Indian Wells Municipal Code Ch. 17.20 Planned Sign Program

A planned sign program is a voluntary or mandatory alternative to the standard sign application procedures for the application and review of sign permits as provided under Section 17.08.010. It is intended to provide additional flexibility in the application of the regulations of this Title. Signs and sign programs considered as part of a project conditional use permit shall be reviewed in accordance with the conditions imposed under the project conditional use permit.

(a) New Projects.

(1) Mandatory Planned Sign Program. A planned sign program shall be mandatory for all sites (e.g., development projects, retail centers or other commercial centers) requiring permanent signing which exceed either five (5) signs total, or fifty (50) square feet total aggregate sign area.

(2) Optional Planned Sign Program. Application under the provisions of a planned sign program shall be at the option of the applicant whenever said application is not mandatory under this Section and the site (e.g., development project, retail center or other commercial center) meets either one of the following conditions: (i) four (4) acre minimum gross site area; or (ii) five (5) or more businesses. For the purposes of meeting the site requirements, two (2) or more contiguous lots may be combined with the permission of the property owners and at the written request of the sign applicants.

(b) Modifications.

(1) Whenever the total number of signs to be added, modified or replaced is less than twenty-five (25) percent of permitted signs presently on the site, application shall be made under the provisions of a standard sign application.

(2) When the total number of signs to be added, modified or replaced is twenty-five (25) percent or more of the number of permitted signs presently on the site, application shall be made under the provisions of a planned sign program.

(c) Review and Approval. The Planning Commission shall review any new or modified planned sign program and shall make a determination to approve, approve with modification, or deny the application by resolution. The Planning Commission may continue consideration of the application for up to thirty (30) City Hall business days from the initial consideration. In reviewing a planned sign program or modification thereto, the Planning Commission shall make the findings required under Section 17.08.020 of the Municipal Code.

(d) Approved Plan Sign Programs. All Planned Sign Programs that have been formally approved and/or modified shall be catalogued and available for public review/use at the Planning Counter and City website under the Planning Department.

(e) Appeal Process. Any decision by the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council in the manner prescribed in Section 21.06.110 of the Municipal Code.

(Ord. 311 § 1, 1992; Ord. 707 § 1, 2017)