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A. Sign Permit Required. Except as otherwise provided within this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign within the City limits, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a sign permit for each such sign from the Planning Director or Design Review Board, as required by this chapter.

1. Application for sign permit(s) shall be made upon forms prescribed by the Planning Department, and shall be submitted with supplemental application materials specified by the Planning Department. Fees will be charged for services provided by City staff in conjunction with the processing of a sign permit, as set forth and amended by resolution of the City Council.

2. Each sign permit application shall be reviewed to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the sign portion of the design guidelines, as they may be adopted by the Design Review Board.

3. In general, sign permit applications shall be reviewed for approval, conditional approval, or denial by the Design Review Board. However, signs which can be categorized as any one of the following, which comply with all development standards defined in this chapter, and are consistent with the sign portion of the design guidelines, as they may be adopted by the Design Review Board, shall be reviewed for approval, conditional approval, or denial by the Planning Director or his/her designee:

a. Replacement sign(s) which are part of an approved sign program for a shopping center or multi-tenant building, and which conform to said program. Replacement signs which do not conform to the approved sign program are subject to review by the Design Review Board.

b. Nonilluminated signs of 25 square feet or less, which do not require an exception to any provision of this chapter.

c. Projecting (hanging) signs which do not exceed six square feet in area, are installed with a minimum clearance of seven and one-half feet above the ground surface, project not more than three feet from the wall of a building, and which do not require an exception to any provision of this chapter.

d. Portable signs, subject to the following criteria:

i. No more than one (double-faced) sign per parcel of property.

ii. Each sign face shall not exceed six square feet in area.

iii. Height of sign shall not exceed three feet.

iv. Location of sign shall not reduce the width of any pedestrian sidewalk or way to less than four and one-half feet.

v. If located within the public right-of-way, an encroachment permit shall be secured from the State (for State Highways 116 and 12), or from the City.

e. Change of copy only on an existing, approved sign if the same sign structure will be used, the area of lettering is substantially the same as that previously approved, and no change in illumination is proposed. Change of copy requests for signs that previously received sign exception approval are not eligible for administrative review and shall be reviewed by the Design Review Board.

B. Exceptions.

1. Purpose. Sign exceptions are intended to allow flexibility to the sign regulations while still fulfilling the purpose of the regulations. Creative design is encouraged by the provisions of this chapter, therefore an exception from these regulations may be approved consistent with the following findings. The findings below allow for modifications to address unusual site conditions, and/or allow signs that enhance the overall character of an area or building or are appropriate for a particular business.

2. Applications for exceptions from the provisions of this section may be filed in writing with the Planning Department for action by the Design Review Board. Such applications shall be made upon forms prescribed by the Planning Department, and shall be submitted with supplemental application material specified by the Planning Department. Fees will be charged for services provided by City staff in conjunction with the processing of a sign permit exception.

3. The supplemental application material, including statements, plans and other evidence, shall show that:

a. The exception will allow a unique sign of exceptional design or style that will enhance the area or building, or that will be a visible landmark; or

b. The exception will allow a sign that is more consistent with the architecture and development of the site, or site context, or is appropriate given the nature of the business; or

c. The granting of the exception will not constitute the granting of a special privilege inconsistent with the sign limitations upon other properties in the same vicinity and district. (Ord. 1111, 2018)