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Home My WebLink AboutSuspend PDMC 25.68 Temporary Signs for 3 MonthsCITY OF PALM DESERT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: APPROVAL TO SUSPEND CHAPTER 25.58 SIGNS, SECTIONS 25.68.090 A AND M TEMPORARY SIGNS, FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS TO ALLOW COMMUNITY HOME BUILDERS TEMPORARY SIGNAGE RELIEF DURING THE WEEKENDS STARTING FRIDAYS AT 3:00 P.M. AND ENDING MONDAYS AT 10:00 A.M. SUBMITTED BY: Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner DATE: May 24, 2012 CONTENTS: Photos of Off -site Signage, On -site Flags and Banners Email from community home builders dated May 2, 2012 Recommendation By Minute Motion: Approve a three-month suspension of Chapter 25.68 Signs, Sections 25.68.090 A and M Temporary signs, to allow community home builders two temporary off -site signs not located within the public right- of-way; one 3'x10' banner per street frontage; and four company flags located at the entry of each residential development. The temporary program would run from May 25, 2012, through September 4, 2012, during the weekends, beginning Fridays at 3:00 p.m. and ending Mondays at 10:00 a.m. Background On September 10, 2009, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1190, updating and revising Palm Desert Municipal Code Section 25.68, Signs. The Sign Ordinance prohibits any off -site signage under Section 25.68.050 M, and advertising devices under Section 25.68.050 A. Advertising devices are defined as "Any balloon, flag, pennant, propeller, oscillating, rotating, pulsating, light, or other contrivance except a sign used to attract attention for the purpose of promoting (either directly or indirectly), the sale of products of any person." During the last three years, Code Compliance has cited several home builders for banners, company flags, and off -site directional signage. The builders have been placing off -site signage at strategic locations trying to lure customer traffic. Attached to the staff report are examples of this off -site signage. The Palm Desert Municipal Code allows residential builders to erect one double -face sign, or two single -face signs that are 48 square feet in size and eight feet in height per street frontage, and two directional signs 15 square feet in size and eight feet in height per street frontage per Section 25.68.090 Temporary Signs. Staff Report Community builders temporary signage program Page 2 of 3 May 24, 2012 On May 1, 2012, City staff, Mayor Pro Tern Kroonen, and Council Member Harnik met with several residential home builders. Due to the continuing economic downturn, the builders have expressed concern regarding the City's Sign Ordinance as it relates to temporary signage and advertising devices. The builders are proposing a six-month pilot program on weekends starting Fridays at 3:00 p.m. and ending on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. The proposed pilot program requested the following; • Six company flags located at the entry of the project site. • One promotional banner 3'x10' or 5'x20' facing each public street. • Six temporary directional signs per street frontage, four feet in height and no more than six square feet. Signs would be 40 feet from one another. • Signs placed within the right-of-way adjacent to collector and/or arterial roadways. • Eco-friendly arbor balloons at the primary project entry. • A special promotional sales program that exceeds one week, but less than 30 consecutive days. The event would have one high wire balloon to draw attention to the event, amplified music, food, and drinks. After meeting with the home builders, staff recommends a suspension of P.D.M.C. Sections 25.68.050 A and M, Temporary signs, for a three-month period to allow temporary off -site signage, on -site banners, and flags for the all residential developers. The program would run May 25, 2012, through September 4, 2012, on the weekends starting Fridays at 3:00 p.m. and ending on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. If the applicant fails to remove all permitted items by Monday at 10:00 a.m., the applicant is subject to a fine as provided for under section 1.12 of the P.D.M.C. Each applicant would apply for a Temporary Use Permit (TUP), which would include a site plan showing sign locations and dimensions of each sign proposed. The cost of a TUP is $53.00. The home builders also proposed a special promotional sales program that exceeds one week, but is less than 30 consecutive days. Chapter 25.64 Permitted Temporary Uses, Section 25.64.040 Uses permitted subject to temporary use permit allows special private events 10 days within a calendar year. The 10 days do not have to be consecutive. Staff believes that each builder could apply for a special permit for up to 10 days to accomplish their monthly sales events within the framework of the existing code provisions. Staff recommends that during the three-month period, the community home builders be allowed the following; Four company flags located at the entry of the project site. One promotional banner 3'x10' (which is the same size as other commercial uses are allowed) facing each public street. Two temporary directional signs per street frontage, four feet in height and no more than six square feet. Signs may not be placed within the public right-of-way, and/or within a 40 foot line of sight triangle. The signs cannot be illuminated or neon. G:\Planning\Kcvin SwartzlWord\Mlx Itc-ffemporary signage for community home builders.doc Staff Report Community builders temporary signage program Page 3 of 3 May 24, 2012 During the three-month trial period, staff will observe the visual and aesthetic impacts on the community. The builders will also provide staff with actual traffic numbers to determine the effectiveness of the program. If the program assists new residential developers and does not have adverse aesthetic effects on the community, then staff would recommend that the City Council continue the program for an additional three months. Staff would come back to the City Council for direction about devising a future program for off -site signage approvals until a more robust economic recovery is realized. The intent of this program is to help residential developers. While staff may not choose to promote the temporary program to businesses and industries wanting to exercise commercial speech other than residential developers, staff thinks it's likely that they will become aware of the program and follow suit. This is a large part of the reason why staff is recommending trying the program for three months, then evaluating the community aesthetics and the complaints received. Fiscal Analysis At this time there is no fiscal impact with this request. After the trial period the applicant will provide actual traffic numbers and how many homes were sold. CITY COUNCILACTION Submitted By: APPROVED VV DENTED RECEIVED OTHER MEET NG DA Kevin Swartz, Assistant Planner OES r NOES: ° BSENT: Department Head: ABSTAIN: � --� Ori�,hml on File with City wi-k's Office By Minute Motion, approve a three-month --' suspension of Chapter 25.68 -Signs, auri Aylaian, Director of Community elopment Sections 25.68.090(A) and (M) - Temporary Signs - to allow community home builders six (6) temporary off -site .Anproval: signs not located within the public right-of-way, one 5-foot x 20-foot banner per street frontage; and four company flags located at the entry of each o in M. Wohlmuth, City Manager residential development - temporary program to run from May 25, 2012, through September 4, 2012, during weekends beginning Fridays at 3:00 p.m. and ending Mondays at 10:00 a.m., except for the holiday weekends of Memorial Day (Monday 29) and Labor Day (Monday, September 3) when the program will be extended to Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., and with additional time granted for Independence Day (Wednesday, July 4). 5-0 GAPlmming\Kevin Swartz\Word\Mlsc Items\Temporary signage for community home builders.doc Swartz, Kevin From: Daniel Boyd [DBoyd®drhorton.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 10:33 AM To: Swartz, Kevin Cc: Bill Blankenship (bblankenship@biasc.org); Steve Ruffner (sruffner@kbhome.com); Steve Fitzpatrick; Jonathan R Smith; Wohlmuth, John; Aylaian, Lauri; Bagato, Tony; Paul Parkinson; Mike Freeman (mfreeman@kbhome.com); Mark Torres (mark.torres@lennar.com); Rudy Herrera (rudycherrera@gmail.com); Vince Barbato (vincebpositiveQgmail.com); CDouglas@ponderosahomes.com; cerickson@ponderosahomes.com; Kathleen@thgcv.com Subject: [SPAM] - FW: Banners Attachments: 5x20 HomeSense Banner.pdf; Picture 001.jpg; Banner.pdf; Billboard_3ftx10ft.pdf Kevin In the interest of timing to present this matter to the full City Council Meeting on the 24`h per the direction of the Signage Committee, please accept this email communication (with sample attachments) for you use in preparing Staff's report concerning the outcome of our Community Builder's Meeting held yesterday at City Hall. At the direction of the Signage Committee we are appreciative of the opportunity to outline two (2) basic programs that we agreed will serve as an pilot program to determine if relief under the current ordinances enhances and promotes sales traffic for the Community Builder's. TERM OF PILOT PROGRAM: Six (6) Months DURATION: Weekends ( Defined as starting Friday at 3pm ending Monday 10am). Applicant shall state the dates of all weekends that permitted item(s) shall be installed. However, the Applicant shall remove all permitted items no later than by 10:00 am each Monday morning. If the Applicant fails to remove all permitted itern(s) by 10:00 the Applicant is subject to both a violation and revocation or denial for all future request(s) under this pilot program. PERMIT/FEE: A permit will be required and payment of a fee. The permit process will be "OTC". Providing the Applicant does not change the scope of the permitted item(s) from one weekend, to the next, the Applicant will not be required to re -submit another application. However, if the Applicant chooses to alter the permitted item(s) then a new application and fee shall be required. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS: The Applicant, with the application, shall submit for Staff approval reduced graphics and full description of all proposed permitted items to be installed. PERMITTED ITEMS: Permitted items shall, but not be limited to, the following item(s) in which Staff shall review for approval: Company flags. Flags permitted shall be located at the entry of the Project and limited to six (6) flags; Promotional banners shall be permitted either 3'X10' or 5'x20'. Only one (1) banner shall be permitted facing each border street. Unless Applicant is sponsoring a "Special Promotion" only a 3'x10' banner is permitted. The larger 5'x20' banner shall be permitted only for special promotional events. In either case, all banners shall be removed each Monday by 10:00 am. ? Temporary directional signage. Such signage shall be no higher than four (4) feet above grade and not larger than six (6) square feet. signage cannot be illuminated or neon in color. Location of signage shall be located a minimum of forty-five feet (45 ft) from an intersection (as measured from the nearest inside curb) and twentry- five (25 ft) from any driveway. No sign may be placed in any other requried clear sight triangle. No temporary sign can be installed closer than forth (40 ft) from any other temporary sign. No more than six (6) signs per business, entity, or person(s) shall be located on a single block face, which for purpose of this Section is the street frontage between major intersections (e.g. collector and or arterial instersections). All temporary signs must be removed by Applicant by 10:00 am or be subject to violation, fine and or cost incurred by City for removal and possible revocation for all future request(s) under this pilot prgram. Signs may be placed in the right of way adjacent to arterial or collector roadways and shown on a location map to be provided to Staff for review and approval. ? Arbor ballons may be used at the primary Project entry only. Applicant must use eco-friendly ballons and colors shall be provided to Staff for review and approval. In the event of a special promotional event, Applicant may raise one (1) "high wire" ballon to draw attention to the event. High wire balloons may not violate any laws or regulations imposed by FAA or other governmenal Agencies. ? Under no circumstances does this pilot program include the use of any human directional(s) ? If desired by the City, the Applicant shall provide to the City with actual "traffic" numbers to determine the effectiveness of this Pilot Program. ? If the Applicant proposes a special "Promotional" sales program that exceeds one (1) weekend, but not longer than thirty (30) consecutive days, the Applicant shall be required to submit a separate appiication and payment of fee that includes all proposed promotional item(s) that are not included in the above permitted item(s). Any additional permitted promotional item(s) are subject to review and approval in conjunction with all applicabe ordinates in effect (e.g. amplified music at Models, food and drink vendor's, etc) ? Message Neutrality: This Section does ont regulate content of signs. However, Signs may be subject to legal enforcement through state and federal laws dealing with misleading, illegal or obsscene content. Daniel W. Boyd Vice President, Entitlements South Coast/Inland Empire Division D. R. Horton, Arperlen's $aieder 2280 Wardlow Circle, Suite 100 Corona, CA 92880 P: 951.739.5444 C: 949.872.8369 F: 951.272.9797 BUILDER MAGAZIN: Lu Uj It N Wo 4-0 cu a) 0 CIS t13 g y N -i �1 d- 1 a. r C! Y. 5 t$ r: i Wil t law —7 a � 0 y o z ti d. 0-0 0 0 rZ CD co N