HomeMy WebLinkAbout07. PH-1 - CODE AMENDMENT CO-16-04B, SIGN REGULATIONSCITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: JANUARY 2, 2018 ITEM NUMBER: PH-1
SUBJECT: CODE AMENDMENT CO-16-04B – AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES 2 AND 3 (SIGN
REGULATIONS) OF CHAPTER VIII (SIGNS) OF TITLE 13 (PLANNING, ZONING AND
DEVELOPMENT) OF THE COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING NON-
COMMERCIAL BANNERS
DATE: DECEMBER 21, 2017
FROM: PLANNING DIVISION/DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION BY: WILLA BOUWENS-KILLEEN/ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: WILLA BOUWENS-KILLEEN, AICP (714) 754-5153
willa.bouwens-killeen@costamesaca.gov
RECOMMENDATION
Give first reading to Ordinance No. 18-xx, to be read by title only, adopting Zoning Code
Amendment CO-16-04B to amend Articles 2 (General Provisions) and 3 (Sign Regulations)
of Chapter VIII (Signs) of Title 13 (Planning, Zoning and Development) of the Costa Mesa
Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND
On April 10, 2017, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended first
reading of an ordinance to modify the Zoning Code to add provisions for non-commercial
banners. The proposed Code amendment would create new definitions to distinguish
between commercial and non-commercial banners due to the United States Supreme Court’s
recent decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 135 S. Ct. 2218 (2015), wherein the Court
invalidated the sign code enacted by the Town of Gilbert, Arizona, concluding that the sign
code’s distinctions among different types of signs were content-based restrictions that were
unconstitutional.
Last year, the City Council adopted a new sign code ordinance consistent with the Town
of Gilbert decision. However, additional minor revisions were requested at the time, which
are now being brought back to the City Council.
Links to the staff report prepared for the April 10, 2017 Planning Commission meeting as
well as the minutes of the meeting are provided below:
Staff report:
http://www.costamesaca.gov/ftp/planningcommission/agenda/2017/2017-04-10/PH-2.pdf
Minutes:
http://www.costamesaca.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=26065
ANALYSIS
New Definitions for Non-commercial Banners
When processing Code amendments to reflect non-commercial portable signs, it became
apparent that the Code was silent on non-commercial banner signs. The proposed
modification would add a definition for non-commercial banners, and would also add an
allowable area for banners in single-family zones as well as other development standards.
To allow for consistency, the proposed standards (how they can be attached, required
maintenance of the banner, etc.) are similar to those adopted for commercial banners.
PUBLIC NOTICE
As required by the Code, an advertisement was published in the Daily Pilot relating to the
proposed amendments. At the time of preparation of this report, no public comments have
been received. Any correspondence received will be forwarded to the City Council under
separate cover.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The project has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), the CEQA Guidelines, and the City’s environmental procedures, and has been found
to be exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule), in that it can
be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed amendments to the Zoning
Code will have a significant effect on the environment. Further, the amendments to Title 13,
Chapter V, Article 1 involve the new construction or conversion of small structures and are
therefore exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(e).
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the draft ordinances and approved them as to form.
CONCLUSION
Adoption of the ordinance adds regulations relating to non-commercial banners where none
exist at this time.
WILLA BOUWENS-KILLEEN, AICP BARRY CURTIS, AICP
Zoning Administrator Economic and Development Services
Department Director
Attachments: 1. Draft Ordinances – red line and clean copy
ORDINANCE NO. 18-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING ZONING CODE AMENDMENT CO-16-
04B TO AMEND ARTICLES 2 (GENERAL PROVISIONS) AND 3
(SIGN REGULATIONS) OF CHAPTER VIII (SIGNS) OF TITLE 13
(PLANNING, ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT) OF THE COSTA
MESA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING NON-COMMERCIAL
BANNERS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: FINDINGS
The City Council finds as follows:
WHEREAS, Code Amendment CO 16-04B would amend Chapter VIII of Title 13 to
provide a distinction between banners and non-commercial banners.
WHEREAS, the Ordinance is intended to treat all banners and non-commercial
banners in an equal manner, regardless of the content of such signs.
WHEREAS, the regulations established by this Ordinance do not impermissibly
infringe upon speech as there are multiple alternate methods via which the public may
communicate including via signs placed on private property in a manner consistent with
applicable law.
SECTION 2: Title 13, Chapter VIII, Article 2, Section 13-111 (Definitions) is hereby
amended to add the following:
Non-commercial banner, flag, or pennant. Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or
similar material which is not used for advertising purposes on private property and
not within the public right-of-way. Examples of non-commercial banners generally
include, but are not limited to, signs that espouse a political or religious viewpoint,
and signs commenting on public official(s) or matter(s) of public discourse.
SECTION 3: Title 13, Chapter VIII, Article 3, Table 13-115 (Sign Regulations Permanent
Signs) of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code is hereby amended to add the following:
SINGLE-
FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
ZONES
MULTIPLE-
FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
ZONES
COMMERCIAL
ZONES
INDUSTRIAL
ZONES
INSTITUTIONAL
ZONES
NON-COMMERCIAL
BANNERS ON
PRIVATE
ATTACHMENT 1
PROPERTY (Permit
required.)
MAXIMUM AREA 20 sq. ft.
0.5 sq.ft. per
unit.
Maximum area:
100 sq. ft. per
site.
0.5 sq ft. per lineal foot of building frontage
facing the street.
Minimum entitlement: 25 sq. ft. per tenant.
Maximum area: 75 sq. ft. per tenant.
TIME LIMITS
A maximum display time of 60 days per calendar year.
Exception: For residential developments of 100 units or more, a maximum
display time of 120 days per calendar year.
DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS
1. The entire surface of the banner must be securely affixed to either a building
wall of the residence or business (the building wall must abut a public street or
on-site parking area serving the residence or business), or to the sign face of a
freestanding sign.
2. May not be attached to any staff, pole, line, framing, vehicle, or similar
support.
3. May not project above roof.
4. Must be maintained in good condition; removed or replaced if torn, faded, or
dirty.
5. Limit one banner per tenant or building occupant on each street frontage
maximum.
SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION. The project has been reviewed for
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the CEQA guidelines, and
the City’s environmental procedures, and has been found to be exempt pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule), in that the City Council hereby finds that it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this Ordinance will have a significant
effect on the environment as this regulation affects only temporary signage, the revisions
caused by the Ordinance are technical, rather than substantive, in nature, and this Ordinance
authorizes that which is, for practical purposes, nearly the baseline condition.
SECTION 5: INCONSISTENCIES. Any provision of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code or
appendices thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to the extent necessary to
affect the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 6: SEVERABILITY. If any provision or clause of this Ordinance or the
application thereof to any person or circumstances is held to be unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other
provisions or clauses or applications of this Ordinance which can be implemented without
the invalid provision, clause or application; and to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance
are declared to be severable.
SECTION 7: PUBLICATION. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force thirty (30)
days from and after the passage thereof, and prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days from
its passage shall be published once in the ORANGE COAST DAILY PILOT, a newspaper of
general circulation, printed and published in the City of Costa Mesa or, in the alternative, the
City Clerk may cause to be published a summary of this Ordinance and a certified copy of the
text of this Ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk five (5) days prior to the
date of adoption of this Ordinance, and within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk
shall cause to be published the aforementioned summary and shall post in the office of the
City Clerk a certified copy of this Ordinance together with the names and member of the City
Council voting for and against the same.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ______ day of _______________ 2018.
__________________________
Sandra L. Genis, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
Brenda Green, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
Thomas Duarte, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby certify that the
foregoing ordinance was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at
a regular meeting held on the ___ day of __________, 2018, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of
Costa Mesa this _____ day of __________, 2018.
_________________________________
BRENDA GREEN, CITY CLERK
(SEAL)
ORDINANCE NO. 18-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING ZONING CODE AMENDMENT CO-16-
04 TO AMEND ARTICLES 2 (GENERAL PROVISIONS) AND 3
(SIGN REGULATIONS) OF CHAPTER VIII (SIGNS) OF TITLE 13
(PLANNING, ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT) OF THE COSTA
MESA MUNICIPAL CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: FINDINGS
The City Council finds as follows:
WHEREAS, Code Amendment CO-16-04B would amend Chapter VIII of Title 13 to
provide a distinction between banners and non-commercial banners.
WHEREAS, the Ordinance is intended to treat all banners and non-commercial
banners in an equal manner, regardless of the content of such signs.
WHEREAS, the regulations established by this Ordinance do not impermissibly
infringe upon speech as there are multiple alternate methods via which the public may
communicate including via signs placed on private property in a manner consistent with
applicable law.
SECTION 2: Title 13, Chapter VIII, Article 2, Section 13-111 (Definitions) is hereby
amended to add the following:
Non-commercial banner, flags, or pennants. Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or
similar material which is not used for advertising purposes on private property and
not within the public right-of-way. Examples of non-commercial banners generally
include, but are not limited to, signs that espouse a political or religious viewpoint,
and signs commenting on public official(s) or matter(s) of public discourse.
SECTION 3: Title 13, Chapter VIII, Article 3, Table 13-115 (Sign Regulations Permanent
Signs) of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code is hereby amended to add the following:
SINGLE-
FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
ZONES
MULTIPLE-
FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
ZONES
COMMERCIAL
ZONES
INDUSTRIAL
ZONES
INSTITUTIONAL
ZONES
NON-COMMERCIAL
BANNERS ON
PRIVATE
PROPERTY (Permit
required.)
MAXIMUM AREA 20 sq. ft.
0.5 sq.ft. per
unit.
Maximum area:
100 sq. ft. per
site.
0.5 sq ft. per lineal foot of building frontage
facing the street.
Minimum entitlement: 25 sq. ft. per tenant.
Maximum area: 75 sq. ft. per tenant.
TIME LIMITS
A maximum display time of 60 days per calendar year.
Exception: For residential developments of 100 units or more, a maximum
display time of 120 days per calendar year.
DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS
1. The entire surface of the banner must be securely affixed to either a building
wall of the residence or business (the building wall must abut a public street or
on-site parking area serving the residence or business), or to the sign face of a
freestanding sign.
2. May not be attached to any staff, pole, line, framing, vehicle, or similar
support.
3. May not project above roof.
4. Must be maintained in good condition; removed or replaced if torn, faded, or
dirty.
5. Limit one banner per tenant or building occupant on each street frontage
maximum.
SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION. The project has been reviewed for
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the CEQA guidelines, and
the City’s environmental procedures, and has been found to be exempt pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule), in that the City Council hereby finds that it
can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this Ordinance will have a significant
effect on the environment as this regulation affects only temporary signage, the revisions
caused by the Ordinance are technical, rather than substantive in nature, and this Ordinance
authorizes that which is, for practical purposes, nearly the baseline condition.
SECTION 5: INCONSISTENCIES. Any provision of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code or
appendices thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to the extent necessary to
affect the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 6: SEVERABILITY. If any provision or clause of this Ordinance or the
application thereof to any person or circumstances is held to be unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other
provisions or clauses or applications of this Ordinance which can be implemented without
the invalid provision, clause or application; and to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance
are declared to be severable.
SECTION 7: PUBLICATION. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force thirty (30)
days from and after the passage thereof, and prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days from
its passage shall be published once in the ORANGE COAST DAILY PILOT, a newspaper of
general circulation, printed and published in the City of Costa Mesa or, in the alternative, the
City Clerk may cause to be published a summary of this Ordinance and a certified copy of the
text of this Ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk five (5) days prior to the
date of adoption of this Ordinance, and within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk
shall cause to be published the aforementioned summary and shall post in the office of the
City Clerk a certified copy of this Ordinance together with the names and member of the City
Council voting for and against the same.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ______ day of _______________ 2018.
__________________________
Sandra L. Genis, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
Brenda Green, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
Thomas Duarte, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby certify that the
foregoing ordinance was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at
a regular meeting held on the ___ day of __________, 2018, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of
Costa Mesa this _____ day of __________, 2018.
_________________________________
BRENDA GREEN, CITY CLERK