(a) The Sign Review Committee shall act as the Board of Appeals for Chapter 1480 of the Building and Housing Code. The Committee shall have the authority to interpret, consider requests for variances and consider appeals of administrative decisions.
(b) The Sign Review Committee shall meet upon request of the Building and Zoning Administrator or upon receipt of a completed application and the payment of a fee to request a variance or an appeal.
(c) Meetings shall be held the same evening as the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting, unless a special meeting is called as identified by the Chairperson of the Planning Commission or his or her designee.
(d) The Committee shall have the following authority and duties.
(1) The Committee shall review and approve proposed or existing signs for compliance with applicable standards of Chapter 1480 of the Building and Housing Code. The Committee may consider sign placement and design in consideration of pedestrian and vehicular access, provision of clear sight distance for motorists and non-motorized travelers, reasonable maintenance of views to existing conforming signs, existence of desirable natural features, conflicts with utility poles and structures and possible detrimental impacts of signs located adjacent to residentially zoned districts.
(2) The Committee shall hear variance requests on all applications that do not conform to the provisions of Chapter 1480 of the Building and Housing Code relating to the location, maintenance, design, illumination, size, height, number and type of signs. The Committee shall use the standards provided in § 1480.14 of the Building and Housing Code. In no case shall the Committee have the authority to grant a variance when the matter concerns construction or design requirements of the Building Code. Such variance may only be considered by the Building Code Board of Appeals.
(3) The Committee may interpret any aspect of a sign or its framework that might adversely affect the health, safety and welfare of the public, except construction requirements set forth in the Building Code. Such interpretation may be requested by an applicant, business owner, city official or the Building and Zoning Administrator.
(4) The Committee shall interpret the provisions of Chapter 1480 of the Building and Housing Code or hear appeals of administrative decisions where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Building and Zoning Administrator in the enforcement of Chapter 1480 of the Building and Housing Code, provided that in no case shall the Committee hear an appeal on a matter that deals with requirements contained in the Building Code.
(Ord. 243, passed 6-10-1998)