Item 7ASign Ordinance Amendments
City Council
First Reading
November 21, 2006
Reasons to Amend the Ordinance
Reduce the number of sign variances
Promote consistency among signs with the development thus creating a visual harmony between the signs, buildings and the environment
Need to establish criteria for Conditional Sign Permits and variances
Window sign provisions
Administration/staff issues
Standards for Signs
Signs exempt
from permit
requirement
(Section 5.3)
Signs exempt
from permit with
standards
(Section 5.4,
Tables 1 & 2)
Signs requiring
Permits
Prohibited
Signs(Section 5.2)
Generally
Temporary
Signs incl.
Window signs
Permanent Signs(Tables 4, 5, & 6)
Attached,
Special Attached, and
Monument signs
All Signs
Temporary
Signs
(Banners,
Table 3)
Signs permitted
through
Master Sign
Plans approved
By City Council
(Section 8)
Standards for “For Sale/Leasing Signs”
Section 5.3: New Exemptions
Permanent non-illuminated names of buildings, dates of erection, monument statues, etc. that are made an integral part of the structure or made flush to the ground
Traffic control signs on private property that do not contain a commercial message
Address signs no greater than 5 s.f. in area
Retail store window displays of merchandise
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message
Reference: Page 10
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Section 5.4 Signs Exempt from Permit
Classified open house signs with subdivision marketing signs (open house signs are currently not a permitted sign type)
Model home signs ( 1 per model home)
Reference: Page 11
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Window Signs - Current
Window signs = signs within 2 feet of the window
Signs Exempt from Permit
Window signs may not obscure more than 15% of the window area per façade, measured and located within 10 vertical feet from the at-grade exterior entrance to the lease space.
Window Signs – Proposed
Window signs = signs within 10 feet of the window, excluding addresses, open/closed signs, hours of operation, credit card logos, interior directory signage, mannequins, and storefront
displays of merchandise.
Signs Exempt from Permit
Reference: Page 8 (definition)
Window Signs – Proposed (Table 2)
Signs Exempt from Permit
Reference: Page 13
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Section 6: Temporary Signs Requiring a Permit (Table 3)
Amended standards for Banners
Added 4 new sign types and corresponding standards):
grand opening banner,
banners in public parks,
light pole banners, and
sandwich board signs
Reference: Pages 13 & 14
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Table 4: Permanent Attached Signs
2 major changes in regulations (Why?):
Area
Area based upon width of lease space
Letter Height
Letter height based upon distance from edge of pavement and type of street frontage
Attached Signs: Area Standards (Table 4)
Existing Standard: 0.75 sq.ft. per 1 foot of lease space width (same standard for all lease space widths)
Proposed Standard: Based upon the width of the lease space (variance examples)
Narrower the lease space width, higher the area allowance
Reference: Pages 15-16
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Letter Height Standard for Attached Signs
Based on the distance from the edge of pavement
Based on the typology of the street fronting the lease space
Letter/Logo Height Standards for Attached Signs
No minimum letter/logo size
Allow external lighting for signs on Main Streets
Added blade signs for buildings on Main Streets
Reference: Pages 15 & 16
Proposed Letter Height Regulations (Table 4)
Permanent Attached Signs
Reference: Page 15
Proposed Letter Height Regulations
Permanent Attached Signs
Reference: Page 16
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Table 5: Special Attached Signs
Special regulations for:
Blade signs
Menuboard signs
Subdivision entry signs
Drive through signs
Reference: Page 17
Blade Signs
Subdivision Entry Signs
Drive Through Signs
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Monument Signs
Proposed Changes:
Sign regulations (height and area) based on street typology
Removed minimum letter/logo size requirement
Limitation on number of panels
Reference: Page 17
Table 6: Monument Signs
Reference: Page 18
Table 7: Special Monument Signs
Menuboard signs
Drive-through signs
Subdivision entry signs
Bulletin board signs
Directory signs
Institutional signs
Gasoline pricing signs
Directional signs
Bulletin board signs
Special regulations for:
Reference: Pages 18, 19, 20
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Section 8: Master Sign Plans
Replace Conditional Sign Permits
Purpose:
Promote consistency among signs in a development
Enhance compatibility of signs with the architectural and design features in a development
Encourage multi-tenant commercial uses to develop a unique set of sign regulations in conjunction with development standards
Reference: Page 21
Sign Design Guidelines (for Master Sign Plans)
Based on the Sign Visual Preference Survey recommendations:
Compatibility with surroundings
Location and Mounting
Color
Materials
Sign legibility
Illumination
Shopping Center Monument & Store Signs
Multi-story corporate offices and hotels
Reference: Pages 22 - 27
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Banner
Temp Signs Requiring a Permit
Reference: Page 15
Back to
Back to Temporary Signs
Grand Opening Banner
Temp Signs Requiring a Permit
Reference: Page 15
Back to Temporary Signs
Sandwich Board Signs
Temp Signs Requiring a Permit
Reference: Page 15
Back to Temporary Signs
Light Pole Banner Sign
Permitted only along public streets and in public parks
Must be approved by City Council
Must be approved by the appropriate utility company prior to consideration by City Council
Limited to publicize community-wide events, holidays, public art, and other city sponsored events only
Temp Signs Requiring a Permit
Reference: Page 15
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Banners in Public Parks
Temp Signs Requiring a Permit
Reference: Page 15
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Summary of Sign Variances
2003 - Present
Summary of Variances Approved (2003 – June 2006)
Summary of Variances Approved (2003 – 2006)
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Area Standards for Attached Signs – Coffee Beanery Example
Storefront width = 16 feet
Current Ordinance permissible area = 12 sq.ft.
Proposed Ordinance permissible area = 19.2 sq.ft.
Current Sign Area = 22 sq.ft. (Variance granted in 2006)
Area Standards for Attached Signs: Ella Bella Example
16’
Area Standards for Attached Signs – Taco House Example
Storefront width = 17.75’
Current Ordinance permissible area = 13.4 sq.ft.
Proposed Ordinance permissible area = 21.3 sq.ft.
Current Sign Area = 22 sq.ft. (Variance granted in June 2006)
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Street TypologyMap
Back
Overview of Recommended Changes to Real Estate/Leasing Signs
Real Estate/Leasing signs for NEW Development will now require a permit and shall only be permitted for one year.
Leasing/for sale signs for EXISTING Development after the first year shall be 12 sq.ft. and shall meet design criteria specified
Residential real estate signs shall be regulated separately
Land Sign
Development/Construction Sign
-64 sq, ft, 32 sq. ft per sign face
-1 sign per street frontage
-shall be removed when a building
permit is issued
64 sq. ft., 32 sq. ft per sign face
1 sign per street frontage
May be installed after approval of the site/
concept plan
-1 year or the issuance of a CO.
New Construction
For Sale/Leasing Signs
(I year max; permit required)
+
Existing Building
For Sale/Leasing Signs
64 sq. ft., 32 sq. ft per sign face
1 sign per street frontage
May be installed after approval of
building permit
-Valid only for 1 year after erection.
Window sign limited
to 10% or less of the
window area
AND
One ground sign per street front
12 sq.ft. per sign face
5’-9” max. height
Shall meet the design
criteria established
Design Standards for Ground Sign (Appendix A – page 35)
Sign Post:
Material: Shall be of 3 – 4 inch extruded metal with decorative finials.
Height: Shall not exceed 5 feet in height, excluding finials. Finials shall not exceed 9 inches in height.
Color: shall be black
Sign Frame:
Same material as the sign post
Same color as the sign post
Height – Any decorative element over the sign frame shall be limited to a maximum of 9”
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Sign Face:
Material: Shall be made up of ¼” to ½” plastic or aluminum coated MDO or plastic cored aluminum
Area - Each sign face shall not exceed 12 square feet. Sign may be two-sided.
Color – Background color shall be one of the following: white, gray, black, beige, cream, or matching the sign post. Foreground color (font and logo) shall be a contrasting color limited
to white, gray, black, beige, dark green, dark blue, or cream.
Design Standards for Ground Sign (Appendix A – page 35)
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Recommended Design Standard
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P&Z Action
Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval on with the following conditions:
Real estate/leasing signs to be ground signs limited to 12 sq. ft. in area and 5 feet in height with 4 inch posts.
Staff to come up with a design palette for a standard real estate ground sign for Council's review. This design would specify the frame and post design only.
Property owners may only have their leasing information on an existing monument sign or have the standard ground sign as established by the City but not on both.
Logos may be 125% of the permitted letter height in any attached sign
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Questions?
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Recommended Standards