File #: O-2-19    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Adopted
File created: 1/18/2019 In control: City Council
On agenda: 6/3/2019 Final action: 6/3/2019
Title: Freestanding Signs - For the purpose of permitting free-standing signs and business community identification signs in certain zoning districts; removing the minimum lot width requirement for freestanding signs in certain zoning districts; amending the regulations for wall-mounted signs; and matters generally relating to updating and amending the sign code.
Sponsors: Marc Rodriguez
Indexes: Planning Commission, Rules and City Government Committee
Attachments: 1. O-2-19 Signs Ordinance.pdf, 2. O-2-19 Staff Report and Fiscal Impact.pdf, 3. O-2-19 PandZ Staff Report to PC.pdf, 4. O-2-19 PC Findings.pdf, 5. O-2-19 Amendment No. 1 Rodriguez.pdf, 6. O-2-19 SIGNED.pdf

 Title

Freestanding Signs - For the purpose of permitting free-standing signs and business community identification signs in certain zoning districts; removing the minimum lot width requirement for freestanding signs in certain zoning districts; amending the regulations for wall-mounted signs; and matters generally relating to updating and amending the sign code. 

Body

CITY COUNCIL OF THE

City of Annapolis

 

Ordinance 2-19

 

Introduced by: Alderman Rodriguez

 

Referred to

Planning Commission

Rules and City Government Committee

 

AN ORDINANCE concerning

 

Freestanding Signs

 

FOR                     the purpose of permitting free-standing signs and business community identification signs in certain zoning districts; removing the minimum lot width requirement for freestanding signs in certain zoning districts; amending the regulations for wall-mounted signs; and matters generally relating to updating and amending the sign code.

 

BY                        repealing and re-enacting with amendments the following portions of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2019 Edition

Section 21.70.080

 

 

SECTION I:                     BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:

 

 

TITLE 21 - PLANNING AND ZONING

Chapter 21.70 - Sign Regulations

 

 

Section 21.70.080

Sign Table 1

Types of Signs Permitted in Non-Residential Zoning Districts

District

Permitted Signs

B1

Business community identification sign

 

Freestanding

 

Wall-mounted

B2, B3, B3-CD, BCE, I1

Business community identification sign

 

Freestanding

 

Multi-tenant facility

 

Wall-mounted

BR, PM2

Multi-tenant facility

 

Wall-mounted

C2, C2A, C2P

Wall-mounted

P, PM

Business community identification sign

 

Freestanding

 

Multi-tenant facility

 

Wall-mounted

MX

Freestanding, ground sign only

 

Multi-tenant facility

 

Wall-mounted

WMC, WME, WMI, WMM

Freestanding

 

Marine refueling facility signs on piers

 

Multi-tenant facility

 

Wall-mounted

Sign Table 2

Regulations for Signs in Non-Residential Zoning Districts

 

In using the table the following regulations apply:

 

a.                       Lots are permitted both wall-mounted and freestanding signs up to the limits set forth in the table. With the exception of the signage allowed in Table Note 1, signage in multi-tenant facilities is counted as an alternative, not in addition, to permitted wall-mounted and freestanding signs.

b.                      For wall-mounted signs the maximum sign area is for the lot, with the exception of the signage allowed in Table Note 1.

c.                      For all other signs the maximum sign area is the maximum area per sign face, unless stated otherwise. For example, a two-sided, freestanding, ground sign in the BCE could be thirty square feet per face or sixty square feet total.

d.                      The following abbreviations are used in the table: sf = square feet; lf = linear feet; bldg = building; ″ = inches.

e.                      Important. The notes at the end of the table are as much a part of the law as the table itself.

 

Sign Type

Zoning  District

Number of  Businesses  per Lot

Maximum  Sign Area

Number of  Signs  Allowed

Maximum  Height (feet)

Illumination  Permitted

Projection  Permitted

Other

Wall-mounted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B1, BR, PM, MX

 

1. 1 sf per lf of building frontage up to a maximum of 100 sf.  2. No single sign may exceed 30 sf per face.

1. B1, PM: no limit, up to maximum permitted sign area.  2. BR, MX: no more than 3 signs per building.

13. 15. In the MX district, signs may not be located higher on a façade than the second-story windowsills.

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, up to 1.5 feet from a wall.

 

 

B21 , B3, B3-CD, BCE,

 

1. 2 sf per lf of building frontage up to a maximum of 120 sf.  2. No single sign may exceed 75 sf in area

No limit up to permitted sign area

15

Yes

Yes, up to 1.5 feet into a public way

Uses with canopies, such as service stations, may use the lf of canopy frontage in lieu of lf of building frontage to calculate permitted sign area.

 

C2, C2A, C2P

 

1 sf per lf of building frontage up to a maximum of 30 sf

Up to 3 signs per building

15

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, up to 1.5 feet from a wall.

 

 

P

 

9 sf

1 per street frontage

15

No

Yes, but not into a public way.

 

 

PM2

 

See below under multi-tenant facilities sign types

 

 

 

 

 

 

I1

 

2 sf per lf of building frontage up to a maximum of 120 sf

No limit up to permitted sign area

18

Yes

No

 

 

WMC

 

1 sf per lf of building frontage up to a maximum of 100 sf

No limit up to permitted sign area

22

Yes

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water

 

 

WME, WMI, WMM

 

2 sf per lf of building frontage up to a maximum of 120 sf

No limit up to permitted sign area

22

Yes

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water

 

Marquee sign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any district where the associated use is permitted

 

120 sf. The area of a marquee sign is permitted instead of, not in addition to, wall-mounted or freestanding signage that would otherwise be permitted.

1 per lot

15

Yes

Yes, up to the projection of the marquee

Theaters, museums, and auditoriums with a marquee sign are permitted wall-mounted frames up to 24 sf per frame advertising movies, plays or other features to be given at the venue.

Freestanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B1, WMC

 

Pole signs: 12 sf, or ground signs: 20 sf.

1 per lot

10

No

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water

1 Freestanding signs are permitted only on lots with a minimum lot width of 100 feet or larger.  2 Minimum setback from property lines:  WMC 0 feet  B1, I1, WME, WMI, WMM 5 feet  Other districts 10 feet

 

B21 , B3, B3-CD, BCE, I1, P, PM,WME, WMI, WMM

Lots with up to 2 businesses

Pole signs: 20 sf, or ground signs: 30 sf

1 per street frontage.

Pole signs: 15  Ground signs: 12

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water

1 Freestanding signs are permitted only on lots with a minimum lot width of 100 feet or larger.  2 Minimum setback from property lines:  WMC 0 feet  B1, I1, WME, WMI, WMM 5 feet  Other districts 10 feet

 

B21 , B3, B3-CD, BCE, I1, P, PM, WME, WMI, WMM 

Lots with 3 or more businesses

Pole signs: 24 sf, or ground signs: 30 sf

1 per street frontage.

Pole signs: 15.  Ground signs: 12

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water

1 Freestanding signs are permitted only on lots with a minimum lot width of 100 feet or larger.  2 Minimum setback from property lines:  WMC 0 feet  B1, I1, WME, WM, WMM 5 feet  Other districts 10 feet

 

MX

 

30 sf

1 per street frontage.

10

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water

Must be a ground sign, monument style.

Multi-tenant facility signs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multi-tenant  facility  identification  sign

B21 , B3, B3-CD, BCE, PM2, WMC, WME, WMI, WMM

 

64 sf

1 per street frontage

15

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water.

1. In the P district and the waterfront districts these signs may be ground signs, monument style, or wall-mounted.  2. All other districts these signs must be ground signs, monument style.  3. Minimum setback from property lines: WMC 5 feet.  I1, MX, PM.WME, WMI, WMM, 10 feet.  Other districts: 15 feet

Multi-tenant  facility  identification  sign

I1

 

100 sf

1 per street frontage

15

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water.

1. In the P district and the waterfront districts these signs may be ground signs, monument style, or wall-mounted.  2. All other districts these signs must be ground signs, monument style.  3. Minimum setback from property lines: WMC 5 feet.  I1, MX, PM, WME, WMI, WMM, 10 feet.  Other districts: 15 feet

Multi-tenant  facility  identification  sign

MX, PM

 

30 sf

1 per street frontage

10

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water.

1. In the P district and the waterfront districts these signs may be ground signs, monument style, or wall-mounted.  2. All other districts these signs must be ground signs, monument style.  3. Minimum setback from property lines: WMC 5 feet.  I1, MX, PM, WMEWMI, WMM, 10 feet.  Other districts: 15 feet

Multi-tenant  facility  identification  sign

P

 

15 sf

1 per street frontage

10

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water.

1. In the P district and the waterfront districts these signs may be ground signs, monument style, or wall-mounted.  2. All other districts these signs must be ground signs, monument style.  3. Minimum setback from property lines: WMC 5 feet.  I1, MX, PM.WME, WMI, WMM, 10 feet.  Other districts: 15 feet

Shopping center anchor tenant, wall-mounted

B21 , PM2,

 

0.5 sf per lf of anchor tenant façade

1 per street frontage

20

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way or over the water.

 

Tenant sign, wall-mounted

B21 , B3, B3-CD, BCE, PM2, I1, WMC, WME, WMI, WMM

 

1.5 sf per lf of building frontage per tenant, up to 40 sf per tenant.

1 per tenant, plus 1 additional for a corner tenant with windows in both façades.

15

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

No

Maximum sign board height: 36″ for anchors, 18″ for other tenants. Maximum lettering height: 36″ for anchors, 14″ for other tenants.

Tenant sign, wall-mounted

BR, MX, PM, P

 

Lesser of 1 sf per lf of entrance façade or 20 sf

1 per tenant, plus 1 additional for a corner tenant with windows in both façades.

15

No

No

Maximum sign board height: 36″ for anchors, 18″ for other tenants. Maximum lettering height: 36″ for anchors, 14″ for other tenants.

Tenant sign, projecting

B21 , B3, B3-CD, BCE, PM2, WMC, WME, WMI, WMM

 

6 sf

1 per tenant

 

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes

This type of sign is permitted where tenant spaces are recessed under a canopied walkway.

Business community identification sign

B1, P, PM, B2, B3, B3-CD, BCE, I1

 

30 sf

1 at each entry point

6

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

Yes, but not into a public way.

This type of sign is for communities comprising six or more businesses.

Marine refueling facility signs on piers

WMC, WME, WMI, WMM

 

6 sf per face

1 per facility

10

Yes, external means only such as spotlight

No

 

 

Table Notes:

1                     For sign(s) located within six hundred feet of Solomons Island Road/MD Route 2 and upon property at least five acres in area and zoned within the B2 District, the regulations shall be as follows:

 

a.                     Wall-mounted. Maximum sign area: (i) six sf per lf of building frontage up to a maximum of one thousand six hundred sf, (ii) No single sign may exceed three hundred forty sf in area; Number of signs allowed: No limit up to permitted sign area; Maximum Height (feet): thirty-two; Maximum sign board height: eleven and one-half feet; Maximum lettering height: six feet; Illumination permitted: Yes; Projection permitted: Yes, up to one and one-half feet into a public way.

b.                     Freestanding (lots with one or more businesses). Maximum sign area: (i) pole signs: twenty-four sf, (ii) ground signs: thirty sf; Number of signs allowed: one per street frontage; Maximum Height (feet): (i) pole signs: fifteen, ground signs: twelve; Minimum setback from property lines: ten feet; Minimum lot width: one hundred feet; Illumination permitted: Yes; Projection permitted: Yes, but not into a public way.

c.                     Multi-tenant facility identification sign. Maximum sign area: three hundred forty sf per side; Number of signs allowed: one per street frontage; Maximum Height (feet): thirty-five; Minimum setback from property lines: fifteen feet; Illumination permitted: Yes; Projection permitted: Yes, but not into a public way.

d.                     Anchor tenant, wall-mounted. Allowed in accordance with the regulations for wall-mounted signs in preceding subsection a.

e.                     Tenant sign, wall-mounted. Maximum sign area: up to forty-five sf per tenant; Number of signs allowed: one per tenant, plus one additional for a corner tenant with windows in both façades; Maximum Height (feet): thirty-two; Maximum sign board height: four feet; Maximum lettering height: three and one-half feet; Illumination permitted: Yes; Projection permitted: No.

f.                     Tenant sign, projecting. Six.

 

 

SECTION II:  AND BE IT FURTHER ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this Ordinance shall take effect from the date of its passage.

 

 

Explanation:

Strikethrough indicates matter stricken from existing law.

Underlining indicates matter added to existing law.

Double underlining indicates amendments.