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HomeMy WebLinkAboutP.H. 1 CODE AM 92-004 04-21-92PUBLIC HEARING N0. 1 7"1Tt4\ t y 4-21-92 uA------ -� U .t _ --- - ----- -- - Inter -Com w.DATE: APRIL 21 1992 ��a�j TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: CODE AMENDMENT 92-004 (TEMPORARY SIGNS) RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council have first reading by title only and introduction of Ordinance No. 1085. BACKGROUND On April 13, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. 3019 recommending that the City Council approve Code Amendment 92-004, modifying the regulations for temporary signs. On October 21, 1991 the Tustin City Council adopted a new Sign Code which was the culmination of several years of work. In February of this year the Tustin Chamber of Commerce requested that the City. Council relax the Sign Code provisions relating to banner signs and other temporary signs due to freeway construction and the recession. The City Council requested background information and agendized the matter for the March 2 Council meeting. Prior to Council consideration, staff transmitted this information to the Planning Commission for discussion. On February 24, the Planning Commission discussed the Chamber's request to grant temporary sign code exceptions and suggested some alternatives for improving business, rather than permitting unrestricted banner signs. On March 2, the City Council reviewed information from staff regarding other Orange County City banner sign regulations. After some discussion, the Council directed staff to work with the Chamber of Commerce and the Planning Commission Sign Code Committee to discuss ways to promote business in Tustin. The first meeting of the Chamber Business Promotion Committee was held in late March. One of the marketing strategies proposed for local businesses was to modify the temporary business banner sign regulation to permit more flexible time -limits and .to eliminate the requirement for a security bond. Also discussed was the possibility of using the public event banner signs (on Main Street) for City sponsored business promotions. It was unanimously agreed by the Committee that a Code Amendment should be initiated to address these issues. City Council Report Code Amendment 92-004 April 21, 1992 Page 2 ANALYSIS Code Amendment 92-004 proposes to modify the time limits, height limits and bond requirements for business banner signs. The proposed amendment is identified as Exhibit A which shows the new language highlighted. Special event banner signs are currently permitted for 30 consecutive days, no more than 4 times per year nor more than twice in any calendar quarter. As a result of the discussions with the Chamber, it was suggested that more flexible time limits would benefit the business community. Since some businesses may wish to have banner signs only on weekends or only on specific weeks, it was suggested that modifications to the time limits for posting of banners be made to permit a maximum of 60 days per calendar quarter and no more than 120 days per calendar year. This proposed sign code modification would permit a business owner to pay one temporary sign permit -fee and apply for a banner sign once a year, if they know the exact days proposed in any given year. Currently, an owner could need to apply for a Temporary Sign Permit four times a year at a fee of $75.00 for each permit. If a business owner is unable to identify a schedule for posting of a banner sign for the entire year, they may apply for separate permits each time they wish to display the sign, however, the maximum time limits would still apply. In addition, a business owner could choose to display the banner on non-consecutive days, thus resulting in the .same number of days for a banner's use, but spread out over a longer period of time. This may increase the effectiveness of banner signs since the public is sometimes more aware of banners that .are not on display every day. The current Sign Code limits the height of the banner to a maximum vertical dimension of 6 feet. In most circumstances, a business banner is hung horizontally and attached to a building wall. There are some instances where this cannot be done. In those cases the business owner has the option of placing the banner on a freestanding pole. A pole mounted banner may be severely restricted when the space is not available for mounting the poles. In order to accommodate these unique situations and to provide for a variety of shapes for banner signs, staff proposes to eliminate the limitation on the vertical dimension of the sign. The maximum overall size of the banner will remain at 32 square feet. The present code permits a maximum of one banner -sign per street frontage or storefront (in the case of multi -tenant buildings), however, it does not clearly identify the limitations on pole - mounted banner signs. In order to clarify the restrictions, staff proposes to permit only one pole -mounted banner sign per site. -- City Council Report Code Amendment 92-004 April 21, 1992 Page 3 Therefore, in the case of a multi -tenant. shopping center, each tenant may have a building -mounted banner sign and only one tenant would be permitted to install a pole -mounted banner sign instead of the building -mounted sign. The property owner would decide which tenant could have a free-standing pole -mounted banner sign and the applicable time periods. Staff believes that this restriction will limit the amount of sign clutter on a site. The proposed sign code modification would also exempt business banners from the requirement .to provide a $50.00 refundable cash bond to ensure removal of the banner within the permit time limits. This will save the business owner the cost of the bond and save the City money and time spent processing a refund. Although eliminating the bond requirement and modifying the time limits to non-consecutive days will change our enforcement procedures and method of tracking permits, staff believes that other provisions of the sign code will be equally as effective. an enforcement tool. The current sign code includes a provision to permit the removal of nominal value signs if in violation of sign code provisions. A nominal value sign is defined as a sign valued at less than $200.00. The cost of a banner sign is usually between $100.00 and $150.00. Removal of illegal banner signs will help ensure that signs are displayed only on permitted days. The present code permits the use of the Main Street Banner Signs to advertise events sponsored by the City. The Chamber Business Promotion Committee believed that in order to strengthen the business environment and to encourage local spending, this banner sign could also be used for promotions sponsored by the City of Tustin (.i.e. promotions encouraging residents to shop in Tustin). It is recommended that provisions of the sign code for Special Event Banner Signs be expanded to permit such promotions. On April 13 the Planning Commission held a public hearing and received public input on the proposed Code Amendment. The Commission discussed the proposed modifications and concurred that the proposed amendment will provide more flexibility for the business community. The Commission recommended one minor modification to the draft ordinance and adopted Resolution No. 3019 recommending the City Council approve Code Amendment 92-004. CONCLUSION The proposed amendment will maintain the integrity of the temporary sign restrictions while at the same time provide the business owner with greater flexibility for inexpensive advertising and special event promotions through the use of banner signs. The amendment City Council Report Code Amendment 92-004 April 21, 1992 Page 4 also reduces the cost of advertising with banners by allowing for one temporary sign permit for the entire year. Staff recommends that the City Council have first reading by title only and introduction of Ordinance No. 1085. a SaraJ. Pashalid s Associa a Planner SP:kd\cod92-04.ccr Christine ShinqWeton Assistant City Manager Attachments: Planning Commission Resolution 3019 and Exhibit A. - ordinance with revisions Ordinance No. 1085 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 i 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 3019 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION OF CODE AMENDMENT 92-04, MODIFYING THE REGULATINS FOR TEMPORARY SIGNS. The Planning Commission of the City of Tustin hereby resolve as follows: I. The Planning Commission finds and determines as follows: A. A public hearing before the Planning Commission to consider Code Amendment 92-04 was duly called, noticed and held on Monday, April 13, 1992. B. The subject amendment will modify the height and time limits for temporary business banners to provide for greater flexibility. C. The subject amendment is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare in that it will maintain the regulation of temporary banner signs. D. The subject amendment is consistent with the owth and ral Plan in that it will not impact the orderly g development of the City. II. The Planning Commission hereby recommends to the City Council approval of Code Amendment 92-04 as provided for in Exhibit A, attached hereto. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission at a regular meeting on the 13th day of April, 1992. KATHLEENSecretary/ STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) CITY OF TUSTIN ) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Resolution No. 3019 Page 2 I, KATHLEEN CLANCY, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am the Recording Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Tustin, California; that Revised Resolution No. 2710 was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin Planning Commission, held on the 13th day of April, 1992. KATHLEEN CLANCY Recording Secretary SP:kd I ORDINANCE NO. 1085 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TIISTIN, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SUBSECTIONS 9403B1. AND 9403C1. OF ARTICLE 91 CHAPTER 4 OF THE TIISTIN CITY CODE RELATING TO TEMPORARY SIGNS The City Council of the City of Tustin finds and determines as follows: A. The Sign Code was adopted to maintain and enhance the quality of the City's appearance by avoiding sign clutter and to promote the economic opportunities of the City by permitting effective business identification; and B. There are some businesses that require special temporary signage to identify product and service information to customers; and C. It has been determined that there is a need to modify the height limits and time limits for temporary business banners to provide for greater flexibility; and D. The subject amendment is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare in that it will maintain regulation of temporary banner signs. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin does hereby ordain as follows: Section I. Subsection 9403bl. of Article 91 Chapter 4 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1. Business Banners (a) All banners must be fixed to a building and hung below a roof eave or mounted on poles. (b) All banners shall be professionally made and constructed of cloth, canvas, plastic, PVC or similar material, and have slits for proper wind resistance,. where necessary. (c) No banner may exceed 32 square f eet in area. with TGGt . EXHIBIT A Ordinance No. 1085 Page 2 (d) one display per building or street frontage, or in the case of a multi -tenant building, one display per storefront shall be allowed. ................. (e) (f) Original grand opening business banners shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days. Temporary sign pgrand ermits for rY_I WM o . 1: pefting banners are subject. to the approval of the Department of Community Development. In addition,, a change of ownership or change of business type qualifies for a grand opening business banner. (g) Special event information business banners for purposes other than grand openings shall be permitted for no more than 30 6XV days and not more than four (4) times ... in any calendar 4_u"% +-T.,; ..o in nnu r-AlAndar auarter. special events only, and not for each promotion A national franchise might wish to advertise. Specia*l event banners are subject to the approval of the Department of Community Development. Section 2. Subsection 9403c1. of Article 9, Chapter 4 is hereby amended to read as follows: All banners posted on the structures approved by the p.._ open .... . . city shall advertise events to the public and sponsored 'W:-"t*1"*'h­"e' City" .:::.::.:::::.....::::::<;;:>..:::<.:<:.::::::...:...:... 6 Tustin. Ordinance No. 1085 Page 3 Section 3. All of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be construed together in order to accomplish the purpose of these regulations. If any provision of this Ordinance is held by a court to be unconstitutional, such unconstitutionality shall apply only to the particular facts, or if a provision is declared to be unconstitutional as applied to all facts, all of the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall continue to be fully effective. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tustin held on the 4th day of May, 1992. CHARLES E. PUCKETT Mayor MARY E. WYNN City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ORANGE CITY OF TUSTIN CERTIFICATION FOR ORDINANCE NO. 1085 MARY E. WYNN, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Ordinance was duly and regularly introduced at a regular meeting of .the City Council held on the 21st day of April, 1992 and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 4th day of May, 1992, by the following vote: COUNCILPERSONS AYES: COUNCILPERSONS NOES: COUNCILPERSONS ABSTAINED: COUNCILPERSONS ABSENT: MARY E. WYNN, City Clerk SP:kd\1085.ord 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ORDINANCE NO. 1085 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SUBSECTIONS 9403B1. AND 9403C1. OF ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 4 OF THE TUSTIN CITY CODE RELATING TO TEMPORARY SIGNS The City Council of the City of Tustin finds and determines as follows: A. The Sign Code was adopted to maintain and enhance the quality of the City's appearance by avoiding sign clutter and to promote the economic opportunities of the City by permitting effective business identification; and B. There are some businesses that require special temporary signage to identify product and service information to customers; and C. It has been determined that there is a need to modify the height limits and time limits for temporary business banners to provide for greater flexibility; and D. The subject amendment is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare in that it will maintain regulation of temporary banner signs. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin does hereby ordain as follows: Section 1. Subsection 9403bl. of Article 91 Chapter 4 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1. Business Banners (a) All banners must be fixed to a building and hung below a roof eave or mounted on poles. (b) All banners shall be professionally made and constructed of cloth, canvas, plastic, PVC or similar material, and have slits for proper wind resistance, where necessary. (c) No banner may exceed 32 square feet in area. (d) One display per building or street frontage, or in the case of a multi -tenant building, one display per storefront shall be allowed. As a substitute for a wall -mounted banner sign, one pole -mounted banner sign per property street frontage.is permitted. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2E Ordinance No. 1085 Page 2 (e) Every business banner shall display a City issued permit identifying the approved dates for the display. Banners displayed without a City permit or on non -approved dates may be removed by the City. (f) Original grand opening business banners shall be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days. Temporary sign permits for grand opening banners are subject to the approval of the Department of Community Development. In addition, a change of ownership or change of business type qualifies for a grand opening business banner. (g) Special event information business banners for purposes other than grand openings shall be permitted for no more than 30 consecutive days and not more than four (4) times in any calendar year nor more than twice in any calendar quarter. As an alternative, if specific non-consecutive dates can be identified in writing, a business banner shall be permitted for no more than 60 days per calendar quarter and no more than 120 days per calendar year. Display of special event banners should be for special events only, and not for each promotion a national franchise might wish to advertise. Special event banners are subject to the approval of the Department of Community Development. (h) Business banners are exempt from the requirement to provide a refundable cash bond. Section 2. Subsection 9403cl. of Article 9, Chapter 4 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1. All banners posted on the structures approved by the City shall advertise events and other promotions open to the public and sponsored by the City of Tustin. Section 3. All of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be construed together in order to accomplish the purpose of these regulations. If any provision of this Ordinance is held by a court to be unconstitutional, such unconstitutionality shall apply only to the particular facts, or if a provision is declared to be unconstitutional as applied to all facts, all of the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall continue to be fully effective. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Ordinance No. 1085 Page 3 PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tustin held on the 4th day of May, 1992. CHARLES E. PUCKETT Mayor MARY E. WYNN City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) CITY OF TUSTIN ) CERTIFICATION FOR ORDINANCE NO. 1085 MARY E. WYNN, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Ordinance was duly and regularly introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 21st day of April, 1992 and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 4th day of May, 1992, by the following vote: COUNCILPERSONS AYES: COUNCILPERSONS NOES: COUNCILPERSONS ABSTAINED: COUNCILPERSONS ABSENT: SP:kd\1085drf2.ord MARY E.-WYNN, City Clerk