§ 84-5. Review procedures.

A. 

Review by sign type.

(1) 

All sign permit applications for new construction shall be made in the form of a complete signage package subject to architectural review by the Planning Board as part of a comprehensive development application.

(2) 

All sign permit applications on existing buildings shall require either administrative review by the Sign Officer and/or Planning Board review, depending upon the sign type and its design. The table below indicates the required level of review by sign type.

Table 84-5: Required Review by Sign Type
	Sign Officer	Planning Board
A-frame sign	•
Awning sign	•
Externally illuminated sign		•
Ground sign		•
Marquee sign		•
Painted sign		•
Projecting sign	•
Suspended sign	•
Temporary sign	•
Wall sign
Area 16 square feet or less	•
Area over 16 square feet		•
Window signs	•

(3) 

All sign permit applications on historically designated properties shall be subject to the Historic Preservation Committee's review in the form of an application for a certificate of appropriateness.

(4) 

Applications for signs that are consistent with a sign plan or program previously approved by the Planning Board for a project or building may also be administratively reviewed, regardless of sign type.

(a) 

Exception: No sign plans or programs shall be eligible for administrative review on historically designated properties unless a comprehensive signage package was specifically agreed upon as part of the original certificate of appropriateness review by the Historic Preservation Committee.

B. 

Administrative review procedures.

(1) 

The Sign Officer may approve, approve with modifications, or deny a sign application for any signs listed on Table 84-5 as not requiring a Planning Board review, or any nonstructural or nondimensional modifications of a sign previously approved under this chapter (e.g., sign face changes, awning recoverings, etc.). The Sign Officer shall issue a sign permit only if the sign conforms to all the applicable standards and requirements of this chapter as well as any previous requirements of the Planning Board.

(2) 

The Sign Officer may, at his or her discretion, refer any sign application back to the Planning Board for review and/or determination.

(3) 

Any sign application decision made by the Sign Officer may be appealed to the Planning Board by any aggrieved person within 30 days of the date of the permit determination by the Sign Officer. This appeal should be filed with the Building Department.

C. 

Planning Board review.

(1) 

The Planning Board shall review and decide upon all sign applications received from the Sign Officer, or an appeal to the Planning Board regarding an application. Such review may occur at any regularly or specially scheduled Planning Board meeting.

(2) 

The Planning Board may approve, approve with modifications, or deny a sign permit application. The Sign Officer shall issue a sign permit within 30 days of approval by the Planning Board.

(3) 

Development applications subject to review and approval by the Planning Board may have proposed signage reviewed and approved as part of the site plan or architectural review process. In the event of such review, all required sign permit application materials shall be provided to the Planning Board as part of the site plan or architectural review application.

(4) 

With respect to any sign application subject to its review (including appeals from a determination by the Sign Officer) the Planning Board may waive any requirements of this chapter upon a showing by the applicant that unique characteristics of his or her property render strict application with such requirement(s) impractical and that such waiver is consistent with the overall intent of this chapter.

(5) 

Any decision by the Planning Board on a sign application is subject to judicial review as provided by New York Village Law § 7-740.

D. 

Review criteria. The review of sign permit applications by the Sign Officer and Planning Board shall be based upon the following criteria:

(1) 

The scale, color, texture and materials of the sign will be compatible with the style, color, texture and materials of the building on which it is located, but also allow for the keeping of logo integrity such as a trademark logo design and/or color;

(2) 

The sign is neither confusing or distracting, nor will it create a traffic hazard or otherwise adversely impact public safety;

(3) 

The sign follows the design guidelines outlined in § 84-16 to the greatest extent practicable; and is otherwise compliant with this chapter.