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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-13; City Council; 16057; Sign Ordinance AmendmentSIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 CITYATTY. l RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council INTRODUCE Ordinance No. %-.%? , Code APPROVING Zone Amendment 99-09, and ADOPT Resolution No. 20s I - L\ 3 APPROVING the Negative Declaration issued by the Planning Director, Zone Code Amendment 99-09 and Local Coastal Program Amendment 00-02. ITEM EXPLANATION: On September 20, 2000, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing and unanimously (7- 0) recommended approval of a Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to revise the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: (1) add a Purpose and Intent Section, (2) add/revise sign related definitions, and (3) create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s office/industrial zones (C-M, M and P-M). 1 This proposed Sign Ordinance amendment is based upon earlier City Council direction (July, 1999) to where possible, maintain the existing sign standards that are in effect today but to also meet with the non-residential development community to get input on those sign standards deemed most in need of revision or clarification. Over the past 12 months, staff has worked with a representative team of office/industrial owners/developers within the City to develop the proposed Sign Ordinance revisions. The proposed sign standards will enable the development of a reasonable amount of high quality signage within the City’s office/industrial parks. The major revisions to the Sign Ordinance include the following: 1. A new Purpose and Intent Section has been added, which clarifies the City Council’s objectives in enacting the Sign Ordinance (i.e.; to protect and improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety and to preserve and enhance the aesthetic environment of Carlsbad). 2. New Sign Design Standards have been added, which require all project signs to be compatible with building architecture with respect to materials, color and scale and with other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and typestyles. 3. The maximum permitted Monument Sign Area/Sign Face has been reduced from 100 sq. ft. to 35 sq. ft. 4. The maximum permitted Sign AreaWall Sign has been reduced from 200 sq. ft. to 50 sq. ft. 5. For larger sized buildings (> 65,000 sq. ft.), the maximum number of Wall Signs/Building Elevation has been increased from one to two. However, building elevations which front along or are within 500 feet and visible from the City’s scenic corridors (Interstate 5, Palomar Airport Road, or El Camino Real) would not be permitted to have more than one wall sign along those elevations. 6. The maximum Number of Wall Signs/Building Elevation fronting along Palomar Airport Road has been reduced from two (2) to one (1). J PAGE 2 OF AGENDA BILL NO. 1 b I 0 5 3 7. The maximum Number of Wall Signs/Building Elevation fronting along El Camino Real has been increased from zero (0) to one (1). Since this zone code amendment would apply citywide except in the Redevelopment Area, a companion amendment to the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCPA 00-02) is also proposed so that these sign standards become effective within the coastal zone. Three individuals from the local office/industrial development community requested the Planning Commission to recommend adoption of the proposed Sign Ordinance Amendment with minor modifications. However, the Planning Commission recommended adoption of the ordinance without revision. ENVIRONMENTAL: On September 20, 2000, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the Negative Declaration issued by the Planning Director on March 27, 2000. FISCAL IMPACT: There will be a minimal fiscal impact resulting from the expenditures of staff time required to complete the processing of documents through the Coastal Commission. EXHIBITS: 1. City Council Ordinance No. td s-.q 2. City Council Resolution No. 306 \ -L) ,3 3. Planning Commission Resolutions No. 4812, 4813 and 4814 4. Planning Commission Staff Report, dated September 20, 2000 5. Excerpts of Planning Commission Minutes, dated September 20, 2000. ORDINANCE NO. NS-56g AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA AMENDING THE SIGN ORDINANCE, TITLE 2 1, CHAPTER 21.41, AND THE SIGN CODE, TITLE 18, CHAPTER 18.20 OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD A PURPOSE AND INTENT SECTION, ADD/REVISE SIGN RELATED DEFINITIONS AND CREATE CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE SIGN STANDARDS FOR THE C-M, M AND P-M ZONES. CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT CASE NO.: ZCA 99-09 9 The City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California does ordain as follows: 10 SECTION 1: That Title 2 1, Chapter 2 1.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended 11 by the addition of Section 21.41.005 to read as follows: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21.41.005 Pumose and Intent The purpose and intent of the Sign Ordinance Amendment is to: A. Implement the City’s community design and safety standards as set forth in the General Plan; and B. Maintain and enhance the City’s appearance by regulating the design, character, location, number, type, quality of materials, size, color, illumination and maintenance of signs; and C. Protect and improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety by balancing the need for signs which facilitate the safe and smooth flow of traffic without an excess of signage which may distract motorists, overload their capacity to quickly receive information, visually obstruct traffic signs or otherwise create congestion and safety hazards; and D. Equitably distribute the privilege to communicate information for commercial and non-commercial purposes without regulating the content of the message conveyed; and E. Limit commercial signage to on-site locations in order to protect the aesthetic environment from the visual clutter associated with the unrestricted proliferation of such signs, while providing channels of communication to the public; and F. Minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property; and G. Enable the fair, consistent, and efficient enforcement of these sign regulations. Non-commercial signage is permitted wherever other signage is permitted within Chapter 2 1.41 and is subject to the same standards and total maximum allowances for a site of each sign type specified in this Chapter. SECTION 2: That Title 2 1, Chapter 2 1.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.4 1 .Ol O(c) to read as follows: 3 I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 21.41.010(c). No person shall display, construct, erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit pursuant to this Chapter and Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code. SECTION 3: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(5) to read as follows: 21.41.030(5) “Average Grade” - means the average level of the finished surface of the ground beneath a monument sign. SECTION 4: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(g) to read as follows: 21.41.030(8) “Commercial Signage” - means any sign with wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly names, advertises or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity. SECTION 5: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 2 1.41.030(g) to read as follows: 21.41.030(g) “Directional Sign” - means a sign which contains words such as “entrance,” “enter, )I “,it,” “in, ” “out,” or other direction commands without business identification, or a sign containing arrows or characters indicating traffic directions and used either in conjunction with such words or separately. Directional signs shall not contain advertising. SECTION 6: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 2 1.4 1.030( 11) to read as follows: 21.41.030( 11) “Fascia Sign” - means a sign fastened to or engraved in the band or board at the edge of a roof overhang. SECTION 7: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030( 16) to read as follows: 21.41.030(16) “Monument Sign” - means a freestanding sign, which is supported by a base which rests upon the ground and is an integral part of the design. SECTION 8: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030( 17) to read as follows: 21.41.030( 17) “Non-Commercial Signage” - means any sign which is intended to convey a non- commercial message of social, political, educational, religious or charitable commentary. -2- SECTION 9: That Title 2 1, Chapter 2 1.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 2 1.41.030(20) to read as follows: 2 1.41.030(20) “Pole Sign” - means a freestanding sign supported by one or more metal or wood posts, pipes or other vertical supports. SECTION 10: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment and renumbering of Subsection 21.41.030( 18) to read as follows: 2 1.41.030(23) “Sign Area” - is computed as follows: A. Wall, Fascia, Awning and Window Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the message or display or otherwise used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed but not including any supporting framework or bracing. B. Monument, and Suspended Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the entire area contained within the frame, cabinet, monument, monument base or fixture, including all ornamentation or decoration used to attract attention. C. Pole Signs - Sign area shah be computed as the area of the surface(s) upon which the sign message is placed provided that the supporting column is not decorated or displayed with advertising. D. Multifaced Signs - The sign area for a two sided or multifaced sign shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces, as described above. SECTION 11: That Title 2 1, Chapter 2 1.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment and renumbering of Subsection 21.41.030( 11) to read as follows: 21.41.030(24) “Sign Height” means the following: A. Wall, Fascia, Awning, Suspended, Monument, Pole and Window Signs - is specified as the greatest vertical measurement from the top of the sign cabinet, including all ornamentation and supports, to the average grade beneath the sign. SECTION 12: That Title 2 1, Chapter 2 1.4 1 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(26) to read as follows: 2 l-41.030(26) “Suspended Sign” means a sign hung from the underside of marquees, pedestrian arcades or covered walkways at 90 degrees to the building wall or storefront. A sign suspended under a pedestrian walkway or fascia which is parallel to the building wall shall be considered as a wall or fascia sign. SECTION 13: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Section 2 1.41.065 to read as follow: -3- 21.41.065 General Sign Standards The following sign standards shall apply to all signage within the City. A. Sign Area 1. Wall, Fascia, Awning and Window Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the message or display or otherwise used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed but not including any supporting framework or bracing. 2. Monument, and Susnended Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the entire area contained within the frame, cabinet, monument, monument base or fixture, including all ornamentation or decoration used to attract attention. 3. Pole Signs - Sign area shall be computed as the area of the surface(s) upon which the sign message is placed provided that the supporting column is not decorated or displayed with advertising. 4. Multi-faced Signs - The sign area for a two sided or multi-faced sign shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces, as described above. B. Sign Height 1. Wall, Fascia, Awning, Susnended, Monument, Pole and Window Signs - The height of wall, fascia, awning, suspended, monument, pole and window signs is specified as the greatest vertical measurement from the top of the sign cabinet, including all ornamentation and supports, to the average grade beneath the sign. C. Placement,of Signs - Commercial signs, except where specifically allowed elsewhere in this Chapter, shall be placed on the lot of the use which the sign is intended to identify. Signs shall not be placed or overhang on public property nor within the public right-of-way unless provided for elsewhere herein. D. Non-commercial signage is permitted wherever commercial signage is permitted within Chapter 21.41 and is subject to the same standards and total maximum allowances per lot or building of each sign type specified in this Chapter. SECTION 14: That Title 2 1, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment of Subsection 2 1.41.070(2) to read as follows: 21.41.070(2). Except for signs at freeway service facilities and real estate signs, the total area of all signs on any one lot or building shall not exceed the following: TABLE 1 - AREA OF SIGNS ZONE OF LOT R- 1, R-2, R-W, P-C with densities corre- sponding to R-A through R-2 TOTAL AREA OF ALL SIGNS Two square feet -4- /L I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 R-3, R-P (Residential), R-T, R-D-M, P-C with Densities less restric- Tive than R-2 (except hotels and motels) Twenty square feet One square foot per lineal foot of building frontage located on the lot. The total area of all signs shall not exceed one hundred square feet except that the plarming commission may approve up to one hun- dred fifty square feet of sign area as part of a site development plan pro- cessed pursuant to Chap- ter 21.06. C-M, M and P-M Per Sections 21.41.070(4) and 21.41.070(13) of this Chapter. All other zones One and five-tenths square feet per lineal foot of building frontage located on the lot. SECTION 15: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment of Subsection 21.41.070(4)(C) to read as follows: 21.41.070(4)(C) C. Except for signs advertising new subdivisions, as mentioned in subparagraph (D) of this subsection, the total area of any real estate sign on a lot shall not exceed the areas mentioned in Table 3 below: TABLE 3 MAX-REAL ESTATE SIGN ZONE OF LOT AREA PER LOT R- 1, R-2, R-W, P-C with densities corre- sponding to R-A -5- 7 I 5 l( 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Through R-2 Three (3) square feet R-3, R-P, R-T, P-C with densities less restrictive than R-2 Twelve (12) square feet C-M, M and P-M Fifteen (15) square feet Freeway service faci- lities regardless of zone and all other property Twenty-five (25) square feet SECTION 16: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.070(13) to read as follows: 2 1.4 1.070( 13) Signs permitted for industrial, office and commercial uses in the C-M, M and P-M Zones. A. The sign standards codified in this Subsection supersede the following: 1. The sign and graphic requirements of all Specific Plans within the C-M and P-M zones; 2. Sign programs approved pursuant to the sign and graphic requirements of all Specific Plans within the C-M and P-M zones; and 3. The sign provisions for the C-M, M and P-M zoned properties that art located within Area 4 of the El Camino Corridor Development Standards. B. Freestanding Monument Signs Maximum Number of Monument Signs Per Lot 1* Maximum Sign I 35 square feet Area Per Sia Face 1. Other Standards: a. Freestanding Monument Signs shall be located near primary project entrances or at other strategic locations and shall include applicable building address (number and street) which are plainly visible from the street that the building or sign fronts on. b. Freestanding Monument Signs may be single or double-faced. c. *No monument sign shall be located within 100 feet of another monument sign. However, if more than one building shares a common driveway, then a maximum of two monument signs can be located -6- 9 1 t l( 11 1; 1: 14 l< _1 1C 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 along the common driveway, provided that the signs are located on the opposite sides of the driveway. d. Monument signs shall be designed to be compatible with other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and type styles. e. Monument signs shall be compatible with the visual elements of the building, including but not limited to construction materials, color, scale, or other design features. C. Wall Signs 1 Building Area Maximum Wall Sign Area Per Sign Maximum Number of Wall Signs Per Building / Maximum Letter Height Maximum Number of Wall Signs Per Building Elevation Maximum Logo Height/Width ( zz;;ges of * Buildings less than 35,000 square feet in area. 50 square feet one/ 24 inches 1 24136 inches 2 Buildings between 35,000 square feet and 65,000 square feet in area. 50 square feet Buildings greater than 65,000 square feet in area. 50 square feet one / 36 inches or two / 24 inches one / 36 inches or two / 24 inches or three / 24 inches 1 ~I 2* 36136 inches I 36/36 inches 2 2 a. Building elevations which front along or are within 500 feet of the right-of-way and visible from Interstate 5, Palomar Airport Road, or El Camino Real shall not have more than one (1) wall sign along those elevations. b. A building elevation must have a minimum of 150 lineal feet in order to have more than one (1) wall sign along that elevation. c. The minimum spacing between wall signs along an elevation shall not be less than 75 feet. d. The cumulative length of all wall sign(s) along any building elevation shall not exceed one-third (l/3) of the length of that same elevation. (i) Other Standards (a) Wall signs shall be designed to be compatible with other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and typestyles. (b) Wall signs shall be compatible with the visual elements of the building, including but not limited to construction materials, color, scale, or other design features. -7- ? I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 (c) Illuminated wall signs shall be prohibited on building elevations which face and are within 500 feet of any property liru which adjoins residentially zoned property. (d) No wall signage shall be allowed on any architectural projection, parapet or equipment enclosure and no wall signage shall be allowed above the permitted building height for usable floor area on any building. (D) Minor Identification Signs 1. In addition to building wall sign(s) permitted pursuant to Section 21.41.070(13)(C), each industrial/office business that has a separate building entrance within an industrial/office building may be- permitted a minor identification wall sign as follows: Minor Identification Wall Signs - Industrial/Office Businesses Maximum Number of Wall Signs Per 1 Business Maximum Sign Area Per Sign 5 square feet Maximum Letter Height 6 inches Permitted Sign Location I Directly above the business entrance. I 2. In addition to building wall sign(s) permitted pursuant to Section 21.41.070(13)(C), each retail business that has a separate building entrance within a commercial building may be permitted minor identification signs as follows: Minor Identification Wall or Fascia Signs - Retail Businesses Maximurn Number of Wall or Fascia Signs Per Ground 1 Floor Retail Business* Maximum Sign Area Per Sign 20 square feet Maximum Letter Height 18 inches Not permitted above Wall Sign Location the ceiling height elevation of the ground floor. Permitted Fascia Centered on fascia, Sign Location directly above the business entrance. -8- 1 2 1 w 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Sign Orientation Oriented towards the parking area. * Minor Identification Wall or Fascia Signs are only permitted for ground floor retail businesses. 3. Minor Identification Suspended Signs - Retail Businesses Maximum Number of Minor Identification Suspended Signs 1 Per Retail Business* Permitted Sign Location walkway overhang at 90 degrees to the retail business * Minor Identification Suspended Signs are permitted for ground floor, second floor and third floor retail businesses. 4. Other Standards (a) Minor Identification Wall/Fascia/Suspended signs shall be compatible with the visual elements of the building, including but not limited to construction materials, color, scale, or other design features. (b) Minor Identification Wall/Fascia/Suspended signs shall not be illuminated. E. Directional Signs - The City has an interest in ensuring traffic safety. To directly advance that interest, the following directional sign standards shall apply. Maximum Number of Directional Signs Per Driveway 3 Entrance fi-om a PubliAPrivate Street Maximum Sign 6 square feet Area Per Sign Face Maximum Sign 4 feet above average Height grade Maximum 6 inches Letter/Logo Height 1. Other Standards: (a) Directional signs shall be allowed as required for the facilitation of traffic internal to the site. L 6 I 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 (b) Directional signs shall be designed to be compatible with other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and type styles. SECTION 17: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.070( 1 l)(F) to read as follows: 21.41.070( 1 l)(F) Notwithstanding the above, industrial, office and commercial uses located in the C-M, M and P-M Zones are subject to the sign provisions of Subsection 2 1.4 1.070( 13) of this chapter. SECTION 18: That Title 18, Chapter by the amendment of Subsection 18.20.025(4) 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended to read as follows: 18.20.025(4) “Sign Area” - is computed as follows: A. Wall, Fascia, Awning and Window Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the message or display or otherwise used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed but not including any supporting framework or bracing. B. Monument, and Suspended Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the entire area contained within the frame, cabinet, monument, monument base or fixture, including all ornamentation or decoration used to attract attention. C. Pole Signs - Sign area shall be computed as the area of the surface(s) upon which the sign message is placed provided that the supporting column is not decorated or displayed with advertising. D. Multifaced Signs - The sign area for a two sided or multifaced sign shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces, as described above. SECTION 19: That Title 18, Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 18.20.025(5) to read as follows : 18.20.025(5) “Sign Height” means the following: B. Wall, Fascia, Awning, Suspended, Monument, Pole and Window Signs - is specified as the greatest vertical measurement from the top of the sign cabinet, including all ornamentation and supports, to the average grade beneath the sign EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after its adoption, and the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and cause it to be published at 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 least once in a publication of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within fifteen days after its adoption, except in the Coastal Zone where it becomes effective upon certification by the California Coastal Commission. INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council held on the 13th day of February ,2001, and thereafter PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the day of ,2001, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: CLAUDE A. LEWIS, Mayor ATTEST: LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk (SEAL) -ll- 1 2 1 L 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 2001-43 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION, ZONE CODE AMENDMENT AND LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT, TO AMEND TITLE 21, CHAPTER 21.41 AND TITLE 18, CHAPTER 18.20 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD A PURPOSE AND INTENT SECTION, ADD/REVISE SIGN RELATED DEFINITIONS AND CREATE CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE SIGN STANDARDS FOR THE C-M, M AND P-M ZONES. CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT CASE NO.: ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 The City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, does hereby resolve as follows: WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did on September 20, 2000, hold a duly noticed public hearing as prescribed by law to consider the Negative Declaration, Zone Code Amendment 99-09 and Local Coastal Program Amendment 00-02 and adopted Planning Commission Resolutions No. 4812, 4813 and 4814 recommending to the City Council that they be approved; and WHEREAS, the City Council did on the 13th day Of February , 2001 hold a duly noticed public hearing as prescribed by law to consider the Negative Declaration and proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance and Local Coastal Program and; WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all persons desiring to be heard, the City Council considered all factors relating to the Negative Declaration, Zone Code Amendment and, Local Coastal Program Amendment. follows: The City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California does hereby resolve as 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That the findings of the Planning Commission in Planning Commission Resolutions No. 4812, 4813 and 4814 constitute the findings of the City Council in this matter. 3. That the Negative Declaration, Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment, ZCA 99-09 and LCPA 00-02 respectively, are approved as shown in Planning Commission Resolutions No. 4812, 4813 and 4814 on file with the City Clerk and incorporated herein by reference . lJ 1 PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular 2 Carlsbad on the 13thday of February 2001, by 3 AYES: Council Members Lewis, 4 NOES: None 5 6 7 8 9 10 ATTEST: 11 12 13 (SEAL) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -2- meeting of the City Council of the following vote, to wit: Kulchin, Finnila, Nygaard LCP POLICY EXHIBIT “Y” SEPTEMBER 20,200O This exhibit includes the proposed text amendment to the Mello II Land Use Plan Signage Policy 8-5. MELLO II POLICY 8-5 SIGNAGE On premise signs should be designed as an integral part of new development. In addition: (4 m 0 m 03 09 G) Each business shall be entitled to one facade sign. Each shopping complex shall have only one directory sign not to exceed 15 feet in height, including mounding. Monument sign height including mounding shall not exceed 8 feet and shall apply where three (3) or fewer commercial establishments exist on a parcel. Tall freestanding and roof signs shall not be allowed. Off-premise signs and billboards shall not be allowed. Current City regulations shall govern the number of square feet in each permitted sign. Notwithstanding the above, industrial, office and commercial uses located in the C-M, M and P-M Zones are subject to the sign provisions of Subsection 21.41.070(13) of the Carlsbad Municipal Code. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 EXHIBIT 3 PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 4812 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR A ZONE CODE AMENDMENT AND LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT TO REVISE THE SIGN ORDINANCE, TITLE 21, CHAPTER 21.41 AND THE SIGN CODE, TITLE 18, CHAPTER 18.20 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE. CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT CASE NO.: ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did on the 2nd day of August, 2000, on the 16th day of August, 2000, and on the 20th day of September, 2000, hold a duly noticed public hearing as prescribed by law to consider said request; and WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, examining the initial study, analyzing the information submitted by staff, and considering any written comments received, the Planning Commission considered all factors relating to the Negative Declaration and Addendum. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Planning Commission as follows: A) That the foregoing recitations are true and correct. W That based on the evidence presented at the public hearing, the Planning Commission hereby RECOMMENDS APPROVAL of the Negative Declaration and Addendum according to Exhibit “ND” dated March 27, 2000, and “PII” dated March 20, 2000, attached hereto and made a part hereof, based on the following findings: Findiws: 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad does hereby find: A. It has reviewed, analyzed and considered Negative Declaration ZCA 99- 09/LCPA 00-02 and Addendum the environmental impacts therein identified for this project and any comments thereon prior to RECOMMENDING APPROVAL of the project; and B. The Negative Declaration has been prepared in accordance with requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, the State Guidelines and the Environmental LProtection Procedures of the City of Carlsbad; and r7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 C. It reflects the independent judgment of the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad; and D. Based on the EL4 Part II and comments thereon, there is no substantial evidence the project will have a significant effect on the environment. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, California, held on the.20th day of September 2000, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: Chairperson Compaq Commissioners Baker, Heineman, L’Heureux, Nielsen, Segall, and Trigas ABSENT: ABSTAIN: WILLIAM COMPAS, Chairper& CARLSBAD PLANNING COMMISSION ATTEST: MICHAEL J. HtiMILtiR Planning Director PC RESO NO. 4812 -2- City of Carlsbad NEGATIVE DECLARATION Project Address/Location: Citywide Project Description: Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: add a Purpose and Intent Section to the Sign Ordinance, create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zones and add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the sign ordinance and ensure its constitutional validity. The City of Carlsbad has conducted an environmental review of the above described project pursuant to the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act and the Environmental Protection Ordinance of the City of Carlsbad. As a result of said review, a Negative Declaration (declaration that the project will not have a significant impact on the environment) is hereby issued for the subject project. Justification for this action is on file in the Planning Department. A copy of the Negative Declaration with supportive documents is on file in the Planning Department, 1635 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, California 92008. Comments from the public are invited. Please submit comments in writing to the Planning Department within 30 days of date of issuance. If you have any questions, please call Chris DeCerbo in the Planning Department at (760) 602-46 11. DATED: MARCH 27,200O CASE NO: ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PUBLISH DATE: MARCH 27,200O Planning Director 1635 Faraday Avenue l Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 l (760) 602-4600 - FAX (760) 602-8559 ADDENDUM TO THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR ZCA 99-09/LCPA OO- 02 The project description has been revised to specify that two of the proposed Sign Ordinance definition amendments (“Sign Area” and “Sign Height”) will also apply to the City’s Sign Code (Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code). The purpose of this addendum is to document this change in project description and to clarify that this change, which makes the two codes internally consistent, will not result in any significant environmental impacts or necessitate any revision to the findings of the project negative declaration. (TO BE COMPLETED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT) CASE NO: ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 DATE: March 20.2000 BACKGROUND 1. CASE NAME: Sign Ordinance Amendment . . 2. APPLICANT: Citv of Carlsbad 3. ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF APPLICANT: 1635 Faraday Ave. Carlsbad, 4. DATE EIA FORM PART I SUBMITTED: N/A 5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: add a Purpose and Intent Section to the Sign Ordinance, create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zones and add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the sign ordinance and ensure its’ constitutional validity. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED: The summary of environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by this project, involving at least one impact that is a “Potentially Significant Impact,” or “Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated” as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. 0 Land Use and Planning 0 Transportation/Circulation q Public Services 0 Population and Housing q Biological Resources c] Utilities & Service Systems 0 Geological Problems q Water q Air Quality q Energy & Mineral Resources q Hazards q Noise 0 Aesthetics 0 Cultural Resources q Recreation 0 Mandatory Findings of Significance Rev. 03/28/96 3 DETERMINATION. (To be completed by the Lead Agency) IXI q q q q I find that the proposed project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because the mitigation measures described on an attached sheet have been added to the project. A NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that the proposed project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required. I find that the proposed project MAY have significant effect(s) on the environment, but at least one potentially significant effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed. I find that although the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment, there WILL NOT be a significant effect in this case because all potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier Master Environmental Impact Review (MEIR 93-01) pursuant to applicable standards and (b) have been voided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier Master Environmental Review (MEIR 93-Ol), including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project. Therefore, a Notice of Prior Compliance has been prepared. i?R, Date3-‘*-@ 3/u/m Date Rev. 03/28/96 42 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS STATE CEQA GUIDELINES, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 15063 requires that the City conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment. The Environmental Impact Assessment appears in the following pages in the form of a checklist. This checklist identifies any physical, biological and human factors that might be impacted by the proposed project and provides the City with information to use as the basis for deciding whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Negative Declaration, or to rely on a previously approved EIR or Negative Declaration. A brief explanation is required for all answers except ‘T\Jo Impact” answers that are adequately supported by an information source cited in the parentheses following each question. A “No Impact” answer is adequately supported if the referenced information sources show that the impact simply does not apply to projects like the one involved. A “No Impact” answer should be explained when there is no source document to refer to, or it is based on project-specific factors as well as general standards. “Less Than Significant Impact” applies where there is supporting evidence that the potential impact is not adversely significant, and the impact does not exceed adopted general standards and policies. “Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated” applies where the incorporation of mitigation measures has reduced an effect from “Potentially Significant Impact” to a “Less Than Significant Impact.” The developer must agree to the mitigation, and the City must describe the mitigation measures, and briefly explain how they reduce the effect to a less than significant level. “Potentially Significant Impact” is appropriate if there is substantial evidence that an effect is significant. Based on an “EIA-Part II”, if a proposed project could have a potentially significant effect on the environment, but &l potentially significant effects (a) have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to applicable standards and (b) have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or Mitigated Negative Declaration, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the proposed project, and none of the circumstances requiring a supplement to or supplemental EIR are present and all the mitigation measures required by the prior environmental document have been incorporated into this project, then no additional environmental document is required (Prior Compliance). When “Potentially Significant Impact” is checked the project is not necessarily required to prepare an EIR if the significant effect has been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards and the effect will be mitigated, or a “Statement of Overriding Considerations” has been made pursuant to that earlier EIR. A Negative Declaration may be prepared if the City perceives no substantial evidence that the project or any of its aspects may cause a significant effect on the environment. 3 Rev. 03128196 23 l If there are one or more potentially significant effects, the City may avoid preparing an EIR if there are mitigation measures to clearly reduce impacts to less than significant, and those mitigation measures are agreed to by the developer prior to public review. In this case, the appropriate “Potentially Significant Impact Unless Mitigation Incorporated” may be checked and a Mitigated Negative Declaration may be prepared. a An EIR must be prepared if “Potentially Significant Impact” is checked, and including but not limited to the following circumstances: (1) the potentially significant effect has not been discussed or mitigated in an Earlier EIR pursuant to applicable standards, and the developer does not agree to mitigation measures that reduce the impact to less than significant; (2) a “Statement of Overriding Considerations” for the significant impact has not been made pursuant to an earlier EIR; (3) proposed mitigation measures do not reduce the impact to less than significant, or; (4) through the EIA-Part II analysis it is not possible to determine the level of significance for a potentially adverse effect, or determine the effectiveness of a mitigation measure in reducing a potentially significant effect to below a level of significance. A discussion of potential impacts and the proposed mitigation measures appears at the end of the form under DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION. Particular attention should be given to discussing mitigation for impacts which would otherwise be determined significant. 4 Rev. 03128196 29 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). I. LAND USE AND PLANNING. Would the proposal:. a) Conflict with general plan designation or zoning? (Source #(s): () b) Conflict with applicable environmental plans or policies adopted by agencies with jurisdiction over the project? () c) Be incompatible with existing land use in the vicinity? () d) Affect agricultural resources or operations (e.g. impacts to soils or farmlands, or impacts fi-om incompatible land uses? e) Disrupt or divide the physical arrangement of an established community (including a low- income or minority community)? II. POPULATION AND HOUSING. Would the proposal: a) Cumulatively exceed official regional or local population projections? b) Induce substantial growth in an area either directly or indirectly (e.g. through projects in an undeveloped area or extension of major infrastructure)? c) Displace existing housing, especially affordable housing? III. GEOLOGIC PROBLEMS. Would the proposal 4 b) c) result in or expose people to potential impacts involving: Fault rupture? Seismic ground shaking? Seismic ground failure, liquefaction? including 4 e) f) Seiche, tsunami, or volcanic hazard? Landslides or mudflows? Erosion, changes in topography or unstable soil conditions from excavation, grading, or fill? s) Subsidence of the land? h) Expansive soils? 0 Unique geologic or physical features? IV. WATER. Would the proposal result in: a) Changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns, or the rate and amount of surface runoff! Potentially Significant Impact q q cl q q q cl q q q q q q cl q q q 0 Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No lmpacr q q cl q 0 q cl q q q cl q q q cl q IXI q q ‘ISI q cl lx q q IXI q q IXI q q LXJ q cl ta cl cl El q q lxl q q IXI q cl Ia Rev. 03128196 5 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). W c) 4 e) f) Ia h) 0 Exposure of people or property to water related hazards such as flooding? Discharge into surface waters or other alteration of surface water quality (e.g. temperature, dissolved oxygen or turbidity)? Changes in the amount of surface water in any water body? Changes in currents, or the course or direction of water movements? Changes in the quantity of ground waters, either through direct additions or withdrawals, or through interception of an aquifer by cuts or excavations or through substantial loss of groundwater recharge capability? Altered direction or rate of flow of groundwater? Impacts to groundwater quality? Substantial reduction in the amount of groundwater otherwise available for public water supplies? V. AIR QUALITY. Would the proposal: a) Violate any air quality standard or contribute to an existing or projected air quality violation? b) Expose sensitive receptors to pollutants? c) Alter air movement, moisture, or temperature, or cause any change in climate? d) Create objectionable odors? VI. TRANSPORTATION/CIRCULATION. Would 4 b) 4 4 e) 0 the proposal result in: Increased vehicle trips or traffic congestion? Hazards to safety from design features (e.g. sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g. farm equipment)? Inadequate emergency access or access to nearby uses? Insufficient parking capacity on-site or off- site? Hazards or barriers for pedestrians or bicyclists? Conflicts with adopted policies supporting alternative transportation (e.g. bus turnouts, bicycle racks)? g) Rail, waterborne or air traffic impacts? Potentially Significant Impact q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated q q q q q q q q q q cl cl 0 q q q q q q Less Than Significant Impact No Impact q El q Ix] cl IXI cl IXI cl IXI q q q q Ix1 cl q u El q IXI q Ix1 q ixl q IXI q El q El cl IXI cl IE3 6 Rev. 03128196 2% Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). Potentially Significant Impact Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated Less Than Significant Impact No Impact VII. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal result in impacts to: a) Endangered, threatened or rare species or their habitats (including but not limited to plants, fish, insects, animals, and birds? b) Locally designated species (e.g. heritage trees)? c) Locally designated natural communities (e.g. oak forest, coastal habitat, etc.)? d) Wetland habitat (e.g. marsh, riparian and vernal pool)? e) Wildlife dispersal or migration corridors? q cl IXI q q q q q q q sl q q q q cl VIII. ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES. Would the proposal? a) Conflict with adopted energy conservation plans? b) Use non-renewable resources in a wasteful and inefficient manner? c) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of future value to the region and the residents of the State? q q q q q q q q q IXI IXI lzl IX. HAZARDS. Would the proposal involve: a) A risk of accidental explosion or release of hazardous substances (including, but not limited to: oil, pesticides, chemicals or radiation)? b) Possible interference with an emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? c) The creation of any health hazard or potential health hazards? d) Exposure of people to existing sources of potential health hazards? e) Increase fire hazard in areas with flammable brush, grass, or trees? q q cl cl q q q q q q q q q q q lxl El IXI lxl X. NOISE. Would the proposal result in: a) Increases in existing noise levels? b) Exposure of people to severe noise levels? q q q q q q XI. PUBLIC SERVICES. Would the proposal have an effect upon, or result in a need for new or altered government services in any of the following areas: 7 Rev. 03/28/96 27 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). a) b) 4 4 9 XII. 4 b) cl 4 e) 0 8) XIII. a) b) cl XIV. a) b) C) 4 4 xv. a) b) XVI. Fire protection? Police protection? Schools? Maintenance of public facilities, including roads? Other governmental services? UTILITIES AND SERVICES SYSTEMS. Would the proposal result in a need for new systems or supplies, or substantial alterations to the following utilities: Power or natural gas? Communications systems? Local or regional water treatment or distribution facilities? Sewer or septic tanks? Storm water drainage? Solid waste disposal? Local or regional water supplies? AESTHETICS. Would the proposal: Affect a scenic or vista or scenic highway? Have a demonstrate negative aesthetic effect? Create light or glare? CULTURAL RESOURCES. proposal: Would the Disturb paleontological resources? Disturb archaeological resources? Affect historical resources? Have the potential to cause a physical change which would affect unique ethnic cultural values? Restrict existing religious or sacred uses within the potential impact area? RECREATIONAL. Would the proposal: Increase the demand for neighborhood or regional parks or other recreational facilities? Affect existing recreational opportunities? MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE. Potentially Significant Impact q q cl q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q El q q q Potentially Significant Unless Mitigation Incorporated q q q q q q q q q q q q cl q q q q cl q q q q Less Than Significant Impact q q q q q q q q q q q q q q q 17 q q cl 0 q q No Impact Rev. 03128196 a8 Issues (and Supporting Information Sources). a) Does the project have the potential to degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? (“Cumulatively considerable” means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause the substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? Potentially Potentially Less Than No Significant Significant Significant Impact Impact Unless Impact Mitigation Incorporated q q q El q q q q q q IXI 9 Rev. 03/28/96 29 XVII. EARLIER ANALYSES. Earlier analyses may be used where, pursuant to the tiering, program EIR, or other CEQA process, one or more effects have been adequately analyzed in an earlier EIR or negative declaration. Section 15063(c)(3)(D). In this case a discussion should identify the following on attached sheets: a) Earlier analyses used. Identify earlier analyses and state where they are available for review. W Impacts adequately addressed. Identify which effects from the above checklist were within the scope of and adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and state whether such effects were addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis. c> Mitigation measures. For effects that are “Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated,“ describe the mitigation measures which were incorporated or refined from the earlier document and the extent to which they address site- specific conditions for the project. 10 Rev. 03/28/96 30 DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION/ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The proposed project consists of a zone code amendment and local coastal program amendment, to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: (1) Add a Purpose and Intent Section to the Sign Ordinance. The existing sign ordinance does not include a clearly stated purpose and intent for enacting the sign ordinance. Pursuant to recent California and Federal Court decisions, a city’s interest in sign regulation must be expressly stated in its ordinance. Legitimate, compelling government interests for a sign ordinance include traffic safety and aesthetics. (2) Create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zones. The City’s existing sign ordinance does not include detailed sign regulations for uses within the C-M, M and P-M zones. With respect to these zones, the sign ordinance generally permits a maximum of 1.5 square feet of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage per lot. There are however no standards regarding the permitted number and location of various sign types (i.e.; wall, monument and directional signs) nor their physical attributes (i.e.; maximum sign area, letter height and logo size ). Specific sign standards for proposed Industrial, office and commercial uses within these zones have historically been regulated by Specific Plan sign provisions. Within the City of Carlsbad, there exists three planned industrial business-park specific plans (Carlsbad Research Center (SP 180(A)), Carlsbad Airport Center (Specific Plan 181(A) and Carlsbad Airport Business Center (SP 200)). Many of the sign provisions of these specific plans are out of date and sufficiently unclear (and in need of revision (see #3 below). (3) Incorporate a provision into the sign ordinance which specifies that the new codified sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zones, supersede the existing Sign and Graphic requirements of Specific Plans 180(A), 18 1 (A) and 200, all sign programs adopted pursuant to these Specific Plan Sign and Graphic requirements and the sign provisions for Area 4 of the El Camino Real Development Standards. (4) Add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the sign ordinance and ensure its’ constitutional validity. Definition additions include: “Commercial Signage”, “Directional Sign”, “ Monument Sign” and “Non-Commercial Signage”. Definition revisions include: “Building Frontage” and “Sign Area”. Staff has determined that these proposed sign ordinance amendment could not have a significant impact on the environment and has therefore prepared a negative declaration. No mitigation measures are required. Specifically, the environmental analysis performed by staff resulted in this determination for the following reasons: 1. 2. The amendment is not associated with any specific development project and does not propose any development; The amendment does not affect: any General Plan or zoning designation, allowable densities or land uses, or any environmental plan; Rev. 03/28/96 3 3. 4. The amendment does not directly or indirectly result in any significant physical, biological, or human environmental impacts, and; The amendment does not conflict with or affect any of the 14 environmental factors (i.e., Land Use and Planning, Population and Housing) as listed in this Environmental Impact Assessment Form and as discussed in the related section below. Sign permits are ministerial projects. Therefore any future sign permit processed pursuant to this amended Sign Ordinance is statutorily exempt pursuant to Section 15268 of CEQA. II. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS A. Non-Relevant Items 1. Land Use and Planning - The proposed code amendment will not conflict with the General Plan or zoning designations or any applicable environmental plans adopted by the City because it does not affect density or allowed land uses. Signs are a typical accessory use currently allowed in the office/industrial zones of the City. For this same reason the amendment will not be incompatible with existing or planned land uses in any area and will not impact agricultural uses or established communities. 2. Ponulation and Housing - Since this sign ordinance amendment does not propose any development or affect allowable land uses or densities, the amendment will not affect any population projections, induce substantial growth, or displace any existing housing. 3. Geologic Problems - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, no changes in topography resulting in unstable earth conditions, erosion of soils, ground shaking, landslides/mudflows, alteration of deposition patterns, or other geologic problems will occur. 4. Water - As no site-specific project nor changes to standards or policies regarding water related issues is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impact to water resources. 5. Air Oualitv - As no site-specific project nor changes to standards or policies regarding air quality is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impact to air quality. 6. TransnortatiorKirculation - As no site-specific project nor changes to standards or policies regarding transportation/circulation is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impact to transportation/circulation. One of the primary objectives of the amended sign regulations is to ensure traffic safety. 7. Biological Resources - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impact to biological resources. 8. Energy and Mineral Resources - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impact to energy and mineral resources. 9. Hazards - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no exposure to hazards. 12 Rev. 03/28/96 3-a 10. Noise - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no exposure to noise impacts and no exposure to unacceptable levels of noise. 11. Public Services - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impacts to public services. 12. Utilities and Services Svstems - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impacts to utilities and services systems. 13. Aesthetics - As compared to the existing sign regulations, the new sign regulations will result in the following changes: . . l Reduce the maximum permitted Wall Sign Area/Building from 200 SF to 50 - 150 SF; l Reduce the maximum permitted Wall Sign Area/Sign from 200 SF to 50 SF; l Reduce the maximum permitted Monument Sign Area/Sign Face from 100 SF to 35 SF; l Increase the Maximum Number of Wall Signs/ Elevation from 1 to 1-2. Two (2) wall signs/elevation is only permitted under the following criteria: 1) the building is greater than 45,000 SF in area; 2) the building elevation must have a minimum of 100 feet of lineal frontage; 3) the minimum spacing between wall signs along an elevation shall not be less than 50 feet; and 4) the cumulative length of all wall signs along any elevation shall not exceed 25% of the length of the elevation. 0 Standards have been added regarding maximum sign letter and logo height. l Design standards have been added requiring individual signs to be compatible with building architecture and other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and typestyles. One of the primary objectives of the proposed sign ordinance revision is to preserve and enhance the aesthetic environment of Carlsbad, while providing channels of communication to the public. The proposed sign ordinance revisions provide a reasonable balance between the right of a business or an individual to identify itself and to convey its message and the right of the public to be protected against the visual discord that results from the unrestricted proliferation of signs. As shown above, the proposed sign standard revisions for the City’s office/industrial zones achieves this objective through maintaining/reducing the permitted sign area per building or lot, standardizing maximum sign letter and logo heights, and requiring individual signs to be compatible with building architecture and other project signage, while increasing the permitted number of wall signs per building elevation (up to 2) for larger buildings (greater than 45,000 SF in area which have minimum 100 foot lineal frontages). Accordingly, these sign revisions will not result in significant negative aesthetic impacts. 14. Cultural Resources - As no site-specific project is proposed as part of this zone code amendment, there will be no impacts to cultural resources. 15. Recreational - The proposed amendment will not increase the demand for parks or other recreational facilities and will not affect existing recreational opportunities because the proposed amendment will not induce growth in the City and will not reduce the number or amount of areas 13 Rev. 03/28/96 33 currently planned for recreational uses. 14 Rev. 03/28/96 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 4813 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A ZONE CODE AMENDMENT, AMENDING THE SIGN ORDINANCE, TITLE 21, CHAPTER 21.41 AND THE SIGN CODE, TITLE 18, CHAPTER 18.20 OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD A PURPOSE AND INTENT SECTION, ADD/REVISE SIGN RELATED DEFINITIONS AND CREATE CLEAR AND COMPRE- HENSIVE SIGN STANDARDS FOR THE C-M, M AND P-M ZONES. CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT CASE NO: ZCA 99-09 WHEREAS, on the 13th of July, 1999, the City Council adopted a Resolution of Intention directing staff to initiate a zone code amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to incorporate clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s office/industrial zones (i.e., C-M, M and P-M zones); and WHEREAS, associated with this City Council objective, staff is recommending revisions to the Sign Ordinance and Sign Code (Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to add a Purpose and Intent Section to clarify the City Council’s objectives in enacting the Sign Ordinance and add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the Sign Ordinance and Sign Code. WHEREAS, the proposed amendment is set forth in the draft City Council Ordinance, Exhibit “X” dated, September 20,2000, and attached hereto SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT - ZCA 99-09; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did on the 2nd day of August, 2000, on the 16th day of August, 2000, and on the 20th day of September, 2000, hold a duly noticed public hearing as prescribed by law to consider said request; and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all persons desiring to be heard, said Commission considered all factors relating to the Zone Code Amendment; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Planning Commission as follows: 4 B) That the foregoing recitations are true and correct. That based on the evidence presented at the public hearing, the Commission RECOMMENDS APPROVAL of ZCA 99-09 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, based on the following findings: FindinPs: 1. That the proposed Zone Code Amendment ZCA 99-09 is consistent with the General Plan in that the General Plan Land Use and Circulation Elements include a number of community design and safety objectives and policies as follows: A. B. C. D. E. Land Use Element Policy C.7 (Overall Land Use Pattern) - “Evaluate each application for development of property with regard to the following specific criteria: 1. Site design quality, which may be indicated by the harmony of the proposed buildings in terms of size, height, and location, with respect to existing neighboring development.” 2. Site design quality, which may be indicated by the arrangement of the site for efficiency of circulation, or onsite and offsite traffic safety, privacy, etc.” Land Use Element Policy C.6 (Industrial) - “Ensure that the physical development of industrial areas recognizes the need for compatibility among the industrial establishments involved . . .” Land Use Element Policy C.10 (Industrial) - “Require new industrial development to be located in modern, attractive,. well-designed and landscaped industrial parks in which each site provides for internal traffic, parking, loading, storage and other operational needs.” Land Use Element Commercial Objective B.3 - “To establish and maintain commercial development standards to address landscaping, parking, signs and site and building design, to ensure that all existing and future commercial developments are compatible with surrounding land uses.” Housing Element Goal 4 - “Maintenance of a high quality of life and a strong local economy through a balance of residential and non-residential development, in particular, a balance of the wages earned by the local work PC PESO NO. 4813 -2- 3,& 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 force and the cost of local housing.” F. Circulation Element Objective B.3 (Streets and Traffic Control) - “To design streets for the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services within and through the City in the most environmentally sound and aesthetically pleasing manner possible.” This proposed Sign Ordinance amendment is consistent with the applicable goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan in that the proposed sign development and design standards will: 8 Improve the aesthetic environment and enhance project/community design and compatibility through: maintaining/reducing the permitted sign area per building or lot, limiting the number and size (letter height) of permitted wall and monument signs relative to building size, standardizing maximum sign letter and logo heights, and requiring individual signs to be compatible with building architecture and other project signage. These standards will ensure that the size (height and area) of any wall sign permitted on a building is in better proportion to the buildings size and does not detract from or dominate the buildings architecture. 8 Improve traffk safety by: 1) requiring business/project identification monument signs to include street address( and be located so as to be clearly visible to any pedestrian, bicyclist or motor vehicle driver. 8 Additionally, the proposal to increase the number of wall signs per building and per building elevation is designed to attract to the City the prospering industries (i.e. electronics, telecommunications, software development and pharmaceutical) whose wage earners can afford the city’s relatively higher cost housing, thereby helping to achieve a better jobs-housing balance. 2. That the proposed ZCA reflects sound principles of good planning. PC RESO NO. 4813 -3- 37 I PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, held on the 20th day of September 2000, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: Chairperson Compas, Commissioners Baker, Heineman, L’Heureux, Nielsen, Segall, Trigas . . ABSENT: ABSTAIN: hLJgA/¶&/ti WILLIAM COMPAS , Chairp&on CARLSBAD PLANNING COMMISSION ATTEST: Planning Director PC RESO NO. 4813 -4- 3-8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 4814 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE MELLO II SEGMENT LAND USE PLAN SIGNAGE POLICY 8-5 AND ALL SIX SEGMENTS OF THE CARLSBAD LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM TO ADOPT THE CITY’S AMENDED SIGN ORDINANCE AS AN IMPLEMENTING ORDINANCE FOR CARSLBAD’S LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM. CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT CASE NO: LCPA 00-02 WHEREAS, the City is amending the Sign Ordinance, Chapter 21.41 of Title 21 (Zoning Ordinance) of the Carlsbad Municipal Code to: add a purpose and intent section, add/revise sign related definitions and create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zones. WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordinance is the implementing ordinance for the City’s Local Coastal Program; and WHEREAS, California State law requires that the Local Coastal Program, and the Zoning Ordinance be in conformance and therefore amendments to the implementing ordinance also require an amendment to the Local Coastal Program to ensure consistency between the two documents; and WHEREAS, a verified application for an amendment to the Local Coastal Program has been filed with the Planning Department; and WHEREAS, said verified application constitutes a request for a Local Coastal Program Amendment as shown on Exhibits “X” attached to Resolution No. 4813 and “Y” dated September 20,2000, as provided in Public Resources Code Section 30574 and Article 15 of Subchapter 8, Chapter 2, Division 5.5 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations of the California Coastal Commission Administrative Regulations; and 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did on the 2nd day of August, 2000, on the 16th day of August, 2000, and on the 20th day of September, 2000, hold a duly noticed public hearing as prescribed by law to consider said request; and WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony and arguments, if any, of all persons desiring to be heard, said Commission considered all factors relating to the Local Coastal Program Amendment. WHEREAS, State Coastal Guidelines requires a six week public review period for any amendment to the Local Coastal Program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, as follows: 4 That the foregoing recitations are true and correct. B) At the end of the State mandated six week review period, starting on June 8,200O and ending on July 21,2000, staff shall present to the City Council a summary of the comments received. Cl That based on the evidence presented at the public hearing, the Commission RECOMMENDS APPROVAL of SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT - LCPA 00-02 based on the following findings, and subject to the following conditions: FindinPs: 1. That the proposed Local Coastal Program Amendment meets the requirements of, and is in conformity with, the policies of Chapter 3 of the Coastal Act and all applicable policies of the Mello I, Mello II, Agua Hedionda, Redevelopment, East Batiquitos and West Batiquitos segments of the Carlsbad Local Coastal Program, in that the proposed coastal zone allowable signage and proposed sign design standards (which require sign compatibility with building architecture and other project signage) will promote the production of quality signage that preserves and enhances the aesthetic environment of the coastal zone since the proposed revisions reduce the maximum wall sign area per wall sign from 200 SF to 50 SF, add sign letter heights and logo dimension standards, and require sign compatibility with building architecture and other project signage. 2. The proposed sign ordinance revisions will not impact coastal resources in that the proposed sign standards would only apply to building signs and freestanding signs which are located on the developable (unconstrained) area of any M, C-M or P-M zoned property within the coastal zone. Such signage would not be approved for PC RESO NO. 48 14 -2- 4/0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3. 4. 5. development within coastal wetlands or upon coastal slopes with gradients equal to or greater than 25% inclination, with or without native vegetation. The proposed sign ordinance revisions will not damage the visual beauty of the coastal zone in that ocean views and panoramas will not be affected by wall- mounted signs on existing buildings. The proposed sign ordinance revisions will not obstruct coastal views but will instead potentially enhance coastal views in that the proposed sign standards revisions reduce the permitted height of freestanding directory (from 14’ to 5’) and monument signs (from 8’ to 5’). That the proposed amendment to the segments of the Carlsbad Local Coastal Program is required to bring it into consistency with the proposed zone code amendment. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting to the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad, held on the 20th day of September 2000, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Chairperson Compas, Commissioners Baker, Heir&an, L’Heureux, Nielsen, Segall, and Trigas NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: CARLSBAD PLANNING COMMISSION ATTEST: Planning Director PC RESO NO. 4814 -3- Y/ A REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION Item No. 0 2 Application complete date: N/A P.C. AGENDA OF: September 20,200O Project Planner: Chris DeCerbo Project Engineer: N/A SUBJECT: ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT - A Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.4 1 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) and Sign Code (Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: (1) add a Purpose and Intent Section; (2) add/revise sign related definitions; and, (3) create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s C-M, M and P-M zones. I. RECOMMENDATION That the Planning Commission ADOPT Planning Commission Resolution No. 4812 RECOMMENDING APPROVAL of the Negative Declaration issued by the Planning Director and ADOPT Planning Commission Resolutions No. 48 13 and 48 14 RECOMMENDING APPROVAL of ZCA 99-09 and LCPA 00-02 based on the findings contained therein. II. INTRODUCTION In July, 1999, the Carlsbad City Council adopted a Resolution of Intention directing staff to initiate a zone code amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to incorporate clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s office/industrial zones (i.e., C-M, M and P-M zones). Accordingly, this Zone Code Amendment recommends specific amendments to the Sign Ordinance to accomplish this City Council objective. Associated with these ordinance standard revisions, are proposed sign ordinance amendments to: (1) add a Purpose and Intent Section to the Sign Ordinance to clarify the City Council’s objectives in enacting the sign ordinance in accordance with recent case law regarding the constitutional validity of sign ordinances; and, (2) add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the sign ordinance. III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND This project (ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02) is an amendment to the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 2 1.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) and its Local Coastal Program to: (1) add a Purpose and Intent Section; (2) add/revise sign related definitions; and, (3) create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s C-M, M and P-M zones. To ensure consistency between the City’s Sign Ordinance and Sign Code, Title 18, Chapter 18.20 is also proposed for amendment to revise sign related definitions which are common to both Chapters of the Municipal Code. The City’s existing sign ordinance does not include detailed sign regulations for uses within the C-M, M and P-M zones. With respect to these zones, the sign ordinance generally permits a maximum of 1.5 square feet of sign area per lineal foot of building frontage per lot. There are, however, no standards regarding the permitted number and location of various sign types (i.e., EXHIBIT 4 ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,200O wall, monument and directional signs) nor their physical attributes (i.e., maximum sign area, letter height and logo size). Specific sign standards for proposed industrial, office, and commercial uses within these zones have historically been regulated by Specific Plan sign provisions. Within the City of Carlsbad, there exist three planned industrial business-park specific plans (Carlsbad Research Center (SP 180(A)), Carlsbad Airport Center (Specific Plan 181(A) and Carlsbad Airport Business Center (SP 200)). Many of the sign provisions of these specific plans (which were written in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s) are out of date, somewhat unclear and in need of revision. Accordingly, this sign ordinance amendment provides that the new codified sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zones, supersede the Sign and Graphic requirements of all of these Specific Plans, and all sign programs adopted pursuant to these Specific Plan Sign and Graphic requirements. However, existing signs which conform to the regulations effective at the time of their placement shall be allowed to remain. Staff recommends that any proposed changes to those existing signs would trigger the necessity for compliance with the current sign ordinance and related provisions. Over the past 12 months, staff has worked with a representative team of office/industrial owners/developers within the City to develop these proposed sign ordinance revisions. This team has in turn communicated these proposed ordinance revisions to approximately 30 office/industrial owners or developers in Carlsbad. Approximately one-third of these office/industrial owners or developers have submitted letters of support for the proposed sign ordinance revisions. The City’s Zoning Ordinance also functions as the implementing zoning for Carlsbad’s Local Coastal Program (LCP). Accordingly, a Local Coastal Program Amendment is being processed to adopt the proposed amended zone code as part of the City’s LCP. On December 14, 1999, the Carlsbad City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance NS-526 to prohibit the issuance of sign permits for and/or the construction, erection, placement or generation of large freestanding signs pending a review and study of the sign ordinance and a report or recommendation of the Planning Department and the Planning Commission. Concurrent with this action, the City Council also adopted Resolution No. 99-535 directing staff to revise the Sign Ordinance to comply with current case law (i.e. prohibiting the regulation of non-commercial speech and incorporating a new Purpose and Intent section, which clearly states the City’s interest in regulating signage). This proposed Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment accomplish the purpose and intent objectives, comply with the statutes of the law and do not conflict with the Urgency Ordinance currently in effect. IV. ANALYSIS Included below is a discussion and analysis of the specific Sign Ordinance revisions associated with each above noted project objective. Reference can be made to Exhibit “X” to review in detail all text revisions. The recommendation for approval of this Zone Code Amendment/Local Coastal Program Amendment was developed by analyzing its achievement of the overall project objectives and its compliance/consistency with the Carlsbad General Plan and applicable Local Coastal Program policies. ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,200O Page 3 As compared to the existing sign regulations, the new sign regulations will result in the following changes: A. Proiect Obiectives 1. Purpose and Intent The existing sign ordinance does not include a clearly stated Purpose and Intent for regulating signage. Recent California and Federal appellate court and United States Supreme Court decisions, state that a city’s interest in sign regulation should be expressly stated in its ordinance. Legitimate, compelling government interests for a sign ordinance include traffic safety and aesthetics. Accordingly, the Sign Ordinance has been amended to incorporate a new Purpose and Intent Section (2 1.41.005). This new section specifies that the primary objectives of the proposed sign ordinance are to protect and improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety and to preserve and enhance the aesthetic environment of Carlsbad, while providing channels of communication to the public. The proposed sign ordinance revisions provide what staff believes to be a reasonable balance between the right of a business or an individual to identify itself and to convey its message and the right of the public to be protected against the traffic safety problems and visual discord that result from the unrestricted proliferation of signs. As discussed below, the proposed sign standard revisions for the City’s office/industrial zones achieve this objective through maintaining/reducing the permitted sign area per building or lot, standardizing maximum sign letter and logo heights, and requiring individual signs to be compatible with building architecture and other project signage, while increasing the permitted number of wall signs per building elevation (up to 2) for larger buildings (greater than 65,000 SF in area which have minimum 150 foot lineal frontages). 2. Sign Related Definitions The second objective of this sign ordinance amendment is to add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the sign ordinance and make it easily understandable. Definition additions include: “Average Grade”(for the purpose of measuring the height of a monument sign on a sloping property), “Commercial Signage,” “Directional Sign,” “Fascia Sign,” “Monument Sign,” “Non- Commercial Signage, ” “Pole Sign,” and “Suspended Sign.” The City’s existing sign ordinance does not define the terms “Commercial Signage” or “Non- Commercial Signage.” As defined, “Commercial Signage” would include signs which advertise a product or service for a profit or business purpose, propose a commercial transaction or relate solely to economic interest. In comparison, “Non-Commercial Signage” would include any signs where the prevailing thrust is not to propose a commercial transaction. These definitions clarify important distinctions since it is recommended by staff that non-commercial signage be allowed everywhere that commercial signage is allowed, subject to the same limitations, in order to protect First Amendment freedom of speech rights. The ordinance has been amended to define five currently undefined sign types including: “Directional Sign,” “Fascia Sign,” “Monument Sign,” “Pole Sign,” and “Suspended Sign.” 44 ZCA 99-09kCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,200O These sign types are distinguished in the proposed sign ordinance, and therefore require definition. Definition revisions include: “Sign Height” and “Sign Area.” The definition of “Sign Area” has been revised within the Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41) and the Sign Code (Chapter 18.20) to include specific computations for measuring the Sign Areas of all the sign types (i.e. Wall, Fascia, Awning, Window, Monument, Suspended and Pole) that are addressed in the Sign Ordinance. Furthermore, for “Monument Signs,” the base, fiarne or cabinet of the sign will now be included in the sign area. . . The definition of “Sign Height” has been revised in the Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41) and the Sign Code (Chapter 18.20) to include specific computations for measuring the Sign Height of all the sign types (i.e., Wall, Fascia, Awning, Window, Monument, Suspended and Pole) that are addressed in the Sign Ordinance and Sign Code. Most notably, a revision to the “Sign Height” definition provides that where a grade differential (slope) exists beneath a monument sign, then the sign height shall be measured from the top of the sign cabinet to the “average grade” (instead of the “existing grade”) beneath the sign. Accordingly, a new definition for “Average Grade” (the average level of the finished surface of the ground) has also been added to the Sign Ordinance. 3. Clear and Comprehensive Sign Standards General Sign Standards 0 A provision has been added specifying that non-commercial signage is permitted wherever commercial signage is permitted subject to the same standards. The existing sign ordinance does not clearly distinguish between commercial (i.e., advertising) and non-commercial (i.e., an ideological, political or other noncommercial message) signage. The City Attorney’s office has advised that a sign ordinance should impose no greater restrictions on non-commercial speech than on commercial speech. This new provision has therefore been added to conform the City’s sign ordinance with current constitutional case law decisions. l Design standards have been added requiring all signs to be compatible with a project through the use of similar materials, colors and typestyles, and with the building architecture with respect to scale, and other design features. These design standards will promote the production of high quality, compatible signage that forms a strong connection to the building architecture and other project signage. ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 Page 5 Real Estate Signs: The existing Real Estate Sign Area standard of 15 square feet per lot is proposed to be maintained. Monument Signs: 0 The maximum permitted Monument Sign AredSign Face has been reduced from 100 SF to 35 SF. This monument sign area standard is the existing City standard for lots which front along the Palomar Airport Road scenic comdor. 0 A maximum Sign LetterLogo Height of 12 inches has been added. This proposed letter height standard is based upon sign legibility and distance studies, which conclude that a sign with a 12 inch letter height is legible to a motorist from a distance of up to 525 feet. 0 Location criteria have been added requiring monument signs to be located near primary project entrances or other strategic locations, and to include building address(es) (number and street) that are plainly visible from the street that the building or sign fronts on. These new standards will enhance public welfare by improving traMic safety in requiring businedproject identification monument signs to: include street address(es), and be located so as to be clearly visible to any pedestrian, bicyclist or motor vehicle driver, while improving the aesthetic environment by reducing the permitted size of monument identification signs. Wall Signs: 0 The maximum number of Wall SignsBuilding has been revised from one Wall Sign/Building Street Frontage, to: > P P One Wall Sign/Building (for buildings less than 35,000 SF in area); Two Wall SignsBuilding (for buildings between 35,000 SF and 65,000 SF in area); and Three Wall SignsBuilding (for buildings greater than 65,000 SF in area). The existing wall sign standard is confusing in that it incorrectly implies that buildings which don’t have street frontage @e.; buildings that are located along a driveway) are not permitted to have wall signs. Referencing the number of permitted building wall signs relative to the size of the building rather than building street frontage@) will eliminate ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 this existing ambiguity. Compared to the existing wall sign standard, this new standard would allow more wall signs for larger buildings which do not have multiple street frontages. However, in order to construct more than one (1) wall sign upon a building the maximum sign letter height per sign would be required to be proportionally reduced (see discussion below regarding Maximum Wall Sign Letter Heights). m The maximum permitted Sign Area/Wall Sign has been reduced from 200 SF to 50 SF. This proposed sign area reduction per wall sign is based upon input from the development community. 0 Maximum Wall Sign Letter Heights have been added. The maximum permitted wall sign letter heights vary relative ta the size of the building and the number of building wall signs that are proposed. > > Buildings less than 35,000 SF in area are allowed one wall sign with a maximum letter height of 24 inches; Buildings between 35,000 SF and 65,000 SF in area are allowed either one wall sign with a maximum letter height of 36 inches or two wall signs with a maximum letter height of 24 inches; Buildings greater than 65,000 SF in area are allowed either one wall sign with a maximum letter height of 36 inches, or two or three wall signs with a maximum letter height of 24 inches each. > e e Maximum Sign Logo HeighWidth Standards have been added. A provision has been added which prohibits the illumination of wall signs that face and are within 500 feet of any property line which adjoins residentially zoned property. The existing specific plan sign provisions would allow for the construction of a 200 square foot wall sign on a building with no restrictions on sign letter/logo size. A 200 square foot sign (20’ x 10’) would be considered by staff to be out of proportion with any 3-story building (3 stories is the tallest building allowed in the C-M, M and P-M zones of the City). The new wall sign letter height and logo dimension standards, in combination with the general reduction in permitted sign area per wall sign (50 SF maximum), will ensure that the size (height and area) of any wall sign permitted on a building is in better proportion to the building size and that it does not detract from or dominate the building’s architecture. The proposed wall sign illumination prohibition will enhance neighborhood compatibility where officehndustrial and residential land uses border one another. ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 Pane 7 The maximum Number of Wall Signs/Building Elevation has been increased from one to two. Two Wall Signs43uilding Elevation would only be permitted if all of the following conditions exist: 1) 2) 3) 4) The building is greater than 65,000 SF in area; The building elevation must have a mihimum of 150 lineal feet; The minimum spacing between wall signs along an elevation shall not be less than 75 feet; and The cumulative length of all wall signs along any elevation shall not exceed one-third (1/3) of the length of the elevation. However, building elevations which front along or are within 500 feet and visible from the City’s scenic comdors (Interstate 5, Palomar Airport Road, or El Camino Real) would not be permitted to have more than one wall sign along those elevations. With respect to the proposal to increase the number of wall signs per building and per building elevation, it is important to consider that the existing specific plan sign provisions were written to address the specific building types and tenancy which were prevalent during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s including: (1) smaller (average 15,000 to 25,000 square feet) multi-tenant industriaVoffice buildings, where each business was privately owned, occupied a limited floor area (2,500 to 5,000 square feet), had a separate building entrance, and was permitted a wall sign above the entrance, or (2) single tenant buildings, which were permitted a very large wall sign (up to 200 square feet in area) regardless of building size. However, representatives of the officehndustrial development community explain that the existing wall sign provisions do not adequately address the newest generation of larger (20,000 to 100,000 square feet) common entry, multi-tenant officehndustrial buildings which are being built today. These new buildings are attracting growing electronics, telecommunications, software development and pharmaceutical companies (i.e., ViaSat, Malcom Pirnie, Paine Webber, McGraw Hill, Solomon Smith Barney, Rubio’s and Cypros Pharmaceuticals). These businesses occupy considerably larger floor areas (ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 square feet), are often publicly held, and typically have a corporate image and desire for identification. The proposal to increase: (1) the permitted number of wall signs per building from one sign per building street frontage, to between one and three signs per building; and, (2) the permitted number of wall signs per building elevation from a maximum of one to a maximum of two, will enable the City to continue to attract the above-noted prospering companies to locate within the City’s business parks. The new sign development and design standards which: (1) reduce the permitted wall sign area per building and per sign; (2) standardize maximum sign letter and logo heights; (3) require individual signs to be compatible with building architecture and other project signage; and, (4) limit the number and letter height of permitted wall signs relative to building size, are intended to ensure the production of quality signage that is in proportion to the individual building and iJg ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 maintains the integrity of project architecture and design. e The maximum Number of Wall SignsBuilding Elevation fronting along Palomar Airport Road has been reduced from two to one. Palomar Airport Road is designated as a scenic corridor. Accordingly, this reduction in permitted wall signage will help to maintain the aesthetic integrity of this scenic corridor. e The maximum Number of Wall SignsBuilding Elevation fronting along El Camino Real has been increased from zero to one. Pursuant to the El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards (1 984), office/industrial buildings that front along El Camino Real and are located between College Avenue and Cassia Lane (Area 4 of the Scenic Corridor) are not permitted any wall signage on building elevations facing the corridor. This is the only segment of the El Camino Real Corridor where wall signs for non-residential uses are prohibited. Several non-residential projects subject to this wall signage restriction have processed requests (Special Use Permits) to deviate from this corridor standard. Staff recommends support of this proposed El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards modification based upon the findings that allowing one Wall Sign/Building Elevation fronting along El Camino Real will: (1) provide an equal opportunity for each officehndustrial building to identify itself or convey its message; and, (2) maintain the integrity of the El Camino Real scenic corridor in that one wall sign per building elevation will not result in visual clutter or compromise the aesthetic integrity of this roadway. Accordingly, this sign ordinance amendment includes a provision which specifies that the new codified sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zones, supersede the sign provisions for the C- M, M and P-M zoned properties that are located within Area 4 of the El Camino Real Development Standards. Minor Identification Wall Signs for Individual IndustriaYOffice Businesses: The existing planned industrial business-park specific plans include individual tenant minor identification sign standards for multi-tenant industriaYoffice and commercial buildings wherein each tenant has a separate external building entrance. These standards currently allow each tenant to locate a small business identification sign (maximum 5 SF in area and 6 inches in height) directly above the individual business entrance. The existing provisions regarding permitted minor identification wall signs for individual businesses that have a separate building entrance within an industrial/office building have been maintained with the exception that a provision has been added which prohibits the illumination of minor identification wall signs. ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 Page 9 Minor Identification WalVFascidSuspended Signs for Individual Retail Businesses: Recognizing that commercial uses have unique signage needs, including the need to be prominently visible to pedestrians, the sign standards for individual retail businesses have been modifiedsupplemented to allow for adequate commercial tenant identification while minimizing the visual discord associated with excessive commercial signage. The proposed retail sign standard modifications are based upon input fiom the retail development community and the review of retail sign standards of other jurisdictions. 0 0 0 a 0 The maximum permitted Wall or Fascia Sign Area per individual commercial business has been reduced fiom 35 SF to 20 SF; A maximum WalVFascia Sign Letter Height of 18 inches has been added; Location criteria have been added requiring wall or fascia signs to be oriented towards the parking area of the individual business; A new provision has been added that allows one Suspended Sign for ground floor, second floor and third floor individual retail businesses; and Development Standards for Suspended Signs have been added. These standards limit the maximum Sign Area to 5 SF, Sign Letter Height to 8 inches, prohibit sign illumination and require such signs to be located on the underside of walkway overhangs at 90 degrees to the retail business. Directional Signs: 0 New Development Standards for Directional Signs have been added. These standards limit the maximum number of Directional Signs per Driveway Entrance to three, Sign AredSign Face to 6 SF, Sign Height to 4 feet, and Sign Letter/Logo Height to 6 inches each. These new directional sign standards advance the City’s interest in promoting traffic safety by allowing the minimum amount of directional signage necessary for the facilitation of traffic internal to a project site. B. General Plan The General Plan Land Use, Housing and Circulation Elements include a number of community design, jobs-housing balance and safety goals, objectives and policies, which are listed below. 1. Land Use Element Policy C.7 (Overall Land Use Pattern) - “Evaluate each application for development of property with regard to the following specific criteria: A. Site design quality, which may be indicated by the harmony of the proposed buildings in terms, of size, height, and location, with respect to existing neighboring development. Site design quality, which may be indicated by the arrangement of the site for efficiency of circulation, or onsite and offsite traffic safety, privacy, etc.” B. ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 2. Land Use Element Policy C.6 (Industrial) - “Ensure that the physical development of industrial areas recognizes the need for compatibility among the industrial establishments involved . . .” 3. Land Use Element Policy C. 10 (Industrial) - “Require new industrial development to be located in modern, attractive, well-designed and landscaped industrial parks in which each site provides for internal traffic, parking, loading, storage and other operational needs.” a. 4. Land Use Element Commercial Objective B.3 - “To establish and maintain commercial development standards to address landscaping, parking, signs and site, and building design, to ensure that all existing and future commercial developments are compatible with surrounding land uses.” 5. Housing Element Goal 4 - “Maintenance of a high quality of life and a strong local economy through a balance of residential and non-residential development, in particular, a balance of the wages earned by the local work force and the cost of local housing.” 6. Circulation Element Objective B.3 (Streets and Traffic Control) - “To design streets for the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services within and through the City in the most environmentally sound and aesthetically pleasing manner possible.” This proposed Sign Ordinance amendment is consistent with the applicable goals, objectives and policies of the General Plan in that the proposed sign development and design standards will: (1) Improve the aesthetic environment and enhance projectlcommunity design and compatibility through: maintainindreducing the permitted sign area per building or lot; limiting the number and size (letter height) of permitted wall and monument signs relative to building size; standardizing maximum sign letter and logo heights; and requiring individual signs to be compatible with building architecture and other project signage. These standards will ensure that the size (height and area) of any wall sign permitted on a building is in better proportion to the buildings size and does not detract from or dominate the buildings architecture; and (2) Improve traffic safety by requiring business/project identification monument signs to include street address(es), and be located so as to be clearly visible to any pedestrian, bicyclist or motor vehicle driver. Additionally, the proposal to increase the number of wall signs per building and per building elevation is designed to attract to the City the prosperous industries (Le. electronics, telecommunications, software development and pharmaceutical) whose wage earners can afford the city’s relatively higher cost housing, thereby helping to achieve a better jobs-housing balance. C. Local Coastal Propram Currently, the City’s Sign Ordinance constitutes the implementing signage regulations for the Carlsbad Local Coastal Program (LCP). Specifically, Subsection 21.41.070(11) of the existing 57 ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 Sign Ordinance includes specific sign restrictions for properties within the coastal zone. Accordingly, a Local Coastal Program Amendment is being processed to ensure consistency between the proposed amended zone code and the City’s LCP. This LCPA will also amend the Land Use Plan text (Policy 8-5 Signage) of the Mello 11 segment of the Carlsbad LCP. As compared to the existing coastal zone sign regulations, the new sign regulations for C-M, M and P-M zoned properties will result in the following changes: WalYFascia/Suspended Signs: The existing coastal zone sign regulations do not address permitted building wall, fascia or suspended signage. Instead, the regulations address permitted “business signage.” The existing sign regulations for coastal zone properties allow one fagade sign per business. As previously discussed, the proposed modifications would allow for one to three wall signs per building (depending on building area) and individual tenant minor identification signs for multi-tenant industriaVoffce and commercial buildings where each tenant has a separate external building entrance. These proposed sign revisions will ensure the provision of adequate signage opportunities for single and multi tenant buildings as well as minor identification signage for individual commercial/office/industrial businesses, which have separate building entrances. 0 For Shopping Complexes - The maximum permitted height of directory signs has been reduced from 14 feet to 5 feet. For parcels with three or fewer commercial establishments, the maximum permitted height of a monument sign has been reduced from 8 feet to 5 feet. These revisions should have no significant practical effect in that shopping centers are generally not permitted in the M and P-M zones and no C-M zoned properties are located in the City’s coastal zone. The additional permitted commercial building wall signs and individual retail business minor identification signs (discussed above) adequately address commercial signage needs in the M and P-M zones. These proposed coastal zone allowable signage and proposed sign design standards will promote the production of quality signage that preserves and enhances the aesthetic environment of the coastal zone since the proposed revisions reduce the maximum wall sign area per wall sign from 200 SF to 50 SF, add sign letter heights and logo dimension standards, and require sign compatibility with building architecture and other project signage. As discussed below, because the proposed sign ordinance revisions will not adversely impact coastal resources, obstruct coastal views or otherwise damage the visual beauty of the coastal zone, this proposed Sign Ordinance amendment is consistent with the applicable coastal policies of Carlsbad’s Local Coastal Program. Coastal resources will not be impacted in that the proposed sign standards would only apply to building signs and freestanding signs which are located on the developable (unconstrained) area of any M, C-M or P-M zoned property within the coastal zone. Such signage would not be approved for development within ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT September 20,2000 Page 12 coastal wetlands, or upon coastal slopes with gradients equal to or greater than 25% inclination with or without native vegetation. The visual beauty of the coastal zone will not be damaged in that ocean views and panoramas will not be affected by wall-mounted signs on existing buildings. Coastal views will not be obstructed but will instead potentially be enhanced in that the proposed sign standards revisions reduce the permitted height of freestanding directory (from 14’ to 5’) and monument signs (from 8’ to 5’). The LCP amendment will add the amended version of the Sign Ordinance to the implementation portion of all of the City’s LCP segments in addition to amending Land Use Plan text (Policy 8-5 Signage) of the Mello 11 segment of the Carlsbad LCP. This will accomplish the required consistency between the City’s Zoning Ordinance and its LCP. V. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Planning Director has determined that this Zone Code AmendmentlLocal Coastal Program Amendment (ZCA 99-09LCPA 00-02) to the City’s Sign Ordinance and Sign Code (Carlsbad Municipal Code, Chapters 21.41 and 18.20 respectively), will not have a significant impact on the environment and therefore issued a Negative Declaration on March 27, 2000. The environmental analysis (EIA Part 11) concluded that this ZCA/LCPA will not result in any physical, biological or human environmental impacts and the amended sign development and design standards are comparable to the existing standards with respect to environmental protection. Therefore, no significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur. Future sign permits processed pursuant to this amended Sign Ordinance are statutorily exempt from environmental review (CEQA Section 15268). There were no letters of comment received during the public review period for this Negative Declaration. An addendum to the Negative Declaration has been prepared to indicate that the proposed Sign Ordinance definition amendments included in this project will also apply to the City’s Sign Code (Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code). ATTACHMENTS: 1. 2. 3. Planning Commission Resolution No. 48 12 (Neg. Dec.) Planning Commission Resolution No. 48 13 (ZCA) Planning Commission Resolution No. 48 14 (LCPA) CD:cs:mh 63 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 BOLD/STRIKEOUT TO EXHIBIT “A” SEPTEMBER 20,2000 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA AMENDING THE SIGN ORDINANCE, TITLE 21, CHAPTER 21.41, AND THE SIGN CODE, TITLE 18, CHAPTER 18.20 OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD A PURPOSE AND INTENT SECTION, ADDREVISE SIGN RELATED DEFINITIONS AND CREATE CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE SIGN STANDARDS FOR CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT THE C-M, M AND P-M ZONES. CASE NO.: ZCA 99-09 The City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California does ordain as follows: SECTION 1 : That Title 2 1 , Chapter 2 1.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Section 21.41.005 to read as follows: 21.41.005 Purpose and Intent The purpose and intent of the Sign Ordinance Amendment is to: A. Implement the City’s community design and safety standards as set forth in the General Plan; and B. Maintain and enhance the City’s appearance by regulating the design, character, location, number, type, quality of materials, size, color, illumination and maintenance of signs; and C. Protect and improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety by balancing the need for signs which facilitate the safe and smooth flow of traffic without an excess of signage which may distract motorists, overload their capacity to quickly receive information, visually obstruct traffic signs or otherwise create congestion and safety hazards; and D. Equitably distribute the privilege to communicate information for commercial and non-commercial purposes without regulating the content of the message conveyed; and E. Limit commercial signage to on-site locations in order to protect the aesthetic environment from the visual clutter associated with the unrestricted proliferation of such signs, while providing channels of communication to the public; and F. Minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property; and G. Enable the fair, consistent, and efficient enforcement of these sign regulations. Non-commercial signage is permitted wherever other signage is permitted within Chapter 21.41 and is subject to the same standards and total maximum allowances for a site of each sign type specified in this Chapter. SECTION 2: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.010(c) to read as follows: 5-4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 21.41.010(c). No person shall display, construct, erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit pursuant to this Chapter and Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code. SECTION 3: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 2 1.41.030(5) to read as follows: 21.41.030(5) “Average Grade” - means the average level of the finished surface of the ground beneath a monument sign. SECTION 4: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(8) to read as follows: 21.41.030(8) “Commercial Signage” - means any sign with wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly names, advertises or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity. SECTION 5: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(9) to read as follows: 21.41.030(9) “Directional Sign” - means a sign which contains words such as “entrance,” Uenter,” “exit,” “in,” 66 out,” or other direction commands without business identification, or a sign containing arrows or characters indicating traffic directions and used either in conjunction with such words or separately. Directional signs shall not contain advertising. SECTION 6: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(11) to read as follows: 21.41.030(11) “Fascia Sign” - means a sign fastened to or engraved in the band or board at the edge of a roof overhang. SECTION 7: That Title 2 1, Chapter 2 1.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030( 16) to read as follows: 21.41.030(16) ‘‘Monument Sign” - means a freestanding sign, which is supported by a base which rests upon the ground and is an integral part of the design. SECTION 8: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(17) to read as follows: -2- 53- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 21.41.030(17) “Non-Commercial Signage” - means any sign which is intended to convey a non-commercial message of social, political, educational, religious or charitable commentary. SECTION 9: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(20) to read as follows: 21.41.030(20) “Pole Sign” - means a freestanding sign supported by one or more metal or wood posts, pipes or other vertical supports. SECTION 10: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment and renumbering of Subsection 21.41.030( 18) to read as follows 21.41.030(23) ((Sign Area” - is computed as follows: A. Wall, Fascia, Awning and Window Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the message or display or otherwise used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed but not including any supporting framework or bracing. B. Monument, and Suspended Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the entire area contained within the frame, cabinet, monument, monument base or fixture, including all ornamentation or decoration used to attract attention. C. Pole Signs - Sign area shall be computed as the area of the surface(s) upon which the sign message is placed provided that the supporting column is not decorated or displayed with advertising. D. Multifaced Signs - The sign area for a two sided or multifaced sign shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces, as described above. SECTION 11: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment and renumbering of Subsection 21.41.030( 11) to read as follows: 21.41.030(24) ‘‘Sign Height” means the following: -3- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 A. Wall, Fascia, Awning, Suspended, Monument, Pole and Window Signs - is specified as the greatest vertical measurement from the top of the sign cabinet, including all ornamentation and supports, to the average grade beneath the sign. SECTION 12: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.030(26) to read as follows: 21.41.030(26) “Suspended Sign” means a sign hung from the underside of marquees, pedestrian arcades or covered walkways at 90 degrees to the building wall or storefront. A sign suspended under a pedestrian walkway or fascia which is parallel to the building wall shall be considered as a wall or fascia sign. SECTION 13: That Title 2 1, Chapter 2 1.4 1 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Section 2 1.41.065 to read as follow: 21.41.065 General Sim Standards The following sign standards shall apply to all signage within the City. A. Sign Area 1. Wall. Fascia, Awnin9 and Window Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the message or display or otherwise used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed but not including any supporting framework or bracing. Monument. and Suspended SiFns - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the entire area contained within the frame, cabinet, monument, monument base or fixture, including all ornamentation or decoration used to attract attention. Pole Sims - Sign area shall be computed as the area of the surface(s) upon which the sign message is placed provided that the supporting column is not decorated or displayed with advertising. Multi-faced Sims - The sign area for a two sided or multi-faced sign shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces, as described above. 2. 3. 4. B. Sign Height 1. Wall, Fascia, Awning, Suspended, Monument, Pole and Window Signs - The height of wall, fascia, awning, suspended, monument, pole and window signs is specified as the greatest vertical measurement from the top of the sign cabinet, including all ornamentation and supports, to the average grade beneath the sign. C. Placement of Signs - Commercial signs, except where specifically allowed elsewhere in this Chapter, shall be placed on the lot of the use which the sign is intended to identify. Signs shall not be placed or overhang on public property nor within the public right-of-way unless provided for elsewhere herein. -4- 57 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 D. Non-commercial signage is permitted wherever commercial signage is permitted within Chapter 21.41 and is subject to the same standards and total maximum allowances per lot or building of each sign type specified in this Chapter. SECTION 14: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment of Subsection 21.41.070(2) to read as follows: 21.41.070(2). Except for signs at freeway service facilities and real estate signs, the total area of all signs on any one lot or building shall not exceed the following: ZONE OF LOT with densities corre- sponding to R-A R-1, R-2, R-W, P-C though R-2 R-3, R-P (Residential), R-T, R-D-M, P-C with Densities less restrk- Tive than R-2 (except hotels and motels) C-M, M and P-M All other zones TABLE 1 - AREA OF SIGNS TOTAL AREA OF ALL SIGNS Two square feet Twenty square feet One square foot per lineal foot of building frontage located on the lot. The total area of all signs shall not exceed one hundred square feet except that the planning commission may approve up to one hun- dred fifty square feet of sign area as part of a site development plan pro- cessed pursuant to Chap- ter 21.06. Per Sections 21.41.070(4) and 21.41.070(13) of this Chapter. One and five-tenths square feet per lineal foot of building frontage located on the lot. -5- 3-8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 b! th .- SECTION 15: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended amendment of Subsection 21.41.070(4)(C) to read as follows: 21.41.070(4)(C) C. Except for signs advertising new subdivisions, as mentioned in subparagraph (D) of this subsection, the total area of any real estate sign on a lot shall not exceed the areas mentioned in Table 3 below: TABLE 3 MAXIMUMREAL ESTATE SIGN ZONE OF LOT R-1, R-2, R-W, P-C with densities corre- sponding to R-A Through R-2 R-3, R-P, R-T, P-C with densities less restrictive than R-2 C-M, M and P-M Freeway service faci- lities regardless of zone and all other property AREA PER LOT Three (3) square feet Twelve (1 2) square feet Fifteen (15) square feet Twenty-five (25) square feet SECTION 16: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.070( 13) to read as follows: 21.41.070(13) Signs permitted for industrial, office and commercial uses in the C-M, M and P-M Zones. A. The sign standards codified in this Subsection supersede the following: 1. The sign and graphic requirements of all Specific Plans within the C- 2. Sign programs approved pursuant to the sign and graphic 3. The sign provisions for the C-M, M and P-M zoned properties that M and P-M zones; requirements of all Specific Plans within the C-M and P-M zones; and are located within Area 4 of the El Camino Corridor Development Standards. B. Freestanding Monument Signs -6- 3’9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Maximum Number of Monument Sims Per Lot 1" Maximum Sign Area Per Sign Face Maximum Sign Height Maximum Letter/Logo Height Buildings between 35,000 square feet and 65,000 square feet in area. 35 square feet Buildings greater than 65,000 square feet in area. 5 feet above average grade 12 inches one / 36 inches or two / 24 inches 1. Other Standards: a. Freestanding Monument Signs shall be located near primary project entrances or at other strategic locations and shall include applicable building address(es) (number and street) which are plainly visible from the street that the building or sign fronts on. b. Freestanding Monument Signs may be single or double-faced. c. *No monument sign shall be located within 100 feet of another monument sign. However, if more than one building shares a common driveway, then a maximum of two monument signs can be located along the common driveway, provided that the signs are located on the opposite sides of the driveway. d. Monument signs shall be designed to be compatible with other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and type styles. e. Monument signs shall be compatible with the visual elements of the building, including but not limited to construction materials, color, scale, or other design features. C. Wall Signs one / 36 inches or two / 24 inches or three / 24 inches Building Area 1 Buildings less than 35,000 square feet in area. 2* Maximum Wall Sign Area Per Sign Maximum Number of Wall Signs Per Building / Maximum Letter Height Maximum Number of Wall Signs Per Building Elevation Maximum Logo HeiPhtNidth 50 square feet 24/36 inches one/ 24 inches 36/36 inches 1 36/36 inches Maximum Lines of Text Per Sign 2 I 50 square feet 50 square feet 2 2 -7- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 a. Building elevations which front along or are within 500 feet of the right-of-way and visible from Interstate 5, Palomar Airport Road, or El Camino Real shall not have more than one (1) wall sign along those elevations. b. A building elevation must have a minimum of 150 lineal feet in order to have more than one (1) wall sign along that elevation. c. The minimum spacing between wall signs along an elevation shall not be less than 75 feet. d. The cumulative length of all wall sign(s) along any building elevation shall not exceed one-third (l/3) of the length of that same elevation. (i) Other Standards (a) Wall signs shall be designed to be compatible with other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and typestyles. (b) Wall signs shall be compatible with the visual elements of the building, including but not limited to construction materials, color, scale, or other design features. (c) Illuminated wall signs shall be prohibited on building elevations which face and are within 500 feet of any property line which adjoins residentially zoned property. (d) No wall signage shall be allowed on any architectural projection, parapet or equipment enclosure and no wall signage shall be allowed above the permitted building height for usable floor area on any building. (D) Minor Identification Signs 1. In addition to building wall sign(s) permitted pursuant to Section 21.41.070(13)(C), each industrial/office business that has a separate building entrance within an industrial/offke building may be permitted a minor identification wall sign as follows: Minor Identification Wall Signs - IndustriaYOfftce Businesses Maximum Number of Wall Signs Per Business Directly above the business entrance. -8- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2. In addition to building wall sign(s) permitted pursuant to Section 21.41.070(13)(C), each retail business that has a separate building entrance within a commercial building may be permitted minor identification signs as follows: Minor Identification Wall or Fascia Signs - Retail Businesses Wall Sign Location above the ceiling height elevation of 1 the ground floor. Permitted Fascia Sign Location Centered on fascia, directly above the business entrance. Sign Orientation Oriented towards the uarkiue area. * Minor Identification businesses. Wall or Fascia Signs are only permitted for ground floor retail 3. Minor Identification Suspended Signs - Retail Businesses Maximum Number of Minor Identification Suspended Signs I Per Retail Business* Maximum Sign Area Per Sign Face 5 square feet Maximum Letter Height 8 inches Underside of Permitted Sign walkway overhang Location at 90 degrees to the retail business * Minor Identification Suspended Signs are permitted for ground floor, second floor and third floor retail businesses. -9- Qs, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 4. Other Standards (a) Minor Identification Wall/Fascia/Suspended signs shall be compatible with the visual elements of the building, including but not limited to construction materials, color, scale, or other design features. (b) Minor Identification Wall/Fascia/Suspended signs shall not be illuminated. E. Directional Signs - The City has an interest in ensuring traffic safety. To directly advance that interest, the following directional sign standards shall apply. Maximum Number of Directional Signs Per Driveway Entrance from a Public\Private Street 3 Maximum Sign 6 square feet Area Per Sign Face Maximum Sign 4 feet above Height average grade Maximum 6 inches Letter/Logo Height 1. Other Standards: (a) Directional signs shall be allowed as required for the facilitation of traffic internal to the site. (b) Directional signs shall be designed to be compatible with other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and type styles. SECTION 17: That Title 21, Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 21.41.070(11)(F) to read as follows: 21.41.070(11)(F) Notwithstanding the above, industrial, office and commercial uses located in the C-M, M and P-M Zones are subject to the sign provisions of Subsection 21.41.070(13) of this chapter. SECTION 18: That Title 18, Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the amendment of Subsection l&20.025(4) to read as follows : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 18.20.025(4) “Sign Area” - is computed as follows: A. Wall, Fascia, Awning and Window Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the message or display or otherwise used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed but not including any supporting framework or bracing. B. Monument, and Suspended Signs - Sign area shall be computed by measuring the entire area contained within the frame, cabinet, monument, monument base or fixture, including all ornamentation or decoration used to attract attention. C. Pole Signs - Sign area shall be computed as the area of the surface(s) upon which the sign message is placed provided that the supporting column is not decorated or displayed with advertising. D. Multifaced Signs - The sign area for a two sided or multifaced sign shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces, as described above. SECTION 19: That Title 18, Chapter 18.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended by the addition of Subsection 18.20.025(5) to read as follows : 18.20.025(5) “Sign Height” means the following: B. Wall, Fascia, Awning, Suspended, Monument, Pole and Window Signs - is specified as the greatest vertical measurement from the top of the sign cabinet, including all ornamentation and supports, to the average grade beneath the sign. EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after its adoption, and the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and cause it to be published at least once in a publication of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within fifteen days after its adoption, except in the Coastal Zone where it becomes effective upon certification by the California Coastal Commission. INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council held on the day of ,2000, and thereafter -ll- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the day of ,2000, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: CLAUDE A. LEWIS, Mayor ATTEST: LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk ww -12- PLANNING COMMISSION September 20,200O EXHIBIT 5 Page 6 CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: 2. ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 - SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT - A Zone Code Amend- ment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: (1) add a Purpose and Intent Section; (2) add/revise sign related definitions; and (3) create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s C-M, M and P-M zones. Principal Planner, Chris DeCerbo presented agenda item #2 as follows: The City’s existing sign ordinance does not include detailed sign regulations for uses within the C-M, M and P-M zones. Sign standards for proposed industrial, office and commercial uses within these zones have historically been regulated by planned industrial business-park Specific Plan sign provisions. Many of the sign provisions of these specific plans (which were written in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s) are out of date, somewhat unclear and in need of revision. Accordingly, in July of 1999, the Carlsbad City Council directed staff to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance to incorporate updated, clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s office/industrial zones (i.e. C-M, M and P-M zones). With respect to this undertaking, the City Council directed staff to meet with the non-residential development community to get input on the proposed sign standards. They also directed staff to, in as much as possible, maintain the existing sign standards (especially regarding number of permitted wall signs and sign area) that are in effect today. Over the past 12 months, staff has worked with a representative team of office/industrial owners/developers within the City to develop the proposed sign ordinance revisions. The proposed sign standard modifications are also based upon the review of sign standards of other jurisdictions. Associated with these ordinance revisions, are proposed sign ordinance amendments to: (1) add a Purpose and Intent Section to the Sign Ordinance to clarify the City Council’s objectives in enacting the sign ordinance and (2) add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the sign ordinance. As compared to the existing sign regulations, the new sign regulations will result in the following changes. > Purpose and Intent The existing sign ordinance does not include a clearly stated Purpose and Intent for regulating signage. Recent California and Federal appellate court and US Supreme Court decisions, state that a City’s interest in sign regulation should be expressly stated in its ordinance. Legitimate, compelling government interests for a sign ordinance include traffic safety and aesthetics. Accordingly, the Sign Ordinance has been amended to incorporate a new Purpose and Intent Section. This new section specifies that the primary objectives of the proposed sign ordinance are to protect and improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic safety and to preserve and enhance the aesthetic environment of Carlsbad, while providing adequate channels of communication to the public. 9 Sign Related Definitions The second objective of this sign ordinance amendment is to add/revise sign related definitions to clarify the sign ordinance and make it easily understandable. The City’s existing sign ordinance does not define the terms “Commercial Signage” or “Non- Commercial Signage.” As defined, “Commercial Signage” would include signs that advertise a product or service for a profit or business purpose, propose a commercial transaction or relate solely to economic interest. In comparison, Non-Commercial Signage” would include any signs where the prevailing thrust is not to propose a commercial transaction. Examples could include ideological or political messages. PLANNING COMMISSION September 20,200O Page 7 These definitions clarify important distinctions, in that the courts have ruled that non- commercial signage be allowed everywhere that commercial signage is allowed, subject to the same limitations, in order to protect First Amendment freedom of speech rights. The ordinance is also proposed for amendment to define five currently undefined sign types including: “Directional Sign”, “Fascia Sign”, “Monument Signs”, “Pole Sign”, and “Suspended Sign”. These signs types are distinguished in the proposed sign ordinance, and therefore require definition. Definition revisions include: “Sign Height: and “Sign Area” The definition of “Sign Area” has been revised to include specific computations for measuring the Sign Areas of all the sign types that are addressed in the Sign Ordinance. The major substantive change is that for “Monument Signs”, the base, frame or cabinet of the sign would now be included in the sign area. The most notable revision to the “Sign Height” definition provides that where a grade differential (slope) exists beneath a monument sign, then the sign height shall be measured from the top of the sign cabinet to the “average grade” (instead of the “existing grade) beneath the sign. A provision has been added specifying that non-commercial signage is permitted wherever commercial signage is permitted subject to the same standards. As previously discussed, the existing sign ordinance does not clearly distinguish between commercial and non-commercial signage. The City Attorney’s office has advised that a sign ordinance should impose no greater restrictions on non-commercial speech than on commercial speech. This new provision has therefore been added to conform the City’s sign ordinance to current constitutional case law decisions. New Sign Design Standards have been added which require all project signs to be compatible with: 1) building architecture with respect to materials, color and scale and with 2) other project signage through the use of similar materials, colors and typestyles. These design standards will promote the production of high quality, compatible signage that forms a strong connection to the building architecture and other project signage. Referring to slide #5 in his presentation, Mr. DeCerbo stated that it was an example of an office building in the City that has signage that is compatible with respect to color and materials. With respect to freestanding Monument Sign revisions, he explained that the maximum permitted Monument Sign Area/Sign Face has been reduced from loo-square feet to 35square feet. On December 14, 1999, the Carlsbad City Council adopted a sign moratorium to prohibit the issuance of sign permits for and/or the construction, of freestanding signs with any dimension greater that 8 feet or with a sign face greater than 35square feet pending a review and study of the sign ordinance. This proposed monument sign area reduction is consistent with this sign moratorium provision. A maximum Sign Letter/Logo Height of 12 inches has been added. Location criteria have been added requiring monument signs to: be located near primary project entrances or other strategic locations and to include building address that are plainly visible from the fronting public street. These new standards will enhance public welfare by improving traffic safety while improving the aesthetic environment by reducing the permitted size of monument identification signs. The major area of change in this sign ordinance amendment deals with wall signs. The maximum permitted Sign Area/Wall Sign has been reduced from 200-square feet to 50-square feet. The maximum number of Wall Signs per building has been revised from 1 Wall Sign/Building Street Frontage to: 9 1 Wall Sign per building (for buildings less than 35,000-square feet in area); 9 2 Wall Signs per building (for building between 35,000-square feet and 65,000~square feet in area) and 9 3 Wall Signs per building (for buildings greater than 65,000~square feet in area 17 PLANNING COMMISSION September 20,200O Page 8 Compared to the existing wall sign standard, this new standard would allow more wall signs for larger buildings, which do not have multiple street frontages and fewer wall signs for smaller buildings that have multiple street frontages. To construct more than one (1) wall sign upon a building, the maximum sign letter height per sign would be required to be proportionally reduced whereby; 9 Buildings less than 35,OOOsquare feet in area are allowed one wall sign with a maximum letter height of 24 inches 9 Buildings between 35,000-square feet and 65,000~square feet in area are allowed either one wall sign with a maximum letter height of 36 inches or two walls signs with a maximum letter height of 24 inches 9 Buildings greater than 65,OOOsquare feet in area are allowed either one-wall sign with a maximum letter height of 36 inches, or two or three wall signs with a maximum letter height of 24 inches each. Maximum Sign Logo height/Width Standards have also been added. The existing wall sign standard, would allow for the construction of a disproportionate 200 square foot wall sign on a 3-story building with no restrictions on sign letter/logo size. The new wall sign area and letter height and logo dimension standards will ensure that the size of any wall sign permitted on a building is in better proportion to the building size and that it does not detract from or dominate the building’s architecture. For larger sized buildings, the maximum number of Wall Signs/Building Elevation has been increased from one to two. Two Wall Signs along an elevation would only be permitted if all of the following conditions exist: 9 The building is greater than 65,000-square feet in area 9 The building elevation must have a minimum of 150 lineal feet along the elevation 9 The minimum spacing between wall signs along an elevation shall not be less than 75 feet and 9 The cumulative length of all wall signs along any elevation shall not exceed one-third (i/3) of the length of the elevation However, building elevations which front along or are within 500 feet and visible from the City’s scenic corridors (Interstate 5, Palomar Airport Road, or El Camino Real) would not be permitted to have more than one wall sign along those elevations. This provision will help to maintain the aesthetic integrity of these scenic corridors. Commissioner Segall stated that currently wall signs were not permitted along El Camino Real and currently on Palomar Airport Road two wall signs are allowed. Mr. DeCerbo concurred. The new sign development and design standards which: (1) reduce the permitted wall sign area per building and per sign; (2) standardize maximum sign letter and logo heights; (3) require individual signs to be compatible with building architecture and other project signage; and (4) limit the number and letter height of permitted wall signs relative to building size, are intended to ensure the production of quality signage that will be more proportional to and compatible with the building or project site to which it relates. Ultimately, the revised sign standards will eliminate the ability to achieve an excessive amount of wall signage on any building. The existing provisions regarding minor identification wall signs for individual businesses that have a separate building entrance within an industrial/office building, have been maintained with the exception that a provision has been added which prohibits the illumination of minor identification wall signs. Specifically, each such business may be permitted one minor identification wall sign. Each minor identification wall sign shall: 9 not exceed a maximum sign area of five (5) square feet 9 not exceed a maximum letter height of six (6) inches PLANNING COMMISSION September 20,200O Page 9 9 must be located directly above the entrance to each individual business and 9 not be illuminated Recognizing that commercial uses have unique signage needs, including the need to be prominently visible to pedestrians, the sign standards for individual retail businesses have been modified/supplemented to allow for adequate commercial tenant identification while minimizing the visual discord associated with excessive commercial signage. Each ground floor retail business would be permitted one minor identification wall or fascia sign. 9 The maximum permitted Wall/Fascia Sign Area has been reduced from 35-square feet to 20-square feet 9 A maximum Wall/Fascia Sign Letter Height of 18 inches has been added 9 Location criteria have been added requiring wall signs to not be located above the ceiling height elevation of the ground floor and fascia signs to be located directly above the business entrance 9 Location criteria have been added requiring walls signs to be oriented towards the parking area of the individual business In addition, a new provision has been added that allows one (1) Suspended Sign for each retail business. New development standards for Suspended Signs have been added. These standards limit the maximum Sign Area to 5-square feet; Sign Height to 8 inches; prohibit sign illumination; and require such signs to be located on the underside of walkway overhangs at 90 degrees to the retail business. New Development Standards for Directional Signs have been added. These standards limit the maximum number of Directional Signs per Driveway Entrance to three; sign Area/Sign Face to 6-square feet; Sign Height to 4 feet; and Sign Letter/Logo height to 6 inches each. These new directional sign standards advance the City’s interest in promoting traffic safety by allowing the minimum amount of directional signage necessary for the facilitation of traffic internal to a project site. In conclusion, this proposed Sign Ordinance Amendment accomplishes the project objectives and is consistent with the General Plan and Local Coastal Program as amended. Therefore staff recommends approval of ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 Chairperson Compas asked if there were questions of staff. Commissioner Trigas asked for clarification regarding the non-illuminated provisions in the ordinance as it relates to the industrial office businesses. For clarification of the illumination issue, Mr. DeCerbo referred to page 9, #4(b) “Other Standards” of the ordinance, stating that it applies to all of the minor identification signs. Commissioner Heineman asked what happens to the existing signs if the signs are not in compliance with the new ordinance. Mr. DeCerbo stated that the existing code has provisions for amortization. Commissioner Nielsen asked if the placement of address numbers were addressed in the ordinance. Mr. DeCerbo stated that address numbers were being required on Monument Signs, but the location of address numbers on buildings was not specified. Commissioner Nielsen suggested that a standard location of address numbers on buildings would enhance public safety. Mr. DeCerbo stated that a thorough amendment to the Sign Ordinance; including location, size, illumination of building addresses would be addressed as part of the ordinance update. Commissioner Segall concurred that phase two of the sign ordinance should address the aesthetic and . . . . traffic safety issues as it relates to the location and vlslbrlrty of address numbers. PLANNING COMMISSION September 20,200O Page 10 Mr. DeCerbo replied that there are ordinances that have separate sections for address numbers; which are required signs and have standards associated with them. Mr. Wayne stated that the issue of visible address numbers and their location would be addressed in the upcoming major revision to the entire sign ordinance. Commissioner Segall asked for clarification regarding the process used to develop the new sign standards. Mr. DeCerbo stated that meetings were convened with the non-residential development community for input, and that numerous city ordinances were reviewed with respect to standards and functionality. In addition, Mr. Wayne commented that local similar competitive areas were toured. Commissioner Segall asked for clarification regarding the moratorium. Mr. DeCerbo responded that the moratorium, in effect, is with respect to freestanding signs only and noted that many businesses appeared to be waiting until this amendment is approved before investing in and installing signage. Commissioner Segall requested clarification on the timeframe for approval of the ordinance. Deputy City Attorney McMahon stated that the ordinance would be introduced at a City Council meeting, then approved at the second meeting and would go into effect 30 days later. As there were no additional questions of staff, Chairperson Compas opened public testimony. PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Scott Brusseau, 2892 Lone Jack Road, Encinitas, representing Newport National Corporation; stated that Cornerstone Corporate Center was the first new class A office project in the City of Carlsbad in nine years. The group represents approximately 1.4 million square feet of the 2 million square feet of office space in Carlsbad. In the 1970’s most of the office buildings built in Carlsbad were lO,OOO-25, 000 square feet. In the 1980’s office building were 20,000-40,000 square feet. In the 1990’s office building are typically 35,000-50,000 square feet. In responding to the market, buildings are now 35,000-85,000 square feet. Carlsbad is starting to attract tenants desiring 50,000 square feet. From a marketing standpoint a company leasing thousands of square feet is a tenant that wants and deserves to have their name displayed on the building. Mr. Brusseau expressed concern regarding the constraint of the 35-square feet for the Monument Signs, stating that 35-feet within the sign envelope (area where letters are) was more desirable. He suggested that the total sign area be 50-square feet, including the base of the sign or the total sign area be 35-square feet that encompasses the print area only. In addition, he stated that the two walls signs should be permitted for buildings greater than 50,000 square feet, instead of the proposed footage of 65,000 square feet. He did note that he was in agreement with the spacing between the two signs and the size of the letters. Regarding the spacing of the Monuments Signs, he requested clarification as to the loo-feet spacing distance as it relates to new and nearby projects. Mark MC Laren, 4370 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 655, San Diego, CA 92122, advised the Commission that he would like to see the 65,000-square foot requirement for two walls signs changed to 50,000 square-feet. He stated that he was in support of the proposed sign ordinance changes because it was a tremendous improvement over the existing sign ordinance. Noting that signage was a very important element in attracting large-quality companies as tenants to the City of Carlsbad; these companies have professional images that they want to project, hence the need for adequate walls signs. Robert Irish, 1047 Stratford Court, Del Mar, CA, managing partner of Bowie Irish Ventures, commented that signage was very important to local Carlsbad companies. Due to the fact that he owns a 65,000 square foot building facing El Camino Real he would prefer that the new sign ordinance allow two wall signs, but did feel that the overall sign package was fair. PLANNING COMMISSION September 20,200O Page 11 Gerard Tanksley, 214 Glen Arbor, Encinitas, CA, concurred with the aforementioned speakers regarding the new sign ordinance and thanked staff for their efforts. Chairperson Compas closed public testimony and asked the applicant to address issues raised in public testimony. Regarding the Monument Sign and how it is measured, Mr. DeCerbo referred to the moratorium and advised the Commission that the way a Monument Sign is measured cannot be changed. Commissioner Baker asked if the size of the Monument Sign relates to the size of the building. Mr. DeCerbo replied no, but noted that retaining wall signs will be addressed differently in the upcoming ordinance amendment. Mr. Wayne stated that staff would be looking at instituting standards, e.g. proportionality, size of lots, etc., when the overall sign ordinance is updated. Addressing the issue of the size of a building relative to the number of signs per building or per elevation, Mr. DeCerbo stated that staffs recommendation is to have the standard for the largest building that would allow for two signs at 65,000 square feet. Keeping in mind the direction from City Council, it was determined by staff that 50,000 square feet was not a viable option because of the numerous buildings that fall in that category. Commissioner Segall asked how many building were 50,000 square feet in size. Mr. DeCerbo stated 5 to 10 additional buildings. Mr. Wayne declared that a number of existing buildings would fall into the 50,000 square foot category, which would mean a proliferation of buildings with 2 or 3 signs, if the square footage requirement were dropped from 65,000 square feet. Staff can return in 12 to 18 months with a report outlining how the area looks as a result of the new Sign Ordinance and at that time if the City Council and the Planning Commission want to relax the ordinance that would be the appropriate time to do so. Regarding the minimum separation of loo-feet for the Monument Signs if driveways were in close proximity to one another, Mr. DeCerbo did not have a definitive answer. Chairperson Compas suggested that it could be handled in a variance fashion. Mr. DeCerbo replied yes. Mr. Wayne stated that the required findings would have to be made for a variance. A resolution regarding the spacing of Monument Signs can be addressed when the entire sign ordinance is updated. Commissioner Trigas asked if the situation existed now where Monument Signs were too close together. Mr. Wayne stated yes in some of the older areas. In most of the newer subdivisions the driveway locations are set ahead of time. Commissioner Heineman mentioned that he has noticed a number of Monument Signs that are not at driveways, e.g. in the center of a front lawn, hence a loo-feet of separation was possible. Mr. DeCerbo stated that the ordinance did state that Monument Signs should be located at driveway entrances or at strategic locations. Mr. Wayne commented that staff did not promote driveways in close proximity to one another. Chairperson Compas reopened public testimony. PLANNING COMMISSION September 20,200O Page 12 PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Scott Brusseau, 2892 Lone Jack Road, Encinitas, stated that all new projects driveways are spaced more than loo-feet from one another, the exceptions are in the older areas. He wanted to make sure that projects in the older areas had the opportunity to have Monument Signs. Commissioner Segall asked for clarification regarding Class A and B buildings. Mr. Brusseau stated that a Class A office building is a steel-framed building that is typically three-stories in height A new Class B office building has a lobby that looks like an A building, e.g. wood on the staircases, quality carpet. An older Class B office building would be stick and stucco, with marginal carpet. Referring to building with two signs, Commissioner Nielsen asked if there was a minimum spacing of the signs. Mr. DeCerbo responded that the required spacing is seventy-five feet between the signs. Chairperson Compas closed public testimony and opened Commission discussion. MOTION: ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Segall, and duly seconded, that the Planning Commission adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 4812 recommending approval of the Negative Declaration issued by the Planning Director and adopt Planning Commission Resolutions No. 4813 and 4814 recommending approval of ZCA 99-09 and LCPA 00-02 based on the findings contained therein DISCUSSION: Commissioner Baker stated that she would be open to dropping the building size limit of 65,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet for wall signs, for the ease of the consumer and others needing to locate buildings. Addressing the three issues brought forward during public testimony, Commissioner Compas did not recommend that the Commission take any action now. However, he did suggest that the square footage requirement for 2 walls signs could be reduced to 60,000 square feet. He suggested that staff study the issues and return in one year with a report. In addition, he stated that the issue relating to the Monument Signs and driveway locations could be handled on a variance basis. Commissioner Heineman expressed his support for the ordinance and stated that the ordinance should be reevaluated in a year to determine if changes should be made. Chairperson Compas called for a vote. VOTE ON MOTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: 7-o-o Compas, Heineman, Nielsen, Trigas, L’Heureux, Baker, Segall None None ml 0 I 0 0 a CL w m 0 I m m a w N a aJ u s m s 8- ICI L 0 s wm ct Q)a, Er .- Ln UaJ => m .;II g8 03 PO 0 w u s m k a, u m az L v n s 0 .- cn 0 .* 3 .e (3 (u s a, s 73 s m a, cn 0 Q \ v) s 0 m- m- s il aJ n E 0 .- g m 5 .- .- c g m .I E cu E E s I 5 7 L b .5 v) m .- E c . . . . z 0 .- v) .- > ii! rg Ok l L -c .- c .P ;;-m a n n n alJ > mm v) s a3 ms a, L Q E 0 u u s m L m a, u cn u \ m u S m m S m mm cn u \ m u s m %i m \ aJ s a, u tP >c a,” LO a,tJ xr .- 2: *- Cu- E 111 l - E w 0% YE SE z .8 n v, w k w s m =z s 0 .- v> a, w r 0 .- cn 3 a, z n 5 .- QI- E a, 05 WO SIZ 0 .f=! n v) S m mm m S aJ E 3 S 0 > m S mm u S m v) a aJ L U *; VIb Q) ’ &B tom l - 0 Q) 00% ‘5 6 m M .4 -5 3 ‘G .- Pz 0 SW S .m L m 0 8 UT a .- S 0 s t- L m m- L aJ m- L c) m 5 S 0 m- m > a, W S 0 .- -- .231k- v) -W v) .- 0 E S 3 .s E SY m .I aJ rz - m8 3, .- 5 .- 3 m l n a, L cn L 0 U m- L L 0 w w m- S (u w m; b s m i S 0 a L m \ 0 m s 0 0 E v) s 0 .- co > aJ -E 0 a L I- a L m E 0 aJ > aJ 0 S m S 0 \ c u .m c 3 v) S 0 .- m > a, a, v, 0 m CL cn S 0 m a, Qi m 0 S .w E m (3 S 0 .- Ln a v) S 0 m- m m 3 0 0 In E 0 t LLI a, u1 S .- u .m 3 m a S 0 L 0 a3 a .w v) .- > S 4 u S m m - 0 E! m 3 I cn s m m- m S 0 m- m w il m- S (u U L 0 S m- > cn a, cn cn aJ S m- cn 3 m a, (3 m- a= 0 m m- \ v) 3 U S m m- w v) m u \ 0 s. 0 m- m w il m- S a, U \ 0 S m- > v) a, v) v) (u S m- m- J i i m m- I v) S m m- m l-i m .- s u .- VI 5 0. m !! m S 0 z G m > k CL aJ 5 -8 k 3 s u E S al I- 5 S 0 .- 5 5 .- 5 S .Cn m U a, U S aJ Q cn 3 m S 0 mm m W il I- S aJ U L 0 S mm > m aJ m v) a, S n - v) 3 m m- m a, E I v) S m m- m l-4 S 0 .- % v- E ‘E Et! w” z& IQ w w E S 0 ,- m 5 Q m w & S 0 .- v) k m > m - .- 3 m x - tii - B” *: r cc,u= mO w cn- ZSv, v> puw WC P z S .- c1) & ONn s>w3 -) 0-a cn S c)1 m- m m S 0 m- W a, \ m- n City of Carlsbad Records Management Department NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Carlsbad will hold a public hearing at the Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, California at 600 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2001, to consider a Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: (1) create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s C-M, M and P-M zones; (2) add/revise sign related definitions; and (3) add a Purpose and Intent Section on property located citywide, in the City of Carlsbad. Those persons wishing to speak on this proposal are cordially invited to attend the public hearing. Copies of the staff report will be available on and after Friday, February 9, 2001. If you have any questions, please call Chris DeCerbo in the Planning Department at (760) 602-4611. If you challenge the Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment in court you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Carlsbad at or prior to the public hearing. CASE FILE: ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PUBLISH: FEBRUARY 1,200l CITY OF CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive - Carlsbad, CA 92008-l 989 - (760) 434-2808 @ City of Carlsbad NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Carlsbad will hold a public hearing at the Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, California, at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2000, to consider a Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the City’s Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code) to: (1) create clear and comprehensive sign standards for the City’s C-M, M and P-M zones; (2) add/revise sign related definitions; and (3) add a Purpose and Intent Section on property located citywide, in the City of Carlsbad. Those persons wishing to speak on this proposal are cordially invited to attend the public hearing. Copies of the staff report will be available on and after September 14, 2000. If you have any questions, please call Chris DeCerbo in the Planning Department at (760) 602-4611. If you challenge the Zone Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Carlsbad at or prior to the public hearing. CASE FILE: ZCA 99-09/LCPA 00-02 CASE NAME: SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT PUBLISH: SEPTEMBER 7,200O CITY OF CARLSBAD PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1635 Faraday Avenue l Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 l (760) 602-4600 - FAX (760) 602-8559 Smooth Feed SheetsTM Use temphte fee 5 _. : City Clerk 1 .Ibl CARLSBAD UNIF SCHOOL DIST SAN MARCOS SCHOOL DIST 801 PINE AVE 1 CIVIC CENTER DR CARLSBAD CA 92008 SAN MARCOS CA 92069 SAN DIEGUITO SCHOOL DIST LEUCADIA CNTY WATER DIST 701 ENCINITAS BLVD 1960 LA COSTA AVE ENCINITAS CA 92024 CARLSBAD CA 92009 CITY OF ENCINITAS CITY OF SAN MARCOS 505 S VULCAN AVE 1 CIVIC CENTER DR ENCINITAS CA 92024 SAN MARCOS CA 92069-2949 CITY OF VISTA PO BOX 1988 VISTA CA 92085 VALLECITOS WATER DIST 788 SAN MARCOS BLVD SAN MARCOS CA 92069 CALIF DEPT OF FISH & GAME REGIONAL WATER QUALITY STE 50 STE B 330 GOLDENSHORE 9771 CLAIREMONT MESA BLVD LONG BEACH CA 90802 SAN DIEGO CA 92124-1331 LAFCO 1600 PACIFIC HWY SAN DIEGO CA 92101 AIR POLLUTION CNTRL DIST 9150 CHESAPEAKE DR SAN DIEGO CA 92123 U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE CA COASTAL COMMISSION 2730 LOKER AVE WEST STE 103 CARLSBAD CA 92008 7575 METROPOLITAN DR SAN DIEGO CA 92108-4402 CITY OF CARLSBAD PUBLIC WORKS/COMMUNITY SERVICES CITY OF CARLSBAD PUBLIC WORKS/ENGINEERING DEPT CITY OF CARLSBAD PROJECT PLANNER CHRIS DECERBO 1118/2001 n &, AVERY@ Address Labels ENCINITAS SCHOOL DIST 101 RANCH0 SANTA FE RD ENCINITAS CA 92024 OLIVENHAIN WATER DIST 1966 OLIVENHAIN RD ENCINITAS CA 92024 CITY OF OCEANSIDE 300 NORTH COAST HWY OCEANSIDE CA 92054 I.P.U.A. SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMIN AND URBAN STUDIES SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY SAN DIEGO CA 92182-4505 SD COUNTY PLANNING STE B 5201 RUFFIN RD SAN DIEGO CA 92123 SANDAG STE 800 401 B STREET SAN DIEGO CA 92101 CITY OF CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Laser 5260@ LABELS - 5163 LCPA MAILING LIST (GOVERNMENT AGENCIES) SANDAG (SAN DIEGO COUNTY) WELLS FARGO PLAZA SUITE 800 APPENDIX A (LIST IS REQUIRED BY COASTAL 401 B ST COMMISSION) SANDIEGO CA 92101 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DEPUTYATTORNEYGENERAL ROOM 700 1lOWESTAST SANDIEGO CA 92101 OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH OFFICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PO BOX 3044 SACRAMENTO CA 95812-3044 DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE STEVE SHAFFER, AGRICULTURE RESOURCES ROOM 100 1220 N ST SACRAMENTO CA 95814 BUSINESS, TRANSPORTATION & HSG AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PATRICIA W NEAL ROOM 5504 DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HOUSING 1120 N ST SUITE 2450 SACRAMENTO CA 95814 980 NINTH ST SACRAMENTO CA 958 14 DISTRICT 11 CALTRANS BILL FIGGE, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING MAIL STATION 65 2829 JUAN ST SAN DIEGO CA 92 110 RESOURCES AGENCY RM 1311 1416 NINTH ST SACRAMENTO CA 95812 U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE SUITE W-2605 2800 COTTAGE WAY SACRAMENTO CA 95825-1888 ENERGY RESOURCES, CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CHUCK NAJARIAN 1516 NlNTH ST SACRAMENTO CA 95814 MARINE RESOURCES REGION, DR & G ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR 350 GOLDEN SHORE LONG BEACH CA 90802 SOUTHERN REGION JOHN WALSTROM, TECHNICAL SERVICES 8885 RIO SAN DIEGO DR SAND DIEGO CA 92108 STATE LANDS COMMISSION DWIGHT SANDERS SUITE 1005 100 HOWE AVE SACRAMENTO CA 95825-8202 COASTAL CONSERVANCY SUITE 1100 1330 BROADWAY OAKLAND CA 94612 DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION P 0 BOX 944246 SACRAMENTO CA 94244-2460 DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY DOUG WICKIZER, ENVIROMENTAL COORD P 0 BOX 944246 SACRAMENTO CA 94244-2460 SAN FRANCISCO BAY CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BILL TRAVIS SUITE 2600 50 CALIFORNIA ST SAN FRANCISCO CA 9411 l-4704 WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD PO BOX 100 SACARAMENTO CA 95801 * REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD BARRY BRAYER, AWP-8 SUITE B FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 9771 CLAIREMONT MESA BLVD WESTERN REGION SAN DIEGO CA 92124-1331 PO BOX 92007 LOS ANGELES CA 90009 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ATTN: GARY RESOURCE CONSERVATIONIST SUITE 102 2121-C SECOND ST DAVIS CA 95616 PACIFIC REGIONAL MANAGER NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN - OCRM, 55MC4 N/ORM - 3 1305 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY SILVER SPRING MD 20910 U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS LILY ALYEA - SUITE 702 333 MARKET ST SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-2 197 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 611 RYAN PLAZA DR STE 400 ARLINGTON TX 7601 l-4005 USDA - RURAL DEVLOPMENT 430 ST DEPT 4169 DAVIS CA 95616 COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CHAIRMAN 722 JACKSON PLACE NORTH WEST WASHINGTON DC 2006 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ENGINEER PO BOX 2711 LOS ANGELES CA 90053 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COMMANDANT, ELEVENTH NAVAL DISTRICT DISTRICT CIVIL ENGINEER SANDIEGO CA 92132 U. S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT SUITE RM W1834 2800 COTTAGE WAY SACRAMENTO CA 95825 U. S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION LOWER COLORADO REGION PO BOX 427 BOULDER CITY CO 89005 SUPERINTENDENT CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK 1901 SPINNAKER DR SAN BUENAVENTURA CA 93001 BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS RONALD M. JAEGER 2800 COTTAGE WAY SACRAMENTO CA 95825 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLIFFORD EMMERLING, DIRECTOR SUITE 350 901 MARKET ST SAN FRANCISCO C4 94103 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVE DUNCAN LENT HOWARD, REGIONAL ADMIN 450 GOLDEN GATE AVE SAN FRANCISCO CA 94 102 U. S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION MID-PACIFIC REGION 2800 COTTAGE WAY SACRAMENTO CA 95825 DOUGLAS WARNOCK, SUPERINTENDENT REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK DRAWER N 11112NDST CRESCENT CITY CA 95531 CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION SUITE 103 7575 METROPOLITAN DR SAN DIEGO CA 92 108-4402 Smooth Feed SheetsTM H:WMIN\LABELS\LCP INTERESTED PARTIES OLIVENHAIN M.W.D. 1966 OLIVENHAIN ROAD ENCINITAS CA 92024 CRAIG ADAMS SIERRA CLUB SAN DIEGO CHAPTER 3820 RAY SAN DIEGO CA 92101 LESLIE ESPOSITO 1893 AMELFI DRIVE ENCINITAS CA 92024 LANIKAI LANE PARK SHARP; SPACE 3 6550 PONTO DRIVE CARLSBAD CA 92008 KIM SEIBLY SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC PO BOX 1831 SAN DIEGO CA 92112 PERRY A LAMB 890 MERE POINT ROAD BRUNSWICK MAINE 04011 RICHARD RETECKI COASTAL CONSERVANCY SUITE 1100 1330 BROADWAY OAKLAND CA 94612 DALE/DONNA SCHREIBER 7163 ARGONAURA WAY CARLSBAD CA 92009 CITY OF ENCINITAS COM DEV DEPARTMENT 505 S VULCAN AVE ENCINITAS CA 92024 TABATA FARMS PO BOX 1338 CARLSBAD CA 92018 REGIONAL WATER QUAL. BD KENNETH E SULZER EXECUTIVE OFFICER SANDAG - EXEC DIRECTOR SUITE B 1 ST INT’L PLAZA, SUITE 800 9771 CLAIREMONT MESA BLVD 401 B STREET SAN DIEGO CA 92124 SAN DIEGO CA 92101 GUY MOORE JR 6503 EL CAMINO REAL CARLSBAD CA 92009 JAN SOBEL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PO BOX 1605 CARLSBAD CA 92008 CYRIL AND MARY GIBSON BILL MCLEAN 12142 ARGYLE DRIVE c/o LAKESHORE GARDENS LOS ALAMITOS CA 90702 7201 AVENIDA ENCINAS CARLSBAD CA 92009 JOHN LAMB 1446 DEVLIN DRIVE LOS ANGELES CA 90069 SPIERS ENTERPRISES DWIGHT SPIERS SUITE 139 23 CORPORATE PLAZA NEWPORT BEACH CA 92660 MARY GRIGGS SUPERVISOR BILL HORN STATE LANDS COMMISSSION ATTN: ART DANELL SUITE 100 SOUTH COUNTY OF SD, ROOM 335 100 HOWE AVE 1600 PACIFIC HIGHWAY SACRAMENTO CA 95825-8202 SAN DIEGO CA 92101 SAN DIEGO COUNTY LEE ANDERSON PLANNING & LAND USE DEPT CRA PRESIDENT JOAN VOKAC - SUITE B-5 5200 EL CAMINO REAL 5201 RUFFIN ROAD CARLSBAD CA 92008 SAN DIEGO CA 92123 ANTHONY BONS FLOYD ASHBY 25709 HILLCREST AVE 416 LA COSTA AVE ESCONDIDO CA 92026 ENCINITAS CA 92024 COPIES TO: + CITY CLERK + MAIN LIBRARY + BRANCH LIBRARY + WATER DISTRICT U.S. FISH 8, WILDLIFE SERVICES 2730 LOKER AVE WEST CARLSBAD CA 92008 GEORGE BOLTON 6583 BLACKRAIL ROAD CARLSBAD CA 92009 n &< AERY@ , -. 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