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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 06 13 Regular Item 504, updates to The town Center Signage Code CITY COMMISSION June 13, 2005 Meeting x ITEM 504 REQUEST: The Community Development Department requests direction from the City Commission regarding updates to the Town Center Signage Code. PURPOSE: Applications for signage within the Town Center are not drawing upon the creativity allowed for and encouraged by the Town Center Code. Some applicants that would be interested in pursuing more creative signage are dissuaded by the current Code. APPLICABLE LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY: Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element- Policy 5.2.9 Sign age. City of Winter Springs Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-327. Architectural guidelines. (f) Sign age CONSIDERATIONS: Two years ago, the Community Development Department prepared Visuals for the purpose of better illustrating design concepts contained in the Town Center Signage Code. The Commission responded favorably and directed these to be included in a future update to the Code. In January (2005) the Commission adopted new Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Element language for the Urban Central Business District, which requires creativity in slgnage: Policy 5.2.9: Sign age. Commercial shop front sign age shall include a variety of creative signage types (including projecting signage and fin signs) and may include the use of exposed neon for building fac;ade signage as set forth in the Town Center District Code. Directional (wayfinding) signage shall be utilized to direct pedestrians to businesses and streets. The current Town Center Code does not address some aspects of signage encouraged in the new language. Those that would be interested in pursuing more creative signage are dissuaded by the Code. @) June 13, 2005 Regular Agenda Item 504 For example, Dover-Kohl has indicated that Fin Signs are appropriate in character for the Town Center, but that their size is not permitted by right within the Code, as they exceed the maximum 10 square feet allowed for a projecting sign. According to Dover-Kohl, Fin Signs are intended to be approved on a case by case basis by the DRC. However, given the language which stipulating a maximum size, an applicant would be required to get a special exception. This additional process, expense, and time delay is at odds with our Comprehensive Plan language. Staff has prepared a draft revision to the Code to address these concerns. Staff requests direction from the Commission related to these revisions. Text additions are underlined: Sec. 20-327. Architectural guidelines. (f) Signs: (1) General requirements. . All signs shall be subject to a discretionary aesthetic appropriateness review by the DRC in order that signs are consistent and in harmony with the Winter Springs Town Center. The DRC shall use graphics in this section as nonbinding guidelines, but shall make a determination of appropriateness on a case by case basis. . Signs shall be flat against the facade, mounted projecting from the facade, or mounted above the top of the facade.. Free standing monument signs are permitted by special exception along State Road 434 frontage. Accessory signs temporarily placed on the sidewalk in front of a business during business hours (known as menu board signs. see (3) below) are permitted and encouraged for eating and drinking establishments and light retail users. Wayfinding signage is encouraged. but must maintain uniform design standards. as adopted by the DRC for the Town Center. . Signs shall be externally lit. Individual letters and symbols may be internally lit or back- lit. (2) Finish materials · Wood: painted or natural · Metal: copper, brass, galvanized steel · Painted canvas · Neon . Paint/engraved directly on facade surface (3) Configurations. . Maximum gross area of signs on a given facade shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the applicant's facade area. . Maximum area of any single sign mounted perpendicular to a given facade shall not exceed 10 square feet, except for FIN signs (see below). All proiecting signs shall be installed in such a manner that there shall be no visible angle iron support structure above a roof. building face or wall. Brackets that are incorporated into the signage as decorative elements of the signage are exempt. . Signs shall maintain a minimum clear height above sidewalks of eight (8) feet. . All signs shall be designed to be compatible with the storefront in scale. proportion. and color and should be visually interesting. . MARQUEE signs shall be mounted substantially parallel with the face of the canopy or marquee but shall not be located in such a way as to cause the minimum clearances stated June 13, 2005 Regular Agenda Item 504 in Section 20-326 to be reduced.. In addition. marquee signs shall not extend more than two (2) feet above the canopy or marquee to which it is attached. . MENU BOARD signs are accessory signs which display information about the commodities of the adiacent business. One Menu Board sign shall be allowed per street address for eating and drinking establishments or light retail uses. Menu Board signs shall be utilized only during regular business hours and shall be removed during non- business hours. Menu Boards may be placed on private property or within the public right-of-way. provided they do not interfere with vehicle access. pedestrian movement, or wheel chair access to. through. and around the site. At least 6 feet of clear sidewalk width must remain for pedestrian traffic. The total sign area per face shall not exceed six (6) square feet. Maximum height shall be four and one-half (4 1/2) feet. . FIN signs are vertically oriented proiecting signs. that are uniquely situated and customized for high visibility. Fin signs shall not exceed twenty-eight (28) feet in height above the ground and shall be placed at least 12 feet above the public sidewalk. Fin signs shall be between fifteen (15) square feet and twenty-five (25) square feet in area. but shall not extend more than five (5) feet from the building wall. Example photographs of these signage types will be displayed for viewed at the meeting. FINDINGS: The current Town Center Code does not address some aspects of signage encouraged in the Comprehensive Plan. Those that would be interested in pursuing more creative sign age are dissuaded by the existing Code. RECOMMENDATION: The Community Development Department requests direction from the City Commission regarding updates to the Town Center Signage Code. ATTACHMENTS: Minutes of March 24,2003 COMMISSION ACTION: June 13, 2005 Regular Agenda Item 504 CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MARCH 24, 2003 INFORMATIONAL 12. C. Community Development Department Wishes To Provide The Commission With Copies Of Visuals Prepared To Illustrate Good Examples Of Signage And Good Examples Of Window Treatments Which Are Allowed Within The Town Center Code. Deputy Mayor Robert S. Miller noted, "I think this will probably take care of our questions about what is acceptable, not acceptable in the Town Center signage area from here on out - a first class document. Congratulations." Mayor Bush added, "I also thought it was very good." Commissioner Blake stated, "Some of the items that are in this document are not part of our Town Center Code. Would it be appropriate for us to revisit this on another Agenda Item and perhaps update the Code if we so desire, that would include this document?" Commissioner Blake added, "I think it would be good if we do revisit this and perhaps consider updating the Code. 1 would like to hear your opinion on that at a later date." Attorney Garganese added, "I am in the process of doing an update to the Town Center Code - if the Commission would like to see that, now would be the time to speak up and I'll just roll it into the Ordinance that 1 am preparing." Mayor Bush then asked the City Commission, "Commissioner Blake's recommendation - are you all in agreement with this? Does anybody disagree? It looks like we have consensus." Attorney Garganese then said, "1'11 roll it in."