HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-03-02; City Council; 12090; APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER REVISIONS TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE REGARDING PORTABLE A-FRAME SIGNS.
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CIT~F CARLSBAD - AGEN~) BILL w ; G r AB # la, 09~
CITY DEPT. PLN
CITY CONSIDER REVISIONS TO THE SIGN ORDINANCE
DEPl ~ TITLE: APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF INTENTION TO
MTG. 3 - a-93 REGARDING PORTABLE A-FRAME SIGNS
I I I I RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE City Council Resolution of Intention No. 9 3 c YY to set to public hearb
consideration of amendments to the Sign Ordinance, Chapter 21.41 of the Municipal Coc
regarding the use of A-Frame/Sandwich Board Signs.
IIEM EXPLANATION
Presently, portable A-FramelSandwich Board signs are not allowed anywhere in thc
except on a temporary basis in the Redevelopment Area. The signs are temporarily all
in the Redevelopment Area based on a special provision in the Village Design Manual
October 20, 1992, the City Council discussed the issue of these signs and whether or no1
should be allowed at business locations outside the Redevelopment Area. The iten
discussed as a result of a complaint from a business outside the Redevelopment Area wk
that it was not fair to allow them in certain areas of the City but prohibit them in other i
Before making a policy decision on this matter, the Council requested that the Master
Advisory Committee consider the issue and make a decision as to how A-Frame signs M
addressed in the new Master Plan for the Village Redevelopment Area. The Council reqt
that this issue be addressed immediately by the Advisory Committee rather than waiti~
completion of the Master Plan.
The Advisory Committee discussed the issue at their meeting on November 9, 1992
facilitate the committee's discussion, staff requested that the Master Plan Consultant,
Cannon, prepare some general signage guidelines for the Village Area. A copy of the si^
guidelines is provided as an exhibit to the attached memorandum to the City Manager
the Community Development Director.
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Mr. Cannon recommended that A-Frame signs be prohibited in the Village areas unless
is no other form of effective signage available to a business. To compensate for the loss
A-Frame signs, some new types of signage were reJommended, such as projectional si@
general, the Advisory Committee supported the various forms of signage proposed b
Cannon. However, the committee was not willing to indicate whether or not they 1
eventually support the prohibition, or continuation, of the A-Frame signs until the SI
design standards for the signs are developed and included within the final Mastel
document. The final Master Plan document will most likely not be complete until latc
year.
Although the Master Plan Advisory Committee recommended that a decision on this is:
would be prudent to further delay this decision given the fact that businesses outsic
Redevelopment Area feel they are being unfairly treated. Staff reviewed a number of o
regarding the signs which are outlined in the attached memorandum to the City Manaj
is staffs recommendation that the City Council approve the attached Resolution of Inte
to consider amendments to the City's Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Zoning
deferred until the Master Plan has been recommended for approval, staff does not bel
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PAGE 2 OF AGENDA BILL NO. I 2, oqa
Ordinance). The amendments would reaffirm the prohibition of A-Frame signs but would
establish special circumstances where they could be permitted. The prohibition and the sp
circumstances where the signs may be allowed would be applied on a city-wide basis, incl~
the Village Redevelopment kea.
Staff's recommendation to prohibit the signs except in very limited situations is base
preserving the integrity and underlying principles of the City's overall sign ordinance. The
ordinance is based upon allowing businesses to be identified but not providing for unlin
advertising. If a business can be adequately identified with signs on the building or
permanent structure, it is not necessary to have portable signs. Also, the sign ordin
prohibits offsite signs (signs not located on the property where the business is located).
total prohibition is what has in part allowed the City to legally defend not having advert
billboards in the City. Most portable A-Frame signs are offsite signs on public property
therefore, allowing them weakens the City's position in prohibiting billboards.
In an effort to establish the basis for the special circumstances where the signs wod
allowed, staff has prepared the following general guidelines for A-Frame signs for City Co
review at this time. These would then be used in drafting the amendments to the ordinance:
8 Not allowed for any building or business that has frontage on a public street or p
e Not allowed along any Circulation Element Roadways (secondary, major and p
8 Not permitted to be placed on any public sidewalk or private walkway where it w
e For shopping centers, not permitted in any public right-of-way.
e Within a shopping center, not allowed for any business that has frontage on or
sidewalk.
arterials) or Scenic Corridor.
interfere with pedestrian access.
visibility to a primary driveway used for public vehicular access.
The following represents examples of where A-Frame signs would be pennitted if
ordinance amendment was structured as outlined above:
0 Where a business or group of businesses are located in a courtyard or arcade not vi
from a public street. One A-Frame sign may be permitted to inform customers
additional shops are present.
8 Within a shopping center, often businesses are located along the sides or behind n
buildings or, perhaps, around pedestrian courtyards. An A-Frame sign (or signs) c
serve as a method to direct pedestrians into these businesses or shops.
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PAGE 3 OF AGENDA BILL NO. j a,o? 0
The actual design standards (i.e, size, type, content, etc.) will need to be developed for t
signs that may be allowed as outlined in staffs recommendation.
FISCAL IMPACT
The new sign ordinance provisions will result in the need for staff to spend additional tim
enforcement activities and the sign permit approval process. However, existing staff vvi
used to implement/administer the ordinance. Therefore, no additional impact on the ger
fund is anticipated at this time for staffing purposes.
EXHIBmS
1. Resolution of Intention No. 9 3 - 44 , revising the City's Sign Ordinance to pro1 A-Frame Signs in all view/scenic corridors, without exception, and In all other are2
the City except in circumstances where no other form of effective signage is avail;
to a business.
2. Memorandum to the City Manager regarding A-Frame Signs & Signage Guideline5
the Redevelopment Area developed by Cannon Design Group.
3. Signage Guidelines Outline
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RESOLUTION OF INTENTION NO. 93-44
\A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CONSIDER AMENDING TITLE 21 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO
A-F,WE SIGNS WOULD BE PERMITTED.
i\ q@RLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO
DE~~MINE THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE PORTABLE/
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5 I1 Pursuant to Section 21.52.020 of the Carlsbad Munic
Code of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad hereby decl(
its intention to consider an amendment to Title 21, Chapter 2. 6
7 I1 (Sign Ordinance) of the Carlsbad Municipal Code to:
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Reaffirm the prohibition of Portable, A-
Frame/ Sandwich Board Signs ,,in all areas of the City including the Village,Redevelopment Area except in special,, limited circumstances to be determined as part of,the amendment,
The Planning Director of the City of Carlsbad is he]
directed to prepare a staff report and set this matter for pul
hearing before the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad
hereby directed to make a recommendation on this matter to
city Council.
' PASSED, 'APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of
City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, on the
day of , 1993, by the following vote,
wit:
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT:
25 11 CLAUDE A. LEWIS, Mayor
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ATTEST:
ALETHA L. RAUTENKRANZ, City Clerk 28 (SEAL) II
e 4B L/\I IlUD
January 4, 1993
To: CITY MANAGER
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVEU)P"J! DIRECTOR
A-FRAME SIGNS IN THE VILLAGE REDENELOPMENT AREA
BACKGROUND
In 1983, the Housing and Redevelopment Commission approved an amendment to the Village Design Manual to allow l'certain
temporary signst1 (A-Frame signs) in the Village Redevelopment Area. The amendment included a "sunset date" for the signs of b
31, 1985. The City received a complaint, in July of 1991, regarding A-Frame.signs which were violating the provisions of the Design Manual due to the expiration date of the enabling amendment. A total of sixty-two (62) businesses were told to remove their signs immediately.
In response to the notice, Village merchants requested that thc A-Frame signs be allowed to remain with appropriate permits. Or September 17, 1991, the City Council approved an extension of t expiration date of the sign standards/provisions outlined withi the Village Design Manual until the Master Plan for the Village
Redevelopment area is complete.
On October 20, 1992, the City Council received a complaint fron
business owner outside the Village Redevelopment Area regarding the inequity of the City's policy which allows A-Frame signs in the Village onlv. Before making a policy decision on the use of A-Frame signs outside the Village, the Council requested that t Master Plan Advisory Committee consider the issue as soon as possible and make a decision as to how A-Frame signs will be addressed in the new Master Plan for the Village Redevelopment Area. The Council requested that this issue be addressed immediately by the Committee rather than waiting for completion of the Master Plan.
The Advisory Committee discussed the issue of A-Frame signs at their meeting on November 9, 1992. To facilitate the discussion staff requested that the Master Plan Consultant, Larry Cannon, prepare.some signage guidelines for the Village area. Attached a copy of the guidelines which were prepared by Mr. Cannon and
discussed by the Committee at the noted meeting.
Mr. Cannon recommended that-A-Frame signs be prohibited in the Village area unless there is no other form of effective signage available to a business. To compensate for the loss of the A- Frame signs, some new types.of signage were recommended, such a; projectional signs. It3.s the opinion of Mr. Cannon and staff that the forms of signage outlined in the attached guidelines a: more desirable due to the fact that businesses in the Village a: close to the street, traffic speeds are generally slower, stree,
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are narrower and pedestrian movement is more extensive.
In general, the committee supported the forms of signage propos by Mr. Cannon. However, there were mixed feelings about the future of A-Frame signs in the Village. The members present
agreed that A-Frame signs are generally the least desirable fo~
of signage. However, they also agreed that the signs may^ be necessary or desirable to some businesses. The Committee requested that Mr. Cannon prepare specific guidelines for A-Frc signs and include them as an alternative for business,signage purposes for review as part of the entire Draft Master Plan document. The Committee was not willing to indicate whether or not they would eventually be willing to support the prohibitio~. or continuation, of the A-Frame signs until they have additiona information from the consultant.
Although, in staff's opinion, the Advisory Committee had sufficient information to make a decision on the issue of A-Fra signs at their November 9th meeting, the members were not willi to take action until they had the opportunity to review the entire draft Master Plan document (with the incorporated sign
guidelines).
The final Master Plan document will most likely not be complete until June, 1993. The Phase 2 report finalizing the Itvision and objectivestt statement for the Village and outlining the development opportunities within the area will be presented to the Advisory Committee on January 11, 1993. After the Advisory Committee has approved the Phase 2 report, the consultant will able to begin work on the final Master Plan document (Phase 3), which will include design guidelines.
OPTIONS
At this time, the City Council has the following four (4) optio available regarding the issue of A-Frame signs inside and outsi the Village Redevelopment Area:
1.
2.
Approve the signage guidelines (see attached) developed by
the Master Plan Consultant, Cannon Design Group, which prohibit A-Frame signs except in circumstances where no other form of signage is available to a business. The Desi Standards for.the permitted A-Frame signs will be develope prior to implementation of this policy, if approved. The
signage guidelines could be applied:
A. To the Village Redevelopment Area Only; or
B. To the entire City.
Allow A-Frame signs at all business locations throughout t'
City which comply with design standards (to be established and receive appropriate permits from the Planning Department.
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3. Prohibit A-Frame signs, no exceptions, at all business locations throuyhout the City, including the Village
Redevelopment Area.
4. Defer a decision on A-Frame signs until the Master Plan, with the incorporated sign guidelines, for the Village Redevelopment Area has been recommended for approval by tl Advisory Committee. The anticipated date of this action is
June, 1993.
RECOMMXNDATION
Although Option #4 was, in fact, recommended by the Master Plan Advisory Committee, staff does not believe that it is necessary to delay the decision further. It is staff's recommendation tha
the city Council approve the signage guidelines developed by th Master Plan Consultant (Option #l) with the additional canditic
that A-Frame signs shall be prohibited in designated "view
corridors" at all times. Staff is recommending that these guidelines be implemented on a city-wide basis.
If the proposed guidelines are acceptable to the City Council, staff will develop more specific design standards for those A- Frame signs which may be allowed due to existing signage constraints.
MARTIN ORENYAK
.. SIGNAGE GUIDELI ry& S EX1
OUTLINE
CURRENT CONDITIONS AND PROBLEMS
Carlsbad Village currently has a variety of signing which ranges from freeway service U:
the east end of Carlsbad Village Drive to smaller scde retail signing in the State Street
Clearly much has been done over the past few years to control signage in the Village and to
it from becoming overly obtrusive. However, there are still a number of problems whit]
detrimental to rather than supportive oE the desired Village character. Signage problems in(
the following:
1. Some signs are much larger that necessary for readability and are in many (
incompatible with the Village character.
2. There are a number of roof top signs remaining in the Village.. This typ of si
generally prohibited in municipd sign ordinances and they are not in keeping w
quality Village environment.
3. A number of freestanding signs (Le., signs on relatively tall poles) still exist ir:
pedestrian-scaled areas of the Village.
. 4. In some areas there is a proliferation of signs for the same business.
5. Painted window signs in some area portray a "bargain basement" image.
6. Many signs are poorly related to the architectural style or character of fie buiI&ng!
are often sized and located in ways which appear chaotic.
7. A proliferation of A-Frame signs on sidewalks has appeared in recent years.
CURRENT CITY SIGN STANDARDS
Signage within the Village as well as throughout the City is governed by 'Chapter 21.41 o'
Zoning Ordinance. Although the Village character and its signage needs are quite different
say the El Camino Real corridor where traffic speeds are relatively fast and buildings arc set
substantial distances from the street, no recognition of those differences is reflected in the sig
regulations. However, the Housing and Redevelopment Agency, through their design re
process, is able to exert some additional influence over building signage. As a part of the
design guidelines, the planning team will review each of the current standards and r&om
changes as necessary for application exclusively to the Village. Signage standards may very
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be somewhat different within the various subareas of the Village to reflect special needs
conditions. For purposes of information only, the following is a summary of the IT
provisions of Chapter 21.41:
1. Pennants and banners are only conditionally permitted for a maximum period of t
days.
2, Signage messages are limited to
a) Identification of the building,
b) Identification of the owner or occupant of the building
c) Identification of activities on the .parcel,
d) Identification of goods or services offered,
e) Information regarding the sale, lease or rental of the property, and
f) Non commercial messages by the owner or occupant.
3. The maximum height of signs is 35 feet.
4. The allowable total area of all signs on a parcel is 1 square foot per lineal fm
building frontage up to a maximum of 100 square feet. Commercial parcels are all0
1.5 square feet per lineal foot of frontage.
5, Freeway service facilities have separate requirements and allow freestakiing signs of
square feet for a single use on the pmperty, While limited to 35 feet in height,
' Planning Commission may aliow an increase in height up to 50 feet,
6. One freestanding sign is allowed on each commercial parcel on each street frontagc a lot as long as the sign area is included in the maximum allowed for the parcel.
sign height is limited to the height of the building or 35 feet, whichever is less.
7. Under marquee signs (Le., under a permanent roof structure attached to the building
projecting over the sidewalk) are allowed at a ratio of one for each separate business
at a size not to exceed 6 square feet.
8. , Additional freestanding signs are permitted in C-2 zones by conditional use permit. T,
are limited to monument signs not greater than 8 feet in height or length and pole si,
not exceeding 20 feet in height. Sign area is limited to 55 square feet.
PURPOSE OF SPECIAL VILLAGE STGN STANDARDS
The above city standards are clearly intended to address normal suburban development compo
of a number of individual uses or group of uses organized into a project spaced relatively wid
along vehicular routes. They are generally silent on details of signing most common
downtown areas where many businesses are in close physical proximity to each other, buildil
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are close to the street, traffic speeds are slower, streets are nanower and pedestrian mover
conditions and to promote signage which reinforces the area's Village character as a meac
creating a positive image to attract shoppers and office tenants. '
is rnoe extensive. The purpose of special Village sign standards are to address these un
VILLAGE SIGNING TYPES AND POLICIES
Except for uses very near the freeway, freestanding signs on tall poles would not be allowed
lower, monument signs would be limited in size, location and project type. Village signage
emphasize the following type of signs:
1. Wall Signs
Individual letters attached directly to the face of building. walls wil
encouraged. Signs painted di.rectly on wall surfaces and signs cream
another surface which is in turn mounted on the wall would be considc
but allowed only if special in design content and of a quality equa
individually applied letters. Guidelines will .be established to relate
size of these signs to the area of the building on which they are app]
relate the signage location to the architectural detaiIs Of the building
establish letter sizes appropriate to the VilIage scale and location. ,
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2. A-Frame Signs
This type of sign has generally been a problem for every city.
proliferate in unending numbers, block sidewalk areas, create visual ch
and rarely provide much additional useful information to the shopper.
general, they will be prohibited in the Village although a conditional
permit process would allow their use in exceptional cases (Le., off st
uses important to the vitality of the Village but which have no other me
of providing effective signage). However, in recogn.ition of the legitin
needs of businesses to let their location and goods or services be kno
projecting signs, as described below, will be both allowed and encoura
subject to design review for quality and visual interest.
. 3. Projecting Signs
Exterior illuminated projecting and hanging signs are, in 'many qua
retail environments, one of the major elements which contributes to
character and charm of the area and the quality of the shopping experier
They are especially effective in identifying businesses and services
pedestrians moving along the sidewalks and offer business identifical
to slow moving motorists. Signs would be limited in size and locat
Special design attention would be encouraged to provide interesting sha]
use visual icons and express the unique personality of each business. -
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4. Awning Signs The general design guidelines will encourage the use of fabric awning
commercial businesses to enhance shopper comfort, add coIor tc
Village environment and provide additional opportunities for appro€
qignage. Business names, services, address numbers and bus.
dentification logos would be allowed.
Window signs would be allowed to show product or brand r
information, services offered and operational information such as 1
hours and credit cards accepted. The maximum allowable coverage w
be controlled to limit signs to 10% of the aggregate ground floor wir:
area, not to exceed 25% of any single window area.
5. Window Signs
6. Banners
Colorful banners can be an important addition to the visual vitality
downtown .area. Although often banned in general sign ordinances,
are an acceptable and desirable element of downtown areas. 1
location, mounting conditions and graphic content would be controll
7. Other Signs
Multiple use shopping, business, office and professional centers wou:
allowed directory signs to identify individual tenants. These woull
controlled with respect to type, location, size and design.
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SIGN COMPROMISE
1. Existing A-frame signs can remain until the sign ordinance is amended to develop
standards for A-frame and alternative forms of signage (i.e., projecting signs). The
ordinance amendment shall be prepared by September 1. 1993.
2. The downtown merchants will form a committee to consist of seven members to
provide input to the City of Carlsbad staff regarding A-frame sign standards.
3. Standards to include: a) the size and width of the signs; b) construction material; anc c) sign colors that may be used. Example: Five basic colors.
4. The City logo must be shown on the sign indicating the sign has met City standards.
5. Once the sign ordinance is amended, the merchants have the option of either having
an A-frame sign that is in conformance with the new standards or utilizing the
be prohibited after January 1, 1995, except those that are approved as per amended
zone code standards.
alternative forms of signage. Notwithstanding any of the above, all A-frame signs will
6. A-frame signs continue to be prohibited on scenic corridors and at all major arterials,
with the exception of the downtown redevelopment area.
7. Existing and all new A-frame permits shall be amended to include a signed statement
by the applicant acknowledging that A-frame signs are prohibited after January 1 3
1995.
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