§ 36-39. Signs.

(a)

Definitions. The following terms, as used in this section, are hereby defined as follows:

(1)

Sign shall include any symbol, device, image, poster, flag, banner, billboard, design or directional sign used for advertising purposes, whether painted upon, attached to, erected on, or otherwise maintained on any premises containing any words, letters or parts of letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, trade names or trade marks by which anything is make known, such are as used to designate an individual, a firm, an association, a corporation, a profession, a business or a commodity or product, which is visible from any public street and is used to attract attention.

(2)

Display includes erect, paint, repaint, place, replace, hang, rehang, repair, maintain, paint directly upon a building or other structure, inlay, embed in, or otherwise exhibit in public view.

(b)

Signs must conform to character of section. In addition to the prohibitions contained in this section, approval of the display of a sign in the Leesville Historic District of the city shall be granted by the commission only when such signs and the plans therefor, so far as they relate to the appearance, color, size, position, method of attachment, texture of materials and design, conform to the quaint and distinctive character of the historic district or do not injuriously affect it or impair the value to the community of those buildings having architectural or historical worth.

(c)

No signs to be displayed in certain places. No sign shall be displayed from the parapet of the roofs of any buildings in the historic district. No sign shall be displayed or placed in a manner whatsoever so as to disfigure or conceal any significant architectural feature of detail of any building.

(d)

What signs may advertise. No sign of any character shall be displayed in the historic district unless such sign advertises a bona fide business conducted in or on the premises and, if it does do so, no more than 50 percent of the area of such sign may be used to advertise products or commodities actually sold on the premises.

(e)

Number of primary signs. In general, one primary sign is allowed to each store, shop or bona fide place of business, and this sign shall be no larger than the maximum stipulated in this article.

(1)

In the case of a business operated on a corner lot that faces two streets, on primary sign on each street facing is allowed and shall be regulated as if each side were a separate storefront.

(2)

In the case of a single sign being inappropriate, multiple primary signs may be used, the total face area of which may not exceed the maximum size stipulated in this article.

(f)

Surface area of signs. The surface area of any sign shall be in direct proportion to the amount of front footage of each ownership and shall be as follows:

(1)

For single-faced signs, attached flat against the wall and including painted wall signs there shall be allowed 30 square inches sign surface area to each foot of lot frontage.

(2)

For double-faced signs, suspended by brackets or arms perpendicularly from the wall of a building, the surface area shall be the sum of the areas of each face not to exceed 30 square inches of sign surface area to each foot of lot frontage.

(3)

In the case of multiple businesses operating at a single location, the total face area of signage may be increased one and one-half times the maximum stipulated in this article.

(g)

Secondary signs. In addition to the primary sign(s) referred to in paragraph (e), small secondary signs may be used to identify the following:

(1)

Entrance doors.

(2)

Operating hours.

(3)

Temporary signs.

(h)

Temporary signs. Temporary signs of a promotional nature may be placed on the interior of store windows. In no case may they remain longer than 60 days. A permit is not required for the placement of a temporary sign. Temporary signs may be placed on the exterior of a building for the following special situations:

(1)

For the identity of real estate for sale.

(2)

For political advertisement. Except for signs larger than a two-foot by two-foot yard sign, no application is required.

(3)

For promotion by non-profit organizations. In no case may these signs exceed the size limitations of this article.

(i)

Portable and changeable letter signs. No portable or changeable letter signs may be erected or allowed to remain within the Leesville Historic District, except those signs defined as sandwich board signs, which are two connected signboards that are self supporting, and that advertise a business name and/or operating technicalities, as long as such signs are no more than four feet in height and two feet in width. All such signs must be approved by the Leesville Historic District Commission, as further provided in subsection (m) below, and are subject to the following limitations:

(1)

No sandwich board signs may be placed on any sidewalk or other public area in the Leesville Historic District so as to unduly interfere with sidewalk use or pedestrian traffic. The placing of such signs shall be taken into consideration by the Leesville Historic District Commission when approving all applications for permits to display such signage. The Leesville Historic District Commission shall have the authority to limit the location of all such signs.

(j)

Illuminated signs. No illuminated signs may be constructed or erected within the historic district without the express approval of the historic district commission.

(1)

Concealed lightning is recommended. Bulbs may not be exposed. The light should enhance the sign as well as the building on which it is mounted.

(2)

Internally illuminated signs are not permitted.

(3)

Neon signs are not permitted.

(4)

Flashing signs are not permitted.

(k)

Signs no longer complying as to advertisements to be taken down. Any sign displayed which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted upon the premises shall, upon notification by the historic district commission or its agent (who is hereby specifically authorized to so proceed) be taken down, removed or obliterated within five days after such notification and failure to so comply on the part of the owner, occupant, agent or person having the beneficial use of any building or premises upon which such sign may be found shall subject such person to the penalty provided in section 36-32.

(l)

Building code applicable to signs. All signs under the section shall be further governed by existing regulations of the building code of the city which are not in conflict with this section.

(m)

Application for signs to be submitted to commission. All applications for permits to display signs within the historic district of the city shall be submitted to the historic district commission office for approval before a permit therefor may be issued in conformity with this section.

(n)

Form of application to display signs; accompanying drawings. Application for a permit to display signs in the historic district of the city shall be made to the commission upon forms furnished by the commission. Such an application shall also be accompanied by sketches and drawings in triplicate showing details of construction and foundation when required by the building code of the city and shall delineate the size, shape, design, coloring, lightning, and position in relation to the building from or upon which it shall be displayed.

(Ord. No. 10/02, 8-12-02; Ord. No. 08/10, 5-24-10)