A. Administrative Officer: The building inspector of the village of Broadview is designated to administer this chapter.
B. Permit Requirements:
1. Permit Required: Unless otherwise exempted in this chapter, no sign shall be erected, structurally or graphically altered, or relocated without having first obtained a valid permit for such sign, issued by the village. No permit shall be required for routine maintenance of a sign.
2. Permit Application: Application for permits to erect, construct, or alter a sign shall be submitted on a form and in the manner prescribed by the building inspector. Each application shall be signed by the owner of the sign and the owner of the property upon which it is to be located. Applications for permits shall be accompanied by such information as may be required to assure compliance with all applicable regulations. Information shall be submitted in eight and one-half inch by eleven inch (81/2" x 11") format for easy duplication. Submission requirements shall include:
a. Name, address and telephone number of the applicant;
b. A drawing or drawings indicating the location of the building, structure or lot to which or upon which the sign or advertising structure is to be attached or erected;
c. A drawing or photograph showing the position of the sign or advertising structure in relation to structures;
d. Two (2) prints of the drawings and specifications, and color renderings for the proposed sign or advertising structure, including the methods of construction, illumination, materials and attachment to the buildings or in the ground. Such drawings must include all text and graphics proposed on the sign, drawn to scale with dimensions; legal nonconforming signs can satisfy this requirement by submitting a photograph of the sign;
e. If required by the building inspector, a copy of a statement by a registered professional engineer indicating that said sign meets structural and wind pressure requirements, and will not pose a public health or safety threat;
f. Name of person, firm, corporation or association responsible for erecting the sign or advertising structure;
g. Written consent of the owner or agent of the zoning lot on which the sign or advertising structure is to be erected;
h. A completed application for any electrical permit required to be issued for said sign or advertising structure;
i. A master sign plan documenting all existing signs on the zoning lot, including their type and area, location, and the occupant of the site to which each sign pertains;
j. Any additional information as the building inspector shall require to show full compliance with this and all other applicable chapters of this code; and
k. A landscape plan, including proposed location, quantity, size, and species of required landscape improvements. (Ord. 2001-08A, 4-2-2001)
C. Application Review Procedures:
1. The following procedure must be followed for approval of a sign permit:
a. Building Commissioner Approval: Applications for all new permanent signs not previously located on the zoning lot, changes to existing signs, and temporary signs requiring a permit shall be reviewed and approved or denied by the building commissioner.
b. Planning Commission: Appeals from decisions of the building commissioner, and all variances to this chapter shall be considered by the planning commission. All recommendations of the planning commission shall be referred to the village board for consideration. (Ord. 2005-20, 8-1-2005)
D. Inspection Procedures:
1. Preinstallation Inspection: The person responsible for the installation of a sign shall schedule with the building inspector a preinstallation inspection prior to installing any sign requiring a permit. Such inspection shall include a footing inspection, if applicable, and confirmation of the other details of mounting and placement.
2. Final Inspection: The person responsible for the installation of a sign shall notify the building inspector upon completion of the work to schedule a final inspection.
3. Six Month Deadline: If the work authorized under a permit has not been completed within six (6) months after the date of issuance, the permit shall be null and void.
E. Variations: It is the intent of this section to permit variations from the requirements of this chapter only so as to recognize unusual hardships and make reasonable accommodations for them.
1. Petition For Variation: A petition for a variation from any provision(s) of this chapter may be made by any person having a proprietary interest in the sign for which such variation is requested.
a. Petition Contents: A petition for a variation shall be filed in writing with the building inspector and shall be accompanied by such documents and information as are necessary to clearly exhibit the practical difficulty for which the variation is necessary, including:
(1) The names, addresses, and telephone number of the petitioner, the owner of the property on which the sign is to be erected or affixed, the owner of the sign, and the person responsible for erecting or affixing the sign.
(2) A description of the requested variation, including reference to the section of this chapter from which relief is requested.
(3) Justification of the requested variation.
(4) The location of the premises on which the sign is to be erected or affixed.
(5) A site plan of the premises involved, showing accurate placement thereon of the proposed sign.
(6) A print of the drawings and specifications describing the sign to be erected or affixed and method of construction and attachment to the building or in the ground. Such drawings and specifications shall include details of dimensions, materials, color, and weight.
(7) The written consent of the owner of the premises on which the sign is to be erected or affixed.
(8) A fee, as determined by ordinance adopted by the village board from time to time, to be paid at the time of filing of the petition for variation.
2. Hearing: The planning commission shall hold a public hearing on the petition for variation within thirty (30) days of receipt of a completed written application.
a. Hearing Notice: Notice shall be given of the time, place and purpose of the public hearing.
b. Required Attendance: The petitioner or its authorized representatives shall attend the meetings of the board at which the variation is to be heard.
c. Decision: Within fifteen (15) working days of the close of the required public hearing on the variation, unless otherwise agreed to by the petitioner, the planning commission shall prepare and submit written findings, and by a majority vote, issue a recommendation to grant, deny, wholly or in part, or modify said variation. Such recommendation will then be referred to the village board for final consideration.
3. Standards: Variations shall only be approved to overcome an exceptional condition which poses practical difficulty or particular hardship in such a way as to prevent the display of a sign as intended by this chapter or to preserve an historic sign with unique visual character. No variation shall be granted unless the board finds that the petition meets each of the following standards:
a. Unique Hardship: The proposed variation will not merely serve as a convenience to the applicant, but will alleviate some demonstrable and unusual hardship which would result if the strict letter of the regulations were carried out and which is not generally applicable to other property within the village.
b. Reasonable Return: The property in question cannot yield a reasonable return if permitted to be used only under the conditions allowed by the regulations in this chapter.
c. Hardship Not Self-Created: The alleged hardship has not been created by the petitioner nor any person presently having a proprietary interest in the premises.
d. Consistent With Public Welfare: The proposed variation will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to other property or improvements in the neighborhood. The proposed variation will not by itself or with other signs contribute to the creation of visual distraction which may lead to personal injury or a substantial reduction in the value of property.
e. Graphic Effectiveness Demonstrated: The petitioner has demonstrated that all reasonable efforts (utilizing color, contrast, lettering legibility, illumination, and graphic composition) have been made to increase the reading effectiveness of the proposed sign within the normal requirements of this chapter.
f. Consistent With Sign Ordinance Intent: The proposed variation is in harmony with the intent, purpose, and objectives of this chapter.
4. Conditions: Such conditions and restrictions may be imposed on the premises to be benefited by a variation as may be necessary to comply with the standards set forth herein, to reduce or minimize any injurious effect of such variation on other property in the neighborhood, and to implement the general intent, purpose, and objectives of this chapter.
5. Revocation: In any case where a variation has been granted, and where no work pertinent thereto has been initiated within six (6) months from the date of approval of the requested variation, then without further action said variation shall become null and void. (Ord. 2001-08A, 4-2-2001)