It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a building permit from the Building Inspector, as required in § 195-36. The changing of the lettering, wording and accompanying symbols on a sign shall not be considered an alteration within the meaning of these regulations so long as the sign size and type are not changed. Permits for all signs which require approval of the Board of Appeals shall be issued by the Building Inspector only upon approval of said Board.
All permits for real estate development and
real estate direction signs shall be issued for a period of one year
only, with the privilege of renewal by the Building Inspector, subject
to the approval of the Board of Appeals. Permits for temporary business
signs and seasonal use signs shall be issued by the Building Inspector
for a period specified by the Board of Appeals in each case, but in
no case for less than one year.
In acting on an application for a sign requiring
its approval under this chapter, the Board of Appeals shall find that:
A.
All applicable standards and requirements of this
article and chapter have been met.
B.
The erection of the sign or signs will have no appreciable
adverse effect on the value of property in the neighborhood, will
be in reasonable conformity to the character of the surrounding area
and will not be an annoyance to any adjoining residential property.
C.
The erection of the sign or signs will not create
an undue hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic on any street.
In acting on any application for a sign requiring
its approval under this chapter, the Board of Appeals may require
additional conditions and safeguards as a prerequisite to the issuance
of a permit for such sign, which conditions and safeguards shall,
in the Board's opinion, be required to protect the public interest
and the intent of this chapter in the particular circumstances. No
such sign shall be maintained except in conformity with the conditions
and safeguards required by said Board.
If the Building Inspector shall find that any
sign is unsafe, dangerous, defective or insecure or is a menace to
the public or tends to endanger the safety of the public or has been
constructed or created or is being maintained in violation of the
provisions of this chapter, he shall give written notice to the permittee
thereof. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure so
as to comply with the standards herein set forth within 10 days after
such notice, such sign may be removed, or altered to comply, by the
Building Inspector at the expense of the permittee or owner of the
property upon which it is located. The Building Inspector shall refuse
to issue a permit for a new sign to any permittee or owner who refuses
to pay costs so assessed. The Building Inspector may cause any sign
which appears to be an imminent danger to the safety of persons or
property to be removed summarily and without notice.
Every sign as defined herein and hereafter erected
shall have painted in a conspicuous place thereon, in letters not
less than one inch in height, the date of erection and the permit
number.
Any sign hereafter existing which shall cease
to serve the purpose for which its permit has been issued shall be
taken down and removed by the owner, agent or person having the beneficial
use of the building, structure or lot upon which such sign may be
found within 10 days after written notification from the Building
Inspector, and, upon failure to comply with such notice within the
time specified in such notice, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized
to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall
be paid by the owner of the building, structure or lot upon which
such sign is attached.
No sign shall be erected at the intersection
of any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision
or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color,
it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any
authorized traffic sign, signal or device or which makes use of the
word "stop," "look," "drive-in," "danger" or any other word, phrase,
symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or
confuse traffic.
