Laserfiche WebLink
Variance No. 2010-01 <br /> February 8, 2010 <br /> Page 2 <br /> The proposed sign will be mounted along the western elevation which is visible from the Santa Ana (I- <br /> 5) Freeway. Two existing signs are currently located along the west building elevation. <br /> Analysis of the Issues <br /> Section 41-863 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) regulates exterior wall signs. Section <br /> 41-863(a) requires signs to be located on an exterior wall of the leasable tenant space. <br /> Additionally, Section 41-863(d)(1) states that no wall signs shall be placed higher than 20 feet. <br /> Currently, JCPenney has three individual channel letter signs on the elevations of their retail <br /> space. JCPenney is proposing to install an additions! sign along the west elevation which faces <br /> the southern parking lots and the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway. This proposed sign is located outside <br /> of their lease area and along a wall section near the food court entrance. The sign will be located <br /> between two similar existing wall signs that advertise other major mall tenants (Nordstrom and <br /> Picture Show). The new wall sign will be installed near the top of the building wall at approximately <br /> 55 feet in height from the ground. Per the zoning code, the maximum allowed height for the wall <br /> sign for this installation is 20 feet. <br /> JCPenney is a large anchor tenant at the Westfield MainPlace Shopping Mall and occupies <br /> approximately 143,000 square feet of floor area. As the store is located along the northern portion of <br /> the site, the existing signage is not visible from the western section of Main Place Drive and the Santa <br /> Ana (I-5) Freeway because of the location of two existing on-site parking structures. Additionally, the <br /> Westfield MainPlace Shopping Mall is a large site and the buildings themselves are setback a large <br /> distance from the streets and freeway. The new JCPenney wall sign will advertise the store's <br /> presence at the Westfield MainPlace Shopping Mall and will help the tenant minimize the site and <br /> parking structure impacts on their existing signs. <br /> The existing mall is two stories in height, with the anchor stores at three stories. Although the sign is <br /> proposed at 55 feet from the ground, it is located on the two story portion of the mall. The sign will <br /> match the height, size, and color of two existing signs that are currently attached on the same wall <br /> section. The proposed location does not immediately face any additional commercial or residential <br /> properties and staff does not foresee any impacts to the surrounding properties. The sign will face <br /> the parking lot and will not be a distraction to drivers circulating through the mall. Additionally, the <br /> sign will be visible to drivers along the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway but will not impact the freeway <br /> because it will be an internally illuminated sign and will blend with the adjacent signage. <br /> In summary, JCPenney is an anchor tenant that occupies a significant amount of square footage <br /> within the mall. The existing signage for JCPenney is not viewable from the southern portion of the <br /> mall and the additional sign will provide JCPenney with a stronger presence along the south and west <br /> <br /> elevations. Although the sign will be visible from the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway, the interior location <br /> 31 B-4 <br /> <br />