HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/01/1994, C-3 - TA 167-94: CONSIDERATION OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE SIGN REGULATIONS REGARDING SIGN ILLUMINATION WITHIN THE CITY'S OFFICE (O) ZONING DISTRICTS. p�ui�IIII��II11111110 IuJIj city r MEETING GATE:
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER:
FROM: Arnold B. Jonas, Director of Community Development �o
PREPARED BY: Ronald Whisenand, Development Review Manager
SUBJECT
TA 167-94: Consideration of an amendment to the Sign Regulations regarding sign illumination
within the City's Office (0) zoning districts.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Give final passage to Ordinance No. 1253 (1994 Series), as introduced on January 18, 1994,
amending Sections 15.40.020, 15.40.140, 15.40.160, and 15.40.180 of the Municipal Code
regulating sign illumination within Office (0) zones.
DISCUSSION
The City Council introduced Ordinance 1253 on January 18, 1994. The Ordinance amends
various sections of the City's Sign Regulations relating to allowable signage within the City's
Office("O") zoning districts. The amended regulations will provide illumination restrictions for
signs within the "O" zones including illumination levels and restrictions on how the signs are
illuminated. The Ordinance has been revised to reflect Council action on January 18, 1994 to
re-establish a 10 p.m. or close of business curfew on illuminated signs within the "O" zones as
recommended by the ARC.
The amended section to the Sign Regulations will go into effect 30 days after final passage of
the ordinance.
ATTACffiMIENTS
Ordinance No. 1253, as introduced
Ordinance Summary
ORDINANCE NO.12511994 SERIES)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
AMENDING THE SIGN REGULATIONS RELATING TO SIGN
ILLUMINATION WITHIN THE CITY'S OFFICE (0) ZONING DISTRICTS
(TA 167-93)
WHEREAS, the Architectural Review Commission conducted five public hearing on
application No. TA 167-93 between August 16, 1993 and October 18, 1993 and recommended
approval of amendments to the City's Sign Regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed the Architectural Review Commission's
recommendations as a business item on November 16, 1993 and recommended language
modifications that eliminated hourly illumination restrictions and provided cross reference to
"foot candle" and "lux" illumination standards; and
WHEREAS, the City Council conducted a public hearing on, January 18, 1994, and has
considered testimony of other interested parties, the records of the Architectural Review
Commission hearing and action, and the evaluation and recommendation of staff; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the proposed amendment is consistent with the
purposes of the Sign Regulations and other applicable City ordinances; and
. WHEREAS, the City Council had previously considered and adopted a negative
declaration of environmental impact on June 15, 1993 (ER 61-93) that addressed potential
impacts caused by adoption of new sign illumination regulations;
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. The Council determines that there will be no significant environmental
impacts as a result of amending the regulations, and hereby finds the negative declaration
previously adopted on June 15, 1993 adequate for environmental review purposes.
SECTION 2. The Sign Regulations are hereby amended by the change to Sections
15.40.020, 15.40.140, 15.40.160, and 15.40.180 which are fully contained in the attached
Exhibit A, included in this ordinance by reference.
SECTION 3. A summary of this ordinance, together with the names of council members
voting for and against, shall be published at least 5 days prior to its final passage, in the
Telegram-Tribune, a newspaper published and circulated in this City. This ordinance shall go
into effect at the expiration of thirty (30) days after its final passage.
0-1253
Ordinance No 1253(1994 Series)
Sign Regulations Amendment
Page 2
INTRODUCED AND PASSED TO PRINT by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo at its meeting held on the lsthday of January, 1994, on motion of Settle ,
seconded by Roalman, and on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members Settle, Roalman, Romero, and Mayor Pinard
NOES: Council Member Rappa
ABSENT: None
Mayor reg 19nard
ATTEST:
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APPROVED:
WiAlttoey
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EXHIBIT A
15.40.020 Purpose.
These regulations are intended to:
A. Protect and enhance the character and natural beauty of the community and its
various neighborhoods and districts;
B. Protect those uses which are adequately and appropriately identified from too
many and too large signs in their environs;
C. Protect commercial districts from sign clutter;
D. Protect residential districts from light and glare caused by commercial signs;
E. Protect the public's ability to identify uses and premises without confusion;
F. Eliminate unnecessary distractions which may jeopardize pedestrian or vehicular
traffic safety;
G. Assure the maintenance of signs;
H. Implement the community design objectives expressed in the general plan; and
I. Encourage energy conservation in sign design.
15.40.140 Office zone.
The following signs are permitted within the office (0) zone district:
A. Signs for residential uses as provided in Section 15.40.130;
B. Total area of all signs for professional office uses shall not exceed fifty square feet
per business or tenant, including:
1. One freestanding sign at each premises not to exceed twenty-four square feet in
area or eight feet in height;
2. One wall sign for each business or tenant, not to exceed five percent of the
building face or twenty-five square feet, whichever is less, for each frontage;
3. One directory sign at each premises and not exceeding one square foot for each
room or suite occupied as a unit;
4. Sign illumination, where allowed shall be indirect and shall utilize focused light
fixtures that do not allow light or glare to shine above the horizontal plane of the top of the sign
or onto any public right-of-way or adjoining property. Indirect glare shall not exceed that value
which is produced by an illumination of the reflecting surface not to exceed 10 luxes (1
candlepower) measured 10 feet from the sign. No internally illuminated signs shall be allowed
except as provide for in subsection 6 below;
5. Hospitals are allowed to have internally illuminated signs subject to the
illumination levels authorized by Section 15.40.160C.
C. Signs which do not conform to the provisions of this section, but which lawfully
existed and were maintained prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified herein, shall
be made to conform when the sign is replaced.
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15.40.160 General standards
The following standards apply to signs located in all zone districts:
A. Shopping Center Identification Signs: With architectural review commission
approval, in addition to the signs permitted for individual tenants or businesses, shopping centers
may have one identification sign per frontage (or freeway exposure) not to exceed twenty-five
feet in height or seventy-two square feet in area. Such shopping center signs shall not be
included in the dimensional or area calculations for individual tenants or businesses.
B. Yards: Except as provided in this chapter, no signs shall be allowed within the
required yard area. Traffic directional signs and identification signs not exceeding three feet in
height may be placed in the required yard area.
C. Illuminated Signs: Lighting for exterior illuminated signs shall be so arranged that
it does not create a hazardous glare for pedestrians or vehicles either in a public street or on any
private premises. Each sign shall be designed so that illumination does not exceed one hundred
luxes (ten candlepower) at a distance ten feet from the sign.
D. Freestanding and Monument Signs: Monument signs may be used where
freestanding signs are permitted by the provisions of this chapter. Such monument signs shall
have the same area limitations as freestanding signs but shall not exceed one-third the height of
allowed freestanding signs. Monument signs shall not be placed so as to obstruct visibility
necessary for safe vehicular and pedestrian circulation, but may be placed in required street yard
and/or setback areas.
E. Projecting and Suspended Signs: Projecting signs, including marquee signs and
suspended signs, shall conform to the following requirements:
1. The minimum clearance between the lowest point of a sign and the grade
immediately below shall be eight feet.
2. The minimum horizontal clearance between a sign and the curb line shall be two
feet; the maximum projection over a public sidewalk shall be two-thirds the width of 'the
sidewalk or six feet, whichever is less.
3. The top of a projecting sign shall not exceed the height of the face of the building
by which it is supported.
F. Wall Signs: The distance between the highest point of a wall sign and the grade
immediately below shall not exceed twenty-five feet.
15.40.180 Abatement or conformance required when.
Except as provided for in Section 15.40.140 C, signs which do not conform to the
provisions of this chapter, but which lawfully existed and were maintained prior to the effective
date of the ordinance codified herein, shall be removed or made to conform within sixty days
after written notice by the department of community development, when:
A. The use of the premises changes and the exterior of the building or other site
conditions are to be altered; or
B. A sign is damaged by any cause resulting in replacement or repair cost equal to
or greater than one-half of its replacement value at the time the damage occurs; or
C. In accordance with the amortization schedule outlined in Section 15.40.190.
ORDINANCE NO. 1253 (1994 SERIFS)
AMENDING THE SIGN REGULATIONS RELATING TO SIGN
ILLUMINATION WITHIN THE CITY'S OFFICE (0) ZONING DISTRICTS
On January 18, 1994, the San Luis City Council voted 4 to 1 to introduce Ordinance No.
1253 (1994 Series), which amends Sections 15.40.020, 15.40.140, 15.40.160, and 15.40.180
of the City's Sign Regulations relating to sign illumination.
The primary provisions of the ordinance are as follows:
1. Allow for shielded exterior (indirect) illuminated signs within the Office
zoning districts;
2. Provide an maximum illumination level of 10 luxes (1 candlepower) at 10
feet for all illuminated Office district signs;
3. Require that illuminated signs within the Office districts be turned off at
the hour of 10 p.m. or the close of business which ever is greater; and
4. Require that all signs proposed or replaced after the adoption of these
regulations comply with the new sign standards.
The Council must vote again to approve the ordinance before it can take effect. That
action is tentatively scheduled for February 01, 1994 at a regular City Council meeting to begin
at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 990 Palm Street.
Copies of the complete ordinance are available in the City Clerk's Office in Room No.
1 of City Hall, 990 Palm Street. For more information, contact the Community Development
Department at 781-7172.
Diane Gladwell, City Clerk
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