§ 129-74. Freestanding sign corridor overlay districts.

(a)

Intent. Due to the city's desire to maintain attractive gateways and streetscapes within the city; certain corridors have required special land use and transportation access planning. Aspects of individual corridors may include elements such as high-quality building design restrictions and construction, a physical location in a prime redevelopment area along a major transportation corridor, inclusion of structures identified as historically relevant based on the Mishawaka Historic Sites and Structures Inventory, and/or being located in an area that is predominantly undeveloped and is adjacent to existing or proposed corridors. All of these characteristics present a need for an attractive streetscape appearance potentially serving as gateways or entrances to the city. The following overlay sign restrictions identified under subsection (d) of this section shall apply to all freestanding signs in the areas described under subsection (b) of this section. These restrictions shall also apply to off-premises signs within all districts excepting only the areas identified under subsection (c) of this section.

(b)

District areas. The districts shall be described as areas of land 300 feet parallel to and on either side of the right-of-way of the following described corridors excepting any portions of right-of-way or area not within the corporation limit:

(1)

Main Street extended district. Gumwood Road from the northernmost corporation limit south to the intersection of Main Street and State Road 23. Main Street from the intersection of State Road 23 and Gumwood Road south to the intersection of Church Street and Main Street. Church Street from the intersection of Church Street and Main Street south to the intersection of Church Street and Union Street. Union Street from the intersection of Church Street and Union Street south to the intersection of Union Street and Bremen Highway. Bremen Highway from the intersection of Union Street and Bremen Highway south to the southmost corporation limit.

(2)

Edison Lakes district. Edison Lakes Parkway between the east right-of-way line of North Main Street and east right-of-way line of Grape Road. Day Road between the east right-of-way line of North Main Street and the easternmost corporation limit. Park Place between the south right-of-way of Day Road to the west right-of-way of Filbert Road. Division Street from the intersection of Division Street and McKinley Highway to the northernmost limit of Division Street.

(3)

Lincolnway district. Lincolnway between the east right-of-way of Logan Street and the west right-of-way line of Capital Avenue.

(4)

State Road 23/Edwardsburg Highway district. State Road 23/Edwardsburg Highway between the east right-of-way line of Main Street to the eastern most city limit.

(5)

Cass Road/University Drive district. University Drive between the east right-of-way line of Main Street to the west right-of-way line of Fir Road. Cass Road from the south/east right-of-way line of University Drive to its terminus west of Fire Road.

(c)

Exceptions for the development of off-premises signs within certain overlay districts. Development of off-premises signs in the following areas shall not be subject to the overlay restrictions, but shall be subject to all other applicable restrictions on the development of off-premises signs identified by chapter 137.

(1)

Main Street extended district exception. Main Street from a point 300 feet south of the south right-of-way line of Guam Avenue to the north right-of-way line of Russ Street. Union Street from the intersection of Church Street and Union Street south to the intersection of Union Street and Bremen Highway (at the intersection, south right-of-way line, of Dragoon Trail).

(2)

State Road 23/Edwardsburg Highway district. State Road 23/Edwardsburg Highway between the eastern edge of the Main Street extended overlay district to the easternmost city limit.

(d)

Overlay sign restrictions.

(1)

The number and area of any sign shall be limited by the standards identified by this article and shall be further supplemented by the following:

a.

Individual sign display height shall be no greater than five-foot high/vertical.

b.

Individual sign display width shall be no greater than 15-foot wide/horizontal.

c.

Individual sign display area shall be no greater than 60 square feet.

d.

The vertical height of the sign with base/support shall be no greater than eight feet above the ground level.

(2)

For all new construction, sign bases/support shall be solid/opaque, void of open areas, and shall be faced or constructed of masonry materials to match the construction of the principal building. Existing buildings replacing or installing new signage may submit alternatives to the masonry as needed to match the appearance of existing construction, subject to the review and approval of the city planner.

(Code 1985, § 157.15A; Ord. No. 3913, 1-3-1995; Ord. No. 3923, 3-6-1995; Ord. No. 4358, 12-7-1998; Ord. No. 4583, 5-7-2001)