SECTION VIII
A. Purpose and Intent: The purpose of this Section is to establish standards for the erection and use of signs within Castle Pines North.
B. General Standards: The following standards shall apply to signs in all Planning Areas:
1. No sign exceeding six square feet in surface area shall be erected, constructed or placed on any building, structure or lot unless a permit therefore has been issued. No such permit shall be issued unless the proposed sign complies with the standards of this Section and such further standards as may be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners after recommendation by the Planning Commission with respect to structural safety. The sign permit fee shall be established by the Board and paid to the Douglas County Planning Department.
2. All signs erected in any public right-of-way by a public agency authorized to control or direct traffic shall be exempt from the provisions of this Section.
3. Signs located at intersections and entries identifying Castle Pines North which are integral parts of an entry treatment utilizing landscaping, masonry or other materials to define and provide an aesthetically pleasing entry are permitted, provided that no such entry treatment shall hinder motorist visibility. The total surface area of entry signs shall not exceed 48 square feet and shall not project higher than eight feet above ground. Each sign shall not be located closer than 25 feet from right-of-ways, except at the eastern entry to Castle Pines North where the setback shall be 15 feet from the right-of-way.
4. Directional signs for the aid of those traveling within Castle Pines North are permitted, provided such signs are consistent with each another in materials and design, do not exceed 20 square feet in surface area each nor project higher than eight feet above ground level.
5. Signs informing of special community events are permitted in each Planning Area, provided such signs are erected or displayed no earlier than six weeks preceding the event and are removed no later than two days subsequent to the event. Such signs shall not exceed 200 square feet in surface area and no such sign shall project higher than 35 feet.
6. Temporary signs for special events such as grand openings, sidewalk sales and flea markets are permitted within the Community Center Planning Area, provided such signs are displayed no longer than specified by the Design Review Board. Such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in surface area and no such sign shall project higher than 35 feet.
7. Temporary signs informing prospective community residents of land uses being constructed or to be constructed in the future are permitted for up to five years after erection, provided that no such sign shall exceed 20 square feet in surface area nor shall project more than eight feet above ground, and all such signs shall be uniform in color, size and materials throughout Castle Pines North and consistent with its architectural theme.
8. One temporary sign, lighted or unlighted, accessory to each temporary sales office, leasing office or model dwelling unit from which only new homes, residential lots and new non-residential properties are sold or leased, is permitted when such office is being used for such purposes, provided such sign shall be a low-silhouette sign, shall not project higher than six feet above ground, shall not exceed 20 square feet in surface area and shall indicate only the name of the project or projects available for sale or lease.
9. The following signs are prohibited in Castle Pines North:
a. Signs with visible moving, revolving or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means.
b. Signs with optical illusion of movement by means of a design, which presents a pattern capable of reversible perspective, giving the illusion of motion or changing of copy.
c. Signs with lights or illuminations, which flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity, vary in color or use intermittent electrical pulsation.
d. Strings of light bulbs used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes, other than traditional holiday decorations.
e. Signs, which incorporate projected images, emit any sound, which is intended to attract attention or involve the use of live animals.
f. Any sign attached to a building which:
(1) Projects perpendicular to the building;
(2) Is parallel with a wall of the building but projects more than 18 inches from such wall;
(3) Extends above the roofline or above the top of the parapet of the front wall, whichever is higher.
g. Signs not permanently affixed or attached to the ground or to any structure except for signs and temporary barriers utilized for emergency purposes.
h. Any sign or sign structure which:
(1) is structurally unsafe, or
(2) constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance of dilapidation, or
(3) is not kept in good repair, or
(4) is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come in contact with it, or
(5) in any way obstructs the view of, may be confused with or purports to be an official traffic sign, signal or device or any other official sign, or
(6) uses any words, phrases, symbols or characters implying the existence of danger or the need for stopping or maneuvering of a motor vehicle, or
(7) creates in any other way an unsafe distraction for motor vehicle operators, or
(8) obstructs the view of motor vehicle operators entering a public roadway from any parking area, service drive, private driveway or other thoroughfare.
i. Off-premise advertising signs or any other sign not pertinent and clearly incidental to the permitted use on the property where located.
j. Any sign, which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape or other required, exit way.
10. The surface area of any sign shall be calculated in accordance with the following standards:
a. The structure and bracing of a sign shall be omitted from the calculation unless such structure or bracing is made part of the message or face of the sign.
b. The surface area of any sign, which has two or more display faces, shall include the area of all faces.
c. The surface area of any sign with a backing or background that is part of the overall sign display shall be calculated by determining the sum of the areas of each square, rectangle, triangle, circle, and portion of a circle, or any combination thereof, which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the outer limits of the display surface or face of the sign, including all non-structural frames, backing, faceplates, trim and other component parts not used solely for structural safety.
d. The surface area of any sign without backing or a background that is part of the overall sign display shall be calculated by determining the sum of the areas of each square, rectangle, triangle, circle, and portion of a circle, or any combination thereof, which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the outer limits of each word, figure, picture or other representation, including all non-structural frames, faceplates, trim and other component parts not used solely for structural safety.
e. The surface area of any sign having parts both with and without backing or background shall be calculated by determining the sum of the areas of each square, rectangle, triangle, circle, and portion of a circle, or any combination thereof, which creates the smallest single continuous perimeter enclosing the outer limits of, the display surface or face of the sign, including all non-structural frames, faceplates, trim and other component parts not used solely for structural safety.
11. Signs and sign structures shall be maintained at all times in a state of reasonably good repair, with all braces, bolts, clips, supporting frame and fastenings reasonably free from deterioration, insect infestation, rot, rust or loosening. Signs shall be able to safely withstand anticipated wind pressures for the area in which they are located. The County Building Inspector shall have the authority to order the repair, alteration or removal of a sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to life or property, and in the event that such a sign has not been repaired, altered or removed to remedy such hazard within thirty days after written notification from such Inspector, the County shall have the authority to so repair, alter or remove such or sign structure at the expense of the owner of the lot upon which such sign is located.
C. Residential Signs: In all Residential Planning Areas, the following signs are permitted subject to the following standards:
1. One sign identifying each dwelling unit is permitted, provided the surface area of such sign does not exceed three square feet.
2. One FOR SALE or FOR RENT sign is permitted for each dwelling unit provided such sign is unlighted and the surface area does not exceed six square feet.
3. One sign identifying each public or quasi-public use is permitted provided the surface area of such sign does not exceed 20 square feet. Such signage shall not be required to meet minimum yard setback requirements of the Planning Area in which it is located but shall not impair visibility for traffic movement.
4. One sign identifying each residential project is permitted provided the surface area of such sign does not exceed 50 square feet and the maximum height of such sign does not exceed six feet above the existing grade. A landscaped area of two square feet for each square foot of the sign shall be required at the base of the sign with a minimum area to be landscaped of 20 square feet.
5. Signs advertising the sale or rental of dwelling units under construction or to be constructed are permitted for up to two years, provided that not more than one such sign is located adjacent to each street abutting the project, each sign is unlighted, the surface area of each such sign does not exceed 20 square feet in surface area and the height does not exceed six feet.
D. Signs in the Resort Hotel Planning Area Community Center Planning Area and the Open Space Planning Areas: The following signs are permitted subject to the following standards:
1. Building Identification Signs
a. The purpose of these signs shall be to identify the name of a building.
b. The number of signs for this purpose shall be one per each building face which abuts a pedestrian or vehicular way, provided it is attached parallel to the wall of the building and does not exceed 5O square feet in surface area and the maximum height does not project above the eve line of the roof of the building.
2. Joint Directory Signs for a Multiple-Tenant Building
a. The purpose of these freestanding signs shall be to list businesses within a multi-tenant building or group or buildings.
b. The number of these signs shall be limited to one sign per each vehicular entrance to the building or group of buildings with a maximum of two signs.
c. The size of the joint directory signs shall be limited to a total surface area of four square feet per business, with a maximum surface area of forty square feet.
d. The height of joint directory signs shall not extend above eight feet.
e. A landscaped area of two square feet for each square foot of the sign shall be required at the base of the sign with a minimum area to be landscaped of twenty square feet.
f. Such signs shall not be required to meet minimum yard setback requirements of the Planning Area in which it is located but shall not impair visibility for traffic movement.
3. Business Identification Signs
a. The purpose of these wall-mounted signs is to identify each business being the sole occupant within a building or which has its own exterior public entrance within a multiple-tenant building.
b. One wall sign identifying each principal business use is permitted for each building face abutting a vehicular or pedestrian way not to exceed a maximum sign area of 48 square feet for any single business. The allowable sign area for each building face shall be one square foot of sign area per one lineal foot of business frontage with a minimum size sign of 15 square feet allowed for a business with 15 feet of frontage or less. The height of these signs shall not exceed 25 feet nor project above the eave line of the building.
c. One additional sign for the purpose of identifying the entrance to each principal use is permitted, provided such sign shall be unlighted; shall be affixed to the front wall or door, suspended from an overhang or placed in a front window of the business and does not exceed five square feet in surface area and has a minimum clearance of eight feet.
d. Each business located within a building and not having any exterior frontage is allowed one sign not to exceed ten square feet and located adjacent to a public entrance to the building in which it is located. The height of such sign shall not exceed 25 feet nor project above the eave line of the building.
E. Approval: All signs must be approved by the Design Review Board before installation. Design and graphics must conform to design standards established by the Design Review Board. Approval subject to review by the Douglas County Building and Planning Department.
