9-15-13: VARIANCES:
A. Variances Authorized; Standards: The Director may grant a variance from any of the regulations contained in this chapter, except the maximum allowed sign area 1 .
B. Approval Standards: The Director may grant a variance authorized by this section if the variance requested is required by special or unique hardship because of:
1. Exceptional narrowness, shallowness, or shape of the premises on which a sign is to be located; or
2. Exceptional topographic conditions or physical features uniquely affecting the premises on which the sign is to be located.
The Director may not grant a variance solely because the display of a sign would be more profitable or valuable if the variance were granted.
C. Additional Variance Standards: The Director may grant a variance only if the Director determines that the variance is consistent with the town's master plan 2 , and there are no other reasonable alternatives for displaying a sign permitted by this chapter.
D. Factors Not To Be Considered: In considering a request for a variance the Director shall not consider the topic, idea, or message expressed on the sign; the subject matter of the sign; or the specific motivating ideology, viewpoint, opinion, or perspective of the speaker. (Ord. 3, Series 2019)
Notes:
1See subsection 9-15-20D5 of this chapter which authorizes the Director to determine the maximum allowable sign area in a project that is subject to a master sign plan under certain circumstances and subsection 9-15-20K2 of this chapter which authorizes the Director to determine the maximum allowable sign area under certain circumstances for hotels and condominiums.
2See chapter 4 of this title.