§ 40-448. Sign regulations.

(a)

General. The following sign regulations supersede those of and take precedence over regulations specified in Article XXXVI General Sign Regulations of this chapter. However, for regulations on signs not addressed in this subsection of the Mixed Use Corridor District, Article XXXVI, General Sign Regulations, shall apply. For the purpose of this section, "development" refers to a site which is a lot or lots considered as a unit for development purposes. Sign regulations are designed such that all signs in the Mixed Use Corridor District shall be harmonious and in proportion to the development and structures served, particularly as far as height and size of the building(s). The following signs shall be permitted in the Mixed Use Corridor District:

(b)

Permitted signs.

(1)

Attached signs. Each use shall be allowed either one (1) attached flat sign or one (1) projecting sign subject to the following provisions:

a.

Permitted sign area.

1.

The allowable sign area shall be computed at one (1) square foot per linear foot of building width or individual tenant space width along the wall on which the business has its main entrance. In no case shall the area for any flat or projecting sign be greater than one hundred (100) square feet. Illuminated signs inside of windows and within five (5) feet of such windows shall be included in the computation of aggregate sign area and in addition shall be limited to ten (10) percent of the total glass area of the window in which the signs are placed. Neon tubing outlining a show window, shall be included in the sign area and measured by multiplying the length of the tubing by six (6) inches.

2.

Larger developments with a gross floor area of twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet or more, meeting the following minimum setback schedule shall be allowed a larger attached sign area:

LARGE DEVELOPMENT
ATTACHED SIGN
AREA SCHEDULE
BUILDING

Minimum Area (sq. ft.)	Minimum Setback (feet)	Minimum Attached Sign Area (sq. ft.)
25,000	200—299	150
25,000	300—399	200
25,000	400+	300

 

b.

Signs on lots with multiple frontage. One (1) additional attached sign located on a secondary building face shall be allowed on property with more than one (1) building frontage provided the following conditions are met:

1.

That the property is located at the intersection of a major or minor arterial as defined by the Jefferson Parish Thoroughfare Plan and excluding streets serving adjacent residential property, to protect such development from the intrusion of additional signage;

2.

The total attached sign area for the project is no more than one hundred fifty (150) percent of that allowed for the attached sign on the primary building face, as set in section 40-448(b)(1);

3.

The sign area for any attached sign taken independently does not exceed the square footage allowed for attached sign located on the primary building face as set in section 40-448(b)(1);

4.

A corresponding amount of landscaping in identical square footage to the additional attached sign area is provided on that side of the property on which the additional attached sign is located, in addition to the basic landscaping requirements delineated in section 40-446, landscape and buffer requirements.

c.

Permitted dimensions. In every case the height of any flat or projecting sign measured from the bottom to the top shall be no greater than one-half (½) the width from one (1) side to the other. No projecting sign shall extend more than five (5) feet from the face of the building.

d.

Permitted height. No sign shall be erected above the parapet level of the main building.

(2)

Awning and marquee signs. Awning or marquee sign area shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet per sign except that where an awning or marquee sign is used in place of an attached flat sign or a projecting sign, the awning or marquee sign shall not exceed the lesser of the allowable attached or projecting sign, or forty (40) percent of the vertical area of the awning or marquee on which the sign is located.

(3)

Detached signs. Each development shall be allowed one (1) on-premises detached sign except as noted in subsection d. below, subject to the following provisions:

a.

General design criteria for detached signs. Detached sign regulations for the Mixed Use Corridor District shall be intended to increase visibility for individual projects and developments in the corridor in general by minimizing the size, height and number of detached signs and reducing competition among signs in the corridor. Low "eye level" monument type signs mounted on earth berms shall be encouraged and preferred over signs mounted on standard poles. Identification of particular projects may be emphasized by incorporating the detached sign within required landscaping and with unique, creative architectural features including but not limited to clock towers and waterscapes, such as water fountains and waterfalls.

b.

Permitted sign area. The allowable sign area shall be computed at one (1) square foot per linear foot of street frontage (being the width of the lot or development site along the adjacent public right-of-way) up to two hundred (200) square feet. Multi-tenant developments may add an additional twenty (20) square feet of detached signage per tenant up to a maximum of three hundred (300) square feet.

c.

Secondary signs on through lots. A second sign may be erected on the second front of a through lot provided the following additional provisions are met:

1.

The maximum area of the second sign is seventy (70) square feet.

2.

The maximum area of the second sign is twenty (20) square feet if the through lot is located across from, adjacent to or within seventy-five (75) feet of a residential development or district.

3.

Section 33-6.25, Landscaping, buffering, and screening, shall apply.

d.

Permitted height.

1.

Standard height. The height of a detached sign shall be a maximum of twenty (20) feet, with a minimum ten-foot setback from the lot line.

2.

Conditional additional height. Additional height shall be permitted for a detached sign up to a maximum of thirty (30) feet provided an additional one-foot setback for every foot of height over twenty (20) feet is provided. The sign shall be located within a landscaped area of twenty-five (25) square feet or more.

3.

Monument type detached sign. If a monument type detached sign is employed, a twenty-five (25) percent increase in the permitted attached sign area shall be allowed. For the purpose of this section, a monument sign shall be limited to six (6) feet in height and not more than sixty (60) square feet and section 33-6.25, Landscaping, buffering, and screening, shall apply.

4.

No detached signs. If no detached sign of any kind is employed on the development site, a twenty-five (25) percent increase in the permitted attached sign area shall be allowed.

e.

Permitted materials. The sign shall be constructed of metal or wood, or encased in a wood frame or other such materials which compliment and coordinate with the architectural style of the development.

f.

The total depth of the detached sign shall not exceed five (5) feet.

(4)

Menu boards. Menu boards servicing drive-up (drive-through) restaurants shall be permitted provided that:

a.

Number. Only one (1) menu board shall be permitted per drive-through lane.

b.

Landscaping required. Section 33-6.25, Landscaping, buffering, and screening, shall apply.

c.

Visibility from street right-of-way. The menu board shall not be visible from the street right-of-way from which the primary access to the premises is obtained.

d.

Setbacks.

1.

The menu board shall not be located within the first twenty (20) feet of the front of the development site.

2.

The menu board shall be located a minimum of twenty (20) feet from any lot line abutting residential property.

e.

Sign area. The menu board shall have a maximum area of forty-eight (48) square feet.

f.

Sign height. The menu board shall have a maximum height of eight (8) feet.

g.

Sound system. The sound system associated with a menu board shall be oriented and adjusted in such a way that resulting noise does not intrude into surrounding development in compliance with the applicable provisions of section 20-102. Noise, of the Code of Ordinances of Jefferson Parish.

(5)

Temporary signs. Temporary signs shall be governed by general regulations set forth in Article XXXVI, General Sign Regulations.

(6)

Directional signs.

a.

Directional signs shall be excluded from the sign area calculation for both permitted attached and detached signs.

b.

Each directional sign shall have a maximum area of six (6) square feet.

c.

Detached directional signs shall have a maximum height of eight (8) feet above grade.

d.

Directional signs may be illuminated but shall not flash, blink or fluctuate.

e.

A directional sign shall not be an animated sign.

(7)

Nonconforming signs.

a.

All signs not in conformance with the provisions of this district, including off-premises signs erected prior to the enactment of this district but not in compliance with zoning regulations then in force, shall be terminated as provided in subsection b. below. Such signs may continue in operation and be maintained after the placement or effective date of the Mixed Use Corridor District provided that the burden of establishing that the sign is legally nonconforming rests entirely with the person claiming such status for a sign and subject to the following:

b.

All illegally erected off-premises signs and all nonconforming signs not in conformance with the provisions of the Mixed Use Corridor District shall be terminated as follows:

1.

Abandonment of thirty (30) days shall immediately terminate the right to maintain such sign.

2.

Whenever such sign is damaged, destroyed or becomes obsolete for any cause whatsoever, including Acts of God, the right to maintain such sign is immediately terminated.

(8)

Electronic variable message signs. Electronic variable message (EVM) signs in accordance with section 40-681 shall meet the following additional criteria:

a.

Number. Only one (1) detached EVM sign shall be permitted on a development site.

b.

Sign area. The EVM portion of the sign shall comprise no more than fifty (50) percent of the allowable detached sign area or one hundred (100) square feet, whichever is less.

c.

Residential proximity. EVM signs shall be located a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) feet from any residential district.

d.

Variances. A variance may be granted for an EVM sign under the provisions set forth in section 40-792 of this Code.

(c)

Prohibited signs. The following signs shall be prohibited:

(1)

Flashing signs and signs with animated and scintillating lights.

(2)

Off-premises signs.

(d)

Conditions for sign compliance to MUCD.

(1)

All signs not in conformance with the provisions of this section, including off-premises signs, shall be subject to the conditions stated in conditions for sign compliance, below. The burden of establishing a sign as legally nonconforming rests entirely with the person claiming such status for a sign.

(2)

Conditions for sign compliance.

a.

Existing signs which undergo a total replacement or change in height or area shall fully conform to section 40-448, sign regulations. Normal maintenance of existing signs or changes in the face are not included under this provision.

b.

Whenever a nonconforming sign is replaced it shall comply with the MUCD regulations.

c.

Signs relocated on the same or different premises within the MUCD shall comply with the MUCD regulations.

(e)

Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to allow any illegal sign in a MUCD to be considered a nonconforming sign.

(Ord. No. 20783, § 3(XIII-F(8)), 9-22-99; Ord. No. 23292, § 23, 5-7-08; Ord. No. 23643, §§ 1, 2, 9-23-09; Ord. No. 23663, § 1, 10-14-09; Ord. No. 23938, § 3, 1-12-11; Ord. No. 24364, § XXXV, 11-7-12; Ord. No. 25405 , § 72, 8-9-17)