§ 48-842. Regulations governing signs and outdoor advertising structures.

(a)

Generally. Unless otherwise specified in this section, the Village at Nags Head is covered by the town sign provisions of article VIII of this chapter, regulations governing signs and outdoor advertising structures, sections 48-281—48-285. However, recognizing that special planned development community districts are exempt from certain other requirements of this chapter such as dimensional requirements, the board of commissioners shall have broad authority to vary or modify the requirements of article VIII of this chapter. This proposal to vary or modify this article would include those sections of this article listed above plus the additional regulations listed below which would allow the spirit of article VIII of this chapter to be observed and the purposes and intent of the special planned development-community district as contained in section 48-443 to be fulfilled.

(b)

Master sign plan; submission required. The Village at Nags Head shall be required to submit a master sign plan for approval by the board of commissioners before a building permit is issued and prior to any signs being erected. This master sign plan shall include drawings and specifications, dimensions and maps showing proposed locations and maintaining the proper site distance from street intersections as required by any town ordinance, or the state department of transportation.

(c)

Commercial 1, commercial 2, and hotel district.

(1)

See sections 48-281—48-285.

(2)

Only one main freestanding sign per commercial 1 (shopping center) and commercial 2 (commercial/office) district as designated in the Master Plan for the Village at Nags Head shall be permitted. This main sign shall be located permanently on the ground, and shall not exceed 16 feet in height above the street grade and no more than 200 square feet in area on each side. Main signs for the hotel districts will have a maximum height of 16 feet and be no more than 32 square feet in area on each side.

(3)

Two square feet of business sign area for each lineal foot of store frontage shall be allowed. Stores which are corner stores shall be entitled to the amount of lineal footage on both store fronts.

(4)

All signs placed against the exterior wall of the building shall not extend more than 24 inches beyond the building wall surface, and no one sign shall exceed 20 percent of the exposed finished wall surface. Freestanding buildings may have no more than three signs per building.

(5)

One under-canopy sign, visible from the sidewalk, will be permitted for each store, shop, office, or auxiliary facility, and shall not exceed five square feet in area nor be a hazard to pedestrian traffic.

(6)

Directional signs not exceeding three square feet in area and 24 inches in height indicating entrances and exits to the building shall be permitted. Directional sign square footage shall not be included in gross sign area.

(d)

Institutional district.

(1)

One freestanding sign per lot, per road frontage not to exceed 40 square feet each.

(2)

Wall signs shall be permitted, not to exceed ten percent of the exposed finished wall surface.

(3)

Directional signs not exceeding three square feet and 24 inches in height indicating entrances and exits to the buildings shall be permitted.

(e)

Detached single-family homes, attached single-family homes, townhouses, multifamily homes and recreational districts.

(1)

See section 48-283(1)—(6) and (8).

(2)

No sign may be located to impair traffic visibility as determined by a sight triangle as per the division of highway, state department of transportation, Subdivision Roads, Minimum Construction Standards, May 1, 1983; however, "island signs" are permitted in the right-of-way as long as the sight triangle is not obstructed.

(f)

Tract identification signs.

(1)

Class 1, on-premises permanent subdivision.

a.

Two neighborhood identification signs along U.S. Highway 158 are permitted for major entrances to the western area.

b.

The area of copy for each identification sign may not exceed 16 square feet.

c.

No extremity of a sign structure used to support or decorate tract identification signs shall exceed an area of 32 square feet.

d.

The height of the sign shall not exceed four feet.

(2)

Class 2, community subdivision.

a.

One identification sign along U.S. Highway 158 is permitted for major entrances.

b.

The area of copy for each identification sign for major entrances may not exceed 30 square feet.

c.

No extremity of a sign structure used to support or decorate community identification signs shall exceed an area of 300 square feet.

d.

The height of the community sign shall not exceed eight feet.

(3)

Class 3, recreational.

a.

One identification sign for each recreational activity is permitted.

b.

The identification sign for the Nags Head Golf Links shall be permitted along US Hwy 158 for the main entrance at W. Seachase Drive with authorization from the property owner, Village POA.

c.

The copy, structure, and height are the same as class 1.

(Code 1990, § 22-794; Ord. No. 10-05-013, Pt. I, 5-5-2010; Ord. No. 12-10-030, Pt. I, 10-3-2012)