HomeMy WebLinkAbout90-03 - Special Event Signing, Planned Signing Programs, and Minor Variance ProceduresAN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 5 OF
THE COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING SIGN
REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO SPECIAL EVENT
SIGNING, PLANNED SIGNING PROGRAMS, AND MINOR
VARIANCE PROCEDURES; AND AMENDING TITLE 13
REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENTS,
Section 1. Findings
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA FINDS AND DECLARES
AS FOLLOWS:
1. The intent of the Sign Code is to promote commerce and
traffic safety while improving the quality of the visual
environment and making every business more findable;
2. This intent can be better achieved by allowing wider use
of Planned Signing Programs through Minor Conditional Use
Permits, by providing more flexibility with special event
signing and average letter height and by changing minor
sign Variances to Administrative Adjustments.
ACCORDINGLY, the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa amends
Title 5 and Title 13 of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code as follows:
Section 2.
A. Planned Signing Programs
Amend Section 5-122(a):
"General. In accordance with the provisions herein, signs may
be authorized as part of a Planned Signing Program
notwithstanding that such signs do not conform to all specific
regulations applicable in general to ground signs, wall signs,
and other signs pursuant to this article. A Planned Signing
Program is a voluntary, optional alternative to the general
sign regulations, except in C1 -S zones where it is required.
A Planned Signing Program is intended to encourage the maximum
incentive and latitude in order to achieve variety and good
design, but shall not be used to circumvent the objectives of
this article.'-
B.
rticle."
B. Administrative Adjustments
Amend Section 5-119 and place in alphabetical order:
"Administrative Adjustment shall mean a deviation in sign
area, height, setbacks, separation, or other specifications,
not to exceed fifteen (15) percent of said specification."
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Amend Section 5-127:
"Variances and Administrative Adjustments.
(a) Intent of Variance and Administrative Adjustment
provision. Variance or Administrative Adjustment from
the terms of the Sign Code shall be granted only when,
because of special circumstances applicable to the
property, including size, shape, topography, location or
surroundings, the strict application of the ordinance
deprives such property privileges enjoyed by other
property in the vicinity, and under identical zoning
classification and other restrictions.
(b) Authority of Planning Commission and Zoning
Administrator. The Planning Commission and the Zoning
Administrator shall have the authority to grant Variances
and Administrative Adjustments from the strict
application of the rules, regulations and provisions of
this article as follows:
(1) Jurisdiction. Before the Planning Commission or
Zoning Administrator shall have jurisdiction to
grant a Variance or Administrative Adjustment, the
applicant must show that due to the peculiar shape,
size, location, or topography of the property, there
are special conditions involved which would make the
literal enforcement of the regulations of the
article result in practical difficulties which are
unnecessary for the purpose of this article and
would deprive the subject property of privileges
enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity in the
same zoning district classification, and under the
same sign ordinance restriction.
(2) Limitations. Any Variance or Administrative
Adjustment which is granted shall be subject to such
conditions as will assure that the adjustment
thereby authorized shall not constitute a grant of
special privilege inconsistent with the limitations
on other properties in the vicinity in the same
zoning district and under the same ordinance
restriction in which the subject property is
located.
(3) Minimum adjustment. In granting any Variance or
Administrative Adjustment under the provisions of
this section, the amount of adjustment granted shall
be the minimum necessary to equalize the property
rights. Conditions and safeguards shall be
prescribed in connection as are necessary to protect
the purpose and intent of this article, the General
Plan of the City, and the general welfare of the
community.
(4) Public welfare. The granting of any variance or
Administrative Adjustment shall not be materially
detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to
property improvements in the vicinity. The Planning
Commission and/or Zoning Administrator shall ensure
that the variance or Administrative Adjustment will
be compatible with the purpose and intent of this
article and not injurious to the public health,
safety, and general welfare.
(c) Administrative Adjustment powers. The Zoning
Administrator shall be authorized to approve, after
making the necessary determination in writing,
Administrative Adjustments as defined in Section 5-119,
from the terms of this article."
Add to Section 13-309 (4):
"(g) A deviation in sign area, height, setbacks, separation,
or other specifications, not to exceed fifteen (15)
percent of said specification."
C. Special Event Sicnin
Add to Section 5-119 (Definitions) in alphabetical order:
"Balloon shall mean any inflatable object including, but not
limited to, plastic, cloth, or canvas, with or without copy
or in the shape of any object.
Amend Section 5-121(b)(4) (Prohibited Signs):
"Flags, banners, pennants, and balloons larger than 24" in
diameter, except as authorized in Section 5-121(d)."
Add Section 5-121(c)(6) (Exempted Signs):
(6) Any balloon which does not exceed 24" in diameter
provided that such balloons may not extend beyond any
property line or over any public right-of-way regardless
of wind conditions and that such balloons are properly
disposed at the end of the display.
Amend Section 5-121(d) (Special Event Signing):
(1) "General. Flags, banners, pennants of any size, and
balloons in excess of 24" in diameter may be approved for
a limited period of time as a means of advertising.
(2) "Approval period. Approval for special event signing
shall not exceed fourteen (14) days per calendar
quarter."
Add Section 5-121(d)(4) (Special Event Signing):
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(4) "Additional restrictions. All balloons must be securely
anchored and not released into the air. Metallic
balloons are prohibited."
D. Letter Height
Amend Section 5-123(c):
"Letter height. The letter height for all signs shall be
limited as specified in Table 2. However, letter heights may
be averaged provided that no individual letter may exceed the
limits set forth in Table 2 by more than fifty (50) percent
and that the average letter height within each word may not
exceed the limits set forth in Table 2.
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 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 of the members of the City Council voting for and against
the same.
If
PASSED AND ADOPTED this all day of 1996.
ATTEST:
-
City C] rk of the City of Mayor of the Ci y Costa Mesa
Costa ]h sa
AP ROA TO FORM:
City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss.
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, EILEEN P. PHINNEY, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the
City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the
above and foregoing Ordinance No. F0 -0 3 was introduced and
considered section by ser ion at a rggular meeting of said City
Council held on the 14 day of Yher..dRti 19_10, and
thereafter passed and adopted as a whole at a regular meeting of
said Council held on the :21At day of 1 1920, by
the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: „ d �, . L ,1 C'.JW'_V+S�-��
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: _ % ,y /q 0 0
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: -h
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the
Seal of the City of Costa Mesa this aoz ^^S day of
Cit Clerk and ex -officio Cl4kk
of the City Council of the City
of Costa Mesa
T.- i
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