SUITLAND - Prince George's County Planning Department

12. Hanging signs add visual interest andvitality to a street and are stronglyencouraged. The placement of a hangingsign should not impede the safe movementof people within a public right-of-way. Theprojecting distance and clearance from theground should be in compliance with thoseof the projecting signs (42 inches maximumprojection, eight-foot minimum clearance).Identification signs can add interest to an area.projecting sign should be located at leasteight feet above ground at its lowest point.The maximum allowable projection shouldnot be more than 42 inches from the verticalplane of the wall to which a projecting signis attached.5. Internally illuminated signs shall not bepermitted. Internally illuminated individualletters attached to a nonilluminatedbackground may be permitted subject to theapproval of the Design Review Committee.6. Signs should be externally illuminated.The illumination of a sign should beshaded, shielded, or directed so that thelight intensity does not adversely affect thesurrounding area.7. Special effect signs that use unconventionallighting methods should only be approvedon a case-by-case basis.8. Sign colors should be selected to contributeto the legibility and design integrity ofsignage. Color selection should provide asubstantial contrast between the colors andmaterial of the background and the lettersAn example of pin lettering used on a businessidentification sign.or symbols of the text to make the signeasier to read.9. Sign colors should be limited to three onany given sign. Too many colors maydistract the reader, reduce legibility, andmake the sign less effective.10. Awning and canopy signs are highlyrecommended and should be printed,painted, sewn, or silk-screened onto thecanopy or awning flap. Signage on awningsshould be placed on the valance flap, butmay be allowed on the shed portion of theawning.11. Banner signs add liveliness and a sense ofvibrancy to the street and, therefore, arestrongly encouraged in the commercialdistrict. Banner signs should not extendmore than 60 inches (at full extension inwindy conditions) from the vertical planeof the building to which it is attached. Inaddition, banner signs should be located atleast eight feet above ground at their lowestpoint.This hanging sign has become a new landmark.13. Window signs are permitted in thecommercial district. Total window signcoverage shall not exceed 25 percent ofthe total window area on which they aredisplayed.14. Vehicular directional signs should notexceed six feet in height and 20 square feetper sign face.Approved Suitland Mixed-Use Town Center Zone Development Plan