Application review procedures; term of permit

A. It shall be the duty of the Administrative Officer, upon the filing of a completed application for a sign permit, to examine such plans and specifications and other data and the premises upon which the sign is to be located.
B. Except for those applications described in § 185-94D, when the sign permit application relates to the installation of new signage or the replacement of existing signage and is in compliance with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, the Administrative Officer shall approve the application and notify the Building Official of the approval within 10 business days of receipt of a complete sign application.
C. Signs that are found by the Administrative Officer to be consistent with an approved common signage plan (§ 185-90) shall not require TRC review. Copies of all submitted supporting material shall be retained by the Administrative Officer as Town records. The denial of a sign permit application by the Administrative Officer may be appealed to the Zoning Board in accordance with § 185-58.
D. The Administrative Officer shall refer the following applications for review by the TRC:
- (1) Proposals to add more than one sign for one establishment as permitted under § 185-97A, B and C;
- (2) A new or replacement directory sign per § 185-97D; and
- (3) Proposals that require relief from the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.
E. The TRC shall review a sign permit application referred by the Administrative Officer within a reasonable time and render a determination with regard to consistency of the application with the intent and purposes of this article (§ 185-88) and the general sign standards (§ 185-89).
F. If an application does not require relief from the Zoning Board, the TRC shall either approve the application, with or without conditions, or deny the application. The TRC's decision on the application shall be binding on the applicant; provided, however, that the denial of a sign permit application by the TRC may be appealed to the Zoning Board in accordance with § 185-58. Upon approval by the TRC the Building Official shall issue the sign permit.
G. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, when an application for a sign permit also requires relief from the Zoning Board of Review, a decision of the TRC shall be required prior to consideration by the Zoning Board and shall be advisory only to the Zoning Board. Relief from the Zoning Board of Review, when applicable, is required prior to the issuance of any sign permit by the Building Official.
H. A sign permit shall expire 12 months from the date of issue unless the applicant exercises the permission granted, commences substantial construction and diligently completes same. The TRC or the Zoning Board, as applicable, may, upon written request and for good cause shown, grant one additional six-month extension.