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The purpose of this Section is to provide sign regulations for the Graham Community Plan that allow business and civic organizations to convey the availability of goods, services, and business locations in a manner that is visually and aesthetically pleasing and in keeping with the rural character of the community. These sign regulations are intended to work in harmony with the Graham Community Plan provisions contained in Title 18J PCC, Design Standards and Guidelines.

The following regulations apply to signs within the Graham Community Plan area, in addition to the Countywide Sign Design Regulations of Chapter 18B.20 PCC.

A. Prohibited Signs. The following sign types are prohibited in the Graham Community Plan area in addition to those prohibited in PCC 18B.10.070.

1. Awning signs;

2. Canopy signs that are canvas or backlit;

3. Mechanical signs;

4. Inflatable signs;

5. Monopole signs;

6. Projecting signs; and

7. Temporary signs, except banner and window signs.

B. Business signs for commercial or industrial uses shall be used for business identification purposes. Incidental information such as the hours of operation, telephone number, credit cards accepted, merchandise available, and the vacancy status is permitted on freestanding or monument signs but such information may not exceed 25 percent of the total sign area (see Figure 18B.30.070-1).

FIGURE 18B.30.070-1 – Graham Incidental Information

C. Sign Illumination.

1. Internal and backlit sign illumination is prohibited for residential development and civic use signs that are allowed in urban and rural residential zones (MHR, SF, R5, R10, R20, RSR) and resource zones (FL, ARL); and

2. Internal or backlit sign illumination is permitted for commercial, industrial, or civic use signs in CE, MUD, RAC, and RNC zone classifications.

D. Design, Character and Color.

1. Signs shall be constructed with the use of natural materials such as wood, rock, stone or decorative masonry or with products made from recycled materials that look like these natural materials. The emphasis should be on craftsmanship, materials detailing and an organic quality. Wall signs may also utilize some other types of materials, such as metal or resin compounds, provided that these components also portray a rural or rustic look and character;

2. Signs shall be composed of neutral colors that blend in with surrounding buildings and reflect the rural environment. Colors must be complementary and restrained. Bright and brilliant colors shall be avoided except for use as accent color. However, no specific color or combination of colors is specifically prohibited;

3. Signs shall be designed with details that reflect a rural or rustic character and to relate to the character of the buildings and/or the uses they identify; and

4. Franchises are subject to the same signage regulations as other commercial uses, and shall use the minimum amount of signage and building features to convey corporate identity.

E. Neon Signs.

1. Neon signs that are used for window displays shall be no more than 2 feet by 2 feet in size;

2. Neon in-wall signage shall only be utilized for accent of the main sign and shall not be more than 10 percent of the total size of the overall sign; and

3. Use of neon in freestanding, monument, iconic and A-board signs and wall murals is prohibited.

F. Freestanding Signs. Pole signs are allowed only for commercial and office/business uses and shall be constructed using two or more poles with a maximum height of 16 feet, measured at the highest point of the structure (see Figure 18B.30.070-2). Monopole signs are prohibited.

FIGURE 18B.30.070-2 – Graham Freestanding Sign

G. Monument Signs.

1. The exterior base or side structure shall be made or faced with natural materials such as native stone, brick, wood, or timber; and

2. Maximum height of a monument sign for a business shall be 8 feet in height and the maximum height of the base of the structure shall be 4 feet (see Figure 18B.30.070-3).

FIGURE 18B.30.070-3 – Graham Monument Sign

Table 18B.30.070-1. Graham Sign Table

Maximum Total Freestanding Sign Area

Use Type

Zone Classifications

CE

MUD

MHR

SF

RAC

RNC

R5, R10, R20, RSR, RF, FL, ARL

FREESTANDING POLE SIGNS (maximum square feet per sign)

Single-Tenant

60

60

40

40

60

40

Multi-Tenant Site/Building

80

80

40

40

80

60

MONUMENT SIGNS (maximum square feet per sign)

Single-Tenant

60

60

40

40

60

40

Multi-Tenant Site/Building

80

80

40

40

80

60

Civic

60

60

40

40

60

40

40

Residential Development

40

40

40

40

40

40

 

Table 18B.30.070-2. Graham Sign Table

Maximum Total Building Sign Area

BUILDING SIGNS (WALL AND WINDOW)

Urban Zone Classifications

Rural and Resource Land Zone Classifications

CE, MUD

MHR, SF

RAC, RNC

R5, R10, R20, RSR, RF, ARL, FL

Maximum square footage of building signs, which shall be located below the roofline for each tenant. (2)(3)

For each tenant:

For each tenant:

0-20,000 square feet (1)

10

0-5,000 square feet

8

20,001-40,000 square feet

20

5,001-15,000 square feet

9

40,001-80,000 square feet

30

15,000-40,000 square feet

15

80,001-200,000 square feet

40

40,001-80,000 square feet

20

greater than 200,000 square feet

50

greater than 80,000 square feet

30

Maximum square footage of signs for civic uses in a single-tenant building

See above

10

See above

10

Footnotes:

(1)    For a single-tenant building of 20,000 square feet or less, the building sign may be increased up to 10 additional square feet provided the maximum allowed size of the monument sign shall be decreased accordingly.

(2)    Single-tenant buildings shall be allowed wall signage on the primary building facade (including one logo) up to the total square footage allowed. Single-tenant buildings situated on a corner of two public streets will be allowed one additional sign and logo on the facade facing the additional street frontage up to the maximum of 10 square feet.

(3)    Multi-tenant buildings shall be allowed facade signage (including one logo) on the main building elevation for each tenant space up to the square footage allowed. Tenant spaces located at building corners situated on a corner of two public streets shall be permitted one additional facade sign and logo to be placed on the other wall facing the second public street up to the maximum allowed for each tenant in a multi-tenant building.

CE=Community Employment, MUD=Mixed Use District, MHR=Moderate-High Density Residential, SF=Single-Family, RAC=Rural Activity Center, RNC=Rural Neighborhood Center, R5=Rural 5, R10=Rural 10, R20=Rural 20, RSR=Rural Sensitive Resource, RF=Rural Farm, ARL=Agricultural Resource Lands, FL=Forest Land

(Ord. 2022-5s2 § 1, 2022; Ord. 2016-42s § 1 (part), 2016; Ord. 2016-33 § 1 (part), 2016; Ord. 2015-86 § 1 (part), 2015; Ord. 2015-40 § 5 (part), 2015; Ord. 2013-85 § 1 (part), 2013; Ord. 2013-30s2 § 6 (part), 2013)