No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained
on any premises owned or controlled by him a sign which has been abandoned.
An abandoned sign for the purpose of this chapter is a sign located
on, and/or related to, the use of a property which becomes vacant
and unoccupied; any sign which was erected for an occupant or business
unrelated to the present occupant in business; or any sign which related
to a time, event or purpose which is past. Any such sign shall be
abated by the owner or person controlling the property within 30 days
of the date of abandonment as herein defined. Any sign identifying
an abandoned use, as provided for by this chapter, shall itself be
considered to be abandoned.
The following procedures shall apply to the
issuance of sign permits:
A.
Application shall be made to the administrative officer
and the required fee paid to the Borough Treasurer or other such person(s)
designated by the Borough Council. Application shall be made on the
forms provided by the Borough.
B.
The application shall be accompanied by an accurate
plot plan of the lot, scaled not greater than one inch equals 10 feet
nor less than one inch equals 50 feet, that indicates the location
of buildings, parking lots, driveways, landscaped areas and other
pertinent data. On the plot plan shall be drawn the location of each
existing or proposed sign. A color photograph, not less than three
by five inches nor larger than eight by 10 inches, shall be submitted
for each sign presently existing on the site. A drawing to scale of
each proposed sign, including the dimensions, colors, materials and
method of attachment, shall be submitted.
C.
The administrative officer shall review the application
for compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including the
completeness of the application. The administrative officer shall
expeditiously report his findings to the Planning Board. The Planning
Board shall act on the application within 45 days of the determination
that a complete application has been submitted or within such time
as may be consented to by the applicant. Sign permit applications
shall be considered minor site plans, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-46.1.
D.
A sign permit approved by the Planning Board shall
be issued by the administrative officer within 14 days of approval.
Appeals of a denial of a sign permit may be taken as otherwise permitted
by law to a court of competent jurisdiction.
