§ 27¼-4. Signs within historic district.

(a)

Scope of this section. This section is to govern the erection, maintenance and use of signs within the boundaries of the historic district as defined in chapter 23 of this Code. To the extent anything in this section is inconsistent with any other section of this chapter, this section shall govern signs in the area specified as within the historic district.

(b)

Certificate of appropriateness. The following signs require a certificate of appropriateness to be issued by the historic preservation commission of the city and shall be allowed in the historic district, provided the sign complies with the criteria for issuance of a certificate of appropriateness.

(1)

On-premise signs. On-premise signs are permitted in the historic district provided they meet the necessary requirements as hereby stated and a certificate of appropriateness has been obtained. The following types of on-premise signs shall be allowed:

a.

Front wall sign. Signs placed on or parallel to the front of principal use side of building shall have a maximum size of one square foot per front foot of the principal building.

b.

Point of business rear entrance. Only a wall sign shall be allowed with a maximum size of four square feet.

c.

Point of business wall sign. A point of business wall sign shall be allowed but will not be allowed to face a city alley unless there is a public entrance from said alley, in which case an identification sign no larger than eight square feet shall be permitted.

d.

Point of business awning sign. A point of business awning sign shall be allowed provided it conforms with the secretary of the interior's standards of rehabilitation. Maximum sign area shall not exceed that allowed for point of business front wall sign.

e.

Point of business projecting signs. Point of business projecting signs shall be mounted perpendicular to building front or at an angle of 45 degrees. Maximum allowable projecting length shall be five feet, and the minimum height requirement shall be ten feet above ground level; maximum total sign area shall be limited to 40 square feet per sign per business establishment. Only one sign per property frontage shall be permitted.

f.

Point of business painted wall sign. Point of business painted wall sign shall be allowed on each side of a building. Sign copy shall not exceed maximum sign area allowed on front of the principal building.

g.

Monument signs. Monument signs shall be allowed provided they do not exceed 100 square feet.

h.

Sandwich boards. Any principal building may install sandwich boards to a maximum sign area of six square feet per side. The code enforcement officer shall assist with the placement of any sandwich boards.

(2)

Maximum allowable sign area. The maximum allowable sign area for all on-premises signs shall be 64 square feet per tenant however apportioned on the signs.

(3)

Sign permit. All signs allowed under this section shall first obtain a certificate of appropriateness, as required by this chapter, prior to obtaining a sign permit from the city's inspection department.

(4)

Application procedures. In addition to the other requirements for a certificate of appropriateness, applications for a permit for construction or erection of signs in the historic district shall be submitted to the historic commission and shall contain the following information:

a.

Sign owner's name, address, and telephone number, name, address and telephone number of builder or erector of sign.

b.

A sketch showing the dimensions of proposed sign and the position of the sign in relation of nearby buildings or structures, location of all existing signs, illumination method, nearby streets, and a photograph of the proposed sign location. All signs to be constructed must conform to the standards of the Southern Building Code and other applicable codes of the city.

(5)

Appeals. The proper applicant or his authorized agent may, within seven days after receipt of the written notice that a certificate of appropriateness was denied by the historic commission, file a written notice of appeal to the mayor and city council. Such notice must be delivered to the office of the mayor within this time period or the appeal will be dismissed. The mayor and city council must then hear the appeal within a reasonable time following the receipt of the appeal.

(Ord. of 3-27-07, art. IV)