§ 14.4. General provisions.
A.
Conflicting codes and ordinances. All signs established in the Village of Hazel Crest shall be in compliance with the provisions set in this appendix. If any provision or requirement of this appendix is found to be in conflict with any other provision or requirement of this appendix or any other applicable governmental law, ordinance resolution, rule, or other governmental law of any kind, the regulation which establishes the more restrictive rule or higher standard shall govern.
B.
Interpretation. In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this appendix shall be held to be the minimum requirements necessary for the promotion and protection of the public health, safety, comfort, morals, convenience and welfare.
C.
Abandoned signs. Except as otherwise provided in this appendix, any sign that is located on property which becomes vacant and is unoccupied for a period of one (1) month or more or any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed to have been abandoned. Permanent signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change of ownership or management of such business shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of three (3) months.
D.
Removal of certain signs. In the event a business ceases operation and/or conforms to the criteria established in subsection C., the sign owner or lessee, or the property owner, shall immediately remove any sign identifying or advertising said business or any product sold thereby; provided, however, this requirement shall not apply where under the provisions of this appendix an existing conforming sign may be altered to advertise a new business or product sold thereby, and there is evidence that a new business will be in operation on the premises within ninety (90) days. Upon failure of the sign owner or lessee, or property owner to comply with this section, the building official shall issue a written notice to the sign owner and any lessee and to the property owner, which shall state that upon receipt of such notice, said sign shall be removed within ten (10) days. If the sign owner or lessee, or property owner fails to comply with such written notice to remove sign. the building official hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incidental to such removal shall be charged to the owner of the property upon which the sign is located and shall constitute a lien on the property. For the purpose of this section, the word "remove" shall mean:
1.
The sign face, along with posts, columns, or supports of "freestanding" or "ground" signs shall be taken down and removed from the property.
2.
The sign face and supporting structures of "projecting" or "wall" signs shall be taken down and removed from the property.
E.
Removed signs to be stored. In the event the village causes removal of a sign, the village will hold said sign for not less than ten (10) days, during which it may be recovered by the owner upon paying the village for costs of removal and storage. If such signs are not claimed and the removal and storage costs not paid within the ten-day period, the village is hereby authorized to dispose of them. Payment of removal and storage costs will remain the responsibility of the property owner.
F.
Signs not to constitute traffic hazard. No sign or other advertising structure as regulated by this appendix shall be erected or continued to be displayed at the intersection of any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or any location where by reason of the position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or which makes use of the words, "DANGER", "STOP" or "LOOK" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
G.
Placing signs on public or private property.
1.
Placing signs on public property. No signs other than those placed by agencies of government shall be erected on any public property; provided, directional signs may be erected upon city street name signposts, or upon traffic signposts under the following conditions:
a.
The signs direct the reader to the location of a public facility attended principally by out-of-town patrons, to a facility operated by a nonprofit entity or to a facility relating to the public health, safety, or welfare or to scenic or historic trails or districts;
b.
The signs are fabricated, erected and maintained by the entity requesting the erection of such signs and are subject to design approval by the village;
c.
The entire cost of the signs is borne by the entity or taxing body requesting the signs;
d.
The signs are installed at locations where they would not constitute a traffic hazard;
e.
The signs conform to the manual or uniform traffic control devices;
f.
The maximum number of directional signs permitted under this section shall be four (4) for each entity or taxing body; provided, the limitation provided hereby shall not apply to signs directing the reader to scenic or historic trails or districts.
2.
Placing signs on private property. No signs shall be placed on any private property without prior consent of the owner thereof.
H.
Sign illumination. The illumination of a sign permitted by this appendix shall be from a steady, nonflashing source of artificial light, not to exceed seventy-five-foot candles when measured with a standard light meter held perpendicular to the sign face at a distance equal to the narrowest dimension of the sign. Illuminated signs or the source of light for such signs shall be designed, located, shielded and directed so as to prevent the casting of glare or direct light upon adjacent publicly dedicated roadways and surrounding properties.
I.
Illumination of buildings, structures, and areas. The use of unshielded lighting, including incandescent light bulbs hung or strung on poles, wires or any other type of support, to illuminate buildings, structures, outdoor sales areas or outdoor storage areas is prohibited except:
1.
During the month of December;
2.
In areas in which carnivals, fairs or other similar activities are held; provided this temporary lighting is removed after no more than ten (10) consecutive days.
3.
On a temporary basis as otherwise determined by the village.
A building or other structure may be illuminated, but all lighting used for this purpose must be designed, located, shielded, and directed in such a manner that the light source is fixed and not directly visible from any adjacent publicly dedicated roadway or surrounding properties.
J.
Landscape requirements. For freestanding business identification, directional signs, and ground signs, the following provisions are required:
1.
A landscape strip at least five (5) feet in width and the same length as the greatest dimension of the sign shall be provided. The sign shall not extend beyond the landscaped area. Curbing or other types of vehicular barriers acceptable to the building official shall be placed around the landscaped strip for protection and comply with the overall landscape plan.
K.
Special event displays. Wind signs may be erected on the premises of an establishment having a grand opening or special event, provided that such signs shall be displayed for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days within any six-month period. Enforcement shall be tied to date of issuance of permit.
L.
Sign limitations.
1.
The area of a sign shall be determined by the smallest circle, triangle or rectangle that can be used to enclose the display surface area. Where a sign is so designated as to permit advertising copy on each side, back-to-back, both faces shall be counted in determining area.
2.
The gross surface area in square feet of permitted signs on a lot shall not exceed the lineal feet of the frontage of the lot and each side of a lot which abuts upon a street shall be considered as a separate frontage. The gross surface area of all signs located on each side of a lot, dwelling or street shall not exceed the lineal feet in the separate frontage.
3.
Any sign located within three (3) feet of a driveway, or parking area or within fifty (50) feet of the intersection of two (2) or more streets shall have the lowest elevation of at least twelve (12) feet above the curb level.
4.
It shall be unlawful to erect any ground or freestanding sign whose total height is greater than twenty (20) feet above the level of the street upon which the sign faces or above the adjoining ground level, if such ground level is above street level; freestanding signs shall not exceed a gross surface area of fifty (50) square feet for each exposed face nor exceed an aggregate gross surface area of one hundred (100) square feet. Such signs shall also carry a minimum set back requirement of no less than three (3) feet from any adjacent right-of-way; provided that the allowable height may be increased one (1) foot for each one (1) foot the sign is set-back from street right-of-way beyond three (3) feet. There shall be only one (1) freestanding sign per lot, except that on a corner lot two (2) signs, one (1) facing each street, shall be permitted, provided that such signs are located at a distance apart of no less than two hundred (200) feet.
5.
No wall sign shall extend above the height of the building, or more than twenty-four (24) inches into any public right-of-way, and any sign extending more than six (6) inches from the wall of a building shall be located at a height of not less than ten (10) feet above grade. No wall sign shall cover wholly or partially any wall opening, nor project beyond the ends or top of the wall to which it is attached and any one (1) wall sign shall not exceed an area of five hundred (500) square feet or twenty (20) percent of the wall to which it is applied, whichever is smaller.
6.
Ground signs shall have an open space not less than two (2) feet between the base line of said sign and ground level. This open space may be filled in with a platform or decorative lattice work which does not close off more than one-half (½) of any square foot of such open space. There shall be only one (1) ground sign per lot, except that on a corner lot two (2) signs, one (1) facing each street, shall be permitted. No ground sign shall be nearer than six (6) feet to any other sign, building or structure. The gross surface area of any ground sign shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet for each exposed face nor exceed an aggregate gross surface area of two hundred (200) square feet.
7.
Signs attached to or hung from a marquee shall be completely within the borderline of the marquee outer edge and shall be in no instance lower than ten (10) feet above the sidewalk or public thoroughfare.
8.
No advertising shall be placed on any awning or canopy, except that the name of the owner and the business, industry or pursuit conducted within the premises may be painted or otherwise permanently placed in a space not exceeding sixteen (16) inches in height on the front and side portions thereof.
9.
No sign or other advertising device shall display any obscene, indecent or immoral materials, words or emblems, as determined by the building official.