Fremont Municipal Code Art. X Master Sign Program

General. In accordance with the provisions herein, signs may be allowed in commercial, industrial and residential designations and for quasi-public and public uses in any land use designation as part of a comprehensive master sign program, notwithstanding that such signs do not conform to all the specific regulations applicable in general to freestanding signs, building signs, and other signs allowed pursuant to this chapter. Master sign programs are required to ensure that adequate signage is provided to all prospective tenants within multi-tenant buildings. Exceptions to the general sign regulations may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the number of signs, height, location, sign area and illumination; provided, however, that notwithstanding the authority of the zoning administrator to approve such specific exceptions, a master sign program shall be in substantial compliance with the general sign regulations, and the zoning administrator or other approval authority shall find that each and all such exceptions will accomplish the general objectives of these regulations. A master sign program may not be used to display sign types that are prohibited. Master sign programs are applicable to multiple establishments within a single development only. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

In addition to basic sign application requirements, an application for a master sign program shall be accompanied by the following documents:

(a) Coverage area: a map, drawn to scale, delineating the site proposed to be included within the master sign program.

(b) Building elevations: drawings and/or sketches indicating the exterior surface design details of the buildings upon the site.

(c) Signing: drawings, drawn to scale, indicating the size, materials, method and intensity of illumination, height, color, sign area and general location of all signs both existing and proposed. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

The zoning administrator shall, prior to the approval of a master sign program, make the following findings in regard to the design of the signs to be maintained upon the site:

(a) Architectural design: that each sign will visually relate the sign to the architectural style of the main building or buildings upon the site, and to the extent not inconsistent with such style, that the sign(s) will be compatible with the style or character of existing improvements upon lots adjacent to the site; provided, that signs maintained upon any isolated commercial site located within and integral with a predominantly residential area are designed to be compatible with the residential character of such area.

(b) Relationship to buildings: that consistent with such architectural design, each sign is designed to incorporate at least one of the predominant visual elements, such as type of construction material, color or other design details; that any signs maintained upon a building have dimensions which are proportional to and visually balanced with the building facade of the side of the building upon which such sign is maintained.

(c) Relationship to other signs: that each sign is well related to all other signs maintained on the site that is the subject of the master sign program by the incorporation of not less than four of the following seven identical elements:

(1) Materials;

(2) Letter style of sign copy;

(3) Color;

(4) Illumination;

(5) Method used for structural support or attachment;

(6) Technical details of sign construction;

(7) Shape of entire sign and its several components.

(d) Sign copy: that the sign copy for each sign is either:

(1) Composed entirely of individual letters, a logo or symbol; or

(2) The sign copy, exclusive of decorative color or other background material, does not exceed 40 percent of the sign area.

(e) Sign area for signs affixed to buildings: that the sign area of all sign(s) affixed to a building does not exceed 10 percent of the building facade upon which such sign(s) are maintained.

(f) Signs affixed to buildings above the eave line: that any sign which is maintained above the eave line is designed to be an integral feature of the building architecture.

(g) Signs affixed to buildings below a canopy, arcade, marquee or other similar building projection: that the sign does not contain more than three square feet of sign area and is maintained on a building frontage proximate to an entrance to the building. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)

The zoning administrator may attach appropriate and reasonable conditions to any approval of the master sign program, including, but not limited to, conditions which alter sign configurations, reduce the sign area, relocate signs upon the lot or buildings, or require other design modifications. (Ord. 2-2014 § 1, 1-14-14.)