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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Res 5427 2006-01-23 RESOLUTION NUMBER 5427 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH ADOPTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT 600-11 ON "GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR SIGNS - MAIN STREET SPECIFIC PLAN AREA" WHEREAS, The Planning Commission held Study Sessions regarding the sign regulations for the Main Street Specific Plan Zone area on September 22, 2004, November 3, 2004, February 23,2005, May 4,2005 and September 21,2005, and I WHEREAS, At the conclusion of the September 21, 2005 Study Session the Planning Commission directed staff to schedule a public hearing to consider proposed amendments to the sign regulations as summarized below: 1:1 Amend Article 2, Definitions, to add new definitions regarding signs; 1:1 Amend Article 18, Sign Provisions, as follows: 1:1 Amend Section 28-1801.D., Calculation of Sign Area; 1:1 Delete existing Section 28-1802.D., Abatement of Signs Relating to Inoperative Activities, entirely and replace with a new Section 28-1802.D., Maintenance and Administrative Removal of Signing; 1:1 Delete existing Section 28-1802.E., Maintenance of Signs, entirely and replace with a new Section 28-1802.E., Legibility of Signs; 1:1 Add new Section 28-1802.F., Material; and 1:1 Add new Section 28-1802.G., Changeable Copy. 1:1 Revise Section 28-1804, Permitted Signs, Sub-Section C. to delete all provisions regarding the "C-SP" zone provisions (Main Street Specific Plan Area); 1:1 Add a new Sub-Section D, "C-SP Zone" with new sign standards for the Main Street Specific Plan Area that will retain the current provisions for signs within the Main Street Specific Plan area and adopt the following additional provisions; 1:1 Allow the use of neon lighting as the primary illumination method, with the sign area for neon lit signs being limited to 75% of the maximum allowable area per the Zoning Ordinance (Section 28-1804.D.5.b.); 1:1 Allow the use of neon lighting as an accent rather than the primary illumination source, such use of neon to not illuminate in excess of30% of the allowable sign area (Section 28-1804.D.5.b.); 1:1 Allow for courtyard signs when businesses do not face Main Street and establish standards (Section 28-1804.D.5.d.) 1:1 Allow for monument signs on properties where the building is setback at least 15 feet from the street and establish standards (Section 28-1804.D.5.f.); 1:1 Allow restaurant menu signs not larger than 6 square feet and establish standards (Section 28-1804.D.5.g.); . 1:1 Allow permanent window signs and establish standards (Section 28, 1804.D.5.h.); 1:1 Establish standards for use of neon lighting (Section 28-1804.D.5.i.); 1:1 Require the use of extemal, incandescent lighting for signs with no reflective surfaces on the sign area with a maximum illumination level on the sign face of 35 candelaslsquare foot (70 candelaslsquare foot when facing Pacific Coast Highway) and establish standards (Section 28-1804.D.5.j.); 1:1 Allow the future use of interior-illuminated channel letters and prohibit the future use of interior, illuminated "can signs" (Section 28,1804.D.S.j.); 1:1 Allow for the use of a single string of clear string lights to surround window areas and architectural features, without counting this towards the sign area for the building (Section 28-1804.D.5.k.); 1:1 Establish a "Planned Sign Program" requirements for certain multi-tenant buildings and establish standards (Section 28-1804.D.5.1.); and 1:1 Establishes standards for ''Temporary Window Signs (Section 28-1804.D.6.), and 1 I Resolution Number 5427 WHEREAS, The Planning Commission also determined to recommend that the City Council adopt a "Policy Statement" on "General Design Guidelines for Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area", and I WHEREAS, Pursuant to 14 Calif. Code of Regs. ~ 15305, staff has determined as follows: The proposed "Policy Statement" on "General Design Guidelines for Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area" is categorically exempt from review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to 14 Calif. Code of Regs. ~ 15301(g) (Existing Facilities - New copy on existing on-premise signs) because it revises the existing sign regulations within the City for on-premise signs without allowing for an increase in the allowable sign area of signs within the subject areas of the City; ~ 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations) because it consists of minor alterations in land use limitations in average slope of less than 20% and does not result in any changes in land use or density; ~ 15311(a) (Accessory Structures - On-premise signs) because it revises the existing sign regulations within the City for on-premise signs without allowing for an increase in the allowable sign area of signs within the subject areas of the City; and, pursuant to ~ 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the approval may have a significant effect on the environment, and WHEREAS, A duly noticed public hearing was held by the Planning Commission on December 7, 2005 to consider Zone Text Amendment 05-3 and the proposed "Policy Statement" on "General Design Guidelines for Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area", and WHEREAS, The record of the hearing by the Planning Commission on December 7,2005 indicates the following: I (a) At said public hearing there was oral and written testimony and evidence received by the Planning Commission. (b) The proposed "Policy Statement" on "General Design Guidelines for Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area" is proposed to establish the following items for consideration by a property owner or business operator prior to developing a sign plan within the Main Street Specific Plan Area: o Color; o Materials; o Sign Legibility/Negative Space; and o Sign Illumination. (c) During the Study Sessions of the Planning Commission the above topics were determined to be areas of consideration in developing future signs within the Main Street area, but not conducive to regulation through the proposed Zoning Code provisions. The proposed policy statement and the proposed "Design Guidelines" would not be mandatory on a property owner or business operator, but are intended to present the position of the City relating to these areas of concern and to enhance the ability of the City to ensure orderly and planned development in the City regarding designs for on- premise signs within the Main Street Specific Plan area, and .' 1 Wi{EREA~, The Planning Commission determined to recommend approval of the proposed: "'Design G,uidelines" by its adoption of Planning Commission . ...... ~ { . / Resolution 05-64, and -.....:,-<-~ __' - . WHEREAS, A duly noticed public hearing was held by the City Council on January 23,2006 to consider Zone Text Amendment 05-3 and the proposed "Policy Statement" on "General Design Guidelines for Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area", and WHEREAS, The record of the hearing by the City Council on January 23, 2006 indicates the following: Resolution Number 5427 (a) At said public hearing there was oral and written testimony and evidence received by the City Council, and WHEREAS, Based upon the facts contained in the record, including those stated above in this resolution the City Council makes the following findings: (a) The proposed "Policy Statement on General Design Guidelinesfor Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area" ("Policy Statement") is consistent with the provisions of the various elements of the City's General Plan and Zone Text Amendment 05-3. Accordingly, the proposed Policy Statement is consistent with the General Plan. The proposed Policy Statement will not result in changes inconsistent with the existing provisions of the General Plan. I (b) The proposed Policy Statement will supplement the revisions to the City's zoning ordinance as adopted in Zone Text Amendment 05-3 and enhance the ability of the City to ensure orderly and planned development in the City through better understanding of the desire's of the City regarding new sign installations within the Main Street Specific Plan area. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: Section!. The City Council hereby adopts Policy Statement 600-11, "General Design Guidelines for Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area", as set forth on Exhibit A, attached to this resolution and incorporated herein. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Seal Beach this 23rd day of Januarv ,2006 by the following vote: 1 AYES: councilMember()I1tif/J,cJ.f21/LlJn,dr>~ ~"j~ NOES: Council Members V;~ ABSENT: Council Members ~ ABSTAIN: Council Members ~g-nl ~~~~ Mayor ATTEST: A. " h~~1 ~ 1 STATE OF CALIFORNIA } COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS CITY OF SEAL BEACH } I, Linda Devine, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution is the original copy of Resolution Number 5427 on file in the office of the City Clerk, passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Seal Beach at a meeting thereof held on the 23rd day of January. 2006. ~a~, City lerk Resolution Number 5427 "EXHIBIT A" CITY OF SEAL BEACH COUNCIL POLICY 1 SUBJECT GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR SIGNS - MAIN STREET SPECIFIC PLAN AREA SECTION INDEX NO. ISSUE REVISION COUNCIL CM DATE DATE APPROVAL APPROVAL 600 11 03-15-06 01,23-06 1. SCOPE This Council Policy applies to all properties within the Main Street Specific Plan area, as indicated within the Main Street Specific Plan, 2. PURPOSE AND INTENT 1 To establish the following items for consideration by a property owner or business operator prior to developing a sign plan within the Main Street Specific Plan Area: lJ Color; lJ Materials; lJ Sign Legibility/Negative Space; and lJ Sign Illumination. The "Design Guidelines" are not mandatory on a property owner or business operator, but are intended to present the position of the City relating to these areas of concern and to enhance the ability of the City to ensure orderly and planned development in the City regarding designs for on-premise signs within the Main Street Specific Plan area. 3. POLICY The attached "Exhibit A", "General Design Guidelines for Signs - Main Street Specific Plan Area" enhance the ability of the City to ensure orderly and planned development in the City regarding designs for on-premise signs within the Main Street Specific Plan area 4. ISSUANCE Approved by City Council on January 23, 2006. Effective date is March 15, 2006. * * * * I Resolution Number 5427 GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR SIGNS - MAIN STREET SPECIFIC PLAN AREA General Guidelines: I The following general design guidelines should be considered prior to developing signs for any project within the Main Street Specific Plan Area: A. Color: Color is one of the most important aspects of visual communication. It can be used to catch the eye or to communicate ideas or feelings. Too many colors used simultaneously can confuse and negate the message of a sign. Even the most carefully planned sign may look unattractive due to poor color selection. 1. Contrast is an important influence on the legibility of signs. Light letters on a dark background or dark letters on a light background are most legible. 2. Limit the total number of colors used in anyone sign. preferably four colors or less (black and white are considered colors). Small accents of several colors may make a sign unique and attractive, but the competition of large areas of many different colors decreases readability. I 3. Colors or color combinations that interfere with legibility of the sign copy or that interfere with viewer identification of other signs should be avoided. Bright day-glo (fluorescent) colors should be avoided as they are distracting and do not usually blend well with other background colors. 4. Sign colors should be harmonious with one another and relate to and compliment the dominant colors used on the structure, other structures on a site with multiple structures, and the prevailing colors in the surrounding area (when a theme can be identified). B. Materials. 1. The following materials are recommended for signs: (a) Wood (carved, sandblasted, etched, and properly sealed, primed and painted, or stained). (b) Metal (formed, etched, cast, engraved, and properly primed and painted or factory coated to protect against corrosion). 1 (c) High-density pre-formed foam or similar material. New materials may be very appropriate if properly designed in a manner consistent with these guidelines, and painted or otherwise finished to compliment the architecture. (d) Wall signs painted directly on the structure are encouraged. Resolution Number 5427 (e) Custom neon tubing, in the form of graphics or lettering, may be incorporated into several of the above permitted sign types. 2. Sign materials should be compatible with the design of the fa~de where they are placed. 3. The selected materials should contribute to the legibility of the sign. For example, glossy finishes are often difficult to read because of glare and reflections. 1 4. Paper and cloth signs are generally not suitable for exterior use (except on awnings) because they deteriorate quickly. Paper and cloth signs are appropriate for interior temporary use only. C. Sian Leaibility/Neaative Soace. 1. An effective sign should do more than attract attention; it should communicate its message. Usually, this is a question of the readability of words and phrases. The most significant influence on legibility is lettering. 2. Use a brief message whenever possible. The fewer the words, the more effective the sign. A sign with a brief, succinct message is easier to read and looks more attractive. Evaluate each word. If the word does not contribute directly to the basic message of the sign, it detracts from it, and probably should be deleted. 3. Avoid spacing letters and words too close together. Crowding of letters, words or lines will make any sign more difficult to read. Conversely, over-spacing these elements causes the viewer to read each item individually, again obscuring the message. As a general rule, sign copy should not occupy more than 60% of the sign area. I 4. Avoid hard-to-read, overly intricate typefaces, logos, and symbols. Typefaces, logos, and symbols that are difficult to read reduce the sign's ability to communicate. Appropriate Fonts Inappropriate Fonts Souvenir Medium --- -- Folio Extrabold Franklin Gothic _. .-- Eurostile Bcld Gill Sans Bold '~I.iU I S ::',i~:l' j , ... .. --. ,. -.- -- c.,....1""......:.\.Q. :aA.V'TE;:."TH _ UII.~.'{II; :. ~i.p.fl ':~r,rrt i Rlluod' Bliill:. 1 Intricate logos, inappropriate for signage I I L ~" ~"rc 7gm"(~.; ~/'f!t.4~ Resolution Number 5427 Simple and appropriate logos for signage . MINOlJA I 5. Limit the number of lettering styles in order to increase legibility. A general rule to follow is to limit the number of different letter types to no more than two for small signs and three for larger signs. 6. Avoid faddish or unusual typefaces if they are difficult to read. These typefaces may be in vogue and look good today, but soon may go out of style. The image conveyed by the sign may quickly become that of a dated and unfashionable business. 7. Use symbols and logos in the place of words whenever appropriate. Pictographic images will usually register more quickly in the viewer's mind that a written message. I 8. A sign copy area of between 40% and 60% of the proposed sign area is appropriate for the street frontage/pedestrian area that comprises the Main Street Specific Plan Area. Relationship Between Sian Copv Area And Neaative Space GREAT AMERICAN DISCOUNT CENTER 40% Sian Copv Area and 60% Neaative Space 1 600/0 . '" D. Sian Illumination. Resolution Number 5427 1. The way in which a sign is to be illuminated should be considered carefully. Like color, illumination has considerable value for visual communication. 2. First, consider if the sign needs to be lighted at all. Lights in the window display may be sufficient to identify the business. This is particularly true if good window graphics are used. Often, nearby streetlights provide ample illumination of a sign after dark. I 3. If the sign can be illuminated by an indirect source of light, this is usually the best arrangement because the sign will appear to be better integrated with the building's architecture. Light fixtures supported in front of the structure cast light on the sign and generally a portion of the face of the structures as well. Indirect lighting emphasizes the continuity ,of the structure's surface and signs become an integral part of the facade. 4. Whenever indirect lighting fixtures are used (fluorescent or incandescent), care should be taken to properly shield and place the light source to prevent glare from spilling over into residential areas and any public right-of-way. Signs should be lighted only to the minimum level required for nighttime readability. Unacceptable I 6~,l,-.... h". .', '\ 0': ./" ~ll . \ ~':Y")IL,\ il"o......--:~.r~ . !=:-~~." I~ ij,. ~!eJ!.!lI.,9dIi;h1> ~/'\V " ' . , , ' , \1 "tl;". ~. 1 . -, " ~' t'"._- - ~~... s,o!lll:tl. ~"'"'' " . . '. . .., . Wilhuua'"d"lhl:.lhll:l~bpr1 ul rl~llpII1Y~IIKOo!.d II",. 1 :l\-:!!!!.f0<1I1 a ~ I ~ " . . t ~1i- :a-...,..., , .. I \1' ,.~/' 1 : :..::_~;. \ . /: J ,~"..~" ~ I . ~JUl ti.\Wn: n..)' k.w.lrp~ : u~r;lI.d)'I.....oIICJiIIfLv/lpf.(II"o<<rI,O);Jhmllllll~ SC:C'P',J40SlF. Acceptable /Tff) r:a-~I . lloozd !)'Fe 1I0Dd11P'S s:dl rUlUII\,o;nperlllml~loplC,""nl lIIu:c~I!jl111lc)pe, " Pr.rl.m1ns_"'\Ulftd III pte\'W!m ,...,,_IIp,lzapUI. IA ~ ~.., . . . .. . ADOlf IIRht Ullidlo hoed .a .. . .~~ ~ ~ Unacceptable'l Acceptabie :~ ri-~----~;::i;~---1Ii --I~ !LO '-\_/. ~ I. : r~;', r:"! it 1Gp'-'. . ~ u.~:o '. . _ ".' u~ o' . . .' . I I.' -;r '. ~ "., . ! '..9 . .j , Resolution Number 5427 l.r1Io...:iUI:H:UlU...bc..u";(/.izlra....f1:.I:lNftrcll!:Ild:b !ice I I"'.)J,(I~C h.. t~~ ~rCfY ~. , ,- - , t .. . :tLR'1'1 [ lP'h~llI" I P"fkir.~ 1.l.III.i'..hli.,u ,.. I 111 ~ ':'-'--~I'I~~ =4/ .,,~ I .., -- --., /" \~.. '~.~':::--ti "'-~'j ""il ~ ' . ::::0 ':"::-:~ - I r:v"""'! i~': ' ~ ~ u.~. . - . . . . . . o~ rMMaOr t I =-~ I.'" '- -2> -::J ~'t ' ' .' ~"'- - ...J ~ r- r I "...-- - ~...- ...... ." . ~o/!;' \;.<~-.. M~"." 1 1 5. Individually illuminated letters, either internally illuminated or backlighted solid letters (reverse channel), are allowed. Internally illuminated plastic cabinet signs are no longer permitted within the Main Street Specific Plan area. Signs comprised of individual letters mounted directly on a structure can often use a distinctive element of the structure's fayade as a backdrop, thereby providing a better integration of the sign with the structure. This requirement is not intended to preclude the use of diffused exposed neon. 6. The most appropriate type of sign illumination on Main Street is indirect lighting. Again, indirect lighting helps the signs to appear as an integral part of the fayade, not something that was added later. Indirect lighting is generally more appropriate for pedestrian- oriented commercial districts and smaller single buildings. In addition, indirect lighting produces a more intimate ambience on the street. 7. All exterior lights and illuminated signs shall: 1 (a) Be of a white light, such as metal halide, incandescent or a lamp with a color rendering index above seventy (70); and (b) Be required to be turned off within 1-hour after business hours or between midnight and 6:00 a.m., leaving only the necessary lighting for site and building security for all nonessential lighting. "Nonessential lighting" shall include display, aesthetic and sign lighting, and may include parking lot lighting.