HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12 Suggested Changes from Mari Schmidt CHAPTER 25.68 — SIGNS
SUGGESTED CHANGES — MARI SCHMIDT
May 12, 2009
Please understand that I am deeply grateful for all the time, effort and dedication that
has been put into this update. My concerns are only that we don't miss something
important. My feeling is — that this is exactly why the process goes through the
Commissions and then on to the Council for approval.
With that in mind, here are my suggestions:
25.68.10 — Intent and Purpose
A. add, to last of sentence — preserving and enhancing the visual aspects of the
city's streets and highways, vistas and view planes.
B. 2. Ensure signs are in harmony with the building, the neighborhood both
existinq commercial and residential or existinq or proposed residential
communities and, other signs in the area.....etc.
...........Last paragraph...add a last sentence...Fai/ure to complv will result in
a fine as defined in ???
25.68.030 — Sign Permit Application and Design Review Required
C. 3. Creative Sign programs (Section 25.68.120) should be dealt with entirely
separately. Should require, due to their nature, approval from not only ACC but
Planning if not Council as well.
This, to me, is an exception which should not be encouraged. I would also
eliminate the word "programs" and make the category "Creative Signs". Frankly,
I'm not keen on the idea of encouraging or having such a category at all.
D. 4. Add, the word surroundin_q before neighborhood and make neighborhood
plural — nei4hborhoods
25.68.050 Prohibited Signs
A. Advertising devices should be defined herein.
E. Again remove Creative Si_qn Proqram from this section
TABLE 1 — (paqe 10) RES/DENTIAL ZON/NG DISTRICTS — anvwhere apalicable
the street#should be required.
TABLE 1 (pa_qe 11) — shou/d not the headinq read either "NON RES/DENTIAL
ZON/NG D/STRICTS" or "COMMERC/AL D/STR/CTS" — not RESIDENTIAL
ZON/NG DISTR/CTS? Same as above reQardinq street#'s.
25.68 H. (page 25) Signs facing the freeway.
2. l'm inclined to aqree that 12" facinp the freewav is somewhat small
however, 1'm not sure what wou/d be an aapropriate heiqht— 16"?
25.68.100 — Comprehensive Sign Program — Is this limited to Commercial applications
or, does it include Residential projects? If it is only Commercial, it should say so.
B. Applicability. The approval of a Comprehensive Sign Program shall be required
whenever any of the following circumstances exist: Whose approval??? Should
be more clear.
3. Multi-story signs — refers to second storv..what about higher than that?
Should that not be also articutated?
5. This should be the purview of the ACC not the Director of Community
Development.
E. Standards.
5. (Page 31) This paragraph is somewhat confusing and perhaps should be
redone. The Comprehensive Sign Program itself is a distinct departure from what
the rest of the Ordinance calls out. Maybe wording such as: The si_qn pro_qram
shall comalv with all the standards of this Chapter however in certain
instances some deviations mav be allowed with reqard to etc., etc.
25.68.110 (Page 32-34) Creative Sign Program
A. Purpose. Why should we encourage departures from the Ordinance?
B. Why would we encourage signs that differ from the provisions of this Chapter?
C. This sign permit application shall be approved by the ARC, not shall be subject to
approval....
E. Design criteria.
1. Design elements. This sign shall contain at least one of the following elements:
The sign should contain ALL of the following elements..........
H. Revisions to Creative Sign Programs. The Director of Community Development
should not approve revisions to any sign program. It should be up to the ARC
25.68.120 — (Page 34-35) Nonconforming Signs
A. Lawful (should it not be — lawfully permitted?) non conforming signs?
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B. 1. (Page 34) Lawful nonconforming signs to be removed = 30 days.
...nonconforming sign(s) shall BE removed or made to conform to the
requirement of this Chapter within 30 days (not within a specified time;
25.68.130 (Page 35) Abandoned Signs
Time frame for removal of all abandoned si_qns should be 30 days and so stated.
25.68.140 — Abatement of Illegal Signs
B. Abatement of illegal signs. I do not understand why we would allow an illegal sign
to be grandfathered in for a one year period. It seems that these signs should be
removed immediately or, at least, not later than 60 days from the adoption date
of this Ordinance.
C. ....Last sentence..Upon receipt of this notice, the owner or user of a permanent
sign that is determined to be illegal does have the right to file an appeal
regarding the decision within 10 days thereafter to the City Council pursuant to
the provisions of Chapter 8.20 of this Title.
25.68.150 — Penalties
B. If the installation of a sign is commenced prior to obtaining an approved sign
permit application1 the applicable fee for a sign permit application shall be
tripled. Construction shall be stopped on said si_qn(s) and pendinq
approval mav be removed upon authoritv of the Director of Community
Development and, a fine imposed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
8.20 of this Title.
25.68.160 — Definitions
Add in alphabetical sequence— Freewav si_qna_qe;
Under Real estate sign add — sale, lease, exchan_qe or rent of the property upon
which...etc.
"Vehicle sign" means a�(not "a") sign.......
Thanks for the opportunity to speak to this Ordinance revision.
Mari Schmidt, Planning Commissioner
837.0093
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