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A summary of the comments gathered from these meetings is included as <br />Attachment #3. All of the boards and commissions expressed an interest in <br />providing more flexibility with the sign code, while continuing to promote and <br />maintain the unique downtown Louisville character. <br />OVERVIEW <br />When planning staff began reviewing the sign guidelines for downtown, it <br />became clear that many of the signs in the downtown area did not meet the <br />requirements of the existing code. Staff also discovered the existing sign code <br />did not offer sufficient guidance on how to review various different types of signs. <br />Staff began drafting changes to the guidelines which were intended to; <br />Create a concise and flexible sign manual that promotes commerce, enables <br />creativity, ensures visibility for all users, and requires compatibility with the <br />architectural character and pedestrian scale of Downtown Louisville. <br />The result of this process is the Downtown Louisville Sign Manual (the sign <br />manual). The sign manual is intended to serve as a standalone document which <br />regulates all signs in Downtown Louisville. The main changes associated with <br />the new sign manual can be summarized as follows; <br />• Introduced a new way of calculating the amount of sign copy <br />permitted for a building. The current sign guidelines limit the amount of <br />sign copy permitted for a building to 7% of the fagade area. The sign <br />manual allocates the amount of permitted sign copy based on the amount <br />of street frontage the building has. The sign manual enables the allowable <br />sign copy to be allocated to wall, marquee, awning /canopy and free <br />standing signs. The amount of sign copy allowed for projecting signs was <br />expanded to nine square feet. <br />• Included new types of signs which are not mentioned in the current <br />sign guidelines. New standards were created for marquee signs, <br />restaurant menu boxes, and murals. The sign manual also includes more <br />guidance for awning /canopy signs and free standing signs. <br />• Eliminated the cap on sign height for wall signs. The current sign <br />guidelines limit the height of a wall sign to two feet. The sign manual does <br />not limit sign height but still requires the sign fit within, and compliment the <br />architecture of the building. <br />• Expanded the types of sign illumination allowed. The current sign <br />guidelines only permit light from an indirect source. The sign manual <br />permits back lit, halo lit, or reverse channel lettering with halo illumination. <br />Neon is also permitted. <br />• Permitted murals under Special Review Use or Final Planned Unit <br />Development review. The sign manual creates a process which would <br />permit murals which do not have recognizable logos or advertising through <br />