Except as otherwise stated herein, a zoning certificate or conditional use certificate shall be required for all signs. The procedures for obtaining a certificate are as follows.
(a) Review Procedures. Signs shall be erected, modified, or replaced only upon the submission of proper plans and specifications and upon review and approval according to the following:
(1) A zoning certificate shall not be required for the following signs when such signs are in full compliance with these sign regulations:
A. Nameplate signs;
B. Open house, auction and garage sale signs;
C. Political signs with an area 16 sq. ft. or less;
D. Real estate signs with an area 16 sq. ft. or less;
E. Memorial signs; and,
F. Window signs in C-2 through C-5 Districts.
(2) The Planning Director shall have the responsibility to review and approve (or disapprove):
A. Business identification signs including free standing, wall signs, awning signs, canopy signs, unified directory, secondary tenant and home occupation signs;
B. Rear entrance signs for multi-tenant buildings;
C. Real estate signs having an area greater than 16 square feet;
D. Changeable copy signs;
E. Construction signs;
F. Directional signs;
G. Seasonal sales signs;
H. Political signs having an areas greater than 16 square feet;
I. Product and service signs;
J. Instructional signs;
K. Temporary promotional signs for community programs and activities that do not involve banners and signs in the public right- of-way; and,
L. Replacement of a previously approved sign for an existing business provided only a change in the sign face is proposed.
M. Institutional signs;
N. Shopping Center signs;
O. Multiple tenant directory signs; and
P. Residential identification signs.
However, the Planning Director may refer the decision on any of the above signs to the Planning Commission for consideration if the Planning Director determines that the sign, as proposed, is more appropriately the responsibility of the Planning Commission.
(3) Community directional signs shall be subject to the review and approval of Planning Commission and Council according to the review procedures for conditional uses set forth in Section 1137.04.
(b) Application Requirements. The sign company providing the permanent or freestanding sign shall be considered the applicant for all sign applications and shall be so noted on the application. Submission of a zoning certificate application for a proposed sign shall include the following:
(1) The name and address of the owner of the lot on which the sign is to be located, the owner of the sign, and the sign provider;
(2) The signature of the sign company as the applicant:
(3) A site plan drawn to scale showing:
A. The dimensions of the lot or property, the location of all dwellings and/or buildings on the lot, the location and size of driveways and access drives, and the identification of and distances to adjacent dwellings, buildings and/or land uses;
B. The location of the proposed sign(s) on the site;
(4) Elevations and plans drawn to scale showing the type and size of and structure for the proposed sign(s), the proposed location and type of lighting, and the associated landscaping and plantings;
(5) A drawing or description indicating the exact sign message;
(6) Any other pertinent data necessary for the determination of compliance with the purposes and objectives of the City's zoning regulations and Comprehensive Plan;
(7) Payment of any required application and sign fees, bonds, or other performance and/or maintenance guarantees.
(c) Site Plan Review. All signs subject to Planning Commission review and approval shall be reviewed according to the procedures set forth for Site Plan Review in Section 1137.03(d) to (f). Signs proposed for a conditional use and conditionally permitted signs shall further be reviewed and approved by City Council upon recommendation from the Planning Commission.
Signs proposed for a use requiring site plan review or a conditionally permitted use may be submitted for review as part of the application for site plan review or conditional use approval.
(d) Sign Policy For Multi-Tenant Buildings. For multi-tenant buildings in commercial or industrial districts, and individual buildings located in business and industrial parks, the applicant shall submit with the application for site plan review basic sign parameters as to the location, size and style of proposed signs. The Planning Commission shall approve with the site plans for new buildings, or at the time a specific sign request is made for a tenant identification sign in an existing building, the basic sign policies for each tenant sign. The Planning Director may approve the subsequent individual tenant signs upon specific application when such proposed signs comply with the sign policy established by the Planning Commission. Such approved sign policy shall be made part of all leases or sales of stores or other tenant space.
(e) Modification to Existing Sign. Any proposed change in an existing sign, sign structure or lighting, shall be approved according to the review procedure set forth in this section prior to said change being made.
(f) Variances. Regardless of any provisions of these sign regulations, Council shall have the power to grant variances to the requirements and provisions contained herein. Said variances shall be based on Council's consideration of the sign proposed, the general characteristics of the proposed site and surrounding area, and any unique or unusual circumstances which, in the exercise of their sound judgment, justify a modification of any requirement, or specification while maintaining the overall purpose and integrity of the sign regulations.
(1) Variances shall be non-assignable and shall expire six months from the date of enactment, unless prior thereto, the applicant commences the actual construction or placement of the sign in accordance with the granted variance.
(2) Granting of a variance shall be in response to a unique set of conditions, circumstances, or characteristics and shall not be construed as having general application to other sign proposals or be the basis for other variance requests.
(g) Fees. Concurrent with the filing of an application for any sign, unless specified otherwise in these sign regulations, an application fee shall be paid to the City in the amount established by ordinance. No refund of any part of an application fee shall be made to an applicant in cases of denial of the requested sign(s).
(Ord. 2007-222. Passed 1-10-08.)