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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1660 - ORDINANCES - 7/28/2004 ORDINANCE NO. 1660 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ' PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE ZONING CODE IN REGARD TO SECTION 93.20.10 SO AS TO ALLOW ADVERTISING MATERIAL ON TAXICABS. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 93.20.10 of the Zoning Code is amended to read as follows: 93.20.10 General provisions The following general sign usage provisions and regulations shall apply. The additional sign usage authorized hereunder shall be strictly construed in its application. A. Procedures. 1. Approval and Permits Required. It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to authorize, erect, construct, maintain, move, alter, change, place, suspend or attach any sign within the city without first obtaining the necessary permits. Review and approval by the planning commission shall be required for the design and location of signs in excess of fifty (50) square feet. All other signs shall be approved by the director of planning and building, except that either the applicant or the director of planning and building may request review by the planning commission. Sign permit fees shall be established by resolution of the city council. A double permit fee shall be assessed if the installation of a sign is commenced before obtaining a permit. Permits shall be required for the installation of all signs except real estate signs of three (3) square feet or less, sale signs, customer convenience signs (except menu boards), and political and election signs. 2. Special Permits. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the director of planning and building from granting a special permit for signs pertaining to upcoming events of general public interest when it is shown that such signs will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare nor injurious to adjacent property owners. 3. Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a decision to issue, issue with conditions or not issue a sign permit by the director of planning and building shall be advised that such application may be placed on the planning commission agenda for reconsideration. The decision of the planning commission may be further appealed to the City council pursuant to Chapter 2.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code. 4. Variances. The provisions of Section 94.06.00 shall apply. In addition to the finings required therein, the planning commission may grant a sign variance based on the findings that due to the physical characteristics of the property and the orientation and design of the structures on the property, strict application of the regulations of the sign ordinance will not give adequate visibility to the signage; that the approved signage will be compatible with the design of the property and will represent the least departure from the standards of the sign ordinance necessary for the effectiveness of the signage; and that the approved signage is compatible with the surrounding property and not contrary to the purpose of the sign ordinance. B. Safety. 1. Signs for Public Safety and Convenience. When deemed necessary, the director of ' planning and building may authorize and approve signs not to exceed five (5) square feet per face to serve the public safety or convenience, such as "Entrance" signs, "Exit' signs, and "Parking" signs. Ordinance 1660 Page 2 ' 2. Proper Maintenance of Signs. The user, owner or lessee of a sign authorized hereunder shall maintain it as approved in a safe, neat, attractive, first-class condition and in good repair. 3. Obstruction of Passage. Signs shall not be constructed so as to obstruct any door, window, or fire escape of any building. 4. "No Trespassing' Signs. A "No Trespassing" or "No Dumping" sign not exceeding three (3) square feet shall be authorized for each parcel of property in addition to other authorized signs and shall be designed and located thereon in a manner satisfactory to the director of planning and building. 5. Glare From Signs. Illuminated signs shall be designed in such a manner as to avoid undue glare or reflection of light onto private property in the surrounding area or right-of-way and shall be erected and located in a manner as approved by the director of planning and building. The intensity of lighting of a sign may be reviewed in the field by the director of planning and building who may require the reduction of intensity. 6. Location of Right-angle Signs. Right-angle signs shall be seven (7) feet or higher above the sidewalk or the right-of-way. Right-angle signs supported by posts or standards shall not extend beyond the property line or into the public right-of-way. 7. Street Address Numbers/Letters. A street address is required and shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 14.04.100 of the Palm Springs Municipal code. When address or other numbers are used as an identification name, they shall conform to all applicable provisions of this section. Street address numbers in excess of eight (8) inches in height shall be considered a sign. 8. Exceptions. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the erection, construction or maintenance of official traffic, fire and police signs, signals, devices and markings of the ' California Transportation Department, the city council or of other competent public authorities, or the posting of the notices required by law. C. Other. 1. Signs for Public and Quasi-Public Uses. Directional and public convenience signs for public and quasi-public uses may be permitted on public property. The design must conform to standard directional sign specifications promulgated by the director of planning and building and approved by the planning commission. The total number of signs allowed shall be based on the minimum number necessary for adequate public identification as determined by the director of planning and building. 2. Color of Signs. All signs regulated by this section shall contain no more than four (4) colors. Black and white shall be considered as colors. Logos, in which text does not comprise an area greater than seventy-five (75) percent, may contain no more than six (6) colors such that the total number of colors of the sign of which the logo is a part shall not exceed six (6). 3. Signs on Awnings, etc. Painted, nonilluminated or indirectly lighted signs may be permitted on the boarders of marquees, canopies, awnings, umbrellas or similar structures or attachments if located and erected in a manner satisfactory to the director of planning and building. Such signs shall be included in the total authorized sign area. 4. Signs on Vehicles. No person shall drive, operate, move in or along, or park on any street or on public or private property, any truck, trailer, carriage, wagon, sled or other vehicle on which is attached or maintained any sign displaying any commercial or noncommercial advertising matter for the sole or primary purpose of displaying such advertising matter, except for the following: a. The driving, operation and movement of vehicles displaying political campaign ' advertisements for candidates for public office and ballot measures; provided, the same is not otherwise prohibited by this section; b. The identification of a business enterprise upon a vehicle used primarily for the purpose of and in the usual business of the owner for transporting or servicing goods or persons Ordinance 1660 Page 3 for commercial or other business purposes; provided that, the identification is painted on or otherwise affixed so as not to project from the unusual profile of the vehicle; ' C. The incidental display of noncommercial stickers, plates, license plate brackets, and the like; or of customary small identifications on license plat brackets or elsewhere, of vehicle manufacturers, models or types of vehicles, or dealers or entities from whom vehicles bearing the same were purchased or otherwise obtained; d. A single isolated movement of a sign or sign equipment or materials from one (1) place to another within the city; e. Vehicles located on construction sites that are directly involved with ongoing construction. The parking of any such vehicle on any street or on public or private property, or the movement of any such vehicle in and along any street for the sole or primary purpose of displaying advertising matter is declared to be a nuisance and a violation of this section. f. The display of signs affixed to taxis cabs that are in compliance with Chapter 5.40.321 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code. 5. Multiple Frontage Lots. All sign areas allowed in this section shall be allowed on each street frontage of a multiple frontage lot; provided that, the same use of the property extends through from street to street. Consolidation of sign areas permitted on each frontage to one (1) sign is prohibited. Total sign areas as established elsewhere in this section shall supersede this item. 6. Exposed-Tube Neon, Fibre Optics and Other High-Intensity Signs. The design and placement of neon, fibre optic and other high-intensity signs shall be subject to the following provisions: a. The use of such signs shall be limited to main signs and customer convenience signs. Prefabricated signs are prohibited except for customer signs; customer convenience signs shall be limited to a single color. ' b. Neon, fibre optics and other high-intensity signs which exhibit glare and high contrast with their surroundings are discouraged. Additional lighting may be required to adjust the ambient light background of the proposal. C. The number, locations and overall impact of pre-existing neon, fibre optics and other high-intensity signs shall be considered in judging the appropriateness of proposed signs. d. All tubing, conduit, transformers and other paraphernalia not part of the actual sign face shall be concealed from view. e. All neon, fibre optic and other high-intensity signs shall be installed with solid state transformer dimmers. The intensity level of all such signs shall be reviewed in place and adjusted to appear at a level consistent with other lighted signs in the vicinity. 7. Live Theater Signs on Historic Properties within the Central Business District and City Owned Historic Properties. Live theater sign, not withstanding compliance with Section 93.20.00, in conjunction with historic properties within the Central Business District and or City owned historic properties, pursuant to Section 93.17.04, may be permitted when all the following apply: a. Signs shall not alter that historic character of a structure; b. Signs are visually creative; C. Light source of signs shall not be excessively bright or obtrusive to passing vehicular traffic, pedestrians and surrounding uses. See Section 93.20.10(C)(6); d. If sound is proposed, said sound shall not be audible by an adjacent business or nearby residential properties; e. Signs and related media displays shall be designed and located to be oriented towards pedestrians and shall be limited to a size proportional to the pedestrian scale adjacent ' to the sign location; and Ordinance 1660 Page 4 f. Signs shall be part of a sign program subject to a planning commission architectural approval. (Ord. 1637 & 3, 2003; Ord. 1538 (part), 1996; Ord. 1422, 1992; Ord. 1418 (part), 1992; Ord. 1354 (part), 1990; Ord. 1294 (part), 1988) SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after passage. SECTION 3. PUBLICATION. The City Clerk is hereby ordered to and directed to certify to the passage of this Ordinance, and to cause the same or summary thereof or a display advertisement, duly prepared according to law, to be published in accordance with law. ADOPTED THIS 281h day of July, 2004. AYES: Members Feat, McCulloch and Pougnet NOES: Member Mills ABSENT: Mayor Oden ABSTENTIONS: None ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By: � %Jz_ City Clerk Mayor Pro tem REVIEWED & APPROVED AS TO FORM: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING Ordinance 1660 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs,California, in a meeting held on the 28th day of July, 2004, and that same was published in the DESERT SUN , a newspaper of general ci + ion on August 7, 2004. �TRICIA SA ER City Clerk