11/11/92 11/19/92 12/23/92 1/7/93 51-0-93 AN ORDINANCE Amending the Sign Ordinance, Title 4, Chapter 12 of the Evanston City Code NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: SECTION 1: That Title 4, Chapter 12, the Sign Regulations Ordinance, of the Evanston City Code of 1979, as amended, be, and hereby is, further amended by revising section 4-12-2(A) as follows: 4-12-2(A) Healthv Economv: It is recognized that signs are an economical and effective means of communicating information and are thus an important asset health of business and economic to most businesses. activities shall be The continued encouraged by the use of signs which: 1. Clearly and efficiently identify the goods, services, facilities, and locations available to the community; and 2. Express the identity of businesses or the proprietors associated with those activities. SECTION 2: That section 4-12-3(C) is amended by revising the definition of "awning" and by adding, in alphabetical order, a definition for "neon sign", to read as follows: 4-12-3(C) Awnina: Any structure entirely supported by the wall to which it is attached, which may project over public property, and which has a frame, being either retractable or in a fixed position, covered by nonrigid material, such as fabric or vinyl. Neon Sian: A permanent sign fabricated entirely from glass tubing, illuminated with electrically -charged neon gas. I SECTION 3: That a new section 4-12-4 is added, reading as follows: 4-12-4: Annual Sian Fee: All signs subject to this Ordinance, with exception of those enumerated in section 4= 12-6, are subject to an annual fee, according to this fee schedule: 1. Non -illuminated Signs: $10.00 plus $.17 per square foot of surface area of each face thereof. 2. Illuminated Signs: $14.00 plus $.15 per square foot of surface area of each face thereof. 3. Marquees, Fixed Canopies and Fixed Awnings: $12.00 plus $.17 per square foot of plan area. 4. Retractable Awnings: $6.00 5. Scoreboards: $20.00 plus $.13 per foot of surface area of each face thereof. The owner or lessee of the sign or the operator of the premises on which the sign is located shall make application is for the fee to the Director of Building and Property Services. The fee is due and payable by December 31 of each year. SECTION 4: That existing section 4-12-4 is renumbered as 4-12-5 and revised as follows: 4-12-5 Construction/Alteration Permit Required: No sign, as defined herein, shall be constructed, erected, originally painted, converted, altered, rebuilt, enlarged, remodeled, relocated or expanded until a permit for such sign has been obtained in accordance with the standards and procedures set out in this Chapter. A. No Permit for Maintenance. No permit shall be required for maintenance of a sign as defined herein, nor for certain signs identified as exempt under Section 4-12-6 of this Chapter. B. No Assianment or Transfer. No permit issued hereunder may be assigned or transferred to any other person. SECTION 5: That existing sections 4-12-5 through 4-12-9 are re -numbered as 4-12-6 through 4- 8 12-10, respectively. SECTION 6: That section 4-1.2-6(L), formerly section 4-12-5(L), is amended to read as follows: 4-12-6(L) Interior Signs: Signs which are located on the - interior of a premises and which are exclusively oriented to persons within that premises. SECTION 7: That section 4-12-7(N), formerly section 4-12-6(N), is amended to read as follows: 4-12-7(N) Menu Board Signs: One menu board sign for a drive-in or drive -through facility provided that the sign does not exceed twenty-five (25) square feet or eight (8) feet in height. SECTION 8: That section 4-12-8(M)4, formerly section 4-12-7(M)(4), is amended to read as follows: 4-12-8(M)4: Internal Illumination: Internal illuminated signs shall permit light to shine fully through only the lettering and graphic elements of the sign. The background for such lettering and graphics shall be opaque or translucent. If translucent, it shall transmit light at a level substantially less than that transmitted through the lettering and graphics. If the contrast between the lettering or graphic elements and background does not permit adequate legibility (according to the judgment of the sign owner) a translucent white border of up to one inch (111) in width may be placed around said lettering or graphic elements. SECTION 9: That section 4-12-10(F) formerly section 4-12-9(F), is hereby amended by revising subsections 4-12-10(F)1, 4-12-10(F)3, 4-12-10(F)5.c, and 4-12-10- (7), to read as follows: 4-12-10(F): Canopv and Awnina Signs: 1. Commercial Message: Use of canopy or awning area for display of commercial messages shall be limited to the name, logo and address of the business or businesses within the building upon which the awning is attached. Canopy or awning signs shall be flush to the face of the canopy or awning. 2. Area: The sign surface area of a canopy or awning sign shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the area of the vertical section of the canopies and awnings. The vertical section of the canopies and awnings is calculated as the height of the canopy or awning (.difference between the highest and lowest point on the canopy or awning) multiplied by the length of the canopy or awning measured parallel to the facade upon which it is attached. signs on any surface of a canopy or awning other than the surface running parallel with the building face shall be limited to letter or graphics not exceeding four inches (41') in height. 3. Location: Canopies and awnings shall be constructed and erected so that the lowest portion of the projecting frame thereof shall be not less than seven feet six inches (7'6") and the lowest portion of the descending skirt shall be not less than six feet eight inches (61811) above the level of the sidewalk or public thoroughfare. No portion of the canopy or awning signs shall be extended above or beyond the canopy or awning upon which it is attached, however, signs may be hung beneath canopies parallel to the building frontage so long as they do not descend below the minimum six foot eight inch (61811) minimum clearance. Awnings shall not project more than thirty-six (36) inches out from the building upon which they are attached. 4. Installation Considerations: To preserve the architectural integrity of a building, no canopy or awning, and no canopy or awning sign shall cover or interrupt significant architectural elements such as columns, column caps, friezes, door or window heads, embellishments, adornments, fenestrations, or ornamental detailing. 5. Illumination of Awnings and Canopies: Awnings and canopies may be illuminated where the following conditions are maintained: a. Both interior type strip lighting and exterior type gooseneck lighting is permitted, not exceeding a maximum light level of eighteen foot (181) candles measured three feet (31) from and perpendicular to the light source. b. Awnings shall be allowed to be lighted whether or 4 I. I not signs are to be displayed on the awning. c. Internally illuminated awnings and canopies shall permit light to shine fully through only the lettering and graphic elements. The bottom of any internally illuminated awning or canopy shall be enclosed. d. Illumination of canopies, awnings, canopy signs and awning signs is further regulated in Section 4-12-8 of this Chapter. 6. Canopy -type awnings covered by non -rigid materials and supported on the outer (street) end are prohibited. SECTION 10: That a new section "G" is added to section 4-12-10, formerly section 4-12-9, reading as follows: 4-12-10(G) Neon Signs: The area defined by neon shall not exceed twenty (20) per cent of the window area. Neon signs shall not extend to all edges of the windows. SECTION 11: That existing section 4-12-10 is renumbered as section 4-12-12, and that a new section 4-12-11 is hereby added, reading as follows: 4-12-11 Amortization A. All commercial signage within the City shall be in full compliance with this Sign Ordinance by January 1, 2003, unless a variance, based on unusual land and/or building configurations only, is sought and approved by the Sign Review and Appeals Board. B. Petitioners for variances relating to signage in place prior to the effective date of this Ordinance must file a completed application for hearing on the variance by March 1, 2002. No application may be filed after this date. SECTION 12: That existing. -section 4-12-11 is re- , numbered as section 4-12-13. SECTION 13: That existing sections 4-12-12 through 4-12-17 are re -numbered as sections 4-12- E' 14 through 4-12-19, respectively. SECTION 14: That a new section 4-12-20 is added, to read as follows: 4-12-20: Revocation for Cause. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this Chapter, or any amendment thereto, are deemed mere licenses revocable at any time for cause by the Administrative Officer. The Administrative Officer is authorized and empowered to revoke any permit upon failure of the permittee to comply with any provision of this Chapter. SECTION 15: That existing sections 4-12-18 and 4-12-19 are re -numbered as sections 4-12- 21 and 4-12-22, respectively. SECTION 16: That such changes to the numbering of textual cross-references as are necessitated by the re -numbering herein shall be made. SECTION 17: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 18: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval and publication in the manner provided by law. Introduced: , 1993 Adopted: 1993 Approved• �tilL Mayor 6 , 1993 ATTEST: City Clerk as to fo ratioff Counskl • S