A.    Purpose of Regulation.

    1.    The following standards will be applied by the Columbia historic preservation commission in determining the appropriateness of proposed signs on historic landmarks and/or in historic districts of the city in their determination whether a certificate of appropriateness will be issued pursuant to Chapter 15.64.

    2.    These standards are derived from the secretary of interior standards for rehabilitation, adopted and supplemented by local standards, to fit specific situations encountered in the city. They are provided herein to insure that everyone, commission members and property owners alike, have an equal understanding of the standards that are applied by the Columbia historic preservation commission.

    B.    Standards Applied to Proposed Signs on Historic Landmarks and/or in Historic Districts.

    1.    Signs should relate in placement and size to other building elements.

    2.    Signs should not obscure other building elements such as windows, cornices or decorative details.

    3.    Sign material, style and color should compliment the building facade.

    4.    Use of internally illuminated signs is discouraged, unless it can be shown that such illumination is traditionally associated with a particular type of sign (e.g., theater marquees).

    5.    New signs should fit within architectural space designed for them (such as on signboards above store fronts), when such space exists.

    6.    Wall-mounted signs should be mounted so they do not damage the surface to which they are mounted.

    7.    Large signs on upper facades, rooftop signs, additional billboards and other outdoor advertising signs painted or mounted on structures are prohibited. (Ord. 1528 § 1, 1996: Ord. 892 § 4-9, 1991)