20.72.080 General sign design standards.
In addition to the development regulations contained in CMC 20.72.090, the following design standards shall apply:
A. Compatibility. The design of all permanent signs located within any zone shall be compatible with the architectural character of buildings on the site.
B. Illumination. Signs may be externally or internally illuminated. If internally illuminated, the background of a cabinet sign must be opaque with only the cut-out text and characters of the copy being illuminated, and illumination of individual letters and logos each in a separate cabinet is preferred. No electrical conduits or raceways shall be visible on the exterior of the building façade.
C. Monument (Freestanding) Signs.
1. All freestanding signs shall be a monument style, meaning at least 50 percent of the base shall be solid. No pole signs are permitted. The base shall use decorative materials that are architecturally compatible with the sign cabinet and the architectural character of building(s) on the site.
2. Landscaping with automatic irrigation shall be provided at the base of the supporting structure and shall extend a minimum distance of three feet in all directions from the sign base for new signs located in the mixed-use and entertainment zones. As part of the development review permit, the director of community development or planning commission may waive this requirement if site conditions make installation of landscaping infeasible.
3. Monument signs shall be encased with materials compatible with the base materials. (Ord. 690 § 4 (Exh. A), 2018).