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In all districts, as indicated, the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), or paragraph (d), of this Section, shall apply for signs near designated arterial highways or certain public parks.

(a)        Within 200 feet of an arterial highway or a public park with an area of one-half acre or more, signs that are within view of such arterial highway or public park shall be subject to the following provisions:

(1)        no permitted sign shall exceed 500 square feet of surface area; and

(2)        no advertising sign shall be allowed; nor shall an existing advertising sign be structurally altered, relocated or reconstructed.

(b)        Beyond 200 feet from such arterial highway or public park, the surface area of such signs may be increased one square foot for each linear foot such sign is located from the arterial highway or public park.

(c)        The more restrictive of the following shall apply:

(1)        any advertising sign erected, structurally altered, relocated or reconstructed prior to June 1, 1968, within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an arterial highway, whose message is visible from such arterial highway, shall have legal non-conforming use status pursuant to Section 52-83 (Non-conforming Advertising Signs), to the extent of its size existing on May 31, 1968; or

(2)        any advertising sign erected, structurally altered, relocated or reconstructed between June 1, 1968, and November 1, 1979, within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an arterial highway, whose message is visible from such arterial highway, and whose size does not exceed 1,200 square feet in surface area on its face, 30 feet in height and 60 feet in length, shall have legal non-conforming use status pursuant to Section 52-83, to the extent of its size existing on November 1, 1979. All advertising signs not in conformance with the standards set forth herein shall terminate.

(d)        Within one-half mile of any boundary of the City of New York, permitted signs and advertising signs may be located along any designated arterial highway that is also:

(1)        a "principal route" or "toll crossing" that prohibits direct vehicular access to abutting land and provides complete separation of conflicting traffic flows; and

(2)        a through truck route designated by the New York City Department of Transportation; and

(3)        that crosses a boundary of the City of New York, without regard to the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section, provided any such permitted or advertising sign otherwise conforms to the regulations of this Chapter including, with respect to an advertising sign, a location not less than 500 feet from any other advertising sign, except that, in the case of any such permitted or advertising sign erected prior to August 7, 2000, such sign shall have non-conforming use status pursuant to Sections 52-82 (Non-conforming Signs Other Than Advertising Signs) and 52-83 with respect to all other regulations of this Chapter to the extent of the degree of non-conformity of such sign as of August 7, 2000, including, with respect to an advertising sign, its location within 500 feet of any other such advertising sign.

Upon application, the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section shall be waived, provided that the Chairperson of the City Planning Commission certifies that such waiver is limited to a single non-flashing sign other than an advertising sign, located on a zoning lot not less than one and one-half acres and, all other permitted signs, other than advertising signs located on such zoning lot, that are subject to the provisions of this Section, conform with all the sign regulations applicable in C1 Districts.

For the purposes of this Section, arterial highways shall include all highways that are shown on the Master Plan of Arterial Highways and Major Streets as "principal routes," "parkways" or "toll crossings," and that have been designated by the City Planning Commission as arterial highways to which the provisions of this Section shall apply.