PZ Recs/Staff ReportSTAFF REPORT
Hearing Date:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
January 22, 2013
Mayor & City Council
Kristy Vigil, Assistant City Planner
208-884-5533
~.~Vl E IDR IAN,^ ,
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ZOA-12-003 -Sign Code Text Amendment
1. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT'S REQUEST
The applicant, the City of Meridian Planning Division, has applied for a Zoning
Ordinance Amendment (ZOA) to amend the text of the Unified Development Code
standards for signs.
2. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending approval of the UDC text amendment (ZOA-12-003) based
on the detailed analysis provided below and Findings of Facts listed in Exhibit B.
The Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission heard these items on December 20, 2012. At
the public hearing, the Commission moved to recommend approval of the subiect ZOA request.
a. Summary of Commission Public Hearing:
i. In favor: Josh Davidson with Rosauers, Tony Meade with Idaho Electric Signs,
Planning Department
ii. In opposition: None
iii. Commenting: None
iv. Written testimony: Bill Fremgen with Pinnacle Sports Grill
v. Staff presenting application: Kristy Vigil
vi. Other staff commenting on application: None
b. Key Issue(s) of Discussion by Commission:
i. The difference between a message on a changeable copy sign changing more frequently
than eight seconds and a changeable copy sign that is flashing.
c. Kev Commission Change(s) to Staff Recommendation:
i. None
d. Outstanding Issue(s) for City Council:
i. None
3. PROPOSED MOTION
Approval
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to recommend
approval to the City Council of File Number ZOA-12-003 as presented in the staff report
for the hearing date of January 22, 2013 with the following modifications: (add any
proposed modifications.)
Denial
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to recommend denial
to the City Council of File Number ZOA-12-003 as presented during the hearing on
January 22, 2013 for the following reasons: (You should state specific reasons for
denial.)
Continuance
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to continue File
Number ZOA-12-003, to (insert specific hearing date), and direct staff to make the
following changes: (insert comments here.)
4. APPLICATION FACTS
a. Site Address/Location: City-wide.
b. Applicant/Representative:
City of Meridian Community Development Department
33E. Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho 83642
c. Applicant's Statement/Justification: See applicant's narrative for more information.
5. PROCESS FACTS
a. The subject application will in fact constitute a Unified Development Code amendment
as determined by City Ordinance. By reason of the provisions of the Meridian City
Code Title 11 Chapter 5, a public hearing is required before the Planning & Zoning
Commission and City Council on this matter.
b. Newspaper notifications published on: November 19`" and December 3`a, 2012
(Planning & Zoning Commission); December 31, 2012 and January 14, 2013 (City
Council .
c. A public service announcement was broadcast faxed on November 21, 2012
(Commission) and January 7, 2013 (City Council) regarding this application.
6. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES AND GOALS
The City's Comprehensive Plan is a vision and policy document for guiding development and
the transportation needs in the City of Meridian. Staff finds that the subject Zoning Ordinance
Amendment complies with and furthers the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
Staff finds the following Comprehensive Plan policies to be applicable to this application and to
be representative of the community's vision.
Chapter VII:
• Goal 7.O1.OlA -Keep current the Unified Development Code and Future Land
Use map to implement the provisions of this plan.
• Goal 7.01.01 D -Engage the public in land use planning processes by using a
variety of methods to inform and solicit comments.
2
7. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE A majority of the amendments are to clean-up and/or
clarify a standard. However, there are some key amendments to the City's sign code requested
with this application. The key amendments include the following: to allow projecting signs in all
districts, to allow neon tube illumination for building signs and freestanding signs, and to allow
changeable copy signs to change more frequently than eight seconds.
The Planning Division Staff is proposing to amend certain UDC sign code sections as follows:
Item
number Section Text Reason for Change
1 11-1-SB 7. The required landscaped area for To clarify the
freestanding suns shall be computed by measurement of
measuring the inside of the landscaped area, landscape area for
excluding an~part of the support structure. sign structures not in
a landscape buffer.
2 11-3D-2F 11. Any sign which is oriented only to the To allow the
property on which it is located and is not construction of signs
visible from public right of wad internal to a
development without
a permit.
3 11-3D-4B Any private signs «~~*'~~~ r~~'~'~^ ,.;R~,* ^{ «~°<~
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on publicly-owned property, including the pp
Encroachment permit
to have signs within
public right of wa
~pt as otherwise the City Core right-
.
specificall~permitted, in writing, b~ of-way.
authorized public a ency.
4 11-3D-4G Any benches with commercially available
space for advertising:, except that the
transportation authority a~place such To allow the
transportation
authority to install
benches at a designated bus stogy benches with
advertising.
5 11-3D-SB2 The maximum height of any subdivision To fix a typo in the
identification sign shall not exceed six feet UDC.
(6'). See section 11-1-SB45 of this title for
architectural element standards.
6 11-3D-6 Marketing Signs: The following standards To clarify this section
shall apply to signs on properties being applies to the sign on
marketed for lease and/or sale: the property.
7 11-3D-7 Construction Signs: The following standards To clarify this section
shall apply to si ng s on properties under applies to the sign on
construction: the property.
8 11-3D-8A3 Setbacks And Location of Freestanding To exclude limited
T ~~~*°a r,.,,.,,*~°„ Signs: In all districts, no duration signs from
part of a freestanding ~~a~~r ~;r..,:*°a a,,,.,,*~~~ the one-foot setback
sign, including the footing, shall be located requirements.
closer than one-foot feet (1') from any street
property line and twelve and one-half feet
(12.5') from any rear or interior side property
line, unless greater separation is required.
9a 11-3D-8A8 b. Awning signs s#a1-1 may be nonilluminated The next two changes
or may have indirect, er internal, or direct allow for greater
illumination. ~e Neon tube flexibility in awning
illumination ire is prohibited. sign lighting
solutions and
promotes increased
consistency between
City documents.
9b c. Where awning signs use direct illumination,
such direct illumination shall be targeted only
to the copy area of the sign, and shall conform
to elements of Traditional Neighborhood
Desi n.
9c E d. No ~~y awning sign shall r}et extend
above the top of the awning structure.
9d ~ e. A permit is required for any awning sign.
10 11-3D-8A14 a. Freestanding signs may be nonilluminated . To allow neon tube
illumination. Nee~~ dDirect illumination for
illumination a~ is prohibited. freestanding signs as
allowed for each
c. All freestanding signs an adjacent zoning district.
structure. All landscaping shall be maintained
as set forth in UDC 11-3B-13. To add landscape
maintenance
requirements for sign
bases designed with
landscaping.
11 11-3D-8A18 ~
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€e. A permit is required for any wall sign. each zoning district.
12 11-3D-8A19 d. A permit is not required for window signs. To clarify a permit is
not required for
window signs.
13 11-3D-8C Business Signs For Multi-Family To add allowed
Developments And Allowed Nonresidential nonresidential uses to
Uses: In addition to the general standards for the initial standard
business identification signs set forth in this for this section.
section, the following standards shall apply to
business identification signs for multi-family
developments and allowed non-residential
uses (R-2, R-4, R-8, R-15, R-40, and TN-R),
excluding accessory uses:
14 11-3D-8D6
Projecting signs are ~ allowed and To allow projecting
11-3D-8E6 shall meet the standards set forth in subsection signs in commercial
11-3D-8F6 A17 of this section. and industrial
11-3D-8H6 districts.
15 11-3D-8Dld ~' ` ^,,., „~,.,,,,.°~'''° ° -'~~~~'~'~^° ~ ~~'~'° To remove the ei
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16 11-3D-8D4c A maximum of one freestanding sign is To clarify the
11-3D-8E4c allowed per one hundred fifty feet (150') of freestanding sign is
11-3D-8F4c linear street frontage per property. Properties one per property.
with less than one hundred fifty feet (150') of
linear street frontage shall be allowed a
maximum of one such sign per property.
17a 11-3D-8D4d Properties exceeding seven hundred fifty feet To clarify the number
(750') of linear street frontage may be allowed of allowed
an additional sign height and background area freestanding signs.
allowance. Such signs shall not exceed fifteen
feet (15') in overall height and eighty (80)
square feet of background area. Only one such
sign shall be allowed per seven hundred fifty
feet (750') of linear street frontage. Such
freestanding signs shall be in lieu of, and not
in addition to, signs which mawpermitted
by the district provisions set forth in this
section
17b 11-3D-8E4d Properties exceeding seven hundred fifty feet To clarify the number
(750') of linear street frontage may be allowed of allowed
an additional sign height and background area freestanding signs.
allowance. Such signs shall not exceed twenty
feet (20') in overall height and one hundred
fifty (150) square feet of background area.
Only one such sign shall be allowed per seven
hundred fifty feet (750') of linear street
frontage. Such freestanding signs shall be in
lieu of, and not in addition to, suns which
mawpermitted by the district provisions set
forth in this section.
17c 11-3D-8F4d Properties exceeding seven hundred fifty feet To clarify the number
(750') of linear street frontage may be allowed of allowed
an additional sign height and background area freestanding signs.
allowance. Such signs shall not exceed thirty
five feet (35') in overall height and two
hundred (200) square feet of background area.
Only one such sign shall be allowed per seven
hundred fifty feet (750') of linear street
frontage. Such freestanding signs shall be in
lieu of, and not in addition to, signs which
mawpermitted by the district provisions set
forth in this section.
17d 11-3D-8H4d Properties exceeding seven hundred fifty feet To clarify the number
(750') of linear street frontage may be allowed of allowed
an additional sign height and background area freestanding signs.
allowance. Such signs shall not exceed twenty
five feet (25') in overall height and one
hundred fifty (150) square feet of background
area. Only one such sign shall be allowed per
seven hundred fifty feet (750') of linear street
frontage. Such freestanding suns shall be in
lieu of, and not in addition to, signs which
made permitted by the district provisions set
forth in this section.
18 11-3D-8D4e ~c~an
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19 11-3D-8H4 a. The maximum background area of any To allow approved
freestanding sign shall not exceed seventy accessory uses in the
(70) square feet. Except that for properties Light Industrial
with an approved accessory use, the maximum zoning district an
background area of any freestandin 7 si ng shall additional sign
not exceed eight
~ (80) square feet of allowance.
_
background area.
b. The maximum height of any freestanding
sign shall not exceed fifteen feet (15'). Except
that for properties with an approved accessory
use, the maximum height shall not exceed
twent feet 20') in overall height.
20 11-3D-9E 2. No limited duration sign shall be located To establish setbacks
closer than five feet (5') from any street for limited duration
property line and twelve and one-half feet signs.
(12.5'
from any rear or interior side property
,
line.
~3. No limited duration sign shall be
illuminated. Illumination is prohibited.
~4. No limited duration sign shall be located
within a public right of way.
45. All limited duration signs shall be
weatherproofed and kept in a state of good
appearance, safety, and repair. Any damaged
or potentially hazardous sign shall be repaired
or removed immediately.
~6. A maximum of one such sign shall be
displayed per business at any one time.
67. Limited duration signs shall maintain a
minimum fifty feet (50') of spacing from any
and all other approved freestanding and
limited duration signs.
~8. The background area for limited duration
banner signs located on an exterior of a
building shall not exceed thirty-two (32)
square feet per business, except that
businesses having over one hundred thousand
(100,000) square feet of gross floor area shall
be allowed sixty-four (64) square feet for such
sign.
~9. The background area for freestanding
limited duration signs, shall not exceed twenty
(20) square feet.
110. Balloons and other inflated devices that
are limited duration signs shall be no greater
than one and one-half (11/2) times the
maximum building height within the district.
-x-011. Electrical components shall be
prohibited as part of a limited duration sign,
except electrical pumps may be allowed for
balloons and other inflated devices.
8. EXHIBITS
A. Agency Comments
B. Required Findings from the Unified Development Code
10
Exhibit A. Agency Comments
On November 1 S, 2012 a joint agency and department meeting was held with service
providers in the area. The agencies and departments present include: Meridian Fire
Department and Meridian Police Department. The following the comments were
received.•
1. Fire Department
1.1 The Fire Department has no concerns related to this application.
2. Police Department
2.1 The Police Department has no concerns related to this application.
Exhibit B. Required Findings from Unified Development Code
1. Unified Development Code Text Amendments:
Upon recommendation from the Commission, the Council shall make a full
investigation and shalt, at the public hearing, review the application. In order
to grant a text amendment to the Unified Development Code, the Council
shall make the following findings:
1. The text amendment complies with the applicable provisions of the
comprehensive plan;
The Commission finds that the proposed zoning ordinance amendment
complies with the applicable (limited) provisions of the Comprehensive
Plan. Please see Comprehensive Plan Policies and Goals, Section 6, of the
Staff Report for more information.
2. The text amendment shall not be materially detrimental to the public
health, safety, and welfare; and
The Commission finds that the proposed text amendment will not be
detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare. Planning staff has
worked with the sign company representatives, Legal staff, Building staff
and Code Enforcement staff to ensure that the proposed text amendments
provide for the safety of our residents when installing and maintaining
signs within the City.
3. The text amendment shall not result in an adverse impact upon the
delivery of services by any political subdivision providing public
services within the City including, but not limited to, school districts.
The Commission finds that the proposed text amendment does not propose
any significant changes to how public utilities and services are provide to
developments. All City departments, public agencies and service providers
that currently review applications will continue to do so. Please rely on
any written or oral testimony provided by any public service provider(s)
when making this finding.
12