(a) General. No sign, including any change in text on the sign, mural or temporary sign, unless expressly exempted by this Chapter, shall be constructed, placed or altered without a sign permit or comprehensive sign program approved by the City. The City Planner shall initially review all signs.
(b) Application for Permit or Program Approval. Application for a sign permit or comprehensive sign program shall be made in writing upon forms provided by the City Planner and shall include the following items:
(1) Name, address, telephone number and signature of the applicant.
(2) Name, address, telephone number and signature of consent by the property owner.
(3) Location by street number and legal description (tract, block, lot) of the building, structure, or lot to which or upon which the sign is to be installed or affixed.
(4) A drawing to scale showing the design of the sign, including dimensions, square footage, and showing the relationship to any building or structure to which it is, or is proposed to be, installed or affixed, or to which it relates. Drawings shall be a reproducible size, maximum 11x17.
(5) For all signs except wall signs, a site plan drawn to scale, showing existing buildings, dimensions, property lines, setbacks, streets, sidewalks, driveways, landscaping areas, and number, size and location of existing and proposed signs. Drawings shall be a reproducible size, maximum 11x17.
(6) For wall mounted and suspended signs, scaled elevation drawings of full face(s) of the building showing size and locations of proposed and existing signs. Drawings shall be a reproducible size, maximum 11x17.
(7) If any existing signs that are associated with the specific businesses' tenant space are to remain legal nonconforming signs, the sign program shall address the phasing of bringing those signs into conformity pursuant to Section 9.25.100.
(8) The application fee in the amount established by resolution of the City Council.
(9) Other requirements as determined necessary by the City Planner and in compliance with any adopted design guidelines, including but not limited to:
(A) Photograph(s) of the building or site.
(B) Lettering style, method of attachment, source of illumination, and/or construction details.
(C) Color samples and material samples.
(c) Method of Review and Approval - Sign Permit. The purpose of a sign permit is to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. Any sign permit may be referred to the City Council for review and decision as deemed appropriate by the City Planner and/or City Manager.
(1) After receipt of a complete application for a sign permit, the City Planner shall review the application for conformance and render a decision to approve, conditionally approve, or deny such sign request.
(2) Signs Requiring City Council Review and Other Signs Referred to City Council.
(A) After receipt of a complete application for a sign permit, the City Planner shall review the application for conformance and shall schedule for review by the Planning Committee.
(B) The Planning Committee shall consider and recommend approval or denial to the City Council.
(C) The City Council, at an appropriately noticed public hearing, shall render a decision to approve, conditionally approve, or deny such sign permit proposal. Ten days prior to the hearing notice shall be published and mailed to all real property owners within 300 feet of the project site (property to contain the sign).
(D) Such review shall ensure that any sign proposal is in conformance with this Chapter, any adopted sign design guidelines, and the General Plan, as well as other applicable Chapters and policies of the City. Any determination made by the City Planner may be appealed to the Planning Committee and ultimate decision by the City Council. A decision by the City Council is final.
(d) Method of Review - Comprehensive Sign Program. The purpose of a comprehensive sign program is to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. The intent of the comprehensive sign program is to provide an opportunity for a center or complex to obtain approval of an overall sign program which will enable administrative review and approval prior to installation for those individual signage elements which were approved in the sign program.
(1) After receipt of a complete application for a comprehensive sign program, the City Planner shall review the application for conformance and shall schedule for review by the Planning Committee.
(2) The Planning Committee shall consider and recommend approval or denial to the City Council.
(3) The City Council, at an appropriately noticed public hearing, shall render a decision to approve, conditionally, approve, or deny such sign program request. Ten days prior to the hearing notice shall be published and mailed to all real property owners within 300 feet of the project site (property to contain the sign).
(4) Prior to approval of a comprehensive sign program, the City Council shall make the following findings:
(A) The specific standards for sign area, height and location are appropriate for the site;
(B) The proposed signs are visually compatible with the buildings they identify;
(C) To the extent practicable, the proposed sign program shall be internally consistent and compatible with the site and its components;
(D) The proposed signs are compatible with surrounding land uses and do not obscure adjacent conforming signs or viewscapes;
(E) The proposed signs do not obstruct visibility for ingress and egress from adjacent conforming signs or viewscapes; and
(F) The proposed signs are compatible with the purpose and intent of this Chapter.
(e) Time and Temperature Devices. Time and temperature devices may be considered for approval as part of a sign application when they are located on private property, are not located on a roof, unless as part of a tower structure, do not exceed 16 square feet for each face, and do not rotate. Any monument sign which incorporates a time and temperature element may be permitted up to 50% additional height. A sign with a time and temperature element may not be located within 4,000 lineal feet of another such sign along the same roadway. Any clock shall keep accurate time; if this condition is not complied with, the clock shall be repaired or removed within ten days of official notice from the City.
(f) Other Permits Required. Issuance of a sign permit or approval of a comprehensive sign program does not preclude the necessity for obtaining building, electrical, or other permits for signs where such other permits are required by the City.
(Ord. 221, passed 7-6-2022)