§ 74-30. Variances.

Variances shall be limited to the minimum relief necessary to overcome the hardship. No variance shall be granted to allow a greater number of signs than would be allowed if the hardship did not exist. A variance from compliance with the sign regulations of this article shall be limited to the following hardship situations:

(1)

Standards.

a.

Where the proximity of existing signs on adjoining lots causes the subject property to be ineligible due to spacing requirements, for a sign of the type sought; or

b.

Where visibility of a conforming sign from the public street and within 50 feet of the proposed sign would be substantially impaired by existing trees, plants, natural features, signs, buildings, or structures on a different lot; and

c.

Placement of the sign elsewhere on the lot would not remedy the visual obstruction and such visibility obstruction, was not created by the owner of the subject property, and the variance proposed would not create a safety hazard to traffic.

(2)

Applications. Variance applications shall be submitted to the board and shall be heard under the same rules governing appeals.

Administrative variances. The planning and inspection director shall be able to authorize a variance for minimal or minor variations from the requirements of the sign ordinance including, but not limited to, maximum height, maximum size in square feet, minimum ground clearance, or any distance or setback requirement where the minimal variation does not vary 25 percent. The planning and inspection director shall use the same criteria as the board of appeals in subsection 94-88(3).

(Code 1986, § 5-187; Ord. No. O-05-08-19, 8-18-2005; Ord. No. O-2015-9, Exh. A, 6-18-2015)