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HomeMy WebLinkAboutD. ZOA 09-104 - City of Palm Desert Sign Ordinance CITY OF PALM DESERT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT REQUEST: Approval of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment updating and revising Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 25.68, Signs. SUBMITTED BY: Tony Bagato Principal Planner APPLICANT: City of Palm Desert 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Palm Desert, CA 92260 CASE NO: ZOA 09-104 DATE: May 19, 2009 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The project was continued to allow for a study session with the Planning Commission. The study session was held on May 12, 2009, and the discussion focused on enforcement of the ordinance, the proposed Creative Sign Program and freeway-facing signs. Staff has made some modifications to the draft signage ordinance based on the discussion at the study session and comments from the City Attorney. Approval of the revised ordinance will allow staff to present the new draft signage ordinance to the City Council for review and approval. II. DISCUSSION: The study session was held to allow the Planning Commission more time to review and discuss the proposed signage ordinance. Commissioner Schmidt prepared a letter of suggested changes to the ordinance that would clarify certain sections. Staff has reviewed the suggested changes, and has incorporated a majority of the items to clarify the identified sections. In addition, staff has modified the proposed development standards for freeway signs and the Creative Sign Program based on the discussion at the study session. The modified pages of the draft signage ordinance are included for your review. All changes are highlighted in red lettering. If a line is through the red lettering, that specific wording has been removed from the previous version. Staff Report ZOA 09-104 May 13, 2009 Page 2 of 4 A. Freeway signs: At the May 5, 2009, Planning Commission meeting, staff presented the following proposed development standards for businesses located along the freeway: 1. Signs for single tenant buildings shall be limited to 50% of the total sign area allowed on the front of the building; 2. Signs for multi-tenant buildings, individual business signs shall be limited to 12-inch high letters; 3. All signs facing the freeway shall use a single color, and a clean letter style font; and 4. All signs facing the freeway shall be non-illuminated individual letters or logos. At the study session, the discussion focused on whether or not the 12-inch letter height would be too small, and Commissioner Schmidt mentioned that it may be a safety hazard for drivers looking for a business. Staff initially believed that 12-inch letter height was too small, but the original recommendation from the Signage Subcommittee was the 12-inch letter height. When staff made the final presentation of the draft signage ordinance to the Signage Subcommittee, the business community members stated that the 12-inch letter height was too small and no longer supported that recommendation. Staff does agree that 12-inch letters may be too small and believes that a maximum height of 16-inches may be more appropriate, depending on the length of the future tenant name. If a tenant name is long enough that the sign would look cluttered, it would be approved with smaller than 16-inches. The following change is being recommended to the Freeway signs section of the draft ordinance: 2. Signs for multi-tenant buildings: depending on the overall length of an individual business sign, the maximum allowed letter height shall be limited to 16-inches so long as it does not appear cluttered on the building, as determined by the Director of Community Development; G:\Planning\Tony Bagato\Signage Ordinance\Public Hearing Documents\Planning Commission Staff Report 05-19-09.doc Staff Report ZOA 09-104 May 13, 2009 Page 3 of 4 B. Creative Sign Program: The Creative Sign Program is a new section to the current signage ordinance that would create a review process for unique or creative signs that may not meet all the requirements of the signage ordinance. During the Planning Commission meeting and the study session, several Commissioners expressed concerns about this section and how it could encourage signs that do not meet the requirements of the signage ordinance. Some Commissioners were not comfortable with the section and discussed whether or not it should be removed. Staff does recognize the concerns of the Planning Commission and has revisited this section and is suggesting two options. The first option is to approve an amended version that is reworded to provide better control and to only provide a process for review for creative signs, but not to encourage creative signs. The second option is to remove the section from the ordinance and not provide a process for signs that do not comply with the strict application of the signage ordinance. Modifications: If the Planning Commission chooses to adopt a Creative Sign process, the section has been modified to focus on establishing a process for reviewing a creative sign, instead of encouraging it. The previous version was worded in such a way that it encouraged signs to exceed standards and also appeared to apply to shopping centers or residential neighborhoods because it was called a Creative Sign Program. This section is now called Creative Sign, not Creative Sign Program. In addition, many parts of the section have been reworded to better clarify the intent of the Creative Sign section. The changes can be found on pages 33-35 of the revised ordinance pages (attached). Staff still believes that this section is needed to provide a review process for unique or creative signs. The section is not an open approval for any type of sign due to the limits provision in 25.68.110. F. It states that the approval of a creative sign cannot approve any prohibited sign type, and any sign approved cannot be more than 20% larger than what the ordinance allows. It also requires that any creative signs be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Review Commission. G:\Planning\Tony Bagato\Signage Ordinance\Public Hearing Documents\Planning Commission Staff Report 05-19-09.doc Staff Report ZOA 09-104 May 13, 2009 Page 4 of 4 III. RECOMMENDATION: Based on the discussion at the May 5, 2009, Planning Commission meeting and the May 12, 2009, study session, staff recommends that the Planning Commission, by minute motion, approve: 1. The majority of the Draft Signage Ordinance, including the new standards for the Non-Residential Real Estate Signs; and 2. The new standards for Freeway Signs allowing a maximum of 16-inch letter height, depending on the overall length of a sign, instead of 12-inches; and 3. One of two options for Creative Signs: a. Approve the amended, more restrictive standards for Section 25.68.110 for Creative Signs, or b. Remove Section 25.68.110 for Creative Signs from the Draft Ordinance. 4. Adopt Resolution No. recommending to City Council approval of ZOA 09-104 as modified by the approved minute motion. IV. ATTACHMENTS: A. Commissioner Mari Schmidt's Comments letter, dated May 12, 2009 B. Modified Pages of the Draft Signage Ordinance, May 13, 2009. Submitted by: Department Head: Tony B gato Lauri Aylaian Principal Planner Director of Community Development Approval: Homer Croy ACM for Dev pment Services G:\Planning\Tony Bagato\Signage Ordinance\Public Hearing Documents\Planning Commission Staff Report 05-19-09.doc