Item 5.1 - Workshop on Sign Regulations for Commercial BusinessesG`� t OF POtY�3
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Cary
IN THE C v
City of Poway
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
INITIATED BY:
SUBJECT:
January 21, 2014
APPROVED
APPROVED AS AMENDED
(SEE MINUTES)
DENIED
REMOVED
CONTINUED
Resolution No.
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Penny Riley, City ManagergkMO
Robert J. Manis, Director of Development Services
Rich Whipple, City Planner
Jason Martin, Senior Planner
Workshop on Sign Regulations for Commercial Businesses
With Outdoor Display that is Permitted by the Underlying Zone
Summary:
On February 19, 2013, the City Council approved temporary sign regulations for a one
year trial period for commercial businesses with outdoor display that is permitted by right
in the underlying zone. These businesses include auto dealerships and other retail uses
that engage in outdoor product display on a regular basis. The purpose of this workshop
is to discuss these sign regulations, the trial period, and whether to make the regulations
permanent through a future Poway Municipal Code (PMC) amendment.
Recommended Action:
It is recommended that the City Council direct staff to make the temporary sign
regulations permanent and return to the City Council with an Ordinance amending the
PMC. The temporary sign regulations will remain in place until the Ordinance for the
permanent regulations goes into effect.
Background:
On January 15, 2013, a workshop was conducted, and on February 19, 2013, a public
meeting was held to discuss temporary sign regulations for businesses with outdoor
display that is permitted by the underlying zone. At the February meeting, the City
Council approved the use of certain types of signs for a one -year trial period pursuant to
Resolution P -13 -06 (Attachment A). In advance of the workshop and public meeting, City
staff met with management representatives from several of Poway's auto dealerships to
discuss potential options for improvements to signage. The auto dealerships in the City
are an important component to Poway's economy. The auto dealers believe that City
sign regulations need to be changed in order to assist them in promoting special sales
events and to avoid losing sales to other parts of the County that have auto sales areas
(auto parks). These sign standards would also apply to other retail businesses that
engage in outdoor display which is permitted by the underlying zoning district in which the
business is located. These would include car rentals, boat sales, nurseries, and garden
supply stores.
1 of 6 January 21, 2014 Item # .5, 1
Workshop on Sign Regulations
January 21, 2014
Page 2
Findings:
The sign types that have been allowed under the one year trial period consist of
suspended banners, light pole banners, and tents. These were only allowed within the
outdoor display area. The specific sign standards included in the one -year trial period
are summarized in the following table:
Type
Suspended banner
Light pole banner
Tent
Standards
• One per business
• Maximum size is 60 square
feet
• Not suspended over any
drive aisle
• Attached to light poles or
other structural fixture
• Not attached to landscape
or fencing
• Located within the outdoor
display area
• One banner, or one pair of
banners, for each light pole
• Maximum for one banner,
or the combined area of
two banners, is 16 square
feet
• Located within the outdoor
display area
• One per business
• Maximum height is 20 feet
• Maximum size is 600
square feet
• Located within the outdoor
display area
Comments
• No color or sign copy
restrictions
• Temporary Sign Permit
(TSP) required
• No color or sign copy
restrictions
• TSP required
• No color or sign copy
restrictions
• No banner or other
advertising devices
attached to tent
• Must comply with Fire
Department requirement
and Canopy Permit
required
• Temporary Use Permit
(TUP) from Development
Services Department
required
Staff understands that at least two automobile dealerships have utilized tents, at least
one has utilized light pole banners, and that several have used suspended banners at
various times. Staff was also told that the use of this signage over the trial period has
2 of 6 January 21, 2014 Item # 5• (
Workshop on Sign Regulations
January 21, 2014
Page 3
been beneficial to sales. Staff believes that the signage that has been displayed by these
businesses has been done in a way that has ensured minimal visual impacts to the
community. Staff has not received any complaints or negative comments regarding the
signage from the public.
As described at the February 19, 2013, City Council meeting on this matter, City Council
options include the following:
1. Direct staff to return to City Council with an Ordinance to amend the PMC to make
the temporary sign regulations, as they are outlined in this report, permanent.
2. Direct staff to return to City Council with an Ordinance to amend the PMC to adopt
the temporary sign regulations with modifications.
3. Discontinue use of the temporary sign regulations and direct staff to enforce
current PMC compliance upon expiration of the one year trial.
4. Extend the trial period for another year or other specified time period.
Because of the benefits to businesses and the minimal visual impacts to the community,
staff recommends that the temporary sign regulations be made permanent by amending
the PMC.
Environmental Review
This matter of this workshop discussion is not subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). Any subsequent action by the City Council to amend the PMC
would be subject to additional environmental review.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Public Notification:
Notice of this Workshop was sent to the auto dealership representatives, other retail
businesses that engage in City- approved outdoor display, the Chamber of Commerce,
and those that spoke at the past.City Council workshops on this subject.
Attachment:
A. Resolution P -13 -06
3 of 6 January 21, 2014 Item # 5► 1
RESOLUTION NO. P -13 -06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF POWAY, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING THE USE OF ADVERTISING BANNERS AND TENTS
FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES WITH OUTDOOR DISPLAY
THAT IS PERMITTED BY THE UNDERLYING ZONE,
FOR A ONE YEAR TRIAL PERIOD
WHEREAS, the auto dealerships that are a part of Poway Road of Cars are a
unique category of retail business that draws clientele from a broad region well beyond
the Poway City limits and such regional clientele are often unfamiliar with the City and
need assistance in identifying the location of the auto dealerships; and
WHEREAS, the use of banners and tents will assist in locating these businesses;
and
WHEREAS, the auto dealerships are a unique class of retail business in that the
display of their product by necessity occurs outdoors, and that other similar retail uses
such as car rental, boat and recreation vehicle sales, nurseries and garden supply and
retail businesses with garden centers also by necessity display their product outdoors;
and
WHEREAS, Chapter 17.40 of the Poway Municipal Code provides a
comprehensive ordinance regulating commercial and noncommercial signs in the City of
Poway, which regulations include restrictions on the use and display of certain
commercial banners, flags; and other similar signs throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, a City Council Workshop was conducted on this matter on January
15, 2013, and the City Council determined that it is desirable for the City to temporarily
exempt certain regulations that restrict the use of outdoor commercial advertising for
limited types of uses within the City in order to study the effects such displays may have
on the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Poway
as follows:
Section 1: This project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines in that it
can be said with certainty that there is no possibility that the project will result in an
impact on the environment.
Section 2: The following temporary signs and tents are permitted for commercial
businesses that require outdoor display by necessity when the use is permitted by right
in the underlying zone, or in a land use designation area of the South Poway Specific
Plan:
4 of 6 ATTACHMENT A January 21, 2014 Item # �•/
Resolution No. P -13 -06
Page 2
Type
Standards
Suspended banner
v
One per business
O
Maximum size is 60 square feet
®
Not suspended over any drive aisle
Attached to light poles or other structural fixture
®
Not attached to landscape or fencing
0
Located within the outdoor display area
Light pole banner
O
One banner, or one pair of banners, for each light pole
•
Maximum for one banner, or the combined area of two
banners, is 16 square feet
•
Located within the outdoor display area
Tent
0
One per business
•
Maximum height is 20 feet
•
Maximum size is 600 square feet
•
Located within the outdoor display area
Section 3: Provisions of this Resolution shall expire on February 19, 2014, at 5:00 p.m.
unless extended by the City Council.
PASSED, ADOPTED and APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Poway,
State of California, this 19th day of February 2013.
,
John I m, Deputy Mayor
ATTEST:
I M. aw
Krist n M. Crane, Interim City Clerk
5 of 6 January 21, 2014 Item # Y. I
Resolution No. P -13 -06
Page 3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
I, Kristen M. Crane, Interim City Clerk of the City of Poway, do hereby certify,
under the penalty of perjury, that the foregoing Resolution No. P- 13 -06, was duly
adopted by the City Council at a meeting of said City Council held on the 19th day of
February 2013, and that it was so adopted by the following vote:
AYES: CUNNINGHAM, VAUS, GROSCH, MULLIN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: HIGGINSON
DISQUALIFIED: NONE
1 �4 M (uwv
Kristen M. Crane, Interim City Clerk
City of Poway
6 of 6 January 21, 2014 Item # 5-.1