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:
(a) Initial Contact with the City. Inquiries regarding signage permits or applications are first directed to the Building Department.
(b) Levels of Review. The Director of Inspections makes the determination as to the appropriate level of review necessary for a proposed sign based on the type of sign and code requirements of subsection (c) and (d) hereof.
(1) Applicants for signs requiring subsection (d)(2) review apply directly to the Building Department with three copies of plans as specified in subsection (c) and permit fees as specified in Section 1315.07.
(2) Applicants for signs requiring subsection (d)(3) review submit three copies to Building Department as specified in subsection (c) hereof and the Building Department forwards two copies to the Planning Department for review. One copy to be returned to the Building Department for denial or issuance of a permit and payment of appropriate fees as specified in Section 1315.07. If the Planning Director forwards application to the Planning Commission then an additional twelve copies and an application fee as specified in Section 1115.04 of the Planning and Platting Code are required.
(3) Applicants for signs requiring subsection (d)(4) review submit twelve copies of an application as specified in subsection (c) hereof and an application fee as specified in Section 1115.04 of the Planning and Platting Code to the Planning Department in order to be put on a pending list for review by the Planning Commission. Upon approval by the Planning Commission two copies are forwarded to the Building Department by the Planning Department at which time the Building Department notifies the applicant, collects the appropriate fees as specified in Section 1315.07 and issues a permit.
(4) Applicants for signs requiring subsection (d)(5) review submit twelve copies of an application as specified in subsection (c) hereof and an application fee as specified in Section 1115.04 of the Planning and Platting Code to the Planning Department in order to be put on a pending list for review by the Planning Commission. Upon approval by the Planning Commission and Council two copies are forwarded to the Building Department by the Planning Department at which time the Building Department notifies the applicant, collects the appropriate fees as specified in Section 1315.07 and issues a permit.
(5) Applicants for signs requiring subsection (d)(6) review apply to the Mayor's office as specified in Section 503.02 of the General Offenses Code.
(Ord. 2002-47. Passed 5-2-02.)
(c) Application Requirements. The owner of the property on which the sign is to be installed shall be considered the applicant for all sign applications and shall be so noted on the application. If a sign application requires Planning Commission approval, the property owner or their duly appointed legal representative shall attend the required Planning Commission meeting(s). Submission of a permit application for a proposed sign shall include the following:
(Ord. 2019-127. Passed 5-21-20.)
(1) The name, address, and signature of:
A. The owner of the lot on which the sign is to be located;
B. The owner of the sign; and
C. The sign provider;
(2) A site plan drawn to scale showing:
A. The dimensions of the lot or property, the size of the lot in acres, 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, with dimensions from the sign to the right-of-way, adjacent driveways and lot lines;
(3) Elevations and plans drawn to scale showing the type and size of and structure for the proposed sign(s), the proposed location, type, wattage and estimated footcandles of lighting, and the associated landscaping and plantings;
(4) A drawing indicating the exact sign colors;
(5) Any other pertinent data necessary for the determination of compliance with the purposes and objectives of the City's zoning regulations and Guide Plan;
(6) Payment of any required application and sign fees, bonds, licenses, or other performance and/or maintenance guarantees.
(d) Except as otherwise stated herein, a building permit shall be required for all new signs or structurally altered signs.
(1) No application, review, or permit shall be required for the following three types of signs when such signs are in full compliance with these sign regulations:
A. Nameplate signs;
B. Temporary signs with an area six square feet or less;
C. Temporary window signs.
(2) A building permit shall be required, and the Director of Inspections shall have the responsibility to review and approve (or disapprove) in accordance with this chapter:
A. Temporary signs to be located outside of a building with an area over six square feet;
B. Temporary Promotional signs for community programs and activities over six square feet that do not involve signs in the public right-of-way.
(3) A building permit shall be required, and the Planning Director shall have the responsibility to review and approve (or disapprove) in accordance with this chapter:
A. Business Identification signs for which the Planning Commission has approved a Master Signage Plan or Sign Criteria and which conform to the approved plans, including Awning signs, Canopy signs, Mansard signs, Marquee signs, Projecting signs, and Wall signs.
B. Directional signs;
C. Instructional signs with not more than two square feet of area;
D. Permanent Window signs (except Exposed Neon);
E. Product Dispenser or Kiosk signs;
F. Product or Services sign;
G. Replacement of a previously approved sign for an existing business provided only a change in the sign face is proposed;
H. Suspended signs;
I. Unified Directory 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. The Planning Director and Director of Inspections have no authority to grant modifications from the Code, any signs requiring modifications from the Code must be referred to the Planning Commission for approval or disapproval. Upon approval by the Planning Commission, applications for sign permits are made to the Building Department.
(4) A building permit is required and the Planning Commission shall have the responsibility to review and approve (or disapprove) in accordance with this chapter:
A. Business identification signs without a previously approved Master Signage Plan or approved sign criteria for multi-tenant buildings, including Awning signs, Canopy signs, Mansard signs, Marquee signs, Projecting signs and Wall signs;
B. Changeable Copy signs;
C. Institutional Identification signs;
D. Instructional signs greater than two square feet in area;
E. Master Signage Plans;
F. Memorial signs greater than four square feet in area;
G. Permanent Freestanding signs (except Directional signs), including all Monument signs;
H. Permanent Window signs of Exposed Neon;
I. Replacement of a previously approved sign for an existing business when more than the sign face is being changed or the replacement sign face does not meet plan as approved under Section 1223.07
;
J. Residential Identification signs.
(5) Community Identification signs and Freestanding Business Identification signs for large business or industrial developments require Council approval (see Schedule 1223.04, footnote (h)) and shall be subject to the review and approval of Planning Commission as well as Council.
(6) The approval of the Mayor or his designee is required for all Community Special Event signs.
(e) Master Signage Plans. All signs subject to Planning Commission review and approval shall be reviewed as part of a Development Plan as specified in Section 1220.03
(h) of the Zoning Code or a Master Signage Plan. A Master Signage Plan shall include basic sign parameters as to the location, size, style, illumination, height and color of proposed signs as well as all existing signs on the property except Instructional or Exempt signs. It shall include all information necessary to determine the maximum amount of Signage permitted by Code and the amount of Signage proposed for current and future tenants of a multi-tenant facility. It may contain such other restrictions as the owner of the zone lots may reasonably determine. With an approved Master Signage Plan all proposed signs must conform with the approved sign criteria which is a binding agreement which supplements and may exceed the City Code in its requirements. If so, the more stringent requirements take precedence over the city code. Subsequent proposed changes to the Master Signage Plan must be applied for by the property owner and be approved by the Planning Commission.
(f) Sign Criteria 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 Development Plan review basic sign parameters as to the location, size, style, illumination, height and color of proposed signs. The Planning Commission shall approve with the Development 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 criteria for each tenant sign as part of a Master Signage Plan. The Planning Director may approve the subsequent individual tenant signs upon specific application when such proposed signs comply with the sign criteria approved by the Planning Commission. Such approved sign criteria shall be made part of all leases or sales of stores or other tenant space. Approved sign criteria may supplement and may exceed the City Code in its requirements. If so, the more stringent requirements take precedence over the City Code. Subsequent proposed changes to the sign criteria must be applied for by the property owner and approved by the Planning Commission.
(g) Changes to Existing Signs. Any proposed change to an existing sign face (beyond relettering or repainting in the identical colors), sign structure or illumination, shall be approved according to the review procedure set forth in this Code prior to said change being made. Changes to sign structure require approval as specified in subsections (d), (e) and (f) hereof. Replacement sign face panels or changes in illumination must conform to the provisions of this Code including Section 1223.07
which contains performance standards for the illumination of signs, as well as conformance to any approved Master Signage Plan or approved sign criteria for the property, and/or any conditions of the Planning Commission sign approval. If a sign face change or replacement meets all of the conditions above and is for a use permitted on the parcel based on zoning regulations, then the Planning Director may approve the change or refer it to the Planning Commission.
(h) Modifications. Regardless of any provisions of these sign regulations, Council grants to the Planning Commission the authority to modify the requirements of this chapter in relation to sign plans submitted to Planning Commission for approval. Said modifications shall be based on Planning Commission'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. Proposed sign plans shall be subject to the standards for granting modifications as set forth in Sections 1220.05
and 1220.06
of the Zoning Code, whether such plans are in conjunction with or independent of development plans and Chapter 1220 of the Zoning Code.
(1) Modifications shall be nonassignable and shall expire one year from the date of enactment, unless prior thereto, the applicant commences the actual construction or placement of the sign in accordance with the granted modification.
(2) Granting of a modification 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 modification requests.
(i) Council hereby specifically waives the requirement that the approval of sign plans or revised sign plans by the Planning Commission, Planning Director, or Director of Inspections as specified in subsections (d), (e) and (f) hereof shall require the approval of Council before the same shall be effective, and further grants the Planning Commission, Planning Director, and Director of Inspections the power of final determination of the granting and/or denial of said sign plans as specified in subsections (d), (e) and (f) hereof.
(j) 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 withdrawal of the application or denial of the requested sign(s).
(Ord. 2002-47. Passed 5-2-02.)