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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP 19G; Car Country Specific Plan Update; Specific Plan (SP))SicAPPLICATIooMPLETE DATE: MARCH 3. 1995 STAFF PLANNER: ROBERT GREEN STAFF ENGINEER: BOB WOJCIK STAFF REPORT DATE: APRIL 19, 1995 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: PLANNING DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: SP 19(G) - AMENDMENT OF CAR COUNTRY SPECIFIC PLAN SIGN REGULATIONS - Reformatting and amendment regulations. I. RECOMMENDATION That the Planning Commission ADOPT Planning Commission Resolution No. 3749, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL of the Negative Declaration and ADOPT Planning Commission Resolution No. 3750, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL of Specific Plan SP 19(G) as proposed to be modified by staff. II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND City staff has met with members of the Dealer's Association over a period of time to discuss problems which the dealers have encountered with the Car Country sign regulations. During this period staff worked with the dealers to devise regulations which address issues which they had raised. The amendment includes new sign regulations for the entire Car Country Specific Plan area. The revisions are as follows: 1. Reformatting to consolidate the sign regulations for Car Country Specific Plan so that they are placed in one document. 2. Procedural changes which allow sign permit review by the Planning Director (and then on appeal to the Planning Commission and City Council.) 3. An increase in the sign area allowance (to accommodate franchise signs peculiar to the requirements of car dealerships). 4. New regulations for directional signs. SP 19(G) AMENDMENT OF CAR COUNTRY SP SIGN REGULATIONS APRIL 19, 1995 PAGE 2 Items 1 and 2 were included by staff, to improve the functioning of the regulations. Items 3 and 4 were issues which the dealers association specifically requested staff to address. Additionally the dealer's association has requested that the specific plan allow signs on buildings facing the 1-5 freeway. For reasons further discussed in the report, staff does not concur with this and recommends that the amendment be approved precluding signs on buildings oriented towards 1-5. (To assist in understanding the differences between the two proposals attachments have been prepared to clarify the requested changes. The "Sign Program" language which is a part of the Ordinance attached to Resolution No. 3750 shows the city supported amendment which precluded signage oriented to 1-5. Attachment 3 shows the amendment language which would allow signs on buildings facing 1-5 which is not recommended for approval by staff.) III. ANALYSIS 1. Reformatting and Consolidation of Procedures Regulations which govern signs in Car Country are currently in multiple locations. Independent sign regulations are contained in two separate Car Country Specific Plans ("old" and "new" Car Country) and sign code requirements are also contained in several resolutions and the zoning ordinance. This makes sign code regulation in Car Country difficult to use for both applicants and the City. Just one set of sign regulations is proposed for the whole of Car Country in the amendment. 2. Procedural Changes Proposed procedural changes would also mean that sign permits are acted on first by the Planning Director (rather than first by the Planning Commission as now) with the ability for subsequent appeals to the Planning Commission and City Council. This will ensure expeditious review of individual signs, while appeals and amendments will still be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council. 3. Sign Area Changes This proposed modification would increase the amount of signage available to a dealership site from 1.5 square feet of sign per linear foot of building frontage to 2.0 square feet of sign per linear feet of building frontage. Car Country Dealers Association has requested that the area of sign allowance be increased to provide adequate signage for franchises. The association claims that the current standard of 1.5 square feet per linear foot of frontage does not allow enough signage for dealers who have multiple franchises. The association maintains that dealerships with multiple franchises have special needs due to stringent controls imposed by the parent companies. Parent SP 19(G) AMENDMENT OF CAR COUNTRY SP SIGN REGULATIONS APRIL 19, 1995 PAGE 3 companies have standards which constrain custom sign production, by copyright and trademark controls and signs which are leased by franchisees from parent companies have predetermined sizes. Because of the restrictions made by parent companies the association points out that dealers with multiple franchises are forced to provide signs of a certain size and appearance, but the city's existing specific plan maximum sign size limit is too small to accommodate such signs. Staff has analyzed all signs with permits in Car Country, together with the amount of signage allowed by the specific plan (see Attachment "4"). This analysis shows that in many cases dealers are close to using up the amount of signage allocated by the existing Specific Plan (7 of 18 dealerships are within 50 square feet of the allocation). The proposed new sign allocation of two square feet of signage per linear foot of frontage will provide these dealers with more sign space to accommodate the special signage needs of multiple franchises. 4. Directional Signs Directional signs are signs which identify "Car Country" and direct customers to the various dealerships within the site. The proposed regulations would control sign appearance, size and safe placement. Design standards are provided by the amendment which will guide the development of detailed plans. These detailed plans would be submitted and reviewed for confonnance with the standards of the specific plan by staff. Such signs will be placed within the boundaries of the Car Country Specific Plan outside traffic sight lines. Freeway Oriented Signs The dealers association also requested the allowance of signs on building elevations which face the 1-5 freeway. The existing Car Country Specific Plan precludes such signs. Furthermore, Section 21.41.030 of the City zoning ordinance contains regulations which limit freeway oriented signs to "Freeway Service Facilities" located within 600 feet of the apex of a freeway interchange quadrant (or 1500 feet when two or more lots or parcels are covered by a specific plan). A "freeway service facility" is defined by the zoning ordinance as "a lot or parcel located at the apex of a freeway interchange quadrant which contains one or more of the following uses: a restaurant, a motel, or an automobile service station". SP 19(G) AMENDMENT OF CAR COUNTRY SP SIGN REGULATIONS APRIL 19, 1995 PAGE 4 The uses within Car Country do not conform to the zoning ordinance definition of "freeway service facility". Additionally on May 29, 1991, the City of Carlsbad Planning Commission denied a freeway oriented sign because it did not comply with the above provisions. Staff therefore, recommends that in order to be consistent with the City zoning ordinance, and prior Planning Commission actions the amendment proposed by the dealer's association which would allow freeway oriented signs should not be approved. Amendment language is proposed by staff which would preclude signs on buildings oriented to the 1-5 Freeway (Exhibit "Y"). The sentence "Interstate 5 shall not be considered a surface street" in Sections IV.B.8 and IV.C.5 is included in the proposed Specific Plan for this purpose. (This language is also included in the existing specific plan.) IV. ENVIRONMENTAL The proposed amendment both changes procedures and regulations governing signs within the Car Country Specific Plan. Although the amendment would allow a minor increase to the permitted sign area, standards and procedures have been included to ensure that no significant environmental impacts will occur. Consequently, the Planning Director determined that no significant adverse impacts will result from this proposal and has, therefore, issued a Negative Declaration on January 4, 1995. V. SUMMARY The proposed Specific Plan Amendment will reformat and consolidate sign regulations thus facilitating the use and understanding of those regulations. It will also establish new and modified regulations regarding multiple franchises and directional signage that would address the special needs of car dealers. Finally, the amendment would expedite the processing of sign permits by making such permits administrative rather than discretionary, requiring Planning Commission approval. With the exception of the request for freeway oriented signage, staff believes that the proposed changes are beneficial and therefore, recommends approval of SP-19(G). ATTACHMENTS 1. Planning Commission Resolution No. 3749 2. Planning Commission Resolution No. 3750 3. Amendment (Dealer recommended) allowing signs on buildings facing 1-5 4. Analysis of existing and proposed signage allowance for Car Country. R0-.ilJMMI? 34 i»s "EXHIBIT Y" APRIL 19 1995. IV. SIGN PROGRAM The purpose of this section is to establish the sign standards necessary to ensure coordinated exposure and tenant identification within the Car Country Specific Plan area. A primary consideration is preventing visual blight and traffic safety problems. A. Sign Permit Procedures 1. Permit All signs within Car Country Specific Plan shall be subject to a sign permit which shall be determined by the Planning Director (or designee). 2. Appeals The decision of the Planning Director may be appealed to the Planning Commission. In a similar manner, the decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council. The appeal shall be filed with the secretary of the Planning Commission (for Planning Commission appeals), or the City Clerk (for Council appeals) within ten (10) calendar days of the decision. Appeals shall be accompanied by a filing fee as specified in the City fee schedule. 3. Appeals Noticing All appeals shall be noticed in accordance with Section 21.54.060 of the zoning ordinance as it may be amended from time to time. B. Permitted Signage Signs permitted shall meet the following standards: 1. Each lot will be permitted signage equal to two square feet per lineal foot of building frontage. More specific conditions may be added under the specific Site Development Plans. 2. One freestanding sign may be placed on each lot provided the sign area of the freestanding sign is included within the aggregate sign area permitted as stated in paragraph Bl above. 3. No portion of such sign shall extend over or into the public right-of-way line, or be within fifteen feet of any driveway or curb line. 4. Monument signs shall not exceed a height of 8 feet. 5. Freestanding signs shall not exceed the height of any building which is located on the same site, and hi no event shall the signs be over thirty five feet high. 6. Signs for uses other than motor vehicle dealerships on Lots 2-3 shall conform to the sign regulations of the Carlsbad Municipal Code as it may be amended from time to tune. 7. All signs will be reviewed by the Planning Director to ensure compatibility and to protect the public interest. 8. All signs shall be oriented so that the primary view is from surface streets. Interstate 5 shall not be considered a surface street. 9. Signs oriented to surface streets, but still visible from Interstate 5 shall be consistent in size, color and illumination with those of the existing auto park. 10. Only one freestanding sign, advertising the entire car country development, may be oriented to Interstate 5. This sign shall be a maximum of 35 feet high and 150 square feet in area. C. Franchise Signs If more than one franchise is located on one lot, an additional freestanding sign, wall or monument sign may be allowed. Such signs shall meet the following criteria: 1. Monument signs, shall not exceed eight feet hi height. 2. The aggregate sign area for the entire development shall not exceed the sign area allowed for the development according to the provisions of Paragraph Bl above. 3. No portion of such sign shall extend over or into the public right-of-way, or be within fifteen feet of any driveway or curb line. 4. The maximum sign area for any such sign shall not exceed fifty-five square feet. 5. The signs shall be oriented so that the primary view is from surface streets. Interstate 5 shall not be considered a surface street. D. Directional Signs 1. The maximum aggregate sign area of all entry/directional signs is 100 square feet plus 3 square feet per acre of property within the development. The maximum area for any individual sign is 150 square feet. 2. A sign permit application shall be submitted for these signs. 3. Entry and directional signs shall be combined into one sign. 4. These signs shall be placed within the boundaries of the Car Country Specific Plan. 5. A unified design theme which is complimentary to the design of the existing architecture shall be used. 6. The base of entry/directional signs should be landscaped to provide an attractive setting, and ground definition of the signs. 7. The appearance of the sign should be unified by a common design. Subdued sign and lettering colors should be used consistent with the design theme of the center. E. All signs shall comply with the requirements of the Coastal Zone. F. All signs shall be placed so as not to be detrimental to traffic safety to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. "ATTACHMENT 3" APRIL 19 1995 AMENDMENT SHOWING LANGUAGE REQUESTED BY THE DEALER'S ASSOCIATION TO PERMIT SIGNS ON BUILDINGS FACING 1-5. IV. SIGN PROGRAM The purpose of this section is to establish the sign standards necessary to ensure coordinated exposure and tenant identification within the Car Country Specific Plan area. A primary consideration is preventing visual blight and traffic safety problems. A. Sign Permit Procedures 1. Permit All signs within Car Country Specific Plan shall be subject to a sign permit which shall be determined by the Planning Director (or designee). 2. Appeals The decision of the Planning Director may be appealed to the Planning Commission. In a similar manner, the decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council. The appeal shall be filed with the secretary of the Planning Commission (for Planning Commission appeals), or the City Clerk (for Council appeals) within ten (10) calendar days of the decision. Appeals shall be accompanied by a filing fee as specified in the City fee schedule. 3. Appeals Noticing All appeals shall be noticed in accordance with Section 21.54.060 of the zoning ordinance as it may be amended from time to time. B. Permitted Signage Signs permitted shall meet the following standards: 1. Each lot will be permitted signage equal to two square feet per lineal foot of building frontage. More specific conditions may be added under the Specific Site Development Plans. For lots adjae&it to Interstate 5» buMtig laclude Ihose portions of fhs bmtdings facing Interstate 5, 2. One freestanding sign may be placed on each lot provided the sign area of the freestanding sign is included within the aggregate sign area permitted as stated in paragraph Bl above. D-l 3. No portion of such sign shall extend over or into the public right-of-way- line, or be within fifteen feet of any driveway or curb line. 4. Monument signs shall not exceed a height of 8 feet. 5. Freestanding signs shall not exceed the height of any building which is located on the same site, and in no event shall the signs be over thirty five feet high. 6. Signs for uses other than motor vehicle dealerships on Lots 2-3 shall conform to the sign regulations of the Carlsbad Municipal Code as it may be amended from time to tune. 7. All signs will be reviewed by the Planning Director to ensure compatibility and to protect the public interest. 8. All signs shall be oriented so that the primary view is from surface streets. Interstate 5 shall not be considered a surface street. 9. Signs oriented to surface streets, but still visible from Interstate 5 shall be consistent in size, color and illumination with those of the existing auto park. 10. Only one freestanding sign, advertising the entire Car Country development, may be oriented to Interstate 5. This sign shall be a maximum of 35 feet high and 150 square feet in area. C. Franchise Signs If more than one franchise is located on one lot, an additional freestanding sign, wall or monument sign may be allowed. Such signs shall meet the following criteria: 1. Monument signs, shall not exceed eight feet in height. 2. The aggregate sign area for the entire development shall not exceed the sign area allowed for the development according to the provisions of Paragraph Bl above. 3. No portion of such sign shall extend over or into the public right-of-way, or be within fifteen feet of any driveway or curb line. 4. The maximum sign area for any such sign shall not exceed fifty-five square feet. D- 2 5. The signs shall be oriented so that the primary view is from surface streets. Interstate 5 shall not be considered a surface street. Directional Signs 1. The maximum aggregate sign area of all entry/directional signs is 100 square feet plus 3 square feet per acre of property within the development. The maximum area for any individual sign is 150 square feet. 2. A sign permit application shall be submitted for these signs. 3. Entry and directional signs shall be combined into one sign. 4. These signs shall be placed within the boundaries of the Car Country Specific Plan. 5. A unified design theme which is complimentary to the design of the existing architecture shall be used. 6. The base of entry/directional signs should be landscaped to provide an attractive setting, and ground definition of the signs. 7. The appearance of the sign should be unified by a common design. Subdued sign and lettering colors should be used consistent with the design theme of the center. E. All signs shall comply with the requirements of the Coastal Zone. F. All signs shall be placed so as not to be detrimental to traffic safety to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. D- 3 ATTACHMENT "4" APRIL 19, 1995 CAR COUNTRY SIGN ANALYSIS DEALERSHIPS 1. Existing Sign Area 2. Aggregate Sign Allowance (1.5x Bldg) 3. Existing Surplus 4. Proposed Aggregate Signage (2x Bldg) 5. Proposed Surplus Buick 243.90 375.00 131.10 500.00 256.10 Ac/Olds/Suz/Hyun 402.46 517.50 115.04 690.00 287.54 Ford/Isuzu 491.43 765.00 273.57 1020.00 528.57 Maz/Pon/GMC 428.61 442.50 13.89 590.00 161.39 Chevy/Geo 590.00 1050.00 460.00 1400.00 810.00 Toy (used) 90.00 247.50 157.50 330.00 240.00 Dodge 112.75 172.50 59.75 230.00 117.25 Chry-P/VW 216.00 225.00 9.00 300.00 84.00 Toyota 90.00 307.50 217.50 410.00 320.00 1. Existing Sign Area 2. Aggregate Sign Allowance (1.5x Bldg) 3. Existing Surplus 4. Proposed Aggregate Signage (2x Bldg) 5. Proposed Surplus Note: All numbers in square fe< - Information is for anal' - Existing Sign area is b Line/Merc 478.36 262.50 -215.86 350.00 -128.36 Lexus 152.00 165.00 13.00 220.00 68.00 Mb/Por/Audi 202.00 210.00 8.00 280.00 78.00 Cad/Sub 276.23 414.00 137.77 552.00 275.77 Infiniti 131.20 150.00 18.80 200.00 68.80 Olds/J-E 141.00 141.00 188.00 188.00 Mitsubishi 115.30 123.00 7.70 164.00 48.70 Jeep-Eagle 226.26 346.50 120.24 462.00 235.74 Average 265.41 347.91 98.12 463.88 214.09 st ysis only - not for permit, ased on permit information EXCEPT Buick and L-M