19900925 1990-25ORDINANCE NO. ...199_0-25
ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 26-218.111 AND ARTICLE II
DIVISION 7 OF CHAPTER 26 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA TO CONDITI0!NALLY PERMIT INDIVIDUAL
TENANT SIGNAGE ON COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, CLARIFY TOTAL
SIGNAGE PERMITTED AND REFINE ~[EGULATIONS PERTAINING TO
SIGNS PERMITTED IN THE OLD TOWN FAIRFAX HISTORIC
DISTRICT.
BE IT ORDAINED that the second sentence of Section 26-218.111 is
hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
"Plans for signs appurtenant to new mad renovated shopping centers,
and as otherwise provided for multi-tenant commercial buildings in
Section 26-44(b) shall also be subject te~ BAR approval."
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Subsection 26-44(b)(2)a. is hereby
amended by adding a new subsection 4 to read in its entirety as
follows:
"4. Sign Approval: Signs appurtenant to new and renovated shopping
centers shall be subject to approval of the Board of Architectural
Review. In its review, the BAR may establish guidelines for future
tenant signage at said shopping cenller including locations, sizes,
colors and other design features."
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the title of Subsection 26-44(b)(2) is
hereby amended to read as follows:
"(2) Multi-tenant Commercial Buildings Not Located Within an
Historic District"
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Section 26-44(b)(2)b is hereby
amended by adding a new Subsection 4 to read in its entirety as
follows:
"4. Tenant Signs: Buildings within office or industrial centers shall be
permitted building-mounted signs identifying individual tenants.
i. Each building shall be permitted, as a matter of right, a maximum
cumulative total of such signs not exceeding 0.25 square feet for each
linear foot of building frontage. The maximum cumulative total of
tenant signage for each building may be increased to not greater than
I 50 square feet for each linear foot of building frontage, provided that
a conceptual master plan for all tenant, directory, building
identification and center identification signs has been reviewed and
approved by the Board of Architectural Review (BAR). Such master
plan shall include colors and materials of all such signs, and the
locations, shapes, maximum dimensions, methods of illumination and
other design-related features requested by the BAR. Only one such
master plan shall be required to increase the amount of signage as
specified above. Individual tenant signs shall not be subject to
subsequent BAR review, provided that ail signs erected are consistent
the approved master plan. The maximum area permitted for any
one (1) tenant sign shall be fifty (50) square feet.
ii. On multi-stow buildings, no tenant sign shall be permitted at a
height greater than three and one-half (3-1/2) feet above the finished
floor level of the second stow."
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BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the title of Subsection 26-44(b){2)c
is hereby amended to read in its entirely as follows:
"Section 26-44(b)(2)c Individual Multi-tenant Commercial or
Industrial Building on a Single Lot."
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Subsection 26-44(b)(2)c3 is hereby
repealed and reenacted to read in its eritirety as follows:
"3. Tenant signs: Individual multi-tenant commercial or industrial
buildings shall be permitted building-mounted signs identifying
individual tenants.
i. Each building shall be permitted, as a matter of right, a maximum
cumulative total of such signs not exceleding 0.50 square feet for each
linear foot of building frontage. The maximum cumulative total of
tenant signage for each building may l~e increased to not greater than
1.50 square feet for each linear foot of building frontage, provided that
a conceptual master plan for all tenant, directory, building
identification and center identification signs has been reviewed and
approved by the Board of Architectural Review (BAR). Such master
plan shall include the information specified in Section 26-44 (b)(2)b.
Only one such master plan shall be required to increase the amount of
signage as specified above. Individual tenant signs shall not be subject
to subsequent BAR review, provided that all signs erected are
consistent with the approved master plan. The maximum area
permitted for any one (1) tenant sign shall be fifty (50) square feet.
ii. On multi-story buildings, no tenanL sign shall be permitted at a
height greater than three and one-half (3-1/2) feet above the finished
floor level of the second story."
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Section 26-44(b)(4) is hereby
repealed and reenacted to read in its eniirety as follows:
"(4) Old Town Fairfax Historic Over,tay District: The design and
display of signs in the Old Town Fairfa~c Historic Overlay District are
subject to the provisions of Article XV[II (Historic Overlay Districts),
including applicable design criteria, e:~ccept as specifically qualified
herein.
a. Bulk Regulations: Total cumulative signage for each building
frontage shall not exceed one (1) square foot for each linear foot of
building frontage. Signs shall also be permitted on building faces
which are not included within the delfinition of building frontages
provided that such building face is visible from a public street, and
further provided that such signage does not exceed 0.50 square feet
for each linear foot of building face. B~ailding identification, building
~directory and individual tenant signs shall be permitted. Canopy signs
located on the first floor of a building :indicating only the name of a
building or tenant shall not be cot[nted toward the maximum
permitted signage. Signs located within the Old Town Fairfax Historic
Overlay District shall comply with the bulk regulations contained in
Table III.
b. Materials: Materials used in the construction and ornamentation of
signs located in this district shall be compatible with the architecture
of the building with which they are associated and consistent with the
character of the district. Appropriately designed wood, canopy and
1990-25
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painted window signs are preferred in the district. High gloss plastic,
neon, and plastic-faced sign boxes shall not be permitted.
c. Lettering Size: Lettering on signs ,,~hall not exceed ten (10) inches
in height.
d. Color: Sign color shall be compatible with the color scheme of the
building with which the sign is assoeiated and consistent with the
character of the district.
e. Illumination.. Signs may be illuminaiied by white light only. Lighting
shah be unobtrusive and illuminate the sign face only. Back-lit signs
are prohibited.
f. Content: The content of signs shall be limited to advertising the
basic nature of businesses and identifFing the names and either the
!addresses or telephone numbers of businesses; provided, however that
service stations located in the District Shall be permitted the signs in
Section 26-44{b)(3) (special regulations for service stations).
g. Context: Building-mounted signs sh~ be designed and constructed
as an integral part of the building f~cade in terms of design and
ent. Signs shall be compatible with and relate to the design
of a building ~including proportion, scale, materials, color and
details. Signs shall not obscure, depreciate, or compete with a
building's significant architectural featu~res.
h. Sign Approval: Signs erected or altered in the district are subject
to approval by the BAR as specified in Article XVIII (Historic Overlay
Districts) in addition to administrative procedures contained in
Section 26-47 (Administration and Enforcement). In rendering its
decision, the BAR shall consider the cr:lteria contained in Section 26-
194.4 (Special Design Requirements~, Section 26-206.1 (Design
Criteria) and this section, and shall ensure consistency with the
purpose and intent of the District as set forth in Article XVIII. If
necessary, the BAR shall impose conditJions to insure compliance with
the above stated criteria, including limitation, as appropriate, of the
types, styles, sizes and numbers of signs on any building in the
District. An applicant may appeal any decision rendered by the BAR to
the City Council as specified in Article XVIII."
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Table III contained in Article II
Division 7 is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
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Ordinance shall become effective as provided by law.
Public hearing before the Planning Commission: Ju]y 30, ]990
Public hearing before the City Council: September 25, 1990
· Sep_ t e~n~_~_r_ _2 5_, ]990