20.37.560 Downtown district urban village – Signs.
A. General Provisions. No sign shall be permitted unless it complies with the provisions herein.
B. Applicability. The regulations of this section shall apply to the development of any principal and/or accessory use within any area in the downtown district except as follows:
1. Residential Transition Areas. Development in residential transition areas shall comply with Chapter 20.28 BMC, Infill Housing, Chapter 20.30 BMC, Residential Single Development, or Chapter 20.32 BMC, Residential Multi Development, for corresponding development. Nonresidential uses shall comply with Chapter 20.32 BMC, Residential Multi Development, unless specified otherwise herein.
2. Industrial Transition Area. Development in the industrial transition area shall comply with Chapter 20.36 BMC, Industrial Development, having a “light” industrial use qualifier.
3. Commercial Areas. Development in commercial areas shall comply with subsection (D) of this section.
4. Billboards are permitted in the billboard overlay zones when in accord with the provisions of this code.
5. Properties within the jurisdiction of the shoreline master program are also regulated by the sign standards as defined in the shoreline master program. Where conflicts arise, the more restrictive standards apply.
C. Exemptions. The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this title:
1. Traffic signs installed by a government agency.
2. Directional, wayfinding program signs installed by a government agency if the signs are consistent with the provisions of the downtown plan.
3. Tenant panel and directory signs when located within a recessed entry.
4. Interior signs including those painted on the interior of glass windows.
5. Specific service signage as defined herein shall be permitted on the public right-of-way consistent with the policies and approval of the public works department.
6. Building identification signs or cornerstones are permitted as an integral and architecturally compatible part of the building or structure. Cornerstones shall not exceed four square feet and building identification signs shall not exceed 32 square feet. These exemptions shall not contain any colors, words, letters, numbers, symbols, graphic designs, logos or trademarks for the purpose of identifying a good, service, product, or establishment.
7. Directional Signs.
a. Directional signs are limited to six square feet per sign face and three feet in height if freestanding.
b. The message shall not contain the name of the establishment or advertising of any kind. Examples of directional signs include: “Enter,” “Service Entrance,” “No Parking,” etc.
c. There is no limit on the number of directional signs.
D. Standards for Commercial Areas.
1. Pole signs and off-premises signs are prohibited.
2. No lighted signs shall be permitted on building walls facing a residentially zoned area when the property whereon the sign is located abuts a residential zoned area.
3. One freestanding monument sign is permitted at each main entrance. The determination of whether an entrance functions as a main entrance shall be made by the planning and community development director. Monument signs shall not exceed 60 square feet per face nor six feet in height measured from existing grade. Said sign may be lighted but the message shall be limited to the name of the complex and its occupants, with the exception that if a gasoline station is represented on the sign, the sign may contain gasoline price information.
4. Building mounted signs extending over the street right-of-way shall comply with the International Building Code and the requirements of the public works department.
5. Temporary building signs shall not exceed 32 square feet.
6. Real estate signs are limited to one sign per street frontage, shall be unlighted, and shall not exceed 32 square feet. [Ord. 2014-09-049 § 52 (Exh. F)].