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Home My WebLink About2008-12-17; Planning Commission; ; V 08-03 TOYOTA CARLSBAD SERVICE CENTERThe City of Carlsbad Planning Department A REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION Item No. P.C. AGENDA OF: December 17, 2008 Application complete date: October 1, 2008 Project Planner: Christer Westman Project Engineer: N/A SUBJECT: V 08-03 TOYOTA CARLSBAD SERVICE CENTER - A request for approval of a Variance to the sign development standards to allow for an 18 foot tall monument sign, 69 square foot logo wall sign located adjacent to a 41 square foot wall sign, and directional signage that ranges in size from 31 square feet to 45 square feet on a 159,000 square foot building located at 6020 Avenida Encinas in Local Facilities Management Zone 3. I. RECOMMENDATION That the Planning Commission ADOPT Planning Commission Resolution No. 6514 APPROVING Variance V 08-03 Toyota Carlsbad Service Center based on the findings contained therein. II. INTRODUCTION The applicant, Stellar Properties, LLC (Toyota Carlsbad), has constructed a 159,000 square foot service facility located at 6020 Avenida Encinas. An application for a sign permit has been submitted to the Planning Department with a request to approve signs on the building that exceed the standards established by the City of Carlsbad Sign Ordinance. The applicant is requesting that the Planning Commission allow the proposed signs and has provided justification in support of their request. III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND In 2005 the applicant processed the appropriate applications to gain approval for the relocation of the Toyota Carlsbad service facilities to a new building at 6020 Avenida Encinas. The service facility was reviewed by the Planning Commission as file No. CUP 05-09/CDP 05-19/SDP 91- 12(A) and was approved on March 15, 2006. As is typical with all development applications, signs were not considered during the review and approval of the project since signs are subject to the City of Carlsbad Sign Ordinance (C.M.C. 21.41) and are typically reviewed and approved by the Planning Director subsequent to action on any discretionary permits. Now that the building is completed, the applicant has requested approval of several signs to identify the facility as a Toyota Carlsbad building and to provide effective onsite directional signage. The project is a request for a Variance to the sign development standards to allow for a 69 square foot logo wall sign located within 21 inches of a 41 square foot, 31 inch tall channel letter wall sign, a 108 square foot 18 foot tall monument sign, and directional signage that ranges in size from 31 square feet to 45 square feet in area. The directional signage identifies service reception, parts, service center, and the name of the City, Carlsbad. o V 08-03 - TOYOTA CARLSBAD SERVICE CENTER December 17, 2008 Page 2 The service center is located just west of and adjacent to Interstate 5 and behind an industrial building at 6030 Avenida Encinas. North of the project is an office complex and south of the site are industrial buildings. The site has a General Plan designation of Planned Industrial (PI) and a Zoning designation of Manufacturing (M). All of the surrounding adjacent properties, other than the freeway, have the same land use designations. The service facility has an existing wall sign that is approximately 580 square feet in size and that reads, "Toyota Service Center," on the east elevation that is not part of this sign application. The freeway facing sign existed on the building that previously occupied the site and a portion of that building and the entire sign were preserved during construction of the new service building with the intent of maintaining the location and size of the existing freeway facing sign. This freeway sign is considered a legal, non-conforming sign. IV. ANALYSIS The analysis of this request is based on the sign standards for retail uses pursuant to Section 21.41.095 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code. According to Table B (See excerpt from Table B attached), retail buildings greater than 60,000 square feet in area and located in the Industrial (M) Zone are permitted to have one monument sign of 50 square feet in area and up to six feet in height; three (3) wall signs of up to 50 square feet each; and, directional signs up to six (6) square feet in size. In addition, only two wall signs may be located on any one building elevation and they may not be located closer than 75 feet to each other. The Sign Ordinance regulations are described in the following Table 1. TABLE 1 Type of Project Retail in MZone Type of Sign Monument Wall Directional Maximum # of Signs 1 3 3 Maximum Sign Area 50 sq.ft. 50 sq.ft. each 6 sq.ft. each Maximum Sign Height /Letter Height 6 ft. tall /8" tall N/A /24"tall 4 ft. tall /6" tall Location Project entrance Building wall with 75 foot separation To facilitate internal traffic Proposed 1 sign 108 sq.ft. 18 ft. tall 2 signs 4 1-69 sq.ft. 31" tall 3 signs 3 1-45 sq.ft. 21 "-27" tall The applicant's request is for a monument sign of 108 square feet in size and 18 feet in height; one wall sign of 69 square feet and one wall sign of 41 square feet and 31 inches tall located 21 inches from each other; and three (3) directional signs varying in size from 31 to 45 feet in size. A. Monument Sign The 108 square foot and 18 foot tall monument sign is proposed at the service facility's driveway entrance on Avenida Encinas. There is nothing unusual about the proposed location of the V 08-03 - TOYOTA CARLSBAD SERVICE CENTER December 17,2008 Page 3 monument sign, nor the configuration of the project lot and buildings that warrants a variance to the maximum height and sign area criteria for monument signs. The maximum height and sign area allowed by the Sign Ordinance for monument signs is six feet above average grade and 50 square feet. The applicant can gain sufficient visibility from Avenida Encinas with a six foot tall, 50 square foot monument sign. Staff is not recommending approval of the applicant's request to exceed the maximum six foot height or 50 square foot sign area for the monument sign as the required findings to grant a variance can not be made. B. Wall Signs The applicant has requested approval for two signs on the building's west facing elevation. Pursuant to Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 21.41.095 Note #6, this may be permitted if the building length is 150 feet or more, signs are spaced 75 feet apart or more, and the cumulative length of the signs may not exceed one-third of the building length. One sign is 41 square feet, which is less than the maximum allowed by the sign ordinance; however, it is 31 inches in height which is 7 inches taller than allowed by the ordinance. The second sign is 69 square feet in size and exceeds the maximum signage allowance (50 square feet) by 19 square feet. The two signs are required to be separated by a minimum of 75 feet, but are proposed to be separated by only 21 inches. There are unique project circumstances that warrant a Variance to the wall sign standards. The building is 159,000 square feet in area and 300 feet in length, the building is located behind another building which obscures the proposed signs from the Avenida Encinas public right-of- way view corridor, and the pairing of the two signs with the specified proportions (a Toyota logo and a Toyota sign comprised of individual 31 inch tall channel letters) is common for Toyota franchises around the world. The significance of the building's size is that the 300 foot building length combined with the 35 foot height creates a building surface that is large enough to render the paired 69 square foot logo and 31 inch tall Toyota channel letter sign proportionate to the scale of the building. The fact that the Toyota service facility is located behind another large building to the west is unique in that the western elevation of the service facility has very limited visibility from any public right of way. Being that the western elevation of the service facility is obscured from view, the general public will not be able to see signage on the western wall regardless of its size and the proposed wall signage will only be visible from the interior of the property. The unique circumstances that warrant a Variance to the maximum 24 inch letter height and 75 foot separation requirement are the pairing of the Toyota logo and letters is used worldwide for all Toyota facilities; the applicant will not be granted a special privilege since most buildings with access off of Avenida Encinas are also visible from the public right-of-way, however, the Toyota Service Facility is mostly obscured from public views because of the intervening building at 6030 Avenida Encinas; and, the proposal is reasonably in scale with the size of the Toyota building. Staff recommends approval of the requested Variance to the size of the Toyota logo sign, height of the Toyota channel letter sign, and the proximity placement of the logo sign relative to the Toyota letter sign. V 08-03 - TOYOTA CARLSBAD SERVICE CENTER December 17, 2008 Pagejl C. Directional Signs The applicant has requested approval of three directional signs ranging in size from 31 square feet to 45 square feet located on the fascia of the service canopy. Each of the requested signs is larger than the maximum six square feet allowed by the sign ordinance. The increase in directional sign size will allow for a more orderly onsite traffic flow in that the service canopy is approximately 480 feet from the project entrance on Avenida Encinas and the larger signs will alert the uniquely large volume of service customers sooner regarding the appropriate service queue to enter once onsite. The northern most canopy directional sign, reading "Service Reception", is partially visible at the project entrance and from Avenida Encinas. The other two proposed directional signs are only visible after customers have fully entered the site and passed the existing building located on the front portion of the lot. Allowing the larger directional signage will not grant the applicant a special privilege since most buildings with access off of Avenida Encinas are also visible from the public right-of-way, however, the Toyota Service Facility is mostly obscured from public views because of the intervening building at 6030 Avenida Encinas. The scale of the signage is measured against the expanse of the canopy and the overall building. The larger directional signage is in scale with the size of the background building elements and is not detrimental to surrounding land uses. Staff recommends approval of the requested Variance for the increased size of the directional signage. V. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Pursuant to Section 15061 of the CEQA Guidelines, the activity is covered by the General Rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The proposed variance to the Sign Ordinance development standards for an industrially zoned property in a developed area will not cause a significant effect on the environment. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Planning Commission Resolution No. 6514 (Variance) 2. Location Map 3. Disclosure Statement 4. Excerpt from Table B (C.M.C. 21.41.095) 5. Exhibits "A-F" dated December 17, 2008 A/07 TO SCALE SITE MAP Toyota Carlsbad Service Center V 08-03 City of Carlsbad Planning Department DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Applicant's statement or disclosure of certain ownership interests on all applications which will require discretionary action on the part of the City Council or any appointed Board, Commission or Committee. The following information MUST be disclosed at the time of application submittal. Your project cannot be reviewed until this information is completed. Please print. Note: Person is defined as "Any individual, firm, co-partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, syndicate, in this and any other county,' city and county city municipality, district or other politica] subdivision or any other group or combination acting as a unit." _ ,, Agents may. sign this document; however, the legal name and entity of the applicant and property owner must be provided below. <. .1 1 . 2. APPLICANT (Not the applicant's agent) Provide the COMPLETE, LEGAL names and addresses of ALL persons having a financial interest in the application. If the applicant includes a corporation or partnership, include the names, title, addresses of all individuals owning more than 10% of the shares. IF NO INDIVIDUALS OWN MORE THAN 10% OF THE SHARES, PLEASE INDICATE NON-APPLICABLE (N/A) IN THE SPACE BELOW. If a publicly-owned corporation, include the names, titles, and addresses of the corporate officers, (^separate pagejnay be attached if necessary.) Person i hjupLoVk.^ li-O^KVC-^ Corp/Part_ Title Title Address Address OWNER (Not the owner's agent) Provide the COMPLETE, LEGAL names and addresses of ALL persons having any ownership- interest in the property involved. Also, provide the nature of the legal ownership (i.e. partnership, tenants in common, non-profit, corporation, etc.). If the ownership includes a corporation or partnership, include the names, title, addresses of all individuals owning more than 10% of the shares. IF NO INDIVIDUALS OWN MORE THAN 10% OF THE SHARES, PLEASE INDICATE NON-APPLICABLE (N/A) IN THE SPACE BELOW. If a publicly-owned corporation, include the names, titles, and addresses of the corporate officers. (A separate page may be attached if necessary.) Person Title C Corp/Part_ Title Address Oifl^5fO\?£Address 1635 Faraday Avenue • Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 • (760) 602-4600 • FAX (760) 602-8559 • www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us 3. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OR TRUST If any parson Identified pursuant to (1) or (2) ibovs ie ^nffyroflLefaanlzatlon or a trust, list the names and adctaim of ANY ptrcon serving m an officer or director of the ncn-pioflt organization or nv truitw of beneficiary of the Non Protltrtrjst ,_.,T.iria.,r ^ _... Nan Profitnrust Titto • Tftte Address. 4. Have you had more than SSoo worth of business transacted with «my member of City staff, Bowed, Commissions, Commlt(«B» and/or Council within the past twtlve (12) rnpnth«7 0 No If y«s, plsase indicate NOTE: Attach (tdditlonal sheaia if necessary, I certify that al! the 2bov* Informnlon is \m and correct to the best of my knowledge signature of owner/date Signature of applicant/date Print or type pame of owner " Print or typ* name of applicant mg of owntr/appHcant's agant TABLE B (EXCERPT) Type of Type of 1 Maximum Ma development Sign and or Zone Number of j Sig Signs Pe Office, jMonument 1 per lot 50 i Industrial feet and Retail uses in the R-P, O, C-M, I i P-M, and M | zones (See Note #7 below) i Directional Signs ximum Maximum Location i Remarks n Area Sign/Letter r Sign Height | square 6 feet above -Near 1 . Must average ^primary include grade/8 (project building inches j entrances or address. at other (See Note #3 strategic below) locations. i 3 per 6 square |4 feet above Should be driveway ifeet average located to entrance Buildings < Wall Tper 50s grade/6 [facilitate .inches traffic internal to ! the site. | square (See Note # l(See Note #4 35,000 i building feet 8 below) I |below) square feet in •area i j Max letter j height: 24 \ j inches i Buildings (Wall 1 per J50 square (See Note # (See Note #4 35,000 | {building ifeet 8 below) below) square feet ~ i 60,000 ! !0r square feet in area t 2 per building i s I Buildings > Wall 1 per 50 s 60,000 building feet square feet in area Or 2 or 3 per building ](See Note !#6 below) |Max letter | height: 36 inches (See Note # 8 below) Max letter height: 24 (inches j square (See Note # (See Note #4 8 below) below) Max letter height: 36 inches i (See Note # 8 below) ! Max letter height: 24 inches V 08-03 - TABLE B (EXCERPT) Page 2 #3: No monument sign shall be located within 100 feet 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. #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. #6: Two wall signs along any other building elevation are only permitted under the following circumstances: a) A building elevation must have a minimum of 150 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 75 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. #8: Wall sign must be located below the roof eaveline and is not allowed on any architectural projection, parapet or equipment enclosure located above the roof eaveline. 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