HomeMy WebLinkAbout0785ORDINANCE NO. 785 (1978 Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AMENDING
MUNICIPAL CODE ARTICLE IX, CHAPTER 7, SIGN REGULATIONS,
AND RESCINDING URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 787 .
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted a moratorium on new signs on Calle
Joaquin in the vicinity of Los Osos Valley Road and Highway 101 so the
Planning Commission could study City sign regulations to consider revisions
to limit the height of free - standing signs in the subject area to sixteen (16)
feet and to prevent taller signs from being erected in this area inconsistent
with contemplated standards; and
WHEREAS, the City Council also asked the Planning Commission to consider
amendments to prohibit listing the price of goods or services on business
identifications signs; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on proposed
amendments to the sign regulations pursuant to City Council request, and on
other amendments to clarify other portions of the sign regulations; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission found that a special height limitation
of sixteen (16) feet for free - standing signs in the Calle Joaquin area would
not be consistent with standards for property in the same zone in other parts
of the City where similar conditions are present and a sign height of twenty -
five (25) feet is permitted; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission found-that prohibiting the price of
goods and services on business signs would contribute to preservation of the
unique character'of the City; and.
WHEREAS, the City Council has :determined'tha.t -an.absolute prohibition'-of.
prices on business signs, is, invalid. .and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the sixteen (16) foot height limitation
on free - standing signs in the Calle Joaquin area would be appropriate because:
1. The City Design Review Board conducted a thorough study of the
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Ordinance No. 785 (1978 Series)
area considering its unique character and location and found that the sixteen
foot height limitation provides ample business identification and ensures a
proper scale for free - standing signs with the uses permitted in the area.
2. Many of the business on Calle Joaquin have complied with the
sixteen foot sign height policy over the years and allowing the twenty -five
foot high signs would permit signs which would not be in scale or character
with existing business signs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. Municipal Code Article XI, Chapter 7, Sign Regulations,
Section 9701.4, Definitions, is hereby amended to read in full as follows:
(continued on next page)
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Ordinance No. 785 (1978 Series)
Marquee sign means a sign placed on the face of a permanent roofed
structure projecting over the building entrance, which is an integral part
of the building (usually a theatre or hotel) and is not a fascia extension
of the roof or eve.
Mission Plaza means the area bounded by Chorro Street, Higuera Street,
Broad Street, and Monterey Street, excluding the faces of buildings which
front on said streets.
Monument sign means a sign which is completely self- supporting, has
its base on the ground, and is generally rectangular in form.
Non - illuminated sign means a sign with no internal or external artificial
light source and only incidentally illuminated by ambient light conditions.
Non - residential zone means any zone other than an R -1, R -2, R -3, R 74,
or R -H zone.
Off- premise sign means any sign which directs attention to a business,
service, product, or entertainment not sold or offered or only incidentally
sold or offered on the premises on which the sign is located.
Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or
government or any other legal entity.
Planned residential development means a residential use developed in
accordnace with Planned;Development District regulations of the Zoning
Ordinance.
Political sign means a sign intended to draw attention to or communicate
a position on any issue, candidate, or measure in any national, state, local,
or university campus election.
Premises is a building or unified complex of buildings on one lot or on
two or more contiguous lots under common ownership.
Price sign means a sign on the premises of a service station, which
contains information on the cost and type or grade of motor fuel only.
Projecting sign means a sign which extends out from a building face or
wall so that the sign face is perpendicular or at an angle to the building
face or wall.
Public entrance is a place of entry at a premises which is accessible to
the general public.
Railroad Square means the area bounded by High Street, Santa Barbara
Street, Church Street, and the Southern Pacific Transportation Company
railroad right -of -way.
Roof sign means any.sign located on or attached to and extending above
the roof of a building.
Shopping center means five (5) or more stores with a minimum area:.of
fifty- thousand (50,000) square feet, three - hundred (300) feet of frontage
and common off - street parking.
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Ordinance No. 785
"SECTION 9701.4. DEFINITIONS.
(1978 Series)
As used in this Chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the
indicated meanings:
Area of sign means the number of square feet of the smallest rectangle
within which a sign face can be enclosed. In determining the area of an
individual sign which has more than one face, the greatest area of sign
faces visible from any one point shall be used. The total area of signs
on a site is the greatest area of sign faces which are visible from any
one point.
Billboard means a sign structure which is made available for lease or rent.
Building face means the whole of a building visible in an elevation of
the building excluding sloped roof surfaces.
Bulletin board means a sign which accommodates changeable copy and which
displays information on activities and events on the premises.
Calle Joaquin Area means all properties with street frontage on Calle
Joaquin in the 1400 through 1700 blocks. This area is in the vicinity of
the Calle Joaquin /Los Osos Valley Road interchange.
Directory sign means a sign identifying the location of occupants of a
building or group of buildings which are divided into rooms or suites used
as separate offices or studios.
Exterior - illuminated sign means any sign any part of which is illuminated
from an exterior artificial light source mounted on the sign, another structure,
or the ground.
Fascia is a flat horizontal band or broad fillet covering the joint between
the top of a wall and projecting eves.
Free - standing sign means a sign not attached to any building and having
its own support structure.
Group quarters means a residential facility in which residents do not
occupy individual dwelling units.
Identification sign means any sign identifying an institution in a
residential zone, occupant, apartment, residence, school or church, and not
advertising any product or service.
Interior - illuminated sign means a sign any part of which has characters,
letters, figures, or any portion of the sign face or outline thereof illuminated
from an interior light source.
Height of sign means the vertical distance from average adjacent ground
level to the top of the sign including the support structure and any design
elements.
Lot frontage or frontage means the horizontal distance along a lot line
adjacent to a public street, or the side of a lot adjacent to a public street.
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Ordinance No. 785
(1978 Series)
1. Second story means the highest point of the second floor of a building.
Sign means any visual device or representation designed or used for the
purpose of communicating a message or identifying or attracting attention
to a premise, product, service, person, organization, business or event,
with or without the use of words, visible from outside the premises on which
such device is located.
Sign face means the visible sign proper including all characters and
symbols (excluding essential structural elements which are not an integral
part of the display) and including non - structural frame.
Sign area: See "area of sign."
Suspended sign means a sign attached to and located below any permanent
eve, roof, or canopy.
Temporary sign means any sign which remains in use not more than sixty
(60) days or such other period limited to the duration of a condition or
activity specified in this Chapter.
Wall sign means a single faced sign painted on or attached to a building
or wall, no part of which extends out from or above a wall more than six (6)
inches.
Window sign means a sign displayed within a building or attached to the
interior of a window but visible through a window or similar opening for the
primary purposes of exterior visibility."
SECTION 2. Municipal Code Article XI, Chapter 7, Sign Regulations,
Section 9704.1, Residential Zones, is hereby amended to read in full as
follows:
"SECTION 9704.1. RESIDENTIAL ZONES.
A. The following signs are permitted within the unclassified (U),
Agricultural /Conservation (A /C), Public Facility (PF), Low Density
Residential (R -1), and Medium Density Residential (R -2) Zone
Districts.
(1) One identification sign not exceeding one square foot in area
for each dwelling.unit.
(2) One non - illuminated identification sign not exceeding ten (10)
square feet on each frontage of a planned residential development,
multiple family building, group quarters or institutional use.
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Ordinance No. 78.1
(1978 Series)
B. The following signs are permitted within the Medium -High Density
Residential (R'-3) and High Density Residential (R -4 and R -H) Zone
Districts:
(1) One identification sign not exceeding one square foot for each
dwelling unit.
(2) One identification sign not exceeding ten (10) square feet on
each frontage of a planned residential development, apartment,
or condominium complex, group quarters, or institutional use."
SECTION 4. Municipal Code Article IX, Chapter 7, Sign Regulations,
Section 9704.2, Office Zone, is hereby amended to read in full as follows:
"SECTION 9704.2. OFFICE ZONE.
The following signs are permitted within the Professional Office/
Residential (P -0) Zone District:
A. Signs for residential uses as provided in Section 9704.1.
B. Total area of all signs for professional office uses shall not
exceed fifty (50) square feet per business or tenant, including:
(1) One free - standing sign at each premises not to exceed twenty -
four (24) square feet in area or eight (8) feet in height.
(2) One wall sign for each business or tenant, not to exceed five
percent (5%) of the building face or twenty -five (25) square
feet, whichever is less on each frontage and not including
interior illuminated signs.
(3) One directory sign at each premises, not interior illuminated
and not exceeding one square foot for each room or suite
occupied as a unit."
SECTION 5. Municipal Code Article IX, Chapter 7, Sign Regulations,
Section 9704.3, Commercial and Industrial Zones, is hereby amended to read
in full as follows:
"SECTION 9704.3. COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES.
A. Signs for residential uses as provided in Section 9704.1.
B. The following signs are permitted within the Neighborhood Com-
mercial (C -N) Zone District. Total sign area, exclusive of
shopping center identification signs, not to exceed one hundred
(100) square feet for each business or tenant, including:
Ordinance No. 785 (1978 Series)
(2) For motels, restaurants and service stations:
(a) Wall signs not to exceed seven percent (7 %) of the building
face, nor to be located above second story and each not to
exceed one hundred (100) square feet.
(b) One free - standing sign at each premises not to exceed
.twenty -five (25) feet in height or seventy -two (72) square
feet in area.
F. Calle Joaquin Area: Free - standing signs in the Calle Joaquin area
shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet in height. See definitions for
boundary of Calle Joaquin area.
G. Mission Plaza and Railroad Square: All signs within Mission Plaza and
Railroad Square require approval by the Architectural Review Commission
as provided in Article IX, Chapter 5, of this code. Signs within these
districts shall contribute to the historical themes and design character
of their settings.
The Architectural Review Commission may allow types of'signs other
than those permitted in the zone district standards within these
special districts when such signs are part of a unified design plan
which furthers the purposes of this chapter."
SECTION 6. Municipal Code Article IX, Chapter 7, Sign Regulations,
Section 9705.4, Notice to Owners of Non - Conforming Signs, is hereby amended
to read in full as follows:
"SECTION 9705.4. NOTICE TO OWNERS OF NON - CONFORMING SIGNS.
A. The Community Development Department shall give written notice to
the owners of signs which do not conform to the provisions of
Ordinance No. 379, adopted August 7, 1967, informing them of the
nature of the non - conformity and of the City's intent to enforce
Section 9705.1 of these regulations.
B. The Community Development Department shall give written notice to
to owners of signs which do not conform to the provisions of these
regulations informing them of the nature of the non - conformity,
their responsibilities under Section 9705.3.E, and of the City's
intent to enforce Section 9705.3 of these regulations."
SECTION 7. Urgency Ordinance No. 787 an urgency ordinance declaring
a moratorium on the issuance of permits for free - standing signs exceeding
sixteen feet in height in the tourist - commercial (C -T) zone district abutting
Calle Joaquin, is hereby rescinded as of the effective date of this ordinance.
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Ordinance No. 785
(1978 Series)
(1) One free - standing sign at each premises not to exceed twenty-
four (24) square feet in area or twelve (12) feet in height,
for uses not located within a shopping center.
(2) One wall sign per business or tenant on each frontage or
building face having a public entrance not to exceed ten
percent (10 %) of the building face are occupied by the
business or tenant and not to exceed fifty (50) square feet.
C. The following signs are permitted in the Retain Commercial (C -R)
Zone District. Total area of signs, exclusive of shopping center
identification signs, shall not exceed two hundred (200) square
feet for each business or tenant. The following types of signs
may be placed on each frontage or building face having a public
entrance:
(1) One wall sign per business or tenant not to exceed fifteen
percent (15 %) of the building face, nor to be located above
second story and each not to exceed one hundred (100) square
feet.
(2) One suspended sign for each business or tenant, not to exceed
ten (10) square feet.
(3) One projecting or marquee sign for each business or tenant,
not to exceed twenty -four (24) square feet.
(4) One directory sign at each premises as provided in Section
9704.2.B(3).
D. The following signs are permitted within the Service Commercial
(C -H), Research Manufacturing (M -R), and Industrial (M) Zone
Districts. Total area of signs shall not exceed two hundred (200)
square feet for each business or tenant, including:
(1) One wall sign for each business or tenant, on each frontage
or building face having a public entrance, not to exceed
fifteen percent (15 %) of building face and not to exceed one
hundred (100) square feet nor to be located above the second
story.
(2) One free - standing sign at each premises, not to exceed fifteen
(15) feet in height or seventy -two (72) square feet in area.
(3) One off - premise sign at each premises, not to exceed two
hundred (200) square feet in area or twenty -five (25) feet
in height, provided that a use permit is first obtained
pursuant to Section 9200.17 of this code.
E. The following signs are permitted within the Tourist Commercial
(C -T) Zone District. Total area of signs shall not exceed two
hundred (200) square feet, for each business or tenant, including:
(1) Same as Section 9704.3.D for all uses except those listed in
(2) below:
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Ordinance No. 785
(1978 Series)
SECTION 8. This ordinance, together with the ayes and noes, shall be
published once in full, at least three (3) days prior to its final passage,
in the Telegram- Tribune, a newspaper published and circulated in said City,
and the same shall go into effect at the expiration of thirty (30) days
after its said final passage.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED TO PRINT this 8th day of November, 1978, on
motion of Mayor Schwartz, seconded by Councilman Settle, and on the following
roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmen Dunin, Jorgensen, Settle and Mayor Schwartz
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilman Petterson
ATTEST:
f�^
Approved a to form:
City`Attorney
Approved as to content:
ME
by Senior Planner
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V
ORDINANCE NO. 785
FINALLY PASSED this 21st day of November 19 78 ,
by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmen Dunin, Jorgensen, Petterson, Settle and Mayor Schwartz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
4d%am���
Y CLERK J.H. FITZPATRICK