ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Community Development with a Request to CONCUR with the Recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission and Staff to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending APPENDIX B, the Zoning Ordinance Related to SIGNS. PZ 14-K.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Business members of the community expressed an interest in wanting to expand what signage is allowed. As a result, Staff held a policy session with the City Council, and was directed to proceed with the following actions.
1. Develop sign regulations by district and street frontage.
2. Change most free standing signs from pylon to monument style.
3. Encourage pedestrian scale signs.
The concepts were shared with the Planning and Zoning Commission most recently on November 6, 2014, and are now presented to the Council as proposed amendments. The results are intended to encourage a more business-friendly atmosphere. Note previously proposed changes to on-premise sign height and type are omitted, and will be re-visited with future design considerations.
The following amendments are proposed, and written in the attached, proposed Ordinance:
1. Animated signs. Allow borders and background animation in defined commercial districts (CN, CG, C1, C2 and B1) that also have frontage on street classified as Principle Arterials, and above, on the Thoroughfare map. In these locations, the minimum required dwell time would be reduced to three seconds, with instantaneous (static) text changes; and strobe and animated text will be prohibited. (See attached map for locations.) This change would be not be permitted on signs exceeding 70 square feet, and would be permitted in addition to animated signs currently permitted in the B1 district. Note: Staff is continuing to explore regulations related to brightness; and may bring an additional amendment forward in the future.
2. Temporary signs.
a. Allow one temporary sign per frontage in the form of a banner. One $500 permit would be required per calendar year, and would not be prorated.
b. Require strict maintenance in good repair. No faded or frayed signs permitted.
c. Remove the requirement for a seven day break between sign displays.
d. Remove requirement restricting each display to 30 days.
e. Remove requirement restricting number of displays to 4.
f. Specifically prohibit signs known as "feather" or "tear drop."
3. Obsolete signs: Clarify that an unused sign includes the structure.
City staff has continued to work with a group from the Chamber of Commerce to review, discuss, and amend these recommendations. Adjustments to the proposed amendments have been made accordingly.
STAFF COMMENTS:
1. The proposed amendments strive to balance community, business, and residential needs with the general public need for protection of public health, safety, and general welfare.
2. Signage of any kind directly affects community character. The same signage may not be appropriate in all locations.
3. The current zoning ordinance allows digital signs to contain animation only in the B1 zoning districts, known as the downtown. Many considerations for animated signs include brightness, dwell time, transitions, speed, borders, and clarity.
4. Temporary sign violations have been prevalent throughout the City; violations vary from failure to obtain permits, length of display, type, location, amount and size of signs. The amendments address these issues, and provide more clarity.
5. The Ordinance has limited provisions for removal of obsolete signs and sign frames.
ZONING COMMISSION ACTION:
The Zoning Commission found that the request met the Findings of Fact requirements and VOTED 5 TO 0 TO APPROVE, with direction to develop more appropriate and usable brightness criteria.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS (expressed at the Zoning Commission Meeting): None at the meeting; adjustments to proposed dwell time reflect subsequent input received after a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, subsequent input was received from a Commissioner related to brightness.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Additional animation will be permitted on signage, temporary signs regulations will be simplified; and removal of obsolete signs will be clarified to include the sign structure with the removal.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The sign Ordinance will not be changed.
ALTERNATIVES: None
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
2. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
3. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Grow employers and jobs.
2. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development