HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/1993, 4 - CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION ON SIGN ILLUMINATION WITHIN THE CITY'S OFFICE (""O"") ZONING DISTRICTS."�IIIn�I�II�IIIII��I Ilull� "MEETING DATE:
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER
FROM: Arnold B. Jonas, Director of Community Development
PREPARED BY: Ronald Whisenand, Development Review Manager
SUBJECT: Consider recommendations of the Architectural Review Commission on sign
illumination within the City's Office ( "O ") zoning districts.
CAO RECOMMENDATION: (1) Accept the recommendations of the Architectural Review
Commission on proposed amendments to the City's sign ordinance; and (2) direct staff to
prepare an environmental analysis of the recommended revisions and schedule the amendments
for a public hearing before the City Council.
DISCUSSION
In April of this year, the City Council directed the Community Development Department to
review and consider possible amendments to the City's Office ( "O ") zone sign illumination
standards. The request came as a result of Council's consideration of an appeal of the
Architectural Review Commission's (ARC) action to approve an interior illuminated sign for
Century 21 on Broad Street. The Council felt there were inconsistencies in the current sign
regulations and suggested that additional protection of near -by residential properties may be
needed..
At that time, the sign regulations specified that illumination of wall signs in "O" zones is limited
to exterior or indirect lighting. Freestanding signs however, had no illumination restrictions like
wall signs, and could therefore be internally illuminated if desired. There did not appear to be
any basis for this code discrepancy. Since "O" districts contain a mixture of residential and
office uses, and since they are typically located adjacent to residential zones, staff proposed that
wall and freestanding signs be regulated in the same manner.
Staff presented an amendment that prohibited interior illumination of all signs in the "O" zoning
districts. The proposed amendment language received ARC and Planning Commission support
and was eventually introduced and adopted by the Council. The revised "O" zone sign
provisions went into effect in July.
As a follow -up to ordinance adoption, the Council directed the issue of sign illumination back
to the ARC to determine whether additional office zone illumination restrictions would be
warranted. In addition, the Council directed that the ARC hold a noticed hearing in order to
allow public input on the issue of sign illumination.
The ARC held five hearings on sign illumination between August 16 and October 18. The
Commission heard from a broad spectrum of interested members of the community including
residents, sign manufactures, electrical contractors, as well as the Chamber of Commerce. In
addition, the Commission preformed various night time field measurement of illuminated signs
in order to determine acceptable illumination levels.
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Staff Report - TA 61 -93
November 16, 1993
Page 2
At the conclusion of the ARC's review, it was determined that "O" zones are sensitive sites
where residential and commercial interests need to be protected. The Commission felt that
illuminated signs should be allowed but with limitations to ensure that they are compatible with
near -by residences. The recommended limitations are as follows:
A. Illumination of wall or freestanding signs, if provided, shall be indirect. No
internally illuminated signs will be allowed within the "O" zoning districts.
B. If indirect illumination is used, it shall be focused so that it does 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.
C. Illumination levels shall not exceed 10 luxes at ten feet. A lux is the metric unit
used for measuring illumination (one lumen per square meter). The illumination or lux
level could be measured with the use of a standard light meter that the Department would
have to purchase. Note that 10 luxes is equivalent to the illumination generated by a
typical residential porch light. One example of an indirect illuminated sign that complies
with this standard is the office sign at 1302 Marsh Street (corner of Marsh Street and
Johnson Ave.).
D. Illuminated signs shall be turned off at 10 p.m. or the close of business, which
ever occurs last.
The legislative draft of the recommended sign ordinance modifications is attached for Council
review. In addition to the above illumination regulations, the ARC is recommending additional
changes to help clarify the purpose of new regulations, and to provide Sierra Vista and French
Hospitals (which are located in Office districts) exempt status from the sign illumination
restrictions. Since hospitals need to maintain high visibility to those in need of emergency
services, it was determined that higher illumination levels would be appropriate. Finally, the
ARC felt that amortization of signs made non - conforming by these regulations is important but
wanted to "soften" the impact on existing businesses. It was therefore proposed that all existing
illuminated signs would be "grandfathered in" until such time as the sign is replaced.
The above recommendations by the ARC are being presented for Council consideration. The
Council needs to discuss the recommendations and determine whether any amendment to the sign
regulations is warranted at this time. If so, the amendment (either the ARC draft or other
acceptable language) needs to be sent back to staff for environmental review and scheduling of
a noticed public hearing before the Council.
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dMIZa COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Staff Report - TA 61 -93
November 16, 1993
Page 3
FISCAL MPACTS
A staff survey found that approximately 14 percent of the parcels within the Office districts
would have non - conforming signs if the ARC recommended ordinance is adopted. Because any
sign amortization program to bring these signs into compliance would require extensive staff
resources, the ARC recommends that existing illuminated Office district signs be "grandfathered
in" until such time as the sign is replaced. This processing approach would have no fiscal
impacts. Should the Council however wish to actively pursue an amortization program, the
staffing and fiscal impacts need to be recognized.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council can decide to pursue the ARC draft language with or without language
modification. In addition, the Council can decide to allow either full or no illumination of signs
within the Office districts. Finally, the Council can decide to take no action. The no action
alternative would result in indirect illumination of wall and freestanding signs with no further
illumination restrictions.
Attachments: Legislative Draft Ordinance as recommended by the ARC
Legislative Draft Ordinance
indicates new text. Str-ileeeu indicates deleted text.
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;
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C. Protect commercial districts from sign clutter;
D. Frofect zesidentit dsrzt tcxotrf Ztgltt atd glare caused by commercta
13. Protect the public's ability to identify uses and premises without confusion;
Eliminate unnecessary distractions which may jeopardize pedestrian or vehicular
traffic safety;
FLO. Assure the maintenance of signs; aed
fr Implement the community design objectives expressed in the general plan; and
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 and net- ineluding
interior- illufainated signs;
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3. One directory sign at each premises, illef iflated and not exceeding
one square foot for each room or suite occupied as a unit;
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
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it does not create a ha�euds t a?as ous 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
tea-eaadlepeweF 'a to to dre ` #'axes 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
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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.
ctaept;: ov1t .. C ;;a Sectlptl,.,1 . ., S.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.
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