HomeMy WebLinkAbout723-OB
DATE: January 28,
2008
TO: Planning Commission and City Council
FROM: Stephen C. Richardson, Planning Manager
SUBJECT: Request for an amendment to the City of Beaumont Zoning
Ordinance, Chapter 30, to allow electronic reader board owner
identification signs
FILE: 723-OB
STAFF REPORT
The Planning Division has had a number of requests and inquires for
and about electronic reader board signs.
The Zoning Ordinance prohibits signs with flashing lights or
intermittent illumination, except for electronic billboards and 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.
Staff has conducted a survey of sign ordinances from other Texas
cities. The results of that survey are as follows:
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Grand Prairie:
S Permits flashing signs. Message hold time shall not be less
than 5 seconds. No character shall exceed 42" in height.
Bulb wattage shall not exceed 50 watts.
Waco:
S Message hold time shall not be less than 60 minutes.
Sign cannot be within 50' of a residential district. Total
illumination of the sign shall not exceed 200 foot lamberts.
Mesquite:
S Message hold time shall not be less than 5 seconds. No
scrolling, flashing or animation.
Wichita Falls:
S Permits flashing or scrolling signs. No character shall
exceed 42" in height. No lamp shall exceed 50 watts.
No electronic reader board sign shall be permitted within
200' of a residential district.
Tyler:
S No electronic reader board sign shall exceed 64 sq. ft. No
animation or flashing lights are permitted. Three second
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hold time. Maximum light emanation from a sign shall be
no greater than .2 footcandles.
Baytown:
S Message hold time shall not be less than 3 seconds. No
strobe, blinking lights or animation. No bulb shall exceed
15 watts.
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:
S 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:
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S 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:
S 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:
1. The sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet
in area.
2. The sign shall not exceed five (5) feet in height.
3. Except for electronic reader board signs, the no 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.
(b) The message copy may change no more than once
every fifteen (fifteen) minutes.
(c) Message copy shall not include any flashing,
flowing, alternating or blinking lights or
animation.
(d) Message copy shall be one (1) color.
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(e) As measured at the property line, the maximum
light emanation from a sign shall be no greater
than .2 footcandles.
(f) Electronic reader board signs shall not be
permitted in a historic district.
4. All parts of the sign shall be located a minimum of
twenty-five (25) feet from the property line.
5. The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of
the Building Code.
6. The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of
not less than 120 square feet.
d. One detached owner-identification sign shall be permitted
for each commercial use with a Specific Use Permit in the
RCR, Residential Conservation and Revitalization
District, subject to the following conditions and
restrictions:
1. The sign is included in the site plan approved in
the Specific Use Permit.
2. The sign shall not exceed twenty-five (25) square
feet in area.
3. The sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height.
4. The sign shall not have any flashing lights,
intermittent illumination nor revolve nor rotate in
any manner, except as allowed below:
(a) Detached electronic reader board signs shall
be permitted.
(b) The message copy may change no more than once
every fifteen (15) minutes.
(c) Message copy shall not include any flashing,
flowing, alternating or blinking lights or
animation.
(d) Message copy shall be one (1) color.
(e) As measured at the property line, the maximum
light emanation from a sign shall be no greater
than .2 footcandles.
(f) Electronic reader board signs shall not be
permitted in a historic district.
5. All parts of the sign shall be set back at least
fifteen (15) feet from any property line.
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6. The sign shall meet the wind load requirements set
forth in the Building Code.
7. 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:
a. 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 in
the NC, Neighborhood Commercial District and OP, Office
Park District for each commercial or office park
establishment subject to the following conditions and
restrictions:
1. The sign shall not exceed twenty-five (25) square
feet in area.
2. The sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height.
3. No portion of the sign shall have flashing lights,
intermittent illumination, nor shall it revolve nor
rotate in any manner, except as allowed below:
(a) Detached electronic reader board signs shall
be permitted.
(b) The message copy may change no more than once
every fifteen (15) minutes.
(c) Message copy shall not include any flashing,
flowing, alternating or blinking lights or
animation.
(d) Message copy shall be one (1) color.
(e) As measured at the property line, the maximum
light emanation from a sign shall be no greater
than .2 footcandles.
4. The sign shall not be located in any required yard.
5. The sign shall meet the wind load requirements of
the building code.
6. The sign shall be placed in a landscaped setting of
not less than 150 120 square feet.
c. One (1) detached owner-identification sign, and one (1)
additional detached sign for each thoroughfare more than
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one (1) that abuts the property, shall be permitted per
establishment, located in the GC-MD, GC-MD-2, CM, LI and
HI districts subject to the following conditions and
restrictions:
4. 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 150 120 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) Detached electronic reader board signs shall
be permitted.
(b) The message copy may change no more than once
every fifteen (15) minutes.
(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.
(e) As measured at the property line, the maximum
light emanation from a sign shall be no greater
than .2 footcandles.
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
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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 development,
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.
(b) The message copy may change no more than once
every fifteen (15) minutes.
(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.
(e) As measured at the property line, the maximum
light emanation from a sign shall be no greater
than .2 footcandles.
(f) Electronic reader board signs shall not be
permitted in a historic district.
3.4. All parts of the sign may be located at 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.
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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) Detached electronic reader board signs
shall be permitted.
(ii) The message copy may change no more than
once every fifteen (15) minutes.
(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) As measured at the property line, the
maximum light emanation from a sign shall
be no greater than .2 footcandles.
(e) The sign shall meet the wind load requirements
of the Building Code.
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(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) Detached electronic reader board
signs shall be permitted.
(ii) 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.
(iii)The message copy may change no more
than once every fifteen (15) minutes.
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(iv) Message copy shall not include any
flashing, flowing alternating or
blinking lights or animation.
(v) Message copy shall be limited to one
(1) color.
(vi) As measured at the property line, the
maximum light emanation from a sign
shall be no greater than .2
footcandles.
(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.
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:
(i) Detached electronic reader board
signs shall be permitted.
(ii) No more than sixty (60) sq. ft. shall
be dedicated to electric changeable
copy.
(iii)The message copy may change no more
than once every fifteen (15) minutes.
(iv) Message copy shall not include any
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flashing, flowing alternating or
blinking lights or animation.
(v) Message copy is limited to one (1)
color.
(vi) As measured at the property line, the
maximum light emanation from a sign
shall be no greater than .2
footcandles.
(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.
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) Detached electronic reader board
signs shall be permitted.
(ii) The message copy may change no more
than once every fifteen (15) minutes.
(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) As measured at the property line,
the maximum light emanation from a
sign shall be no greater than .2
footcandles.
(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.
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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.
(ii) The message copy may change no more
than once every fifteen (15) minutes.
(iii)Message copy shall not include any
flashing, flowing, alternating or
blinking lights or animation.
(iv) Message copy shall be one (1) color.
(v) As measured at the property line, the
maximum light emanation from a sign
shall be no greater than .2
footcandles.
(vi) Electronic reader board signs shall
not be permitted in a historic
district.
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:
(a) The sign is included in the site plan
approved in the Specific Use Permit;
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(b) The sign shall not exceed forty (40)
square feet in area;
(c) The sign does not exceed fifteen (15)
feet in height;
(d) The sign shall not have any flashing
lights, intermittent illumination,
or revolve or rotate in any manner,
except as allowed below:
(i) Detached electronic reader
board signs shall be permitted
if approved as part of the
Specific Use Permit.
(ii) The message copy may change no
more than once every fifteen
(15) minutes.
(iii)Message copy shall not include
any flashing, flowing,
alternating or blinking lights
or animation.
(iv) Message copy shall be one (1)
color.
(v) As measured at the property
line, the maximum light
emanation from a sign shall be
no greater than .2 footcandles.
(vi) Electronic reader board signs
shall not be permitted in a
historic district.
(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.
1. 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 in the NC,
Neighborhood Commercial, and the OP, Office Park
District, subject to the following conditions
and restrictions:
1. The sign shall not exceed forty (40) square
feet in area;
2. The sign shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet
in height;
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3. The sign shall not have any flashing
lights, intermittent illumination or
revolve or rotate in any manner, except
as allowed below:
(i) Detached electronic reader board
signs shall be permitted.
(ii) The message copy may change no more
than once every fifteen (15) minutes.
(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) As measured at the property line, the
maximum light emanation from a sign
shall be no greater than .2
footcandles.
3.4. The sign shall not be located in any
required yard.
4.5. The sign shall meet the wind load
requirements in the Building Code.
5. Detached electronic reader board signs shall
be permitted in the GC-MD, GC-MD-2, CBD, C-M,
LI, HI and PD Districts subject to the following
conditions:
(b) The message copy may change no more than
once every fifteen (15) minutes.
(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.
(d) As measured at the property line, the
maximum light emanation from a sign shall
be no greater than .2 footcandles.
(e) 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
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from the public right-of-way or as allowed under,
Sec. 30-23(f)3, Sec. 30-23(f)4, Sec. 30-23.1(f)4,
Sec. 30-23.1(f)5, Sec. 30-28(a)1, Sec. 30-28(a)3 and
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.
Exhibits are attached.
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