Page 47 - Des Moines - Zoning, Planning and Design Ch 134, 135

DRAFT 134-5. SiGNS

Signs Allowed in All Districts

B. All projecting signs, roof signs and freestanding and of this subsection. The intent of this directional sign
signs must be separated from all other roof signs, authorization is to provide flexibility in overcoming the
projecting signs and freestanding signs by a locational and visibility challenges of some sites, not
minimum distance of 30 feet. to allow an overall increase in the amount of signage
c. Signs with an area of more than 250 square feet allowed or encourage a proliferation of signs within the
that are visible from N-zoned lots must be separated area.
from the N-zoned lot by a minimum distance of 200
feet. 134-5.5 Signs Allowed in All Districts

5.4.2 illUMiNAtiON 5.5.1 iNteGrAl SiGNS
A. The lighting or illumination of any sign must be Non-illuminated signs carved into the subject building or
effectively shielded to prevent glare or light from made of bronze, aluminum, or other similar permanent
being directed at any portion of the travel lanes of material and made an integral part of the building
any street or be of such low intensity or brilliance to which they are attached are allowed in all zoning
so as to not cause glare or to impair the vision of districts. Such signs may not exceed 4 square feet in
motorists or interfere with any driver’s operation of a area.
motor vehicle. 5.5.2 DriVeWAY SiGNS
B. Except for authorized electronic display signs, the A. One sign may be installed at each driveway serving
illumination on the face of any allowed illuminated a lot occupied by an allowed nonresidential use or
sign must be by constant light and may not exceed residential use with more than 15 dwelling units
70 foot candles measured at a distance of 2 or 50 residents. Such signs must be located within
feet from the face of the sign. See 134-5.8.7 for 10 feet of the intersection of the driveway and the
supplemental regulations that apply to electronic street right-of-way and may not exceed 4 square feet
and multi-vision displays. in area or 5 feet in height.

5.4.3 lOtS WitH MUltiPle FrONtAGeS B. Off-street parking areas with a capacity of more than
Lots with frontage on 2 or more streets are allowed the 10 vehicles, multi-tenant developments and uses
same number of signs and the same amount of sign on lots exceeding 50,000 square feet in area may
area on each street frontage as allowed on a single display internal site driveway signs. Such signs must
frontage. The sign allowance earned on one street be located within 10 feet of an internal site driveway
frontage may not be transferred to another street or drive aisle and may not exceed 12 square feet in
frontage. area or 8 feet in height.
5.4.4 PlAceMeNt OF WAll SiGNS c. Driveway signs are subject to the illumination
requirements of the district in which they are
A. up to 50% of the area of signs permitted on the located.
basis of occupant frontage may be placed on
building walls other than the frontage wall from D. Signs painted on or installed flush with the driveway
which such sign area was earned. surface are not be subject to the regulations in this
subsection.
B. Illuminated signs may not be placed on a wall facing
an N or NX district. 5.5.3 DriVe-tHrOUGH SiGNS
Drive-through signs are permitted on the site of any
5.4.5 DirectiONAl SiGNS allowed drive-through use, subject to the regulations of
Directional signs may be approved through the type this subsection.
1 zoning exception procedures of section 134-6.5 for
multi-tenant or multi-unit developments. Such signs are A. location. Drive-through signs must be located
allowed only when the community development director within 10 feet of a drive-through lane.
determines that the location of the identified business B. type
or activity precludes placement of a sign that is visible Drive-through signs must be monument signs.
to motorists and pedestrians along the highest (traffic) c. Number and Dimensions
volume street that provides access to the subject One primary drive-through sign not to exceed 36
development and when the result of the approval will square feet in area or 8 feet in height is allowed per
be in keeping with the stated purposes of this article order station up to a maximum of 2 primary drive-

CITY OF DES MOINES CHAPTER 134: ZONING DRAFT 134-5-5