21.16.335 Signs in the transition area | Lynnwood Municipal Code

21.16.335 Signs in the transition area.

Only the following signs are permitted in the transition area:

1. Backlit signs are prohibited; signs with individual backlit letters are acceptable.

2. Illuminated signs are permitted except on top floor building facades facing westerly that would be visible from the residential areas west of 36th Avenue W.

3. External sign lighting is permitted. The lighting shall not shine directly toward adjacent residentially zoned properties and shall not project towards the night sky.

4. For residential real estate signs, see LMC 21.16.290(D).

5. For commercial incidental signs, internal information signs, portable business signs, temporary commercial event signs, real estate signs, construction signs and variances for commercial signs, see LMC 21.16.310.

B. Monument Sign Standards. Monument signs shall conform to the requirements of Table 21.16.01.

Table 21.16.01. Monument Sign Standards
Requirements^a^,^b^,^c	Single- and Multi-Tenant Developments
Requirements^a^,^b^,^c	(less than 25,000 sq. ft. of floor area)	(25,000 – 50,000 sq. ft. of floor area)	(more than 50,000 sq. ft. of floor area)
Maximum Height	4 ft.	6 ft.	8 ft.
Maximum Sign Area	20 sq. ft.	30 sq. ft.	40 sq. ft.
Minimum Setback from Front Property Lines^d	For signs 4 ft. in height or less: 5 ft. For signs greater than 4 ft. in height up to 8 ft. in height or less: 10 ft.
Minimum Setback – Side^d	5 ft.
Landscaping ^e	2 ft. of landscaping surrounding the entire base of the sign
Minimum Separation^f	250 ft. between signs

aMonument signs shall include the address number on the face of the sign. Address numbers shall meet fire department requirements and shall not be counted towards the sign area.

bThe sign shall consist of materials and colors that minimize reflection capabilities and are consistent and complementary to the architecture of the primary building on site. Materials shall be easily maintained and shall retain their shape, color, texture and appearance over time.

cThe sign shall comply with the design criteria in Figure 5 of this chapter.

dSigns shall not be located within a triangular area at street intersection or street and driveway intersections formed by two points measuring 20 feet back from the point where the two street right-of-way lines merge or a street right-of-way line and edge of driveway merge and extending a line that connects these two points to complete the triangle (see Figure 4 of this chapter).

eLandscaping shall include a decorative combination of groundcover and shrubs to provide seasonal interest in the area surrounding the base of the sign. Landscaping shall be well maintained at all times of the year. The required landscaping area shall be protected by a raised curb if not surrounded by additional landscaping.

fAn individual building, development, or complex may not display more than one monument sign per street frontage. However, additional monument signs can be used on the site as long as they advertise a different business on site and can be placed at least 250 feet from the first sign along applicable street frontages. No two signs shall be closer than 250 linear feet.

a. Business tenants with building frontage: one square foot of signage for each linear foot of building frontage; provided, that each tenant is allowed a minimum of 40 square feet of signage.

b. Business tenants without building frontage: one-half square foot for each lineal foot of building facade, not to exceed 100 square feet maximum.

c. Allowable sign area may not be transferred from one facade and/or building frontage to another.

a. Ground floor business tenants with a direct exterior entrance into the business (not a lobby) are permitted one square foot of signage for each linear foot of building frontage of the applicable tenant space; provided, that each tenant is allowed a minimum of 40 square feet of signage. This signage shall be located at their exterior entry on the ground floor.

b. Other Business Tenants with Building Frontage. The total exterior wall signage allowed shall be a maximum of one square foot of signage for each linear foot of building, up to a maximum of 250 square feet per building frontage (total for all business tenants). This signage may identify either the building, a major tenant of the building, or individual tenants that do not have a direct exterior entrance into their tenant space (or a combination of all three), as determined and allocated by the building owner. This signage may be located only on either the ground floor or the top floor (below the cornice or edge of the roof) of the building (or both), as determined by the owner.

c. Business Tenants without Building Frontage. The total exterior wall signage allowed shall be a maximum of one-half square foot for each lineal foot of building facade which does not meet the definition of building frontage, up to a maximum of 100 square feet (total for all business tenants). The property owner shall allocate this signage among tenants without building frontage, including tenant spaces without wall space along the exterior facade. This signage may located only at the ground floor or the top floor of the building (or both), as determined by the owner.

d. Allowable sign area may not be transferred from one facade and/or building frontage to another.

e. In no case shall allowable sign area be permitted on intermediate floors (above the first story or below the top story).

3. Residential Development or Institutional Identification Signs. Wall signs for multifamily development identification are permitted. Signs at ground floor public residential or institutional entrances shall have a maximum size of 20 square feet per such entrance. Additional signs may be permitted on the top floor (below the cornice or roof edge), provided such signs shall be allocated as part of the total allowable sign area per facade by the owner (see above).

4. Home Occupation Signs. Home occupations may be allocated sign area as part of an internal or external sign directory; no other signage is permitted.

5. Maximum Height. Wall signs may not extend above the building parapet, soffit, the eave line or the roof of the building.

6. Mounting. Building signs should be mounted plumb with the building, with a maximum protrusion of one foot unless the sign incorporates sculptural elements or architectural devices. The sign frame shall be concealed or integrated into the building’s architectural character in terms of form, color, and materials.

D. Projecting, Marquee and Awning Signs. Projecting, marquee and awning signs shall meet the requirements of LMC 21.16.310(B)(2) in addition to the following:

1. The sign shall not project more than five feet from the building, unless the sign is a part of a permanent marquee or awning over the sidewalk. Vertically oriented signs shall not project more than three feet from the building. Signs shall not project into the public right-of-way.

2. Sign area shall be counted as part of the allocation for wall signs, above.

3. Signs shall not extend above the building parapet, soffit, eave line or the roof of the building, except for theaters.

4. Marquee and awning signs shall not cover more than 70 percent of the applicable storefront or awning.

E. Blade Signs. Blade signs are small signs with faces perpendicular to the building facade. They generally are mounted directly to the building facade or hung below a canopy or projecting weather protection. Blade signs are generally oriented to face pedestrians walking down the fronting sidewalk. Blade signs meeting the following conditions are allowed for commercial uses:

1. Projection. Blade signs may project up to three feet. Bracket signs shall have one foot minimum between the sign and the outer edge of the marquee, awning, or canopy and between the sign and the building facade.

2. Clearance. Blade/bracket signs shall maintain a minimum clearance of eight feet between the walkway and the bottom of the sign.

3. Dimensions. Blade signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. Bracket signs shall not exceed two feet in height.

4. Mounting. Blade signs must avoid covering or modifying windows or other architectural feature.

F. Prohibited Signs. The following signs are specifically prohibited:

1. Pole-mounted signs.

2. Signs employing moving or flashing lights.

3. Signs employing exposed electrical conduits.

4. Visible ballast boxes or other equipment.

5. Roof-mounted signs.

G. Other Signs. See LMC 21.16.310(C) through (J). (Ord. 3077 § 2 (Exh. A), 2014)