HomeMy WebLinkAboutDirection - A-Frame and Pedestal SignsCITY OF PALM DES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
REQUEST:
SUBMITTED BY
Recommendation
14SWE8 TO
* Continued to the meeting of
STAFF REPORT September 27, 2012, with staff tc
coordinate contact with the El
Paseo Merchants and Chamber of
Commerce for input on the matter.
DIRECTION RELATED TO A -FRAME AND PEDESTAL SIGNS
Tony Bagato, Principal Planner
August 23, 2012
By Minute Motion, provide staff with direction regarding enforcement of
regulations governing the use of A -frame and pedestal signs.
Background
On August 27, 2009, the City Council approved Case No. ZOA 09-104 establishing a
new Signage Ordinance. During the public hearing, a business owner on El Paseo
stated that she was not there to speak about the Sign Ordinance directly, but wanted
the City Council to allow A -frame signs on El Paseo. She stated that she had been a
business owner on El Paseo for 35 years, and that the "Open" pedestal signs would get
blown down with the wind, and that the signs would have rocks or sandbags piled
around the bottom to hold the pedestal sign in place. She said that her A -frame was
lovely, and it did not need sandbags to hold it in place. Staff explained that A -frame
signs had always been prohibited and the new ordinance maintained that prohibition as
well. Staff also explained that pedestal signs were allowed based on an ordinance
modification in the early 1980's per a request by the Chamber of Commerce. The City
Council requested staff to study A -frame and pedestal signs; with the possibility of a
Zoning Ordinance Amendment to would allow A -frame signs. As part of the motion, A -
frame signs were allowed to remain temporarily to promote business.
Staff is currently working on an update to the entire Zoning Ordinance, and with a
Zoning Ordinance Update Committee (Committee) consisting of two City Council
members and two Planning Commission members. The Committee has been meeting
to clarify policy direction for staff in areas of ambiguity, and to review possible
modifications to the Zoning Ordinance to remove those ambiguities. Since A -frame
signs were allowed on a temporary basis with the possibility of being allowed in the
future, staff presented for consideration photos of the various A -frame and pedestal
signs on El Paseo. A few of the photos presented are reproduced below:
Staff Report
A -frame and Pedestal Signs
Page 6 of 6
August 23, 2012
Fiscal Analysis
There is no fiscal impact to the City associated with this request.
Submitted By:
Tony Bagato, Pnnci I Planner
Department Head:
L ylaiari Director of Community Development
n M. Wohlmuth, City Manager
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Staff Report
A -frame and Pedestal Signs
Page 3 of 6
August 23, 2012
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Staff Report
A -frame and Pedestal Signs
Page 4 of 6
August 23, 2012
After presenting the photos, the Committee discussed the pros and cons of both A -
frame and pedestal signs. Based on the discussion, the Committee concluded that the
signs lead to visual clutter and obstruct pedestrian traffic. Staff explained that pedestal
signs are allowed under the signage ordinance; however, many of them do not comply
with the signage ordinance requirements, which restrict the size, location, and wording
of the signs. Staff stated that Code Compliance could begin enforcement of the current
regulations governing pedestal signs, and proceed with eliminating the pedestal signs
from the Signage Ordinance during the Zoning Ordinance update.
Based on the discussion of the Committee, staff is seeking direction from the full City
Council in regards to enforcement of the current prohibition of A -frame signs and the
limitations on pedestal signs. To assist in this discussion, additional photos of other sign
types are included below:
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Staff Report
A -frame and Pedestal Signs
Page 5 of 6
August 23, 2012
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