HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/16/2008 - STAFF REPORTS - 4.B. 4.16.0s
QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER RICK HUTCHISON:
With respect to portable signs in the code as it exists today...
- What portable signs are legal today? (I drove Palm Canyon this morning
and observed a host of different types of portable signs used for various
purposes)
- are there different requirements for downtown vs uptown?
- What is permitted today with respect to menu boards —A-frame as well as
the type of sign being proposed in 4B? what restrictions on content?
What size restrictions?
- With respect to signs generally, is there any place in the code that would
restrict content (eg, avoid vulgarity) on an otherwise legal sign
- Are any portable signs legal today advertising entertainment (eg
"appearing tonight...")
Here are the answers to your question about signs,
Portable signs are considered freestanding signs according to the Sign
Ordinance_ They are prohibited for multi-tenant parcels, and are prohibited if
they obstruct doors, windows, or fire escape of any building. Barring those
above conditions, they are allowed as a customer convenience sign
(open/closed, hours/days, credit card/service decals, and menu boards). If the
sign is for a menu board, then it requires the approval of a sign permit.
Downtown/Uptown signs are governed by the same section of the Sign
Ordinance, Section 93.20.09. 'Downtown/Uptown' in this section is coterminous
with the borders of Redevelopment Project Areas 1&6.
Some businesses downtown have previous approvals of an A-frame menu
board. They were previously permitted upon the review of the sign permit
application. However, last October, it became policy from the City Council to
stop approvals of A-frame menu boards. Menu boards can be up to a maximum
6 square feet per face, professionally designed and constructed, and not in the
public right-of-way.
Section 93,20.04 has a list of prohibited signs. The section regulates content by
prohibiting signs displaying obscene matter, home occupations in residential
zones, and products or services not on-site. In the real-estate section of the sign
ordinance, Section 9320.07, outlines what kind of information can go on real-
estate signs.
Portable signs could be considered "attraction boards" if they are for the
advertising of entertainment according to Section 93.20.05(B)(6). The maximum
allowable size is 25 square feet if facing the street, and 15 square feet if facing
the street at a right angle. These signs are additional to the other signs permitted
for the business. r
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I 'm Darron Dahle, one of the owners of
Cactusberry Frozen Yogurt in the La Plaza
shopping center, downtown Palm Springs.
I did have another speech prepared for this
evening. It was about the empty
storefronts downtown, the lack of business
in a recession economy, a downtown that
continues to descend. But all of that is
obvious and has been said before.
Tonight, I am told, the subject of
`temporary freestanding signs' in front of
stores will be on the agenda. It has been 8
months of meetings, discussions, committee
meetings and after all of this, city planning is
about to ignore the A-frame design
requested by a majority of the merchants.
Two to one, a recent survey of merchants
and residents indicated that they preferred
the A-frame design.
Icy partner and I are grateful to the
customers that we have. It is a lot of work
to have even the smallest of businesses
downtown. We keep our store clean,
pressure wash our sidewalk, go green in
our packaging and the remodel of our store.
� 8
-�9
We put out umbrellas for our customers for
shade from the hot sun, water dishes for
dogs. We try to contribute to the village's
new downtown `vibe' which is the new
slogan for the Business Improvement
District. Our business is about looking
fresh, a clean design, a healthy product. If
we did not think this sign issue was
important to keep Cactusberry going, we
would not continue to present our position
on this issue.
An article in today's Desert Bun
indicates that the city's new employee,
Tammy Perezchica, is promoting the
downtown for families after local baseball
games. Cactusberry frozen yogurt is one
of the few businesses open in the evening
that has a `family' product. We are often
the only one open in La Plaza at night.
Please help us continue to grow our
business in the downtown district. The
only way to attract more businesses back
to the downtown is to indicate to everyone
that the Council supports every business
that is there now.
Survey Name:Mar 20 2008 Freestanding Signs
Response Status; Partial&Completed
Filter:None
Apr 15 2008 3-32:02 PM
Please take a moment to answer this very short survey which is intended to get your input regarding the proposed Free Standing
Signs that are being considered by the Palm Springs City Council.
Your comments will be shared with the Main Street Board,Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and Palm Springs City Council.
Thank you_
Are you
Number of Response
Answer 0% 100% Response(s) Ratio
Oowntom[Uptown Business 41 65.0%
Owner
Other Business Owner FOR 3 4,7%
P21m Springs Resident ® 10 15.8%
Other 9 14.2%
Totals 63 100%
Do you have a preference of exterior free standing sign style? W
Number of Response
Answer 0% 100% Response(s) Ratio
Metal Sign with sturdy base 15 27.2%
A-Frame 30 54 5%
f
® 8 14.5%
No Response(&) 2 3.6%
Totals 55 100%
Page 1
Are you considering using an exterior free standing sign if approved by the Palm Springs City Council?
Number of Response
Answer 0k 100% Response(s) Ratio
Yes
No i 14 25.4
No Response(s) 4 7,2
Totals 55 100
Are you a member of
Number of Response
Answer 0% 100% Response(s) Ratio
Main Street Palm Springs r J $3 50.7
Palm Springs Chamber of f 23 35.3
Commerce
Other ^� g 13.8
Totals 65 100%
Please share your comments about the sign ordinance below.
29 Response(s)
Page 2
Council Members City of Palm Springs April 16, 2008
Good evening, my name is Rodolfo Castillo, co-owner of
Cactusberry Frozen Yogurt at La Plaza in downtown Palm
Springs.
Six months ago, October 12, 2007, all of the candidates
running for the City Council seats and for Mayor gave un-
edited answers about the Sign Ordinance Issue in Downtown
Palm Springs. A few quotes from the article:
Mr. Pougnet: "These are tough economic times for our
merchants. We need to recognize the investment our
merchants put into downtown and not regulate them out of
business. We need to create flexibility with the sign
ordinance as we redevelop downtown".
Mr. Weigel: "We must listen to business owners, they have
issues with the sign ordinance and its effect on sales."
Mr. Hutcheson: "Instead of enforcing petty items, lets help
our merchants succeed. Our code defines sign violations as
a public nuisance. What about vacant store fronts?"
The downtown Merchants Association recently had a
survey in which 54.5% of the members of Uptown &
Downtown areas agreed that they prefer of exterior A-
frames against the metal signs proposed by the sub-
committee.
The merchants are the life-blood of our downtown and
must be nurtured, not fined to death.
o.f`r,/Zooe
MrkM 42) 4
We pay rent, taxes to the City, BID taxes, insurance, health
permits, provide clean bathrooms for our customers and
let's not forget FINES TO THE CITY. On Thursday night's
Village Fest, you can pitch a tent in the middle of Palm
Canyon without any problems or fines from the City of Palm
Springs. HOW FAIR IS THAT?
Palm Springs is not only about businesses on Palm Canyon
is also about the side streets as noted on the BID map. We
all had to pay that Tax. We need our A-frames with
professionally designed art work to let customers know that
we are OPEN for business. And please let me finish with a
quote from our now newly elected mayor Mr. Pougnet
"these are tough economic times, we need flexibility".
Thank you
Rick Hutcheson Lee
Looking at downtown today,we've Steve Pougnet
not yet round the right balance I was successful as Police Chief
between allowing businesses to because I worked with the The City Council is currently
promote themselves effectively, community to resolve issues-The reviewing the sign ordinance.A
while keeping downtown Downtown core displays the subcommittee is being forced to
presentable. - appearance and style by which Palm work with the downtown merchants
Our code defines sign violations as Springs a measured. Palm Springs' to submit recvmmerdatons on
public nuisances.WhaL about i uncluttered environment contributes Signage to the to Council.
vacant store Fronts, dirty streets, Recommendatans will be reviewed
to our allure as a tourist destination
graffiti and shabby palms? I Junk within the next 90 days.
we're missing the forest for the important economy.to our These are tough economic times for
trees--- Palm Springs is the landmark name our merchahLS-We need to recognlze
City Council passed an emergency in the Coachella Valley.The city and to investment our merchants have
ordinance telling us what types of businesses should maintain high put into downtown and not regulate
businesses we cannot have on Palm standards to keep Palm Springs' them out of business.We need to
Canyon.1'd prefer an emergency ,look and feel" distinct from any create flexibility with the sign
ordinance providing short-term relief other Downtown.We can strengthen ordinance as we redevelop and
to help the merchants we already the village atmosphere and Oharm to revitalize downtown. I suppoathe
have stay In business: increase customers that provide for modification of the Palm Springs sign
R apply the more reasonable
uptown standards for signage& / our in
success. ordinance.
displays to the traditional Downtown My priorities for Palm Springs Signage requirements can and
core It include the revitalization of should be different in different areas
R rethink Street Fair to highlight Downtown, increasing public safety such as downtown,uptown,or mixed
Palm Springs merchants mstead of and the maintenance and -usL'pmjectc.The regulations need to
traveling vendors cleanliness of our public places, key be flexible while making fair
R parking options to make Indian to attracting touriSrs and shoppers. regulations rot everyone.New
Canyon less of a freeway We must also listen to business technology has made a Significant
None of us want a cluttered, owners. Our businesses have issues impact on Signage and tie City
cheap-looking downtown. No one with the sign ordinance and its should adapt its ordinance to reflect
with Palm Springs municipal e effect on sales. I am willing Yv work the new technology.
experience would suggest it's easy tt'melCllant,8ulldim,Owners,and
to amend our sign ordinance. But as with the Downtown merchant for a the City will work together to
a Planning Commissioner,I know compromise ordinance that vision ter the Palm
more reasonable standards are addresses their concern$-We must Springs sign formulate a new ew isio io
achievable. _ work together for our common
Instead of enforcing petty items, interests and a better Palm Springs.
let's focus on helping our merchants www.LeeWeigel.com `
succeed,www.RickHutcheson.com Third on the ballot
CAN D I DATES
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9<rFo&N`P CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: APRIL 16, 2008
SUBJECT: INITIATION OF ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH
REGULATIONS FOR "PORTABLE OPEN SIGNS" IN THE CITY'S
COMMERCIAL ZONES
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Planning Department
SUMMARY
Under Section 94.07.01.A.1.b the City Council may initiate a Zone Text Amendment by
motion and submit the matter to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and
recommendation. Based on the work of the Council's Downtown Sub-committee, a set
of draft regulations for "portable open signs" has been developed for consideration as
an amendment to the City's Zoning Code.
RECOMMENDATION:
Initiate a zone text amendment to establish regulations for "portable open signs", based
on the contents of this memo and any additional Council direction.
STAFF ANALYSIS,
Over the past three months, the Councils Downtown Sub-committee (Foat, Mills) has
met with local merchants to consider provisions for allowing "portable open signs" in
front of retail shops. In response to the Sub-committee's direction to prepare a draft
program to allow portable open signs, staff proposes a set of provisions found on the
attachment to this memo. The provisions are summarized, as follows:
1. The provisions are developed around the idea that a temporary
sidewalk sign is to be used only to indicate that a business is open.
The signs are not to describe special sales or to advertise particular
products or services.
2. Any other outdoor display would also appear to show that a business is
open. Therefore, a business that has an approved free-standing board Item No. 4 @ B .
City Council Staff Report April 16, 2008
Initiation of Zone Text Amendment—Portable Open Signs Page 2 of 4
or any approved outdoor display — furniture, statuary or the like —
would not qualify for a "Portable Open Sign".
3. A "Portable Open Sign" must be placed within four feet of the tenant
storefront. For some tenants, this may require that the sign be placed
in the public sidewalk, which would be allowed. To accommodate
pedestrians, including disabled persons, a minimum paved walkway
width of 48 inches (4 feet) must be kept clear at all times.
4. "Portable Open Signs" are limited to one sign per tenant space. Some
tenant spaces have multiple businesses inside, but only one "Portable
Open Sign" would be permitted. For those buildings which have
multiple tenants, each tenant could have one sign.
5. In order that the signs promote retail activity, only retail businesses
may use 'Portable Open Signs". Staff does not recommend allowing
office uses — including banks and real estate offices — to have such
signs.
6. 'Portable Open Signs" are permitted only in the C-D-B zone. Other
commercial zones — especially C-1 and C-2 — may be considered in
the future.
7. Specific design criteria for "Portable Open Signs" are as follows:
a. The sign frame shall be a two-dimensional metal frame on a pole
with a sturdy, heavy base.
b. The frame color may be black or chrome.
c. Maximum height shall be 60 inches (5 feet).
d. The sign may be two-sided, and not exceed 4 square feet per side.
e. Sign content shall be limited to the name of the business and the
word, "Open". No arrows, phone numbers, specific product names
or other messages or information.
8. Staff believes that if all criteria are met, then no permit should be
required. However, if any sign does not meet the criteria, staff
recommends that the City be allowed to remove the sign at any time.
Because these provisions require an amendment to the Zoning Code, staff is seeking
Council action to initiate a Zone Text Amendment, which may be accomplished by a
motion. Based on the analysis contained in the attached memoranda, staff is seeking
Council direction in the matter.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
Q�EfIE���
City Council Staff Report April 16,2008
Initiation of Zone Text Amendment—Portable Open Signs Page 3 of 4
al ing, AIC Tomas J. Wilson
Dire of Planni ervices Assistant City anager, Dev't Svcs
David H. Ready
City Manager
Attached: Draft Regulations for "Portable Open Signs"
6'Q9d3
City Council Staff Report April 16, 2008
Initiation of Zone Text Amendment—Portable Open Signs Page 4 of 4
Draft Provisions for Allowing "Portable Open Signs" in Commercial Zones
1. "Menu boards" shall be retained as a description only for restaurant signs, as
described in Section 9320.03.17:
17. "Menu board" means any assemblage of verbiage designed to
advertise currently available food and/or beverage offerings.
2. "Portable Open Signs" shall describe small, free-standing signs placed in front of
a retail store to indicate that the business is open for trade.
3. "Portable Open Signs" may be used only where there is no other approved free-
standing menu board or approved outdoor display on the premises.
4. "Portable Open Signs" may be allowed only in the C-D-B zone, subject to certain
provisions:
a. One "Portable Open Sign" is allowed per retail tenant space. Office uses may
not have portable 'open" signs. Multiple businesses within a single tenant
space would be limited to one sign overall.
b. "Portable Open Signs" shall be placed within four feet of the storefront, and
may, if necessary, be placed in the public right-of-way. No sign may impede
pedestrian traffic, and a 48-inch clear paved pathway for ADA access must be
maintained at all times.
c. A "Portable Open Sign" may be two-sided, with each side limited to a
maximum size of four (4) square feet (e.g., 2 x 2 feet), and not exceed 5 feet
in overall height.
d. The sign frame shall be a single- or two-pole metal frame, either chrome or
black. Plastic frames, A-frames and three-dimensional sign frames are
prohibited.
e. The sign frame shall include a heavy base to prevent unintended movement
cause by wind or other minimal force. Signs which require additional
weighting (sandbag, concrete block, etc.) are not allowed.
f. The sign shall be produced with professional-quality materials and design.
g. No lighting, balloons or other attachments are allowed.
h. The sign must contain the ward "Open", and may contain the name of the
business, and a business logo already used on an approved sign of the
tenant space. No other information or graphic is allowed, including hours of
operation, telephone number, arrows, and any other devise or message.
5. "Portable Open Signs" which comply with these rules require no permit; signs
which are found to violate these provisions may be immediately removed.
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