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HomeMy WebLinkAboutN.B. 1 TEMP SIGNAGE 03-02-92-� NEW BUSINESS N0. 1 r �• 3-2-92 �T : L},. Z N u.. .�.E. n o n'l r i MARCH 21 1992 A TO-. WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER F._ R 0M _ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Sl?I3JECT. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REQUEST TO TEMPORARILY ALLOW UNRESTRICTED TEMPORARY SIGNAGE RECOMMENDATION Pleasure of the Council. BACKGROUND At the City Council meeting on February 18, 1992, Angie Kardashian representing the Tustin Chamber of Commerce requested that the City Council grant temporary sign code exceptions for businesses in Tustin for a twelve month period of time due to freeway construction and the recession (see attached letter). The City Council instructed staff to agendize the matter for its March 2nd meeting and also requested that information be provided on a recent action taken by the City of Orange which was apparently intended to temporarily limit restrictions on temporary signage. Staff has contacted the City of Orange to determine which action the Orange City Council took to loosen temporary sign requirements in the City of Orange. The Orange City Council at a meeting on November 19, 1991 took the following action related to temporary banner signage only: During the holiday period from November 18, 1991 to January 10, 1992 businesses were permitted to have a temporary business banner without need for any fee or application. This time period was considered an extension of the normal permitted time. Each banner would need to meet the normal health and safety requirements for size, placement and number. The Orange Sign Code currently limits banners to a maximum of 45 days per year and requires a $52 fee to obtain a permit for each banner. City Council Report Chamber of Commerce Request to Temporarily Allow Unrestricted Temporary Signage March 2, 1992 Page 2 In addition to the City of Orange, staff also contacted cities throughout Orange County to determine if they were currently contemplating temporary changes to sign regulations as a result of the current recession. Attachment A indicates the eleven cities that responded to staff inquiry. Of these eleven cities responding, only two (2) cities, in addition to the City of Orange, indicated any special treatment of temporary signs. The actions taken by the two cities who have implemented changes is also noted on Attachment A. The City of Tustin recently adopted a comprehensive Sign Code which includes standards for temporary business banners, promotions and certain temporary displays. A special event information banner for other than grand openings is permitted for up to 30 days and not more than 4 times a calendar year nor more than twice in a calendar quarter. This would permit any business a banner for 120 days in any calendar year. The ordinance also allows businesses to concurrently hang banners for up to a maximum back to back time period of 60 days in any one calendar year quarter. Other requirements regulating temporary banners include the following: Banners are limited to 32 -square feet in area and a maximum sign or height or vertical dimension of 6 feet. One display per building or street frontage is permitted or in the case of a multi -tenant building, one display per store front. Original grand openings banners are limited to 30 days. ° All banners are subject to approval of the Department of Community Development. ° A temporary sign permit fee of $75 is required. ° Window signs are currently unregulated in Tustin provided the window signage does not exceed 25% of a window area. This again appears to be more permissive than many cities in Orange County. City Council Report Chamber of Commerce Request to Temporarily Allow Unrestricted Temporary Signage March 2, 1992 Page 3 When compared against the current City of Orange requirements for temporary signage and a majority of contacted cities in Orange County, the City of Tustin's provisions for temporary signage appear to be very liberal. Prior to transmitting any report to the City Council, staff thought it important to bring this item to the Planning. Commission for discussion particularly since the comprehensive sign code was only recently adopted. While the Commission was concerned about the economic health of the community, particularly businesses impacted by freeway work, they were unanimously not in favor of the City Council taking any action to change the Sign Code at this time. They felt that limits placed by the City of Tustin on temporary signage were already perhaps the most liberal in the County of Orange and were established after input of all segments of the community. However, the following were a number of comments and suggestions made by.the Commission: There are better ways to promote business in Tustin other than banners and temporary signage. The Chamber of Commerce and City should mutually work together to emphasize and educate residents about the importance of shopping and dining in Tustin. Many residents may not know that a portion of the sales tax comes back to Tustin. They can be made aware with press releases, informational articles, promotions in Tustin Today and perhaps installation of public event banners (when not in use along Main Street, as an example) which encourage residents to shop and dine in Tustin. ° Encouraging more temporary banners is not the answer to improving the economic success of local businesses. ° The City might consider waiving its $75 temporary banner fee and $50 bond for six months. ° The Commission was concerned about the image of the City and detrimental impacts that might result if unrestricted banners were permitted. ° Additional freeway signage noting Tustin exits and business services along the freeway should be lobbied for from Caltrans. City Council Report Chamber of Commerce Request to Temporarily Allow Unrestricted Temporary Signage March 2, 1992 Page 4 Business banners are generally designed for impact or "punch". If they are left up for more than 60 days, they lose their effectiveness and maintenance becomes an issue. In further discussions with the Chamber of Commerce president, it might be appropriate for members of the Sign Code Committee and staff to meet and discuss some of the above issues and bring back a specific list of recommendations to the City Council in the next 30-45 days. Christine A. ShinctVeton Assistant City Manager CAS:kbc\tempsign.cas Cities Responding Anaheim Buena Park Brea Fullerton Fountain Valley Garden Grove Placentia Orange Yorba Linda Westminster Santa Ana TEMPORARY SIGNAGE REGULATION SURVEY Status ATTACHMENT A Processing a change No Change No Change No Change No Change No Change Recent Amendment Holiday relaxation only No Change No Change No Change Anaheim - proposing to change current limitations of 2 banners per year for a maximum of 14 days each or 28 days total per year to permit 4 postings per year, a maximum of 7 days each posting not to exceed 28 days per year. Placentia - banners for special promotions (not grand openings) permitted for up to 8 days per month, either consecutively or at random. Banners, pennants and flags also permitted on approximately to special « holidays. February 18, 1992 Honorable Mayor Puckett, Council Members and City Staff: Historically, the City of Tustin through its Mayor, Council Members and City Staff have always been interested promoting a healthy and growing business atmosphere. The Tustin Chamber of Commerce has always recognized the positive role that the City has taken in making sure that not only is Tustin a great place to live and shop, but it is also a great place to have a business. In the past, whenever a challenge arose, bhasnworked ess community, headed by the Chamber of Commerce together with elected city officials and City Staff to.,reach a solution that was fair and equitable to all parties. For the past three years the citizens and business scomtunity of Tustin have had to face a challenge that i unique to us because of our geographic location in Orange County. That challenge is how to live and work with all the freeway construction in our midst. We all have had to learn different paths to our houses and businesses. And sohfar ow we have survived. Those of us living here have navigate through Tustin without necessarily using t'he freeway. Those of us with businesses we areTsotin have dependenteon en a marked decrease in revenue because freeway access. And as far as we know, the freeway nightmares will continue to be with us for the next two to three years. And now, in addition to our freeway woes, we are faced with a new challenge that is not unique to our fair city. That challenge is what to do so that we can all survive the recession. Major companies are laying off personnel and some small and large businesses are closing down. As business has slacked off in this City, so has the tax revenue. Anything that has an adverse affect on businesses in this area, also adversely affects the City of Tustin; at the same time anything that adversely affects the City of Tustin has an adverse affect on its businesses. And right now, ere in Tustin, many small companies are on the brink ofclosing 399 El Camino Real, Tustin, California 92680 (714) 544-5341 Page 2 - down. We may be able to survive the freeway autnightmare. And we may be able to survive the recessio n. we cannot survive both these challenges at the same time without the City recognition that there is some reliefeconomy the City's control. Because of the hardships of the Y and because of the adverse affects of the freeway construction, the business Tustin Chamber of commerce, e coCityCouncil grant a temporary on alf of the Tustin community, requests t relaxation of the sign codes. We would like the City to allow businesses in this area to have banners and special signs that may not conform to the city sign codes but would increase our business revenue. The two key words we are using ino�aTemporary and relaxation. our use of the w refersto time-frame and signage. By requesting a Temporary time -frame we mean a time frame of 12 months or the length of the recession, whichever ends first. By requesting Temporary signage, we means signs that are not permanent in nature, such as banners and window lettering, signs that woulde.of the ordinarily approved as permanent fixtures. ourto word Relaxation, means that we are not -asking you 90 through the process of changing the sign code, we are just asking you to let us step outside the limitations of the sign code for a specified time frame. We would have the City Council direct both the planning commission and City Staff to allow temporary signs that may not ordinarily be approved as permanent signage Counand help expedite these requests. We realize that the cil can only address matters that are agendized except on an emergency basis. Therefore, we request that you consider this matter an emergency and act on it this evening. If you can not act on this tonight, then we are requesting that it be agendized for the next City Council meeting. Knowing that through the years the business community, elected officials, and city staffers have worked in partnership to make this city the best that it can be, we know that you will address this matter in a favorable light. T An 'eashian Presi