HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-19; City Council; MinutesMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING: CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
DATE: APRIL 19, 2011
TIME: 11:00 AM
PLACE: CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ROOM 173B, 1635 FARADAY
The Mayor called the meeting to order on April 19, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. All Council Members were
present.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
REGIONAL REPORTS
There were no regional reports.
Mayor Hall directed the City Manager to schedule a discussion with Cal Trans regarding the widening of
1-5.
ORDINANCE AND COUNCIL POLICIES REGARDING SIGNAGE AND SIGNS
The following records were submitted for this discussion and are on file in the Office of the City Clerk:
• Sign Ordinance Issues, Power Point presentation, Don Neu City Planner, April 19, 2011.
• Sign Ordinance - April 19, 2011, City Council Workshop, Memorandum to City Manager from
City Planner, April 12, 2011.
Council received a presentation from City Planner Don Neu and Assistant City Attorney Jane Mobaldi.
Mr. Neu discussed the background of the ordinance, last changed in 2001. He noted that signage issues
within the City are size, proportional scale, quality and aesthetics and the use of electronic message
boards. Mr. Neu also noted that citizens have requested more directional signage and permanent
signage for areas such as lagoons and open space.
Mr. Neu recommended amending the current sign ordinance and Council Policy No. 65.
The City Attorney Ron Ball stated that these changes could be made at a public meeting. He also
discussed some consequences of specific changes.
Council expressed their preferences and concerns for the proposed changes.
City Council Workshop April 19, 2011
In response to Council Member Douglas, Mr. Neu noted that existing signage could be preserved even if
it did not conform to future changes in the ordinance.
In response to Mayor Hall, Mr. Neu stated that street addresses are exempt from the sign ordinance.
Mr. Ball stated that Mr. Neu, as City Planner, can return this item to Council at a Regular Meeting.
CAR COUNTRY CARLSBAD
The following records were submitted for this discussion and are on file in the Office of the City Clerk:
• Car Country Carlsbad Working Group, Summary Recommendations Report, Power Point
Presentation April 19, 2011.
• Car Country Carlsbad Working Group, Summary Recommendations Report April 19, 2011,
Memorandum to City Manager from Community and Economic Development Director, April 12,
2011. (Attachment of pictures and drawings, Car Country Carlsbad.
Mayor Hall commended Council Member Blackburn for initiating the formation of a City/Car Country
working group.
Council received a presentation from Community and Economic Development Director Gary Barberio.
Mr. Barberio discussed the formation of a Car Country and City working group. He noted that the group
had produced four initiatives with 36 specific recommendations. He listed the initiatives as:
• General appearance.
• Sign Program.
• Traffic and Safety.
• Minor Updates to Specific Plans.
Council discussed the small City Park within the Car Country footprint.
Mr. Barberio introduced Mr. J. P. Paynter, General Manger of Hoehn Acura and Chair of the Car Country
Working Group. Mr. Paynter discussed the partnership with the City and asked for City support going
forward. He noted that "way finding" signage and signage in general were important issues. He also
noted that traffic and safety is a major concern. In addition, he encouraged the streamlining of the
City's permitting process.
In response to Council Member Packard, Mr. Paynter stated that safety changes in Paseo del Norte were
supported by the group.
City Council Workshop April 19, 2011
In response to Council Member Douglas, Mr. Payneter agreed that he is open to any creative ideas for
the elimination of the chain link fence facing the freeway.
Rick Blakemore, General Manager of Landrover/Jag stated he was in favor of updating Car Country
Carlsbad.
Mr. Barberio noted the next steps were for Council to accept the report and to bring the report to
Council at a later date. Council members noted that there were no changes to the report needed,
however, they suggested prioritizing the recommendations, keeping the Working Group together, and
receiving legal advice regarding signage.
Council concurred to accept the report.
Mayor Hall called a brief recess at 12:40 p.m. and the Mayor and all Council Members returned at 12:52
p.m.
DEPARTMENT BUDGETS
The following records were submitted for this discussion and are on file in the Office of the City Clerk:
• Department Budgets Council Workshop, Power Point Presentation, April 19, 2011.
• Department at a Glance Budget/Accomplishments/Challenges/Trends Handout. No date.
Council received a presentation from Finance Director Chuck McBride and Finance Manager Judi
Vincent. Mr. McBride described the various department headcounts and budget. Mayor Hall asked
why the Human Resource budget was greater than the budgets of other comparable cities. Mr. McBride
stated that a survey comparison of budget and job duties with comparable Human Resource
departments could be done.
Council Member Blackburn asked about contingency funds and their use.
In response to Council Member Packard, Mr. McBride noted that cost/salary breakdown could be found
in the Budget Manual. (This document is on file in the Finance Department.)
Council Member Douglas asked to see a financial breakdown for the Golf Course debt service, golf
course, club house and adjoining habitat areas.
Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at l:42p.m.
Lofcrain^M. Wood, CMC
City Clerk
04/19/2011
Sign Ordinance Issues
Don Neu, City Planner
April 19, 2011
CARLSBAD - . '
Presentation Outline
i
* Background
* Issues with the existing ordinance
* Staff recommendation
CARLSBAD
04/19/2011
Background
Last comprehensively amended In 2001
Previous standards specified a maximum area
per residential zone
Nonresidential zones allowed 1.5 sq. ft. per
lineal foot of building frontage
^CARLSBAD •
Background
There were no standards regulating the
maximum permitted number and location of
various sign types
Objective of current ordinance was to create
more restrictive sign regulations
^CARLSBAD
04/19/2011
Background
Provide adequate channels of communication
Comply with constitutional case law
Standards address the permitted number, size,
letter height, type, and location of signs for
zones and uses
CARLSBAD
Issues for Larger Buildings
Recent requests for sign variances
Larger nonresidential businesses
Issues with maximum sign area, number of
signs, and letter height
More appropriately proportioned and in scale
with the larger size of buildings
CARLSBAD
04/19/2011
Sign Programs
Required for all master plans, specific plans,
commercial projects, and industrial/office
projects > 25 acres in area
Integrates signs with buildings, circulation and
landscaping to form a coordinated
architectural statement
CARLSBAD
Sign Program
Former ordinance allowed sign programs to
vary from the regulations of the ordinance
The flexibility available through previous sign
programs is necessary
Reduce the number of sign variance requests
Maintain control over sign aesthetics & quality
^CARLSBAD
04/19/2011
Electronic Message Board Signs
I -
Prohibited by the existing ordinance
Often used by public schools & cities to
promote community events
Also used for auto or commercial centers on
freeway corridors for advertising
Requests from Car Country & PCR Mall
CARLSBAD
Directional Signs
Requests to allow directional signs off-site
within the public right-of-way
Purpose is to guide residents & visitors to
public buildings, facilities, cultural/historical
destinations, and public points of interest
CARLSBAD
Directional Signs
» City Council Policy #65 Signs on Public
Property would need to be amended
04/19/2011
^> CITY OF
CARLSBAD
Additional Sign Issues
* Open Space zone allows only temporary signs
« Revisions necessary to comply with current
constitutional case law
• Minor revisions to clarify and correct existing
definitions and sign standards
^CARLSBAD
04/19/2011
Recommendation
Direct staff to initiate the process of amending
the city's sign ordinance and City Council
Policy #65 to consider and/or address the
issues listed in the memorandum to the city
manager
CARLSBAD
-, All Receive
> CITYOF r a. T .r • .i- i' /-- A n i o r> A r^ For the Information of the:
LAKLbDAU CITY COUNCIL /
ACM i/ DCM_/CA_/CC_^_
Date~4]i5 City Manager
Memorandum
April 12, 2011
To: Lisa Hildabrand, City Manager
From: Don Neu, City Planner ^>f
Via Gary Barberio, Community and Economic Development Director-
Re: Sign Ordinance - April 19, 2011 City Council Workshop
The attached "white paper" addressing the city's Sign Ordinance is being provided for the City
Council's consideration in preparation for their April 19, 2011 Workshop. The city's Sign Ordinance
(Chapter 21.41 of the CMC, attached) was last comprehensively amended in 2001. Since that time,
staff has identified a number of issues with the existing Sign Ordinance (discussed in the attached
white paper), including concerns expressed by the development community, which merit
reconsideration and potential amendment. Staff is recommending that the City Council direct staff
to initiate the process of amending the City's Sign Ordinance to consider and/or address the above
indentified issues and requests.
GTB:DN:lt
Community & Economic Development
1635 Faraday Ave. i Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2710 I 760-602-8560 fax
SIGN ORDINANCE
Background:
The City's Sign Ordinance (Chapter 21.41 of the CMC, attached) was last comprehensively
amended in 2001. Since that time, staff has identified a number of issues with the existing Sign
Ordinance, including concerns expressed by the development community, which merit
reconsideration and potential amendment. The issues include the following:
1. The nonresidential development community has recently requested that the City consider
amending its Sign Ordinance to provide more flexible sign standards for nonresidential
buildings and uses, particularly in the midst of this ongoing economic recession, whereby
businesses could greatly benefit from any additional opportunities to more easily identify
their businesses.
For reference, prior to 2001, the City's Sign Ordinance primarily regulated the maximum
total sign area permitted per zone by a simple formula (i.e., 2 square feet (SF) for R-l and
R-2; 20 SF for R-3 and RD-M; and 1.5 SF for all other nonresidential zones times the
lineal footage of building frontage). As an example, a nonresidential building with a
building frontage of 200 feet would be permitted 300 SF of total signage (200' x 1.5 SF.
= 300 SF). There were generally no other comprehensive sign standards regulating the
maximum permitted number and location of various sign types (i.e., wall, monument,
pole and directional signs) nor their physical attributes (i.e., maximum permitted sign
area, number of permitted signs or maximum sign letter height).
In 2001, the City's Sign Ordinance was comprehensively amended with the primary
objective of creating more restrictive sign regulations consistent with the City's interest
in.preserving the community's aesthetic values and traffic safety, while providing
adequate channels of communication and complying with current constitutional case law.
Based upon these objectives, the Sign Ordinance was amended to provide more
restrictive and comprehensive sign standards with respect to the permitted number, size,
letter height, type, and location of signs for varying zones and uses.
At that time, most of the nonresidential buildings in the City's business parks ranged in
size between 15,000 and 50,000 SF in area; few buildings, exceeded 100,000 SF in area.
Accordingly, the current adopted sign standards, including the maximum wall sign area
(50 SF), the number of allowed wall signs (1 to 3, depending on building size), and letter
height (18" - 36"), were deemed adequate to identify the types and sizes of existing
businesses.
More recently, a newer generation of larger office/industrial and commercial buildings
(i.e., 50,000 to 100,000 SF and greater than 100,000 SF) has been approved/built in the
City (i.e., ViaSat, Life Technologies, ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Lowe's, Bressi Ranch Self
Storage). In this context, the City has recently reviewed a number of sign variance
applications from some of the larger nonresidential buisnesses (Life Technologies,
Lowe's and Bressi Ranch Self Storage) requesting approval of an increase in the
maximum sign area, number of signs, and letter height standards so thai the signage is
more appropriately proportioned and in scale with the larger size of the buildings.
Staff is recommending thai the Sign Ordinance be considered for amendment to address
the signage needs of these larger nonresidential buildings in a manner that provides for
adequate signage identification, while maintaining the overall high quality of signage
aesthetics in the City.
2. The existing Sign Ordinance mandates that comprehensive sign programs be required and
approved for all master plans, specific plans, commercial projects, and industrial/office
projects > 25 acres in area. A sign program is a plan that integrates signs for a project
with buildings, circulation and landscaping to form a coordinated architectural statement.
A sign program also functions as a master record of permitted and actual signage on a
property. This information provides the City a significant benefit in administering signs
for the property. The existing Sign Ordinance specifies that sign programs may not
supersede the sign regulations of the Sign Ordinance.
The City's former Sign Ordinance allowed for projects with an approved sign program to
vary from the sign regulations of the Sign Ordinance. In hindsight, given the overall
benefits to the City of a comprehensive sign program for larger prominent nonresidential
and master/specific planned projects, staff is recommending that the Sign Ordinance be
considered for amendment to allow smaller projects to propose comprehensive sign
programs and to allow all projects with an approved comprehensive sign program to vary
from the sign regulations of the Sign Ordinance. This would provide the signage
flexibility required for these uses and would therefore reduce the number of sign variance
requests, while still maintaining strong control over sign aesthetics and quality,
3. The City's Sign Ordinance currently prohibits Electronic Message Board Signs (signs
with a fixed or changing display composed of a series of lights, light emitting diodes
(LED) or liquid crystal display (LCD)) that use moving text, and other means to draw
attention from vehicular traffic. Often times these signs are used by public schools and
municipalities to promote community events, and in some cases auto or commercial
centers on freeway corridors for advertising purposes. Staff has recently received
requests from the Cily's regional commercial center representatives (Car Country and
Plaza Camino Real) to allow these signs.
4. The City has received requests from a variety of organizations to allow them to post way-
finding (directional) signs off-site and within the public right-of-way or on public
property to guide residents and visitors to public buildings, public facilities, quasi-public
buildings, cultural/historical destinations, and public points of interest within Carlsbad.
City Council Policy #65 (Signs on Public Property) would need to be amended to allow
for "Way-finding Signs".
5. The City has received recent requests to allow for signage identification for uses (i.e.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center) in the Open Space zone.
6. Ordinance revisions that are necessary to comply with current constitutional case law.
7. Minor ordinance revisions that will clarify and/ or correct existing definitions and sign
standards.
Recommendation:
Staff is recommending that the City Council direct staff to initiate the process of amending the
City's Sign Ordinance to consider and/or address the above indentified issues and requests.
21.41.005
Chapter 2J.41
SIGN ORDINANCE
Sections:
21.41.005 Purpose.
21.41.010 Applicability.
21.41.020 Definitions.
21.41.025 General provisions.
21.41.030 Prohibited signs.
21.41.040 Signs on private property not
requiring :i sign permit.
21.41.050 Application and permit
procedures.
21.41.060 Sign programs.
21.41.070 General sign standards.
21.41.080 Sign design standards.
21.41.090 Coastal zone sign standards.
21.41.095 Permitted permanent signs.
21.41.100 Permitted temporary signs.
21.41.110 Construction and maintenance.
21.41.120 Removal of signs.
21.41.125 Appeal of denial or revocation.
21.41.130 Nonconforming signs.
21.41.140 Remedies and penalties.
21.41.150 Violations.
21.41.160 Severability.
21.41.005 Purpose.
The purposes of the sign ordinance codified in
this chapter include to:
A. Implement the city's community design and
safety standards as set forth in the general plan;
B. Maintain and enhance the city's appearance
by regulating the design, character, location, num-
ber, type, quality of materials, size, illumination
and maintenance of signs;
C. Protect and improve pedestrian and vehic-
ular traffic safety by balancing the need for signs
which facilitate the safe and smooth How of traffic
(i.e., traffic directional signs) without an excess of
signage which may distract motorists, overload
their capacity to quickly receive information, visu-
ally obstruct traffic signs or otherwise create con-
gestion and safety hazards;
D. Eliminate the traffic safety hazards to pe-
destrians and motorists posed by off-site signs
bearing commercial messages;
E. Generally limit commercial signage to on-
site locations in order to protect the aesthetic en-
vironment from the visual clutter associated with
the unrestricted proliferation of signs, while pro-
viding channels of communication to the public;
F. Allow the communication of information
for commercial and noncommercial purposes with-
out regulating the content of noncommercial mes-
sages;
G. Allow the expression of political, religious
and other noncommercial speech at all times and
allow for an increase in the quantity of such speech
in the period preceding elections;
H. Respect and protect the right of free speech
by sign display," while reasonably regulating the
structural, locational and other noncommunica-
tive aspects of signs, generally for the public health,
safety, welfare and specifically to serve the public
interests in traffic and pedestrian safety and com-
munity aesthetics;
I. Minimize the possible adverse effects of signs
on nearby public and private property;
J. Serve the city's interests in maintaining and
enhancing its visual appeal for tourists and other
visitors, by preventing the degradation of visual
quality which can result from excess signage;
K. Protect the investments in property and
lifestyle quality made by persons who choose to
live, work or do business in the city;
L. Defend the peace and tranquility of residen-
tial zones and neighborhoods by generally forbid-
ding commercial signs on private residences, while
allowing residents the opportunity, within reason-
able limits, to express political, religious and other
noncommercial messages from their homes; and
M. Enable the fair, consistent and efficient en-
forcement of the sign regulations of the city. (Ord.
NS-606§1 (part), 2001)
Supp. No. 29 672
21.41.020
21.41.010 Applicability.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply gen-
erally to ail zones established by this title. Proper-
ties and uses in the village review (VR) zone are
regulated first by the sign standards of the Carlsbad
village master plan and design manual, and then,
to the extent not covered by said master plan and
design manual, by the provisions of this chapter.
Signs on public property, both within the village
review zone and other zones, are controlled by city
council policy.
In those areas of the city where master plan or
specific plan sign standards or sign programs were
adopted by ordinance as special zoning regula-
tions, those sign standards or sign programs shall
apply; however, the "substitution" provisions of
this chapter, section 21.41.025(2), shall apply to
such programs and plans.
All other sign programs that were approved
prior to the effective date of this chapter, but not
by ordinance, are subject only to the "substitu-
tion" provisions of this chapter (section
21.41.025(2)), except that if any such sign pro-
gram is proposed for amendment to increase over-
all sign area allowed, then the sign program must
be amended to conform with all development and
design standards of this chapter.
Except as noted in the preceding paragraph, a
sign, as defined in this chapter, may be affixed,
erected, constructed, placed, established, mounted,
created or maintained only in conformance with
the standards, procedures and other requirements
of this chapter. The standards regarding number
and size of signs regulated by this chapter are
maximum standards, unless otherwise stated. (Ord.
NS-606§1 (part), 2001)
(Orel. No. CS-038, § I, 7-7-2009)
21.41.020 Definitions.
(1) "Abandoned sign" means any sign (a) lo-
cated on property that becomes vacant or unoccu-
pied, (b) which pertains to any occupant or busi-
ness unrelated to the premises' present occupant
or business, or (c) which pertains to a time, event
' or purpose which no longer applies.
(2) "Abate" means to put an end to and phys-
ically remove. Discontinuance of a sign without
removal of the entire sign structure shall not con-
stitute abatement.
(3) "Address sign" means the identification of
the location of a building or use on a street by a
number(s).
(4) "A-frame sign" means a freestanding sign,
not higher than five feet and not wider than three
feet, designed to be easily movable and to rest on
the ground without being affixed to any object or
structure. Such signs are commonly in the shape of
the letter "A," but may also be in the shape of an
inverted letter "T" or a letter "H."
(5) "Animated sign" means any sign with ac-
tion or motion or color changes, whether or not
requiring electrical energy or set in motion by
wind. This definition excludes flags.
(6) "Attraction board" means a sign capable of
supporting copy which is readily changeable, such
as theater marquee, and which refers to products,
services or coming events on the premises.
(7) "Average grade" means the average level of
the finished surface of the ground directly beneath
a monument or pole sign.
(8) "Awning sign" means a sign that is a part
of, or attached to, an awning, canopy or other
fabric, metal, plastic or structural protective cover
over a door, entrance, window, architectural fea-
ture or outdoor service area. A marquee is not an
awning or canopy.
(9) "Balloon" means a small inflatable device
used for purposes of commercial signage, adver-
tising or attention getting. See also "inflatable signs."
(10) "Banner" means any sign made of cloth,
lightweight fabric, bunting, plastic, vinyl, paper or
similar material that is permanently or tempo-
rarily placed on, or affixed to, real property in a
location where it is visible to the public from out-
side of the building or structure. A flag, as defined,
shall not be considered a banner.
(11) "Beacon" means a stationary or revolving
light (including laser lights, klieg lights, spot lights,
search lights, projected image signs and similar
devices) with one or more beams projected into
672-1 Supp. No. 29
21.41.020
the atmosphere or directed at one or more points
away from the light source and used for purposes
other than police, fire, public safety or news gath-
ering operations.
(12) "Bench sign" means a sign painted on or
affixed to any portion of a bench or seating area at
bus stops or other such pedestrian areas.
(13) "Billboard" means an off-site permanent
structure sign which displays a commercial mes-
sage.
(14) "Building frontage" means the total width
of the elevation of a building which fronts on a
public or private street or the building elevation
along which the main entrance exists. For the
purposes of calculating permitted sign area, every
building has only one building frontage. If more
than one business is located in a single building,
then such area shall be limited to that portion
which is occupied by each individual business or
establishment.
(15) "Building marker" means a sign cut into a
masonry surface or made of bronze or similar
material permanently affixed to a public building
or building of designated historic significance.
(16) "Bus stop signs" means a sign mounted on
a shelter which serves as a bus stop or passenger
waiting area for public transportation; this defini-
tion does not include devices giving the schedule
and/or prices for the transportation service.
(17) "Canopy sign." See "awning sign."
(18) "Changeable copy sign" means a sign or
portion thereof with characters, letters or illustra-
tions that can be changed or rearranged without
altering the face or the surface of the sign.
(19) "Channel lettered signs" means signs with
individually cut, three-dimensional letters or fig-
ures affixed to a building or sign structure.
(20) "Commercial center" means a commer-
cial development that includes predominantly re-
tail businesses with access driveways or parking
spaces shared by one or more of the businesses.
(21) "Commercial signage" or "commercial
message" means any sign or sign copy with word-
ing, logo or other representation that directly or
indirectly names, advertises or calls attention to a
business, product, service or other commercial ac-
tivity or which proposes a commercial transaction
or relates primarily to commercial interests.
(22) "Construction sign" means a temporary
sign on real property on which construction of
new improvements is occurring.
(23) "Cornerstone" means stone or other wall
portion laid at or near the foundation of a build-
ing and which indicates in permanent markings
the year of construction. .
(24) "Directional sign" means an on-site sign
designed to guide or direct pedestrian or vehicular
traffic to uses on the same site.
(25) "Directory sign" means a sign listing the
persons, activities or tenants located on-site.
(26) "Eaveline" means the bottom of the roof
eave or parapet.
(27) "Electronic message board sign" means a
sign with a fixed or changing display composed of
a series of lights, light emitting diodes (LED) or
liquid crystal display (LCD) or functionally simi-
lar devices.
(28) "Establishment" means any organization
or activity which uses land for purposes other than
residential use. Includes all business and commer-
cial uses, as well as institutional, public, semi-
public and other noncommercial uses but does not
include a permanently enclosed place or use where
people regularly sleep or prepare their own meals
(not including hotels, motels or other places offer-
ing temporary or short term accommodations to
the public which are within the meaning of estab-
lishment).
(29) "Externally illuminated" means illumi-
nated by a light source that is located externally to
the sign surface. This method of lighting may
include, but is not limited to, spotlighting or
backlighting.
(30) "Fascia sign" means a sign fastened to or
engraved in the band or board at the edge of a roof
overhang.
(31) "Flag" means a device, generally made of
flexible materials such as cloth, fabric, paper or
Supp. No. 29 672-2
21.41.020
plastic, usually used as a symbol of a government,
political subdivision, public agency, company logo,
belief system or concept.
(32) "Freestandingcommercial building" means
a building occupied by a single user retail business,
or a noncommercial use located in a zoning dis-
trict where commercial activities are allowed, that
has direct vehicular access to an adjacent street.
(33) "Freestanding sign" means a sign sup-
ported upon the ground and not attached to any
building. This definition includes monument signs
and pole signs.
(34) "Freeway service station" means a gas/
service station located on a property that is con-
tiguous to a freeway interchange.
(35) "Frontage." See "street frontage."
(36) "General advertising" means the business
or practice of offering sign display space, usually
for a fee, to one or more commercial advertisers.
(37) "Hand held" means those signs or devices
which are held by or otherwise mounted on hu-
man beings or animals.
672-3 SWP- No-
21.41.020
(38) "Inflatable signs" or "inflatable attention-
getting devices" means any air or gas filled device
located, attached or tethered to the ground, site,
merchandise, building or roof and used for the
purposes of commercial signage, advertising or
attention getting.
(39) "Internally illuminated" means the illumi-
nation of the sign face from behind so that the light
shines through translucent sign copy or lighting via
neon or other gases within translucent tubing
incorporated onto or into the sign face.
(40) "Logo" means a trademark or symbol of an
organization, belief system or concept.
(41) "Marker board" means a board designed
for displaying images made by chalk, markers or
similar devices; includes devices commonly known
as blackboards, whiteboards and chalkboards.
(42) "Marquee" means a permanent canopy
structure attached to and supported by a building
and projecting near or over private sidewalks or
public rights-of-way, generally located near the
entrance to a hotel, theater or entertainment use,
and used as a display surface for a sign message.
(43) "Master plan" means a plan prepared and
adopted pursuant to Chapter 21.38 of this code.
(44) "Mobile billboard" means a vehicle for
which the primary use is to display a general adver-
tising message.
(45) "Monument sign" means a freestanding
sign, which is supported by a base that rests upon
the ground and of which the display or copy is an
integral part of the design.
(46) "Multi-face sign" means a sign displaying
information on at least two surfaces, each having a
different orientation, or on a curved surface so that
the copy or image is different when viewed from
different angles.
(47) "Multi-tenant building" means a nonresi-
dential building in which there exists two or more
separate nonresidential tenants or businesses.
(48) "Neon sign" means a sign that utilizes
neon or other gases within translucent tubing in or
on any part of the sign structure.
(49) "Noncommercial signage" means any sign
which is intended to convey a noncommercial
message including, by way of example and not
limitation, commentary on social, political, educa-
tional, religious, scientific, artistic, philosophical or
charitable commentary subjects. This definition
also includes signs regarding fund raising or mem-
bership drive activities for noncommercial or
nonprofit concerns.
(50) "Nonconforming sign" means any sign
which was legally established in conformance with
all applicable laws in effect at the time of original
installation but which does not conform to the
requirements of this chapter.
(51) "On-site sign" means a sign displaying a
commercial message which relates or pertains to
the business conducted, services available or ren-
dered or goods available for sale, rent or use, upon
the same premises where the sign is located. A sign
program may define "on-site" in a manner which
applies only to that program.
(52) "Off-site sign" means any sign that gives
directions to or identifies a commercial use, prod^ -
uct or activity not located or available on the same
premises as the sign.
(53) "Pennant" means a lightweight plastic, fab-
ric or other material, whether or not containing a
message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire
or string, usually in series, designed to move in the
wind.
(54) "Permanent sign" means any sign which is
intended to be and is so constructed as to be of
lasting and enduring condition, remaining un-
changed in character, condition (beyond normal
wear and tear) and position and in a permanent
manner affixed to the ground, wall or building.
(55) "Person" means any natural person, marital
estate, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited
partnership, corporation (of any type or form,
regardless of where incorporated), trust, associa-
tion, limited liability company, unincorporated
association or any other juridical person capable of
legally owning, occupying or using land.
(56) "Pole sign" means a freestanding sign, that
is greater than six feet in height and is supported by
one or more vertical supports.
(57) "Portable sign" means a sign made of any
material which, by its design, is readily movable
including, but not limited to, signs on wheels,
casters and rollers, "A-frame" signs and signs
attached to vehicles or trailers, water vessels,
humans or animals.
673 (Carlsbad 2-02}
21.41.020
(58) "Premises" means the place where a busi-
ness or other establishment is located. If there is
only one business or establishment on the legal
parcel, then the entire parcel is the premises. If
there is more than one business or other establish-
ment on a single parcel, then the premises is the
portion of the parcel actually occupied or exclu-
sively used by the business or other establishment,
except that signs relating to the owner or manager
of the entire parcel may be considered on-site when
placed anywhere on the parcel.
(59) "Prohibited sign" means any sign that is spe-
cifically not permitted by this chapter or was erected
without complying with the regulations of this chap-
ter in effect at the time of construction, display or use.
(60) "Projecting sign" means a sign which pro-
jects more than ten inches from a wall or other
vertical surface, generally at about ninety degrees.
(61) "Property owner" means the owner of the
property on which the sign is displayed or proposed
to be displayed. When the property is land,
"owner" includes the legal owner according to the
official land records of the San Diego County
Recorder, all beneficial owners thereof and all
persons presently holding a legal right to posses-
sion of the subject property.
(62) "Public property" means all land located
within the corporate limits of the city and which is
either owned by the city or the redevelopment
agency or is part of the public right-of-way located
within the city. The definition also includes pro-
grams or facilities owned or operated by the city.
(63) "Regional commercial center" means a
commercial development located upon a property
with a regional commercial general plan designation
and having the following characteristics: project site
area between thirty and one hundred acres; gross
lease area between three hundred thousand and one
million five hundred thousand square feet; major
tenants may include full-line department stores (two
or more), factory outlet centers, power centers of
several high volume specialty stores, warehouse
club stores or automobile dealerships; secondary
tenants may include a fiill range of specialty retail,
restaurants and entertainment. A center is still within
this definition even if it includes one or more non-
commercial uses.
(64) "Right-of-way" means an area or strip of
land, either public or private, on which an irrevo-
cable right-of-passage has been recorded for the
use of vehicles or pedestrians or both.
(65) "Roof sign" means a sign erected and con-
structed wholly or in part upon, against or above
the roof of a building. For purposes of this chapter,
any portion of a building above or behind the fascia
or parapet of a building shall be considered part of
. the roof.
(66) "Shopping complex" means the same as
"commercial center."
(67) "Sign" means any device, fixture, placard
or structure that uses any color, form, graphic,
illumination, symbol, image or writing to advertise,
announce the purpose of, identify a person, prod-
uct, service or entity or to communicate informa-
tion of any kind to the public. However, the follow-
ing are not within the definition of "sign" for the
regulatory purposes of this chapter:
a. Any public or legal notice required by a
court or public agency;
b. Decorative or architectural features of build-
ings, except letters, trademarks or moving parts;
c. Holiday decorations and lights, clearly in-
cidental to and associated with holidays or cultural
observances and which are on display on a given
parcel for not more than forty-five calendar days in
a calendar year;
d. Building markers, as defined herein;
e. Cornerstones, as defined herein;
f. Symbols or insignia which are an integral
part of a doormat or welcome mat, or embedded
directly into the sidewalk or entrance surface, so
long as such device is otherwise legal and is lo-
cated entirely on private property and on the
ground or sidewalk;
g. Items or devices of personal apparel or
decoration but not including hand held signs;
h. Marks on tangible goods, which identify
the maker, seller, provider or product, as such are
customarily used in the normal course of the trade
or profession;
i. Symbols of noncommercial organizations
or concepts including, but not limited to, religious
or political symbols, when such are permanently
integrated into the structure of a permanent build-
ing which is otherwise legal;
(Carhbad 2-02)674
21.41.020
j. Property entry and security protection no-
tices and signs svaming of dangers or health and
safety policies, such as, by way of example and not
limited to, "Beware of Dog," "Danger High Volt-
age," "No Shirt No Service," etc., when such are
not over one square foot on residential uses or two
square feet on other uses and firmly affixed to their
mounting surface or device;
k. The legal use of fireworks, candles and ar-
tificial lighting not otherwise regulated by this
chapter,
1. Devices which are located entirely within
an enclosed structure and are not visible from the
exterior thereof;
m. Advertisements or banners mounted on or
towed behind free-flying airborne vessels or craft,
such as airplanes, dirigibles, blimps and the like;
n. Advertisements or banners mounted on
trains which legally pass through the city;
o. On street legal vehicles and properly li-
censed watercraft, license plates, license plate
frames, registration insignia, noncommercial mes-
sages, messages relating to the business of which
the vehicle or vessel is an instrument or tool (not
including general advertising) and messages relat-
ing to the proposed sale, lease or exchange of the
vehicle or vessel.
(68) "Sign area" means the display or message
area of the sign. The methods of computing sign
area are detailed in Section 21.41.070(A).
(69) "Sign height" means the height, of the
highest point on the sign structure above grade or
ground beneath. The methods of calculating sign
height are stated in Section 21.41.070(B).
(70) "Sign permit" means an entitlement from
the city to place or erect a sign.
(71) "Sign program" means a plan that inte-
grates signs for a project with buildings, circulation
and landscaping to form a coordinated architectural
statement.
(72) "Site development plan" means a plan re-
quired pursuant to-Chapter 21.06 of this code.
(73) "Specific plan" means a plan prepared and
adopted pursuant to Section 65451 of the Califor-
nia Government Code.
(74) "Street frontage" means the distance along
which a lot line adjoins a public street, from one lot
line intersecting said street to the furthest distant lot
line intersecting the same street. A development
project containing more than one lot along a street
shall be considered to have only one street frontage
on that street. Corner lots have at least two street
frontages.
(75) "Suspended sign" means a sign hung from
the underside of a marquee, pedestrian arcade or
covered walkway, usually at approximately ninety
degrees to the building wall or storefront.
(76) "Tall freestanding sign" means a monu-
ment or pole sign that is greater than fourteen feet
in height.
(77) "Temporary seasonal sales permit" means
a permit to allow outdoor seasonal and holiday
sales, including, but not limited to, Christmas trees,
pumpkins and flowers, on private property,
(78) "Temporary sign" means a sign, including
paper, cardboard wood, plastic, synthetic, fabric or
similar materials, which by virtue of its physical
nature may be used only for a limited period of
time and is not permanently mounted.
(79) "Traffic directional sign" means a sign
which indicates place, location or direction for the
information of drivers or pedestrians.
(80) "Unsafe sign" means a sign posing an im-
mediate peril or reasonably foreseeable threat of
injury or damage to persons or property on account
of the condition of the physical structure of the sign
or its mounting mechanism. A sign may not be
considered "unsafe" within this definition by virtue
of the message displayed thereon.
(81) "Vehicle sign" means a sign mounted upon
a vehicle which may legally be parked on or move
on public roads, as well as a sign mounted upon a
water vessel which may legally move upon the
waters.
(82) "Vessel sign" means a sign mounted upon
a water vessel which may legally move upon the
waters.
(83) "Wall sign" means a sign attached to a wall
surface that does not project or extend more than
ten inches from the wall, which is confined within
the limits of an outside wall and which displays
only one display surface.
(84) "Window sign" means any sign painted or
affixed to the inside or outside of a window surface
or otherwise located within a building so as to be
visible from the exterior of the building. This
675 (Carlsbad 2-02)
21.41.020
definition does not include window displays of
merchandise offered for sale, so long as such
displays are located at least twelve inches from the
window on the interior. (Ord. NS-606 § 1 (part),
2001)
21.41.025 General provisions.
(1) Owner's Consent Required. The consent of
the property owner is required before any sign may
be displayed on any real or personal property
within the city. In the case of public property, the
owner's consent shall be pursuant to a policy
adopted by the city council.
(2) Substitution of Noncommercial Message.
Subject to the owner's consent, a noncommercial
message of any type may be substituted for ail or
part of the commercial or noncommercial message
on any sign allowed pursuant to this chapter. De-
sign criteria which may apply to commercial signs,
such as color, lettering style or height, and com-
patibility with other signs on the same parcel or
other signs subject to a sign program, do not apply
to noncommercial message signs even when they
are in an area subject to a sign program, master
plan or specific plan. No special or additional
permit is required to substitute a noncommercial
message for any other message on an allowable
sign, provided the sign is already permitted or
exempt from the permit requirement. When a
noncommercial message is substituted for any
other message, the. sign is still subject to the same
location and structure regulations, such as size,
height, illumination, duration of display, building
and electrical code requirements, as would apply if
the sign were used to display a commercial mes-
sage or some other noncommercial message. This
substitution provision shall prevail over any other
provision to the contrary, whether more specific or
not, in this chapter and applies retroactively to sign
programs, master plans and specific plans which
were adopted or approved before this chapter was
enacted.
(3) Substitution of Commercial Messages.
This substitution provision does not automatically
allow substitution of one commercial message for
another commercial message, nor does it automati-
cally allow free substitution of a commercial mes-
sage in a place where only a noncommercial mes-
sage is allowed; however, such substitutions may
be allowed by other provisions of this chapter. This
provision does not, by itself, allow off-site com-
mercial messages to be substituted for on-site
commercial messages; however, such substitution
may be allowed by other provisions of this chapter.
(4) Location of Noncommercial Speech. For
purposes of this chapter, all noncommercial speech
messages shall be deemed to be "on-site," regard-
less of location.
(5) Legal Nature of Sign Rights and Duties.
All rights, duties and responsibilities related to
permanent signs attach to the land on which the
sign is mounted, affixed or displayed and run with
the land or personal property. The city may de-
mand compliance with this chapter and with the
terms of any sign permit from the permit holder,
the owner of the sign, the property owner or the
person mounting the sign.
(6) Transfer of Signage Rights. Rights and du-
ties relating to permanent signs may not be trans-
ferred between different parcels of real property.
AH duJy issued and valid sign permits for perma-
nent signs affixed to land shall automatically
transfer with the right to possession of the real
property on which the sign is located. (Ord. NS-
606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41,030 Prohibited signs.
The following signs, as defined in this chapter,
are prohibited in all zones of the city, unless a more
specific provision or city policy allows them at
certain times and places:
(1) Abandoned signs, including their structures
and supports;
(2) A-frame signs;
(3) Animated signs including, but not limited
to signs that move, blink, fkJsh, change color,
reflect, revolve or make noise;
(4) Balloons or other inflatable signs or de-
vices, as defined herein;
(5) Beacons, as defined herein;
(6) Billboards with a display face greater than
sixty square feet, as defined herein;
(7) Bus. stop bench/shelter signs, as defined
herein;
(8) Electronic message board signs;
(Carlsbad 2-02)676
21.41.030
(9) Exposed neon lighted signs on any build-
ing elevation that faces and is within five hundred
feet of any property line that adjoins residential!)'
zoned property;
(10) General advertising messages displayed on
vehicles parked on any public property within the
city;
(11) Hand held or sandwich board signs carried
by a person on public property or in the public
right-of-way and displaying a commercial mes-
sage;
(12) Marker boards, as defined herein;
(13) Mobile billboards or any other type of ve-
hicle whose primary purpose is displaying general
advertising that is moving or parked on city streets;
(14) Off-site commercial signs;
(15) Portable signs with commercial messages;
except for temporary signs as indicated in Sections
21.41.040 and21.41.100;
(16) Roof signs (except holiday decorations and
lights);
(17) Signs attached to trees, plants, rocks,
fences, utility poles/cabinets or other objects, the
primary function of which is not to support a sign;
(18) Signs blocking doors, firescapes or public
righls-of-way;
(19)'Signs erected on or over public property
including public easements and public rights-of-
way, except those needed for traffic and public
safety regulation as indicated in Section
21.41.070(C) and those erected pursuant to a policy
adopted by the city council regarding signs on
public property;
(20) Signs simulating in color or design a traffic
sign or signal or using words, symbols or charac-
ters in such a manner as to be reasonably likely to
interfere with;- mislead or confuse pedestrian or
vehicular traffic;
(21) Signs that do not conform with applicable
Uniform Building Code and National Electric Code
regulations;
(22) Temporary signs, including but not limited
to banners and pennants, except as provided for in
Sections 21.41.040 and 21.41.100; .,
(23) Unsafe signs, as defined in this chapter.
(Ord.NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.040 Signs on private property not
requiring a sigu permit.
The signs listed in Table A do not require a sign
permit, and their area and number shall not be
included in the aggregate area or number of signs
subject to a permit requirement, for any given
property.
TABLE A
SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY NOT REQUIRING A SIGN PERMIT
TYPE OF SIGN
Traffic Control,
Directional or Warning
Signs erected or required
by government agencies
Address Sign
PLACEMENT ]
Frccstandin&i'Wall/
Banner
Wall
MAXIMUM
NUMBER
OF SIGNS
1 pet building
MAXIMUM
SIGN AREA
PER SIGN
6 square feel.
MAXIMUM
SIGN/LETTER
HEIGHT
•v
The minimum number
height shall be:
Residential -4 inches
and Nonresidcnlia! - 6
inches, unless ihc Fire
Marcha! requires a
gjcalcr height
REMARKS
677 (Cailsbpd 2-02)
21.41.040
TABLE A (Continued)
SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY NOT REQUIRING A SIGN PERMIT
Noncommercial Signs on
residential property
Window Signs located in
commercial centers and
freestanding commercial
buildings
Single Dwelling Unit or
Condominium Unit -
property which is for
rent, sale or lease
Additional Political and
other Noncommercial
Signs on private property
during campaign periods
Wall/Freestanding
or Window
Window
Freestanding sign
displayed on the
owner's real
property or real
property owned by
others with Ihcir
consent (Pursuant to
California Civil
Code section 713}
Freestanding
1 per dwelling
unit
6 square feet per
residential unit.
Total copy aica
shall not exceed
25% of the
window area.
4 square feet.
8 square feet per
residential unit.
1 6 square feet
per non-
residential lot.
5 feel above overage
grade.
7 feet above average
grade/6 inches.
5 feet above average
grade.
5 feet above average
grade or 3.5 feet
above average grade
if in the from yard.
X
I . May not be
i!lumina;cd.
2. Musi be
located on the
residential
property.
1 . Fluorescent,
neon or "day-
glow" colors are
prohibited.
Shall be removed
from the building
or property
within fifteen
(15) days after
the sale, rental or
lease.
I.May be
located on any
private property,
with owner's
consent.
2. Display time
limited to 45
days preceding
any federal, state
or local (primary-,
general or
special) election
and shall be
removed, by the
person placing or
erecting such
sign within ten
(10) days
following such
election.
3. This is in
addition to the
noncommercial
signage allowed
under the
substitution
provision and the
noncommercial
signage allowed
at all times in
residential zones.
4. Noncommer-
cial signs may
also be allowed
on public
property per city
council policy.
(CuUbad 2-02)678
21.41.040
TABLE A (Continued)
SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY NOT REQUIRING A SIGN PERMIT
Flags with commercial
symbols
Flags with
noncommercial symbols
Temporary signs
attached to parked or
stationary vehicles
visible from the public
riaht-of-way
Signs permanently
attached to or painted on
vehicles, with non-
changeable copy, used in
the day-to-day operations
of a business
Freestanding pole
or pole mounted on
side of building
Freestanding pole
or pole mounted on
sidcofbuilding
inside windows
1 flag per
nonrciidcr.tial
establishment
located in ihe C-
M, P-M and M
zones
No Restriction
2 per vehicle
24 square feet.
No Restriction
10 inches by 12
inches.
Flag Pole Height:
The lesser of 35 feet
or the height of the
tallest legally
permitted structure
existing on the
premises.
Flag Pols Height:
The lesser of 35 ftct
or the height of the
tallest legally
permitted structure
existing on the
premises.
Maximum of 2
Flag Poles per
occupied
dwelling unit and
3 Flag Poles per
nonresidcnlial
establishment.
No limitation if
sign not visible
from public
right-of-way.
Docs not apply to
"general
advertising" or
"mobile
billboards."
(Ord.NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.050 Application and permit
procedures.
A. Sign Permit Required. It shall be unlaw-
ful for any person to affix, place, erect, suspend,
attach, construct, structurally or electrically alter
(not including a change in sign copy or sign face),
move or display any temporary or permanent sign
within the city without first obtaining a sign
permit in accordance with the provisions of this
section, unless the sign is exempt from the permit
requirement under Section 21.41.040.
1. A sign permit shall not be required for
cleaning or other normal maintenance of an
existing sign, unless a structural or electrical
change is made.
2. No sign permit is required when a politi-
cal, religious or other noncommercial message is
substituted for another commercial message on a
pre-existing sign or when a noncommercial mes-
sage is substituted for a noncommercial message
on a properly permitted sign.
B. Application for Permit. The application
for a sign permit shall be made in writing on the
form provided by the planning department and
shall be accompanied by the required fee. Such
application shall set forth and contain the follow-
ing information:
1. A drawing to scale showing the design of
the sign, including dimensions, sign size, colors
(applies to commercial message signs only),
materials, method of attachment, source of illu-
mination and showing the relationship to any
building or structure to which it is proposed to be
installed or affixed or to which it relates.
2. A site plan, including all dimensions,
drawn to scale indicating the location of the sign
relative 10 the property line, rights-of-way, streets,
sidewalks, vehicular access points and existing
buildings or structures and off-street parking areas
located on the premises,
3. The number, size, type and location of all
existing signs on the same building, lot or premises.
679 (Cailsbad 2-02)
21.41.050
A. Any structural information and plans nec-
essary to ensure compliance with the latest
adopted building code and electrical code.
C. Fees. All signs require a sign permit fee
and plan checking fee (if applicable) that shall be
paid in accordance with the schedule established
by resolution of the city council.
D. Method of Review. The purpose of a sign
permit is to ensure compliance with the provi-
sions of this chapter and the relevant building and
electrical codes. After receiving a complete sign
application, the community development director
or designee shall render a decision to approve,
approve with modifications or deny such sign
application within fifteen days; however, an
approval with modifications shall be limited to
requiring compliance with this chapter. The
application shall be approved and the permit
issued whenever the proposed sign meets the
following requirements:
1. The proposed sign conforms to all size,
height and other standards for signs subject to a
permit requirement, as such requirements are set
forth in this chapter.
2. The proposed sign is consistent with any
applicable sign program.
3. That the sign conforms to the construc-
tion standards of the latest adopted building and
electrical codes.
E. Revocation or Cancellation of Permit.
The community development director or designee
shall revoke any issued permit upon refusal of the
holder thereof to comply with the provisions of
this chapter after written notice of noncompliance
and fifteen days opportunity to cure. If the work
authorized under a sign permit has not been
completed within six months after the date of
issuance, such permit shall become null and void.
(Ord.NS-606§ 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.060 Sign programs.
A. Purpose. The purpose of a sign program
is to integrate signs with building, site and land-
scaping design to form a unified architectural
statement. Sign programs may not supersede the
dimensional and number limits provided in Tables
"A," "B" and "C" of Sections 21.41.040,
21.43.095 and 21.41.100, respectively. All sign
programs must incorporate the substitution provi-
sions of this chapter, Section 21.41.025(2). Sign
program design standards do not apply to non-
commercial messages and substitution of non-
commercial messages is subject to owner's con-
sent.
B. Applicability. A sign permit for a sign
program shall be required for: (1) master pla
(2) specific plans, (3) nonresidential proje-
. requiring a site development plan process^
pursuant to Chapter 21.06 of this code and (4)
planned industrial or office parks of greater than
twenty-five acres in area.
For those projects requiring a sign program, no
sign permit shall be issued for an individual sign,
unless, and until, a sign program for the lot or
building on which the sign is proposed to be
erected has been approved by the city in confor-
mance with this chapter.
C. Application Requirements. The sign per-
mit application for a sign program shall be made
in writing on the form provided by the planning
department. The application shall be accompanied
by the required fee. Such application shall contain
the following information:
1. A copy of an approved development plan
(master plan, specific plan or site development
plan) drawn to scale showing the location of
property lines, rights-of-way, adjacent streets,
sidewalks and on-site buildings, landscaped areas,
off-street parking areas and vehicular access
points.
2. A drawing to scale showing the design of
each sigh, including dimensions (height and
width), sign size (area), colors, materials, method
of attachment, source of illumination and location
of each sign on any building, structure or prop-
erty. •*•
3. Computation of the total number of signs,
sign area for individual signs, total sign area and
height of signs for each existing and proposed
sign type.
4. A materials board or sign sample that is
an accurate representation of proposed colors,
material and style of copy.
5. The number, size, type and location of all
existing signs on the same building, lot or prem-
ises.
(Culsbad2-02)680
21.41.060
D. Method of Review. After receipt of a
complete application for a sign program, the
community development director, or designee,
shall render a decision to approve, approve with
modifications or deny such sign program applica-
tion within thirty days. The decision of the com-
munity development director is final, but appeal-
able pursuant to this chapter. No sign application
for a sign program shall be approved unless and
until the requirements in subsection 21.41.050(D)
are satisfied.
E. Existing Sign Programs. Existing sign
programs approved prior to the effective date of
this chapter are subject only to the substitution
provision of this chapter; all other terms of the
existing sign program shall continue in force.
However, if any existing sign program is pro-
posed for amendment to increase overall sign
area, then the sign program must be amended to
conform with all development and design stan-
dards of this chapter.
F. Amendments. An amendment to a sign
program shall be processed in the same manner as
an original application for a sign program.
G. Binding Effect. After approval of a sign
program, ail signs subject thereto shall be erected,
constructed, installed, displayed, altered, placed
or maintained only in conformance with such
program. (Ord.NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.070 General sign standards.
The following sign standards shall apply to all
signage within the city.
A. Sign Area. Sign area is computed as fol-
lows:
1. Wall, Retaining Wall, Fascia, Awning,
Window and Landscape/Hardscape Feature 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 mate-
rial or color forming an integral part of the back-
ground of the message or display or otherwise
used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or
structure against which it is placed, but not in-
cluding any supporting framework or bracing.
2y Monument and Suspended Signs. Sign
area shall be computed by measuring the entire
area contained within the frame, cabinet, monu-
ment, monument base or fixture.
3. Pole Signs. Sign area shall be computed
as the area of the surface(s) upon which the sign
message is placed including the supporting coi-
umn(s) if 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, visible from any one point.
When two sign faces are placed back to back, so
that both faces cannot be viewed from any one
point at the same time, and when such sign faces
are part of the same structure, the sign area shall
be computed by the measurement of one of the
faces. In the case of a sign of spherical or cylin-.
drical shape, the area of the sign shall be one-half
of the surface area.
5. Flags, Banners, Pennants, etc. Sign area is
the entire surface area, one side only.
B. Sign Height. Sign height is measured as
follows:
1. Wall, Retaining Wall, Fascia, Awning,
Suspended, Monument, Pole and Window Signs.
Sign height 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. Signs on Public Property, Including the
Public Right-of-Way. Signs may be placed on
public property only in accordance with a policy
adopted by the city council. Signs placed on
public property in violation of the city council's
policy may be summarily removed by the city,
and all persons responsible for placing such signs
on public property contrary to the city council's
policy may be charged with the cost of removal.
D. Placement of Commercial Signs. Commer-
cial signs shall be placed on the property of the use
for which the sign is intended to identify or relate,
unless placement on another property is specifically
allowed by this chapter or other relevant law.
E. Noncommercial Signs. Noncommercial
signs are allowed wherever commercial signage is
permitted within Chapter 21.41 and is subject to
the same standards and total maximum allovv-
681 (Cailsbad 2-Oi)
21.41.070
ances per lot or building of each sign type speci-
fied in this chapter. A permit is required for a
noncommercial sign only when the sign structure
has not been previously permitted. (Ord. NS-606
§1 (part), 2001)
21.41.080 Sign design standards.
Each permanent approved sign shall meet the
following design standards.
A. Colors. For signs displaying commercial
messages, fluorescent, "day-glo" and similar
colors shall not be used.
B. Materials. All permanent signs shall be
constructed of durable materials, which are com-
patible in kind and/or appearance to the building
supporting or identified by the sign. Such materi-
als may include, but are not limited to: ceramic
tile, sandblasted, hand carved or routed wood,
channel lettering, concrete, stucco or stone
monument signs with recessed or raised lettering.
C. Relationship to Buildings. Each perma-
nent commercial message sign located upon a
premises with more than one main building, such
as a commercial, office or industrial project, shall
be designed to incorporate the materials common
or similar to all buildings.
D. Relationship to Other Signs. Where there
is more than one sign on a lot, building or project
site, all permanent signs displaying a commercial
message shall have designs which similarly treat
or incorporate the following design elements:
1. Type of construction materials;
2. Sign/letter color and style of copy;
3. Method used for supporting sign (i.e.,
wall or ground base);
4. Sign cabinet or other configuration of
sign area;
5. Illumination; and
6. Location.
E. Relationship to Streets. Signs shall be de-
signed and located so as not to interfere with the
unobstructed clear view of the public right-of-way
and nearby traffic regulatory signs of any pedes-
trian, bicyclist or motor vehicle driver.
F. Sight Distance. No sign or sign structure
shall be placed or constructed so that it impairs
the sight distance requirements at any public or
private street intersection or driveway.
G. Sign Illumination.
1. General Limitation. Illumination from or
upon any sign shall be shaded, shielded, directed
or reduced so as to minimize light spillage onto
the public right-of-way or adjacent properties.
Externally illuminated signs shall be lighted by
screened or hidden light sources.
2. Free-Standing and Building-Mounted
Signs. Free-standing and building-mounted signs
shall either be non-illurninateci or externally
illuminated, except for signs with opaque back-
grounds which give the appearance of individual
channel letters and changeable copy'signs.
H. Logos and Graphics. Corporate logos and
graphics may be used in conjunction with wall,
monument and pole signs.
I. Landscaping. Each monument and pole
sign shall include landscaping around the base of
the sign, at a minimum ratio of two square feet for
every one square foot of sign area, so as to protect
the sign from vehicles, improve the appearance of
the installation and screen light fixtures and other
appurtenances. (Ord. NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.090 Coastal zone sign standards.
The following sign restrictions apply to proper-
ties in the coastal zone except the Agua Hedionda
Lagoon and village redevelopment segments. If
there is a conflict between the coastal zone sign
standards of this section and any regulations of
this chapter, the standards of this section shall
prevail. Otherwise, within the coastal zone, the
sign regulations of this chapter shall apply.
A. Each business shall be entitled to one fa-
£ade sign.
B. Each shopping complex shall have only
one director}' sign not to exceed fourteen feet in
height, including mounding. •*.
C. Monument sign height including mound-
ing shall not exceed eight feet and shall apply
where three or fewer commercial establishments
exist on a parcel.
D. Tall freestanding and roof signs shall not
be allowed.
E. Off-premises signs shall not be allowed.
(Ord. NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
(Culsbad 2-02)682
21.41.095
21.41.095 Permitted permanent signs. '•'
Tabie B states the criteria for a permit for permanent signs for each type of development and/or corre-
sponding zones. In addition to the type of sign permitted, Table B provides the maximum number, maximum
sign area per sign, maximum sign height and letter height, permitted location and other provisions.
TABLE B
PERMANENT SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
TYPE OF
DEVELOPMENT
AND OR ZONE
Single Family
Residential Lots
Residential
Subdivisions,
Condominiums,
Apartment Projects
and Mobile Home
Parks
Commercial Centers
and Freestanding
Commercial
Buildings
TYPE OF
SIGN
See Section
21.41.100,
Permitted
Temporary
Siens
See Section
21.41.040,
Signs on
Private
Property Not
Requiring a
Sign Permit
Freestanding
Community/
Project Identity
Sign
Directory
Signs - Wall
Mounted or
Freestanding
Monument
MAXIMUM
NUMBER
OF SIGNS
1 per project
entry
1 per entrance
to a building
1 per street
frontage
MAXIMUM
SIGN AREA
PER SIGN
10-25
dwelling units:
1 5 square feet
> 25 dwelling
units: 35
square feet
(Sec Note #1
below)
6 square feel
50 square feet
(See Note # !
beiow)
MAXIMUM
SIGN/LETTER
HEIGHT
6 feel above
average grade/! 8
inches
4 feel above
average grade/6
inches
6 feet above
average grade/18
inches
LOCATION
Driveway
entrance.
Signs are to
be located
and oriented
to direct
visitors upon
entry into the
project or
building.
Primary
driveway
entrance or at
other
strategic
location.
REMARKS
683 (Cailsbaci 2-02)
21.41.095
TABLE B (Continued)
PERMANENT SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
Drive-Thru Facilities
Wail or Fascia
or Awning
Signs
Suspended
Directional
Sign
Wall or
Monument
Reader Board
Commercial
Center -
Freestanding
Commercial
Building
Commercial
Center- 1 per
establishment
3 per
driveway
entrance
Restaurants: 2
per
establishment
Other Drive-
Ihru Facilities:
1 per
establishment
150 square feet
5 square feet
6 square feet
per sign
24 square feet
per sign
Varies/Tenant
Leased Space:
< 3,500 square
feet: 24 inches
3,500-10,000
square feet: 30
inches
10,001-50,000
square feet: 36
inches
> 50,000 square
feet: 48 inches
Underside of
xvalkway/S
inches
4 feel above
average grade/6
inches
6 feet above
average grade/2
inches
l.Wall
Signs: Below
eaveline. Not
allowed on
any parapet
or equipment
enclosure.
2. Fascia
Sign:
Centered on
Fascia.
3. Awning
Sign: Over
doors or
windows.
Underside of
walkway
overhang at
90 degrees to
the business
Establish-
ment.
Should be
located to
facilitate
traffic
internal to
the site.t.
1. Total sign
area shall
not exceed 1
square foot
per each
lineal foot of
building
frontage.
2. The width
of any sign
shall not
exceed 75%
of the width
of the
building
frontage or
lease space
to which the
sign
pertains.
(See Note #2
below)
(Sec Note #4
below)
May not be
illuminated.
Reader
boards are
allowed in
addition to
other signs
permitted for
Freestanding
Commercial
Buildincs.
(Cailsbad 2-02)684
21.41.095
TABLE B (Continued)
PERMANENT SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
Region;)!
Commercial Centers
Office, Industrial and
Retail uses in the R-
P, 0, C-M, P-M, and
M zones (See Note
S7 below)
Buildings < 35,000
square feet in area
Buildings 35,000
square feet - 60,000
square feet in area
Buildings > 60,000
square feet in area
Office or Industrial
Establishment with a
separate building
entrance in a multi-
tenant building
Pole
Monument
Directional
Signs
Wall
Wall
Wall
'Wall or Fascia
1 per center
1 per lot
3 per
driveway
entrance
1 per building
1 per building
or
2 per building
(See Note #5
below)
! per building
or
2 per building
or
3 per building
(See Note r-6
below)
1 per
establishment
! 50 square feet
PIT sign
50 square feet
(See Note # 1
below)
6 square feet
50 square feet
30 square feet
50 square feet
5 square feet
35 feel above
average grade
6 feet above
average grade/S
inches
4 lest above
average grade/6
inches
See Note # 8
below/24 inches
See Note # 8
below/36 inches
See Note 8 $
below/ 24
inches
See Note tf 8
below/36 inches
See Note » 8
below/24 inches
See Note 8 8
below/24 inches
6" letters
9" logos
Near primary
project
entrance.
Near primary
project
entrances or
at other
strategic"
locations.
Should be
located to
facilitate
traffic
internal to
the site.
Directly
above
entrance
t.
Pole sign is
allowed in
addition to
other signs
permitted for
Commercial
Centers.
I, Must
include
building
address.
2. See Note
S3. below.
(See Note #4
below)
(See Note t?4
below)
(See Note HA
below)
684-1 (Carlsbad Supp. No. 15.2-06)
21.41.095
TABLE B (Continued) i-
PERMANENT SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
Ground Floor Retail
establishment with a
separate building
entrance in a
mullitenant building
located in the R-P, 0,
C-M, P-M and M
zones
Retail establishment
with a separate
building entrance in
a multi-tenant
building located in
Ihe R-P, O, C-M, P-
M and M zones
Office/Industrial
Projects
Hotels/Motels
Professional Care
Facility
Wall or Fascia
Sign
Suspended
Sign
Freestanding
Sign
Monument
Wall or Fascia
or Awning
Directional
Monument
Wall
1 per
establishment
! per
establishment
1 per each
project
entrance that
is located
along an
arterial road
1 per street
frontage
2 Wall or
Fascia or
Awning Signs
per Building
(See Note #4
beiow)
3 per
driveway
entrance
1 per street
frontage
1 per street
frontage
20 square feet
5 square feet
75 square feet
per sign (See
NoieSl below)
30 square feet
per sign (See
#1 below)
Total sign area
for 2 signs
shall not
exceed .5
square feet per
each lineal foot
of building
frontage.
6 square feel
per sign
35 square feet
per sign
30 square feet
per sign
Wall Sign: Not
permitted above
the plate height
elevation of the
ground floor/ 18
inches
Underside of
walkway/8
inches
6 feet above
average grade/ 1 8
inches
6 feet above
average grade/ 18
inches
(See Note # 8
b'elow)/24 inches
4 feet above
average grade/6
inches
6 feet above
average grade/ 18
inches
See Note # 8
below/24 inches
1. Fascia
Sign:
Centered on
fascia,
directly
above
establishme
nt entrance.
Underside
of walkway
overhang
at 90
degrees to
the retail
business
establish-
ment.
Near
primary
project
entrances.
1. Fascia
Sign:
Centered on
Fascia.
2.Awning
Sign: Over
doors or
windows.
X
1 . Must be
oriented
towards the
parking area.
2. May not
be illumi-
nated.
May not be
illuminate.
(See Note f?'2
below)
(See Note #4
below)
Illumination
is to be
external,
except for
channel and
reverse
channel
letters.
(See Note $4
below)
(Carlsbad Supp. No. 15, 2-06)684-2
21.41.095
TABLE B (Continued)
PERMANENT SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
Resort Hotels
Gas/Service Stations ''.
Directional
.Monument
Wall
Directional
Monument
3 per
driveway
entrance
1 per street
frontage
1 per street
frontaae
5 per
driveway
entrance
1 per street
frontage
6 square feel
per sign
50 square feet
per sign (See
Note if 1 below)
50 square feet
per sign
10 square feet
per sign
30 square feet
per sign
4 feet above
average grade/6
inches
6 feet above
average grade/18
inches
See Note # 8
below/30 inches
5 feel above
average grade/6
inches
6 feet above
average grade/24
inches
Sign may
include
motor fuel
prices.
684-2a (Carlsbad Supp. No. 15, 2-06)
21.41.095
TABLE B (Continued)
PERMANENT SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
Theater or Cinema
Government, Church
Public Parks, Play-
grounds and Recrea-
tional Facilities
Canopy
Fuel Pump
Pole
Wall
Attraction
Board (Pole or
Marquee)
Coming
Attraction
Poster
Wall
Monument
Directional
Signs
Monument
4 per she
1 per fuel
pump
1 per site
] per street
frontage
1 per site
1 per screen
or stage
1 per street
frontage
1 per street
frontage
3 per
driveway
entrance
1 per street
frontage
Total sign area
for all canopy
signs shall not
exceed 40
sauare feet
2.5 square feet
per sign
50 square feet
Total sign area
for all wall signs
shall not exceed
.5 square feet
per each lineal
foot of building
frontaee.
100 square feet
plus 10 square
feet per screen
or stage over 1,
up to a
maximum of
1 60 sauare feet
6 square feet
per sign
30 square feet
per sign
30 square feet
per sign (see
Note#l below)
6 square feet
30 square feet
per sign (See
Note HI below)
Attached to
canopy, not to
extend beyond or
above the
canopy/18 inches
35 feet above
average
grade/36 inches
See Note # 8
below/24 inches
Pole: 35 feet
above average
grade/2') inches
Maiquee: See
Note # 8
below/24 inches
(See Note # S
below)
See Note # 8
below/24 inches
6 feet above
average
grade/18 inches
4 feet above
average grade/6
inches
6 feet above
average
grade/24 inches
Marquee
signs must
be building
mounted.
Must be
building
mounted.
Near
primary
project
entrance.
Should be
located to
facilitate
traffic
internal to
the site.
Near
primary
project
entrance.
Musi be
designed
as an integral
part of the can
opy structure.
Only permit-
ted at freeway
service
stations.
Illumination
is to be
external,
except for
channel and
reverse
channel
letters.
684-3 (Culstiad 2-02)
21.41.095
TABLE B (Continued) '••
PERMANENT SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
Produce/Flower
Stand in the E-A, R-
A and L-C zones
Nursery,
Greenhouse, Packing
. Shed, Stable, Riding
Academy and similar
uses
P-U zone
OS zone
Directional
Wall Mounted
or Freestanding
Freestanding
Freestanding
Wall
Directional
Signs
See Section
21.41.100,
Permitted
Temporary
Signs
5 per
driveway
entrance
2 per produce
stand
1 per site
1 per street
frontage
1 per slrcct
frontaee
3 per
driveway
entrance
10 square feet
per sign
9 square feet
per sign
35 square feel
35 square feet
20 square feet
6 square feet
5 feet above
average gradc/6
inches
See Note # 8
below/24 inches
Freestanding: 6
feet above
average grade
6 feet above
average
grade/24 inches
6 feet above
average
grade/ 18 inches
See Note ft 8
below/24 inches
4 feet above
average grade/6
inches
Near
primary
project
entrance.
Should be
located to
facilitate
traffic
internal to
the site.
Shall be
displayed
only during
the time
period the
produce is
available on
the property.
Note # 1. Signs on entry walls or retaining walls (e.g., curved, angled or similar walls integrated into a
project entry or perimeter) are encouraged. In cases where such walls are on both sides of an
entry drive, two signs (each at the maximum square footage) are permitted.
Note #2. Building elevations on restaurants, hotels or motels which front along or are within five
hundred feet of the right-of-way of and visible from Interstate 5 shall not have more than
one wall sign along those elevations. ^
Note #3. No monument sign shall be located within one hundred feel of another monument sign for
the same project. 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 opposite sides of the driveway.
Note #4. Illuminated wall signs are prohibited on any building elevation that faces and is within five
hundred feet of any property line that adjoins residentially zoned property.
Note #5. No more than one wall sign permitted along a building elevation.
Note #6. Building elevations which front along or are within five hundred feet of the right-of-way
and visible from Interstate 5, State Route 78, Palomar Airport Road or E! Camino Real shall
(Carlsbad 2-02}684-4
21.41.095
not have more than one wall sign along those elevations. Notwithstanding the above, two wall
signs along any other building elevation are only permitted under the following circumstances:
(a) A building elevation must have a minimum of one hundred fifty lineal feet in order to
have more than one wall sign along that elevation.
(b) The minimum spacing between wall signs along an elevation shall not be less than sev-
enty-five feet.
(c) The cumulative length of all wall sign(s) along any building elevation shall not exceed
one-third of the length of that same elevation.
Note Tfl. These sign standards supersede the sign standards for the C-M, M and P-M zoned properties that
are located within Area 4 of the El Camino Real corridor development standards.
Note £8. Wai! sign must be located below the roof eaveline and is not allowed on any architectural projec-
tion, parapet or equipment enclosure located above the roof eaveline.
(Ord. NS-6G6 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.100 Permitted temporary signs.
Table C provides a listing of all temporary signs permitted for each type of development and corresponding
zones with a sign permit. In addition to the type of sign permitted, Table C provides the maximum number,
maximum sign area per sign, maximum sign height and letter height, permitted location and other provisions.
TABLE C
TEMPORARY SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
TYPE OF
DEVELOPMENT
AND ZONE
Projects which are
under Construction -
all zones
Real Property which
is for rent, sale or
lease - all zones
TYPE OF
SIGN
Wall or
Freestanding
Freestanding
sign displayed
on the owner's
real property or
real property
owned by others
\villi their
consent
(California Civil
Code 713)
MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF
SIGNS
1 per project
1 per property
MAXIMUM
SIGN AREA
PER SIGN
Residential Projects
of 2 to 10 units: 12
square feet
Residential Projects
of more than 10
units, Commercial,
Office or Industrial
Projects: 32 square
feet
Residential Projects
of 2 to 10 units: 12
square feet
Residential Projects
of more than 10
units, Commercial.
Office and
Industrial
Properties: 35
square feet
MAXIMUM
SIGN/LETTER
HEIGHT
5 feel above average
grade
6 feel above average
grade
5 feet above average
grade
6 feet above average
grade
LOCATION
Must be located
on Ihe project
site.
May not project
into the public
right-of-way.
May not project
into the public
right-of-way.
REMARKS
1. May not be
illuminated.
2. Shall be
removed prior to
the granting of a
Certificate of
Occupancy by the
city.
1. May not be
illuminated.
2. Residential
Projects: shall he
removed from the
property within
one year from the
issuance of the
first building
permit or within
15 days of when
684-5 (Cailsbad Supp. No. 18. 11-06)
21.41.100
TABLE C (Continued)
TEMPORARY SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
TYPE OF
DEVELOPMENT
AND 2.0NE
A!! Commercial,
Office and Industrial
zones
All Commercial,
Office, and Industrial
zones
TYl'EOF
SIGN
Banner
Banner or
Freestanding
Signs with a
Temporary
Seasonal Sales
Location Permit
MAXIMUM
NUMUEROF
SIGNS
1 per
establishment
] per street
frontage
MAXIMUM
SIGN AUEA PER
SIGN
30 square feel
30 square feet
MAXIMUM
SIGN/LETTER
HEIGHT
LOCATION
Attached to
monument or
wall at the
establishment
location.
Must be located
on the site of the
seasonal sales
event.
REMARKS
all the properties
are sold or no
longer for sale.
whichever occurs
first.
3: Commercial
and Office/
Industrial
Properties: shall
he removed from
the building or
property within
1 5 days after the
sale, renlal or
lease.
1. Permitted only
for businesses
waiting for
permanent sign
construction and
installation.
2. Approval
limited to 45 days
maximum or
when the
permanent sign is
installed
whichever occurs
first.
3. A city sign
permit for the
permanent sign
must first be
secured.
Limited to the
period of lime
specified in the
Temporary
Seasonal Sales
Location Permit,
{Carlsbad Supp. No. 18,11-06)684-6
21.41,100
TABLE C (Continued)
TEMPORARY SIGNS PERMITTED BY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND ZONE WITH A
SIGN PERMIT
TYPE OF
DEVELOPMENT
AND ZONE
Any Public or Private
Property \vith a
Special Events
Permit (CMC.
Chapter 8,17)
Community Event at
Public Parks/
Recreational
Facilities
TYPE OF
SIGN
Banner or
Freestanding
Signs
Banner or
Freestanding
Signs
MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF
SIGNS
Limited to the
number
specified in the
Special Events
Permit.
MAXIMUM
SIGN AREA PER
SIGN
50 square feet
50 square feet
MAXIMUM
SIGN/BETTER
HEIGHT
Limited to (lie sizes
specified in llie
Special Events
Permit.
LOCATION
Limited tot!! e
locations
specified in lire
Special Events
Permit.
P.-ivale Propc'rty:
Must be located
on the site of the
special event.
See city council
Policy "Signs on
Public Property."
REMARKS
Limited to the
time specified in
the Special
Events Permit.
Limited to the
duration of tlic
event.
(Ord.NS-Sll §3,2006:Ord.NS-606 § ] (part), 2001)
21.41.110 Construction and maintenance.
A. Construction. Every sign, and all parts, por-
tions and materials thereof, shall be manufactured,
assembled and erected in compliance with all appli-
cable state, federal and city regulations and the latest
adopted versions of the Building Code and the Na-
tional Electric Code.
B. Maintenance. Every sign and all parts, por-
tions and materials shall be maintained and kept in
good repair. The display surface of all signs shall be
kept clean, neatly painted and free from rust, crack-
ing, peelingj corrosion or other states of disrepair.
(Ord.NS-606§ 1 (part), 200 3)
21.41.120 Removal of signs.
A. Any sign which is unsafe, as defined herein,
or which does not conform to Uniform Building Code
and National Electric Code standards, or installed or
placed in the public right-of-way or on public property
contrary to the city council's policy, may be removed
by any officer or employee of the city designated to do
so by the community development director without
prior notice. Alternatively, the community develop-
ment director may issue a notice of nonconformance
and give the sign owner and/or the property owner
fifteen days in which to cure the nonconformance.
B. Any other sign that is in violation of the
provisions of this chapter must be removed by the
permittee, owner or person in charge of the sign
upon written notice by the community develop-
ment director. Such written notice shall specify the
nature of the violation, order the cessation thereof
and require either the removal of the sign or the
execution of remedial work in the time and in the
manner specified by the notice.
C. The time for removal or repair shall not be
less than thirty calendar days from the date of mail-
ing the notice for permanent signs and not less than
fifteen calendar days for temporary signs.
D. Within ten days of the mailing of the notice,
the permittee, owner or person in charge of the sign
may request a hearing before the community' devel-
opment director to determine whether the sign was
erected or maintained in violation of this chapter.
Such request must be made in writing and received
by the city within the ten days after mailing of notice.
684-7 (Carlsbad Supp. No. 18,11-06)
21.41.120
E. Upon receipt of a written request for a hear-
ing, the community development director shall
schedule a hearing and send a written notice by first
class mail of the time, plnce and date for the hear-
ing, which shall be no later than thirty days after the
date of receipt of the written request, unless the
party responsible for the sign requests a later hear-
ing date. The time for compliance with the original
order shall be stayed during the pendency of the
hearing. The community development director will
notify the appellant of the decision to affirm, mod-
ify or revoke the order to remove or repair within
ten days .of the conclusion of the hearing; failure to
give such notice of decision shall result in the with-
drawal of the notice of violation, but shall not pre-
vent a new notice of violation being issued for a
different time period from that specified in the
original notice.
F. Whenever the permittee, owner or person in
charge of the sign fails to comply with an order of the
community development director requiring compli-
ance with this chapter, any expense of such inaction
shall be charged to the permittee, owner or person in
charge of the sign. Such amount shall constitute a debt
owed to tine city. No permit shall thereafter be issued
to any permittee, owner or person in charge of the sign
who fails to pay such costs. Any costs, including at-
torney's fees, incurred by the city in collection of the
costs shall be added to the amount of the debt.
G. Every person billed may request a hearing
regarding the accuracy of the amount billed. Follow-
ing the hearing, the community development director
shall, within ten days of the conclusion of the hear-
ing, notify the person billed of any adjustment to the
bill or any determination not to make an adjustment.
This notification shall specify the date by which such
bill shall be paid. Nonpayment becomes a lien on the
property. (Ord. NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21,41.125 Appeal of denial or revocation.
A. Any person seeking to appeal a decision of
the community development director granting or de-
nying an application for issuance of, or renewal of, a
sign permit, revoking a permit or ordering the re-
moval of a sign, must file a written notice of appeal
with the planning director no later than ten days after
the date of the notice of the decision. The notice shall
state, with specificity, the factual and legal basis of
the appeal. The planning director shall expeditious!)'
schedule a hearing before the planning commission
and notify the appellant, in writing, of the day, time
and location of the hearing, which shall be held not
later than thirty days after the notice of appeal is re-
ceived by the city. The time for compliance of any
original order shall be stayed during the pendency of
the hearing before the planning commission.
B. The planning commission shall hold a hear-
ing and provide the appellant with a written decision
within ten days of the conclusion of the hearing. If
the approval, denial, revocation or removal order is
affirmed on review, the appellant may file a written
notice of appeal to the city council with the city clerk
no later than ten days after the date of the notice of
the decision. The city clerk shall then schedule a
hearing before the city council, which shall be held
within thirty days of the receipt of the notice of appeal,
and notify the appellant, in writing, of the day, time,
and location of the hearing; however, the hearing may
be held later than thirty days upon the request or con-
currence of the appellant. The time for compliance of
any original order shall be stayed during the pendency
of the hearing before the city council.
The city council shall provide the appellant with a
written decision within ten days of the conclusion of
the hearing. Any person dissatisfied with the city'
council's decision may seek prompt judicial review
pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Sec-
tion 1094.8. (Ord. NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.130 Nonconforming signs.
Except for normal repair and maintenance and any
modification required for NEC compliance, no non-
conforming sign shall be expanded, structurally or
electrically altered (not including a change in sign
face or sign copy), moved or relocated, unless it is
brought into conformance with all current provisions
of this chapter. When a sign, which was in compli-
ance with all applicable laws in effect at the time it
was originally erected, is physically damaged,
whether by vandalism, forces of nature or other
causes, the sign may be repaired or restored to its
original size, shape, height, orientation and message;
however, the repair or restoration must be done in a
manner which complies with current building and
electrical codes. (Ord. NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
(Carlsbad Supp. No. 18, 11-06)684-8
21.41.140
21.41.140 Remedies and penalties.
Any sign, which has been properly removed under
this chapter, may be returned to the owner upon
payment to the city of the costs of removal. If no
timely request is made for hearing or if no demand is
made for the return of the sign removed, the commu-
nity development director, or his designee, is author-
ized to destroy or dispose of the removed sign not
earlier than thirty days after the removal of such sign.
(Ord.NS-606§ 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.150 Violations.
A. It is unlawful for any person to:
1. Install, mount, affix, create, erect, display or
maintain any sign in a manner that is inconsistent
with this chapter or any permit for such sign;
2. Install, mount, affix, create, erect, display or
maintain any sign requiring a permit without such a
permit; or
3. Fail to remove any sign which the commu-
nity development director or designee has ordered to
be removed for being in violation of this chapter.
B. Violations of any provisions of this chapter
shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and
penalties provided for herein and in Chapter I.OS of
this code. The city may also pursue any civil reme-
dies provided by law, including injunctive relief, as
to signs not in conformance with this chapter:
1. Each day of a continued violation shall be
considered a separate violation when applying the
penalty portions of this chapter.
2. Each sign installed, created, erected or main-
tained in violation of this chapter shall be considered
a separate violation when applying the penalty por-
tions of this chapter. (Ord.NS-606 § 1 (part), 2001)
21.41.160 Severabiliry.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase
or part of this chapter is for any reason found by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or un-
constitutional, such decision shall not affect the va-
lidity of the remaining portions of this chapter, which
shall be in full force and effect. The city council
hereby declares that it would have adopted this chap-
ter with each section, subsection, sentence, clause,
phrase-or part thereof irrespective of the fact that any
orie or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses,
phrases or parts be declared invalid or unconstitu-
tional. (Ord. NS-606 § I (part), 2001)
685 (Ca/lsbad Supp. No. 16.5-06)
4/19/2011
aoio
Summary Recommendations Report
April 19, 2O11
Car Country Carlsbad Working Group
Sum maw Recommendations Report
City Council
o Workshop - November 17, 2010
City Council directed staff to engage the car
dealerships
o Goal: Improvements to Car Country Carlsbad a
Avenida Encinas Car Dealershi
d the
4/19/2011
imtry Carlsbad
ary Recommendations Report
Developed Outreach Program
Formed a 20 member working group
o Car Count !• bacl Working
o 14 car dealerships
o Six staff members
Car Country Carlsbad Working Group
Sum mary Reeom mendations Report
J. P. Paynter - Hoehn Acura
Bill Hoehn - Hoehn Motors
Kris Truman - Hoehn Mercedes Benz
Rick Blakemore - Hoehn Honda
Ted Hoehn - Hoehn Audi
Gene Manganiello - Toyota and Lexus of Carlsbad
Chris Murphy - Rorick Buick Cadillac
Chris Baker - Bob Baker Jeep Chrysler
Bill Kornik - Bob Baker VW/Subaru
Mickey Pong - North County Hyundai
Mike Weseloh - Weseloh Chevrolet
Sean Crowley - North County GMC
T.J. Samhouri - Hoehn Audi
Dianne Brackett - Hoehn Infiniti
4/19/2011
had Working Group
mendations R*
Sponsorship
John Coates, Assistant City Manager
Sandra Holder (as former Interim Assistant City Manager)
Working Group Members
Gary Barberio, Community & Economic Development Director — Team Leader
John Coates, (as former Parks and Recreation Director)
Chris Hazeltine, Parks and Recreation Director
Skip Hammann, Transportation Director
Barbara Kennedy, Associate Planner
Karen Chen, Senior Management Analyst (former city employee)
Support
Leticia Trevino-Reyes, Senior Office Specialist
Facilitation
Joe Sterling, Sterling Insights, Inc.
Car Country Carlsbad Working Group
Suprimary Recommendations Report
Working Group process
o 4 facilitated meetings (February to mid-May 201.0)
* Consolidated dozens of suggestions into 4 Initiatives
« Subgroups formed for each of the 4 Initiatives
4/19/2011
Sum man7 id at ions Report
_j
4 Initiatives
• General Appearance
• Sign Program
« Traffic and Safety
• Minor Updates to Specific Plans
Car Country Carlsbad Working Group
Summary Recommendations Report
Subgroup Process
o Subgroup meetings
4 Initiatives drafted:
o Summaries completed (purpose, benefit)
o Timelines formulated
o Lead Departments identified
o Recommendations formulated
* 36 individual recommendations
4/19/2011
Summary Recommendat i
i. General Appearance
o Purpose
x Improve the general appearance
» Create more interest and visitation to CCC
o More inviting, appealing, and distinctive
Car Country Carlsbad Working Group
• mar}' Recommendations Report
i. General Appearance
o Recommendations
* Short term
o Events program!'
o 1-5 Appearance
* Long term
o Createentr;
o 1-5 in park
o Creatf- "car L
o Improve landscaping
4/19/2011
Summary Recommendat ;
2. Sign Program
o Purpose
* Develop new sign program for:
o Car Country Specific Plan
o Avenida. Encinas Specific Plan
ad Working Group
ommendations Report
2. Sign Program
o Recommendations
* Up to 50' high LED freeway sign in park
« Banners on Light Standards
* Monument sign identification
* Off-site ''Way finding" signage
4/19/2011
Car Country Carlsbad Working G
Summary Recommendations Report
3. Traffic & Safety
o Purpose
* Improve traffic flow and safety in Car Country
o Paseodei Nolle
o Car Country Dri1
Car Country Carlsbad Working Group
Summary Recommendations Report
3. Traffic & Safety
o Recommendations
« Short term
o Extend red <••
o Stop sign placement
o "Soft" traffic-calming measures
• Edge stripping, lane narrowing, temp speed tables
4/19/2011
Summary Recommendations Report
3. Traffic & Safety
o Recommendations
* Long term
o "Hard" traffic-calming mea .i;i
* Roundabouts, speed tables, raised intersections
o "Road Diet" on !':•!•-.• ;rte
o Center median niodifi,
Car Country Can- Working Group
Summary Recommendations Report
4. Minor Updates to Specific Plans
o Purpose
* Streamline permit/review process in both Specific Plans
o Car Country Specific Plan - SP HI
o Avenida End- >fie Plan - SP 186
4/19/2011
Summary Reco
4. Minor Updates to Specific Plans
o Recommendations
* Minor Administrative approval process at staff level
o lions 1 lasting fa 3ii» •-
o Minor Additions to existing facilities consistent with
standards
* Miscellaneous minor clean-up amendments
Car Country Working Group
Summary" Reeom mendations Report
Car Dealership Perspective
o J.P, Pavnter, Hoehn Acura
4/19/2011
Summary Recommendations
Next Steps
* Following City Council direction
o City staff' sv; -^e work necessary to implement
City Council's direction
* Utilizing the:
o Initiative Summaries
o Inii imelmes
Car Country' Carlsbad Working Group
Summary' Recommendations Report
Ongoing Communication
« Keep City Council updated
« Car Country Carlsbad Working Group retained
o Meet as necessary
o Assess progress, fine tune
o Continue the dialogue
City Team
o Track implementation progress
10
4/19/2011
Summary Recommei
Recommendation:
• Accept the "Summary Recommendations Report"
• Authorize continuing the Car Country Carlsbad
Working Group
• Identiiy supportable recommendations
• Direct staff to manage the work necessary to
implement City Council's direction
II
A
^CARLSBAD
Memorandum
April 12, 2011
To: Lisa Hildabrand, City Manager
From: Gary T. Barberio, Community & Economic Development Director
Re: Car Country Carlsbad Working Group - Summary Recommendations Report
April 19, 2011 City Council Workshop
The attached Car Country Carlsbad Working Group - Summary Recommendations Report is being
provided for the City Council's consideration in preparation for their April 19, 2011 Workshop. In
November of 2009 the City Council directed staff to engage representatives of the city's car dealerships
in a public outreach program. The goal was to elicit and clarify input from the auto dealers about
potential improvements to Car Country Carlsbad and the car dealership area on Avenida Encinas. In
early February 2010, the Car Country Carlsbad Working Group was formed, whose membership
consisted of city staff members directly involved in the planning, permitting, and infrastructure
maintenance of the area and business members representing the dealers in Car Country Carlsbad and
along Avenida Encinas. Between February and mid-May 2010, the Working Group met four times. Over
the four meetings, the Working Group consolidated dozens of suggestions into four topical Initiatives.
The four Initiatives are as follows:
• General Appearance;
• Sign Program;
• Traffic and Safety; and
• Minor Updates to Specific Plans.
The Initiative Summaries are presented in the attached Summary Recommendations Report, and include
the initiative purpose, the potential benefits of the initiative, and a completion timeline, and they
identify the lead city departments responsible for managing the work necessary to implement each
Initiative.
The Summary Recommendations Report will be considered by the City Council at their April 19th, 2011
Workshop. Based on City Council direction, city staff will utilize the Summary Recommendations Report
to manage the work necessary to implement the specific initiatives and/or recommendations associated
with the four initiatives.
Community & Economic Development
1635 Faraday Ave. Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2710 760-602-8560 fax