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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/5/2008 - STAFF REPORTS - 5.D. F A LM Spy n. 'O� .a..reo a`P» ``P°A`' CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT DATE: February 28, 2008 SUBJECT. ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICIES AND STANDARDS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRY SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: Planning Department SUMMARY On August 3, 2007, representatives of the Sunmor Neighborhood Association submitted a request for approval of a free-standing monument sign with the word "SUNMOR". The sign was proposed on private property — at the corner of 2639 Livmor Avenue. At that time, staff indicated that there was no provision in the Palm Springs Zoning Code for such a sign. The applicants and staff have since met to consider options for allowing such signs. Staff is requesting that the City Council provide direction on the matter, including consideration of specific standards for such signs. No public hearing is required. RECOMMENDATION: Discuss and direct staff regarding the preparation of a zone text amendment to establish policies and standards for neighborhood entry signs on private property in single family neighborhoods. ANALYSIS: It is not uncommon for single family residential neighborhoods to have a sign facing major entry points displaying the name of the subdivision or project. However, such signs are usually constructed by the original developer as a marketing tool to assist the development during its initial sales. Such signs are also very common at the entries of multi-family projects. The City has been approached by residents of the Sunmor neighborhood seeking permission for a new sign at this established single family neighborhood. The Sunmor Neighborhood is located just west of City Hall, and is ITEM NO. City Council Staff Report March 5, 2007 Neighborhood Entry Signs—Single Family Neighborhoods Page 2 of 4 generally bound by Andreas Road, Farrell Drive, Alejo Road and Civic Drive (see map below): _ZAi6lo Rd AVIaUol r` E�Uvirm� Avis I is- � !a Sunmor Neighborhood All signs in the City of Palm Springs are regulated by the Palm Springs Zoning Code, The Code essentially limits signs in single family neighborhoods, such as Sunmor, to address numbers under eight (8) inches in height. No other signs, except for emergency signs, are allowed. However, as noted below, the 2007 update of the General Plan does envision entry signage, as follows: General Plan Policies— Community Design Element CD 2.4 Strengthen the identity of neighborhoods / districts through the addition of community gateway features, special street signs or monuments. CD 9.5 Place distinctive signage to identify principal entries to the City, unique districts, neighborhoods, locations, public buildings and parks. Staff believes that the General Plan provides a basis for allowing neighborhoodentry signs, such as that proposed by the Sunmor residents. If the Council agrees, the next step would be to determine the standards and procedures for such signs. Staff has met with members of the Sunmor neighborhood along with the City Attorney, Director of Public Works and others to discuss how the City might address neighborhood entry signs. It is staffs belief that a number of questions should be 0000�� City Council Staff Report March 5, 2007 Neighborhood Entry Signs—Single Family Neighborhoods Page 3 of 4 answered as part of a possible zone text amendment and before such signs are installed, including: 1. Number/Location. How many signs should any particular neighborhood have? Should there be a limit? Are there any criteria that should be established for locating signs? Should the number i location be subject to City approval? 2. Sign Design. Does the City want multiple entry signs within a neighborhood to be a common design? Should any property owner be able to put up whatever design they wanted? Should their design be subject to City approval? 3. Long-term Maintenance. What happens if the property owner on whose land the sign sits decides to remove it, but the neighbors want it kept? What if the owner wants to change it or doesn't maintain it, and refuses to allow the neighbors to 'trespass' to keep the sign in good repair? Staff is concerned that the City is often called upon to be the broker between one owner and his i her neighbors, and that some assurances need to be developed to avoid potential disagreements. At minimum, staff believes that any City policy i zone text amendment for neighborhood identification signs should include the following provisions- 1. Only an officially-recognized single-family neighborhood association can propose a Sign Program for neighborhood identification signs. The program must be comprehensive regarding number and locations. The program would be subject to review by the AAC and approved by the Directors of Planning and Public Works, to include: a. Proposed number and location(s) b. Proposed size, design, color and materials 2. Any individual property owner on whose property a sign is proposed must be a signatory to the sign program application. No signs may be allowed in the public right-of-way. 3. Certain legal documents as determined by the City Attorney must be executed prior to the approval or installation of any sign. Such documents would address long-term maintenance, liability protection and other provisions. Based on the direction of the City Council, staff would prepare a zone text amendment for consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council. FISCAL IMPACT: None. ���©933 City Council Staff Report March 5, 2007 Neighborhood Entry Signs—Single Family Neighborhoods Page 4 of 4 A wing, P, Dir. of Ping Svcs ilson ns4ityanager, Dev't 5 cs David H. Ready, City rf Attachments: 1. Letter to Sunmor Neighborhood (December 7, 2007) 2. Letter from Ron & Barbara Marshall (October 30, 2007) 3. Exhibits of proposed SUNMOR entry sign (from Case No. SI 07-153) 00 a �D�pALMgAQ .'N City of Palm Springs Department of Planwrig Services 3200 E Tali uin Canyon WayPahn 5 im+s Californm 92262 �P 1c1 (760) i25-3245 • Fax. (760) 322•S 30D • Wn6 %sww.palrnspnngs-ai gov q�lFDR� December 7, 2007 Ronald Marshall Owner Representative Sunmore Neighborhood Committee 2639 East Livemor Avenue Palm Springs, CA 92262 RE: Case No. SP 07-153; 2639 East Livmor Avenue Request to Construct a Neighborhood Identification Sign Mr. Marshall, Thank you for submitting the neighborhood identification sign for the Sunmore subdivision. Unfortunately, these types of signs are not presently permitted within single-family zones by the Palm Springs Zoning Code. Planning staff is working with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the Director of Public Affairs to determine what policies and provisions might be appropriate for these types of signs. Staff notes that the Community Design Element of the recently adopted General Plan, specifically CD2.4 and CD9.5, envisions these kinds of signs. A discussion will be held by the ON] Committee at a meeting on December 13, 2007. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. The meeting is open to the public and your presence is welcome. Please be aware, however, that until the Palm Springs Zoning Code has been amended, staff is unable to process your sign request. We will keep you informed with the City's progress regarding these types of signs. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact David A. Newell at (760) 323.8245. Sincerel , Cr winVvices Di for of PI cc: David H. Ready, City Mananger 6 Q Lee A. Husfeldt, Director of Public Affairs October 30,2007 Mr. Craig Ewing Director of Planning Services City of Palm Springs 3200 E.Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs,CA 92263-2743 Subj: SUNMOR Neighborhood Sign-RESUBMITTAL On August 3,2007, we submitted a request for approval for a"SUN-MOW'neighborhood sign to be placed at the comer of N. Farrell Drive and E. Livmor Avenue. After some consultation we were referred by the Planning Department(Mr. Chris Ison)to the Engineering Department(Mr.Felipe Primera). On October 5"', Mr.Primera made a very helpful site visit to the corner intended for the sign. Mr.Primera confirmed the accuracy of our submitted site plan,and confirmed that an encroachment agreement with the city was not required. However,measurements did confirm the intended sign placement falls within the`traffic line of sight"triangle at this corner and hence the sign can be no higher than 30 inches_ We have modified the sign design to comply with this height restriction and are re-submitting our request along with photographs of the site(attachment 1). We request that the Planning Department review our resubmitted request and forward it to the Planning Commission for approval (sec attachment 2). We also understand that even though the sign falls on private property,there may be city concern that the sign will not be adequately cared for. in our original request(attachment 3)we included both the property owner and neighborhood organization's endorsement. Within the 9UNMOR Neighborhood Organization (SNO)we have discussed the importance of maintaining the sign,to include quick reactions to vandalism (e.g.,graffiti),etc. Additionally,the current property owner has verbally agreed to append the necessary documents to the re-sale of his property to ensure that future property owners understand their obligation regarding the continued existence of the sign. Recognizing there are no city guidelines and policies regarding neighborhood signs of this sort,we greatly appreciate the efforts of the Planning and Engineering Departments to date, If you require additional information,please contact the undersigned SNO points of contact at(760) 808-6988. Sincerely, Ron&Barbara Marshall 2685 E_Livmor Avenue � �`� Palm Springs,CA 92262 RECEIVED UL 1 - :) 2997 '4)1 Copy to: S CC-7— PS Engineering Department (Atty Mr. F. Primera/Mr. D. Barakian) PS Office of Neighborhood Involvement(Attu: Ms. Lee Husfeldt) (w/o atts) Attachments: (1) Resubmitted request, including photographs and sign re-design (2) Our email of 20 August 2007, "SUNMOR Neighborhood Sign" (3) Original request h�r .-i ',k"'� �1::ill:f Fy.� e '4�' '�I•� ti l : � `•I :,�`'kf•�.. µi','?Ty:�.la3'�.-_-��i�w.;s�'rcrdzS�y""-4'12F.c��-'.'r. �.::' ..�y' � ��� 'P' `y& �•. ?�„��•_ra J:-=_rq -.:w'�v"�.-k•. s�3,:rs_n.. ". `S,` % a .�i. zi wakF MhM'vra Manw 1�d !I n� n :1. i' r:}Y•J''.n: p�(A: Yyyp •� '�'ei yfy.4'nEy -.WM'n. . ry j .�.,. �1i4�'," i!^ W��::.i .X.:y'LSa;�!'W�..�wJ,...�W�.��F.r�lii��r.�.Lt..+-.1)� �,_:i:'i, —`I;�;pp:� .v'. •"''.+ The stakes (measured and placed by the City's Engineering department) mark the end points-of the maximum extent of the traffic line of sight triangle. The proposed SUNMOR Neighborhood sign falls Y within this area and is therefore restricted to a maximum height of 30 inches. , (� 0 rY` F^ LLJ LLI OR WIN q'4., .h�{Y�' yVy',,yY 911 A 1 §f. )�1♦ �" _ _ t�.ryry``�,�.'i!`'j.YJ1A-�Tf.+.(5� 1�7J1 l J� �h'/ / }li•'¢l `�_. _- _ - _ - _ -. _ - ��ri�`� ,�,P7R, ���"j„",•,1 ',��'"t�,.cF.�;r44i.?Is;f5���� F_� 1 d iL e ✓ � gyp _`i, y 7 � -� - - T "��• -':.. _ eciip`+. i1�W�� r' '�'A�Y.` j��h'+f i.. - _ [� Z IV r W a VI .i, i u` rHr,��v,, ¢.2 ,'jl�'S+ jx - 'f•!`- ,} Y Yr�.'!ti a,�' h 1 - Ni to O Q .�'e a s� Yahoo! Mail-atomicbee57@yahoo.com Page 1 oz 1 �- 407 MAILPrint-Close Window Date: Mon,20 Aug 2007 10:25:02-0700 (PDT) From: "Barbara Marshall" Catomlc1bee579yahoo.com> Subject: SUNMOR Neighborhood Sl9n To: chris.lsonCpalmsprings-ca.gov CC: lee-husfeldt@palmsprings-ca.gov Dear Chris, Thank you for your call of Friday, August 11, in response to our letter of August 3 (delivered to Planning on the 0th) - To recap our conversation so that we can update the SUNMOR Neighborhood Organization officers on the status (our comments in parentheses) : 1. Department of Planning Services position is that since there are no city guidelines governing placement and construction at neighborhood signs that Planning has to deny our request (as opposed to approving it because there are no guidelines) . Although other neighborhood signs have been erected, for example, at Little Tuscany Esta L•es, Twin Palms Estates, Park Imperial South, and Canyon Vista Estates, you commented that these may either be unapproved or were constructed before current city leadership. 2. Because Engineering may have some say in this matter and since the sign may encroach on the city easement, you suggested that we talk with Engineering next. You offered to facilitate intraductions and share Planning Services opinion regarding the sign, which, as I recall, is a positive one. 3- If Engineering is unable to assistr we should approach the Planning Commission. You opined that given ongoing city and neighborhood involvement interaction, including city beautification, this may be the appropfiate venue to pursue approval, of our , request to construct a neighborhood sign. You also suggested that Lee Husfeldt might help our efforts- we have one appointment this afternoon but, if convenient, plan to come by your office to take you up on your offer to talk with Engineering- Thank you for your assistance. Kind regards. Barbara and Ron Marshall 760 000-6988 ...,i!.. ... r . Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games- http-//suns- _ahoo.com/ http://us.f395.mail.yahoo,com/ywJShowLetter?box=Sent&Msgld=702_8759145 480_634... 8/21/2007 809999 Notional Design for SUNMOR Neighborhood Sign Sign design consistent with other Palm Springs neighborhood signs, for example, "Park Imperial South" and "Twin Palms Estates." Sign design echoes 8"x8"x8" concrete blocks used in SUNMOR homes and throughout Palm Springs. Notional sign is 8 feet long and 30" high (with first block course submerged 2 inches). Sign may be straight, or slightly convex or concave, depending upon site considerations and painted in "desert colors" in a retro palette, Letter font will be mid-century. Sign will read simply "SUNMOR". ■6w drmN 1 a b1� ,9 spkFriy', MENNEN 1 O en � Attachment 0 3 Q' VMORE AVE _ 13' _ 115.04' MAX.** F/C FACE OF CURB CO i� R L \ B/C BACK OF CURB 4.5\ HT. m HT HEIGHT J MAX.® LINE** `� MAX MAXIMUM 8, EA ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT W F/C *REQUIRES EA **DOES NOT REQUIRE EA 2639 E LIVMORE AVE00 �y � c 4 Q O O O