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HomeMy WebLinkAbout678-OB DATE: June 20, 2005 TO: Planning Commission and City Council FROM: Stephen C. Richardson, Planning Manager SUBJECT: Request for an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, Section 30 to allow electronic reader board signs. FILE: 678-OB STAFF REPORT The Planning Manager recommends denial of this request. The Planning Division has had a number of requests and inquiries for and about electronic reader board signs over the past year. The Zoning Ordinance prohibits signs with flashing lights or intermittent illumination, except those signs that cannot be seen from the public right-of-way. When requests for electronic reader board signs have been made, they have been denied based upon the aforementioned prohibition. The City of Beaumont has not permitted flashing signs for many years. Non-electronic, changeable copy reader board signs have served the business community for all those years. To allow electronic reader board signs would create enforcement problems for the City. It would be difficult to enforce A hold times @ for displayed messages. Therefore, the Planning Manager is recommending that the Zoning Ordinance not be amended to allow any sign that contains flashing lights or intermittent illumination. However, if it is the desire of the Planning Commission and City Council to allow such signs, the following ordinance changes are recommended: GENERAL DEFINITIONS - Sec. 30-4 (b) Definitions: 52. SIGN, ELECTRONIC READER BOARD shall mean a sign or portion thereof that uses changing lights to form a sign message or messages in text form wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a A time/temperature @ portion of a sign and not a commercial message or an electronic reader board sign for purposes of this Chapter. UC - URBAN CORRIDOR SIGN OVERLAY DISTRICT - Sec. 30-23 (b) Definitions: 3. SIGN, ELECTRONIC READER BOARD shall mean a sign or portion thereof that uses changing lights to form a sign message or messages in text form wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a A time/temperature @ portion of a sign and not a commercial message or an electronic reader board sign for purposes of this Chapter. Sec. 30-23 (f) 3 Signs in Residential -UC Districts: b. One (1) detached owner-identification sign shall be permitted for a multiple family development, non-residential or institutional building for each abutting street, subject to the following conditions and restrictions: (i) The sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area. (ii) The sign shall not exceed five (5) feet in height. (iii)The sign shall not be lighted except by reflective flood-light type illumination. There shall not be any flashing lights or any type of intermittent illumination lights, except as allowed below: (a) Detached electronic reader board signs shall be permitted in the RS, RM-M, RM-H and RCR Districts with the approval of a specific use permit. (b) The message copy may change no more than four (4) time in a one (1) hour period. (c) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. (d) Message copy shall be one (1) color. (iv) All parts of the sign shall be located a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from the property line. (v) The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of the Building Code. (vi) The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of not less than 120 square feet. Sec. 30-23 (f) 4 Signs in Commercial and Industrial - UC Districts: g. One (1) detached owner-identification sign, and one (1) additional detached sign for each thoroughfare more than one (1) that abuts the property, shall be permitted per establishment, located in the NSC, CSC, GC-MD, CM, LI and HI districts subject to the following conditions and restrictions: 1. The sign shall not be greater than twenty (20) feet in height - the maximum height being measured from the point established by a perpendicular line connecting the crown of the roadway immediately abutting the property on which the sign is to be installed with the sign=s nearest vertical support to the property line. 2. The sign shall not exceed sixty (60) square feet in area. 3. All parts of the sign shall be set back at least ten (10) feet from any property line or street right-of-way. Where a structure existing at the effective date of this section precludes locating a sign in compliance with the setback regulations, the Board of Adjustment shall be authorized to grant a variance to the setback requirement. 4. The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of not less than 150 one hundred-twenty (120) square feet. 5. The sign shall not revolve or rotate in any manner nor shall it have flashing lights or any type of intermittent illumination, except as allowed below: (a) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (b) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. (c) Message copy shall be limited to one (1) color. MAJOR/DOWLEN/GLADYS/HWY. 105 SIGN OVERLAY DISTRICT - Sec. 30.23.1 (b) Definitions: 8. SIGN, ELECTRONIC READER BOARD shall mean a sign or portion thereof that uses changing lights to form a sign message or messages in text form wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a A time/temperature @ portion of a sign and not a commercial message or an electronic reader board sign for purposes of this Chapter. Sec. 30-23.1 (f) 4. Signs in Residential-MD Districts: b. One (1) detached owner-identification monument sign shall be permitted for a multiple family developement, non-residential or institutional building for each abutting street, subject to the following conditions and restrictions: 1. The sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area. 2. The sign shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. 3. The sign shall not have any flashing lights, any type of intermittent illumination or revolve in any manner, except as allowed below: (a) Detached electronic reader board signs shall be permitted in the RS, RM-M, RM-H and RCR Districts with the approval of a specific use permit. (b) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (c) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. (d) Message copy shall be limited to one (1) color. 3.4. All parts of the sign shall be located a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from the property line. 4.5. The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of the Building Code. 5.6. The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of not less than 120 square feet. Sec. 30-23.1 (f) 5. Signs in Commercial and Industrial -MD Districts: Detached signs shall not be permitted in Major/Dowlen/Gladys/Hwy. 105 Overlay commercial and industrial districts except as specifically authorized in this section. a. Single tenant business establishment - 1. Developments with less than eighty thousand (80,000) sq. ft. in gross building area shall be permitted one (1) detached owner identification monument sign per street frontage that abuts the property. Developments with eighty thousand (80,000) sq. ft. of gross building area or greater or developments with six hundred (600') feet or more of street frontage shall be permitted two (2) detached owner identification signs per street frontage that abuts the property. 2. These signs shall be permitted subject to the following conditions and restrictions: (a) The sign shall not be greater than six (6) feet in height - the maximum height being measured from twenty-four (24) inches above the curb height adjacent to the property. (b) The sign shall not exceed seventy (70) sq. ft. in area with the sign facing not to exceed sixty (60) square feet. (c) All parts of the sign may be located at the street right-of-way and shall be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from any property line. (d) The sign shall not revolve or rotate in any manner nor shall it have flashing lights or any type of intermittent illumination, except as allowed below: (i) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (ii) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. (iii)Message copy shall be limited to one (1) color. (e) The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of the Building Code. (f) The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of not less than one hundred-twenty (120) square feet. b. Multi-tenant business development 1. Developments with less than eighty thousand (80,000) sq. ft. in gross building area shall be permitted one detached owner identification monument sign for each street frontage that abuts the property. Developments with eighty thousand (80,000) sq. ft. of gross building area or greater or developments with six hundred (600') feet or more of street frontage shall be permitted two (2) detached owner identification signs per street frontage that abuts the property. These signs shall be permitted subject to the following conditions and restrictions: (a) The sign shall not be greater than twenty (20) feet in height - the maximum height being measured from twenty-four (24) inches above the curb adjacent to the property. (b) The sign shall not exceed two hundred-forty (240) square feet in area with the sign facing not exceed two hundred (200) square feet. (c) All parts of the sign may be located at the street right-of-way and must be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from any other property line. (d) The sign shall not revolve or rotate in any manner nor shall it have flashing lights or any type of intermittent illumination, except as allowed below: (i) No more than sixty (60) sq. ft. or fifty (50) percent of the maximum sign area, whichever is less shall be dedicated to electric changeable copy. (ii) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (iii)Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing alternating or blinking lights or animation. (iv) Message copy shall be limited to one (1) color. (v) The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of the Building Code. (vi) The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of not less than one hundred-twenty (120) square feet. c. Gasoline retailers owner identification/pricing board signs - one detached owner-identification/pricing board sign for each street frontage that abuts the property shall be permitted subject to the following conditions and restrictions: 1. Dowlen Road, Hwy. 105 and Major Drive (a) The sign shall not be greater than fifteen (15) feet in height - the maximum height being measured from twenty-four (24) inches above the curb height adjacent to the property. (b) The sign shall not exceed one hundred (100) square feet in area with the sign facing not to exceed eighty-five (85) square feet. (c) All parts of the sign may be located at the street right-of-way and must be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from any other property line. (d) The sign shall not revolve or rotate in any manner nor shall it have flashing lights or any type of intermittent illumination, except as allowed below: (a) No more than sixty (60) sq. ft. or fifty (50) percent of the maximum sign area, whichever is less shall be dedicated to electric changeable copy. (a) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (b) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing alternating or blinking lights or animation. (c) Message copy is limited to one (1) color. (d) The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of the Building Code. (e) The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of not less than one hundred (120) square feet. 2. All other streets in the MD Sign Overlay District (a) The sign shall not be greater than six (6) feet in height - the maximum height being measured from twenty-four (24) inches above the curb height adjacent to the property. (b) The sign shall not exceed seventy (70) sq. ft. in area with the sign facing not to exceed sixty (60) square feet. (c) All parts of the sign may be located at the street right-of-way and shall be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from any other property line. (d) The sign shall not revolve or rotate in any manner nor shall it have flashing lights or any type of intermittent illumination, except as allowed below: (i) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (ii) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing alternating or blinking lights or animation. (iii)Message copy shall be limited to one (1) color. (v) The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of the Building Code. (vi) The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of not less than one hundred-twenty (120) square feet. GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS Sec. 30-28. Sign Regulations g. Signs in Residential Districts: Signs shall not be permitted in residential districts except as specifically authorized in this section. 1. One (1) detached owner-identification sign shall be permitted for a multiple-family dwelling development, non-residential, or institutional building on each abutting street, subject to the following restrictions: (a) The sign shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area; (b) The sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height; (c) The sign shall not have flashing lights, any type of intermittent illumination or revolve in any manner, except as allowed below: (i) Detached electronic reader board signs shall be permitted in the RS, RM-M and RM-H Districts with the approval of a specific use permit . (ii) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (iii)Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. (iv) Message copy shall be one (1) color. 3. One (1) detached owner-identification sign shall be permitted for a commercial use with a Specific Use Permit in the RCR, Residential Conservation and Revitalization District, subject to the following conditions and restrictions: (i) The sign is included in the site plan approved in the Specific Use Permit; (ii) The sign shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in area; (iii)The sign does not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height; (iv) The sign shall not have any flashing lights, intermittent illumination, or revolve or rotate in any manner, except as allowed below: (a) Detached electronic reader board signs shall be permitted if approved as part of the Specific Use Permit. (b) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (c) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. (d) Message copy shall be one (1) color. (c) Owner-Identification Signs in Commercial and Industrial Districts: Signs shall not be permitted in commercial or industrial districts except as specifically authorized in this section. 5. Detached electronic reader board signs shall be permitted in the NC, GC-MD, GC-MD-2, CBD, C-M, LI, HI and PUC Districts subject to the following conditions: (i) The message copy may change no more than four (4) times in a one (1) hour period. (ii) Message copy shall not include any flashing, flowing, alternating or blinking lights or animation. (iii)Message copy shall be limited to one (1) color. (iv) No more than sixty (60) sq. ft. or fifty (50) percent of the maximum sign area, whichever is less shall be dedicated to electric changeable copy. (f) Prohibited Signs: No sign shall be attached or applied to trees, utility poles or trash receptacles or located within any public right-of-way. Signs with flashing lights or intermittent illumination shall be prohibited, except those signs that cannot be seen from the public right-of-way or as allowed under Sec 30-28(c)5. Signs shall not revolve or rotate. No sign shall resemble an official sign or marker erected by a governmental agency. No sign shall be placed on any property in such a manner to obstruct the view from the left or right of a vehicle from other traffic on the public right-of-way when lawfully entering the roadway. The City Transportation Manager shall have the right to order the removal of such signs by the property owner or by city crews, subject to a 10 day right of appeal by the owner to the Board of Adjustment, prior to removal.