Irvine Municipal Code Ch. 2-31 Sign Program Procedures

A. The intent of a sign program is to ensure that all signs on-site are in harmony with other on-site signs, buildings, and surrounding development.

B. When any of the following circumstances exist, a sign program shall be required in accordance with this chapter:

1. Whenever signs are proposed for a site with two or more property owners.

2. Whenever a request for administrative relief from the terms of Division 7 is submitted.

3. Whenever signs are proposed in a residential village for a site containing a retail, office, or warehouse related use.

4. Whenever the use of exposed neon (including gaseous light and fiber optic tubing) is proposed at any location in a residential village.

5. Whenever any of the following types of signs are proposed: icon sign, village identification sign, attraction board sign, super graphic, decorative construction fence, electronic message center, or private development sign is proposed in the Jeffrey Open Space Spine.

C. All signs approved through a sign program shall require a sign permit (except for signs exempt from permits in accordance with Section 7-3-1.L).

D. Sign programs for sites with a single property owner not subject to any of the above requirements are optional at the discretion of the property owner.

(Code 1976, § V.E-222.1; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 93-9, §§ 13—16, 6-22-93; Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 01-17, § 3, 10-9-01)

A. Persons eligible. The property owner or authorized agent of the property owner or the City Council are eligible to submit an application for a sign program.

B. The information listed below is required at the time a sign program application is submitted to the Community Development Department:

1. A complete development case application signed by the property owner or its authorized representative.

2. A deposit or fee as set forth by ordinance or resolution of the City Council.

3. A letter of justification describing the proposed sign program and explaining how the proposed project will satisfy the findings in Section 2-31-3.

4. Plans that include the following:

a. Sign details indicating maximum sign area, maximum sign size, maximum sign height, maximum character size, maximum letter height, location, if any, of exposed neon, and method of illumination.

b. Site plan indicating the general location of all existing signs and proposed sign types requiring a sign permit.

c. Building elevations indicating the general location of existing signs and proposed sign types requiring a sign permit.

5. Other information as required by the Director of Community Development or as stated on the sign program information sheet.

(Code 1976, § V.E-222.2; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 93-9, §§ 13—16, 6-22-93; Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 97-05, 5-13-97; Ord. No. 01-17, § 4, 10-9-01)

A. The proposed sign program satisfies the intent of this division.

B. The proposed signs enhance the development, and are in harmony with and visually related to other signs in the sign program, the building and/or development they identify and the surrounding development.

C. The proposed sign program shall not adversely affect surrounding land uses or obscure adjacent signs.

D. The proposed sign program criteria shall be sufficiently comprehensive and flexible to accommodate changes in building tenants and their sign needs.

E. The proposed sign program will comply with all the regulations of this division except where administrative relief has been requested in which case additional findings must be made per Chapter 2-2.

(Code 1976, § V.E-222.4; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 93-9, §§ 13—16, 6-22-93; Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 01-17, § 4, 10-9-01)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 01-17, § 4, adopted October 9, 2001, amended the Code by repealing former § 2-31-3, and renumbering former §§ 2-31-4, 2-31-5, and 2-31-7—2-31-9 as new §§ 2-31-3—2-31-7. Former § 2-31-6 was reserved. Former § 2-31-3 pertained to administrative relief, and derived from the Code of 1976, § V.E-222.3; Ord. No. 92-3, adopted April 14, 1992; Ord. No. 93-9, adopted June 22, 1993; Ord. No. 94-5, adopted May 24, 1994; and Ord. No. 94-7, adopted June 14, 1994.

A. A sign program for a site with a single property owner per Section 2-31-1.D, shall be reviewed by the Director of Community Development when the program is in compliance with all sign ordinance standards and no sign types require review by the Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission. A sign program for lightbulb strings located in a nonresidential village, a super graphic sign located in a nonresidential village, and decorative construction fence located anywhere in the City may be reviewed and approved by the Director of Community Development. However, the Director of Community Development may refer any sign program application for a decorative construction fence or super graphic to the Zoning Administrator. Refer to Section 7-2-1.

B. A sign program shall be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator when the program contains a sign for a site with two or more property owners, a sign containing lightbulb strings or super graphics in a residential village, when signs are proposed for a site in a residential village containing a retail, office or warehouse related. Requests for administrative relief from the terms of Division 7 shall be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator unless Planning Commission review of the sign type is required. Refer to Section 7-2-1. In the event administrative relief is requested with a sign program, the request shall be considered in conjunction with the sign program application by the Zoning Administrator.

C. A sign program shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission when it contains an icon sign, village identification sign, attraction board sign, electronic message center sign, private development project sign is proposed in the Jeffrey Open Space Spine, or when the use of exposed neon is proposed in a residential village. Refer to Section 7-2-1. In the event administrative relief is requested with a sign program, the request shall be considered in conjunction with the sign program application by the Planning Commission.

D. The approval body shall have the authority to approve, deny or conditionally approve a sign program by resolution (if reviewed by the Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission), or by a letter (if reviewed by the Director of Community Development), based on the findings in Section 2-31-3. The approved sign program will serve as the sign regulations for the respective site and will supersede regulations of this division for the site.

(Code 1976, § V.E-222.5; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 93-9, §§ 13—16, 6-22-93; Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 01-17, § 4, 10-9-01)

Note— Former § 2-31-5. See editor's note, § 2-31-3.

Any modification or revision to a sign program shall require the submittal of a sign program application in accordance with all requirements of this chapter. Any modification or revision to a sign program shall be approved by the Director of Community Development unless administrative relief is requested. The Director of Community Development may request that any sign program modification application be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator.

(Code 1976, § V.E-222.6; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 93-9, §§ 13—16, 6-22-93; Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 01-17, § 4, 10-9-01)

Note— Former § 2-31-7. See editor's note, § 2-31-3.

A decision of either the Director of Community Development or the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Planning Commission. A decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council, in accordance with Chapter 2-5.

(Code 1976, § V.E-222.7; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 93-9, §§ 13—16, 6-22-93; Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 01-17, § 4, 10-9-01)

Note— Former § 2-31-8. See editor's note, § 2-31-3.

See Section 7-2-9 of the sign ordinance for further information.

(Code 1976, § V.E-222.8; Ord. No. 92-3, 4-14-92; Ord. No. 93-9, §§ 13—16, 6-22-93; Ord. No. 94-5, § 3, 5-24-94; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 01-17, § 4, 10-9-01)

Note— Former § 2-31-9. See editor's note, § 2-31-3.