HomeMy WebLinkAbout81-19 Regulating the Placement of Signs Within the City of Costa MesaORDINANCE NO. 81- 19
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, REGULATING THE PLACEMENT
OF SIGNS WITHIN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1:
1. That there are portions of the Sign Ordinance.which are ambiguous and
difficult to enforce;
2. That there are minor revisions to the Sign Ordinance which, if made, would
allow the Ordinance to be more fairly and efficiently enforced;
3. That traffic volumes on several streets have increased in relationship to
Harbor Boulevard traffic both absolutely and relatively since 1974 when the original
Ordinance was written;
4. That the Master Plan of Highways will guarantee longer term workability of
the Sign Ordinance than the annual traffic counts;
5. That the regulation of signs as to height, area, location, and copy is
necessary to promote commerce, traffic safety, and community identity while improving
the quality of the visual environment.
ACCORDINGLY, The City Council of the City of Costa Mesa herewith amends the
Costa Mesa Municipal Code as hereinafter set forth:
SECTION 2:
1. Amend Section 5-119(20) to read:" "Minor variance shall mean a -deviation in
sign area, height, setbacks, separation, or other Sign Code specifications not to exceed
twenty-five percent (25%) of said specification.
2. Add Section 5-119(38) as follows: "Portable Sign shall mean any sign which can
be moved from place -to -place which is not permanently affixed to the ground or to a
building. The term portable sign includes any sign affixed to an automobile, truck,
trailer, or other vehicle where such sign solicits patronage to a specific business
by means of parking such a vehicle primarily for the purpose of advertising such busi-
ness. The term portable signs shall also include a sign posted in or on a vehicle
parked on public or private property without written consent of the property owner,
advertising that vehicle for sale."
3. Amend Section 5-120(C)(3) to read as follows: "No site with nonconforming
signing may be authorized additional signing which makes the total signing for the
site less conforming. When a site has nonconforming signing, additional signing may
be authorized which replaces nonconforming signing with signs that comply with the
provisions of this article or does not cause total signage for the site and activity
to exceed the permitted square footage or items of information. In all cases, the
amortization schedule for the nonconforming sign must be established prior to authoriza-
tion of any additional signing."
4. Amend Table 2 in Section 5-123(B) to read as follows:
*As per Master Plan of Highways.
5. Revoke Table 3 of Section 5-123(C).
6. Amend Section 5-123(J)(1) to read: "Each activity is authorized one or more
wall signs per building front which abuts a public street or parking area (forty-five
(45) foot minimum width) onto which the activity has direct access. Letter height
shall not exceed limits listed by Section 5-123 (Table 2).
7. Amend Section 5-123(J)(4) to read: "Letter Height: See Section 5-123, Table 2."
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TABLE 2
Sign
District Specifications
Type of
Ground Sign
Ground Sign
Letter Height
District Highway*
Height(ft.)
Area (sq.ft.)
(inches)
1
Freeway,'Major,
25
120
28
Primary
2
Secondary
20
60
20
3
Others
7
15
14
*As per Master Plan of Highways.
5. Revoke Table 3 of Section 5-123(C).
6. Amend Section 5-123(J)(1) to read: "Each activity is authorized one or more
wall signs per building front which abuts a public street or parking area (forty-five
(45) foot minimum width) onto which the activity has direct access. Letter height
shall not exceed limits listed by Section 5-123 (Table 2).
7. Amend Section 5-123(J)(4) to read: "Letter Height: See Section 5-123, Table 2."
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8. Amend Section 5-123(x) to read: "Canopy Signs.
(1) Area: Section 5-123, Table 2.
(2) Letter Height: Section 5-123, Table 2.
(3) Minimum Ground Clearance: Eight (8) ft.
(4) Only single -face canopy signs shall be allowed. Copy must be parallel to
the street being addressed."
9. Delete Section 5-123(M).
10. Amend Section 5-127(c) to read: "Minor Variance Powers: The Director of
Development Services shall be authorized to approve, after making the necessary
determination in writing, minor variances as defined in Section 5-119(20), from the
terms of this article. This provision shall apply only to legally placed signs made
nonconforming by the adoption of this article."
11. Add Section 5-123(G)(6) as follows: "Each ground sign shall incorporate the
street address of the site in numerals twelve inches in height."
12. Amend Section 5-124(g) to read: "(g) Copy Restrictions. Signs may display
only the name and logo of the complex or site occupant. Each ground sign shall
incorporate the street address of the site in numerals 12 inches in height."
SECTION 3. 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 Ordi-
nance 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 Ordi-
nance 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 of the members of the
City Council voting for and against the same.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 1981.
ATTEST:
y Clerk of the City of Cor sa
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE
CITY OF COSTA MESA
I, EILEEN P.
Council of the City of
Ordinance No. 9/-/
regular meeting of said
1981, and thereafter
Pday
Council held on the
call vote:
ss.
AA 0 L
Ma of e City o Costa Mesa
APPROVED AS TO FORM
City Attorne
PHID7NEY, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City
Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing
was introduced and considered section b section t a
City Council held on the day of ,
and ad as a ole at a regular meeting of said
of , 1981, by the following roll
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have ereby my hand nd affixed the Seal
of the City of'Costa Mesa this day of _ X1981.
CiUy- Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of e
City Council of the City of Costa&esa