HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 2019-16_DISCOVERY CUBELS 5.13.19
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-16
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING REGIONAL
PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM NO. 2018-01 AS
CONDITIONED FOR THE DISCOVERY CUBE OF
ORANGE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds,
determines and declares as follows:
A. Kellee Preston, representing the Discovery Science Center, dba Discovery
Cube of Orange County ("Applicant') is requesting approval of Regional
Planned Sign Program No. 2018-01 as conditioned to allow the
construction of a variety of temporary and permanent wall and digital signs
at the existing Discovery Cube of Orange County ("Cube") development
located at 2500 South Main Street, which is a 'regional attraction" per
Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-885 (a)(3). The proposed regional
planned sign program will contain a variety of signage types that will be
installed throughout the site and on the buildings.
B. Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-885 requires a regional planned
sign program to be approved by the Planning Commission.
C. The Discovery Cube of Orange County is eligible for a regional planned
sign program as it is a regional attraction that does not abut property
zoned or used for residential uses.
D. On May 13, 2019, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public
hearing regarding Regional Planned Sign Program No. 2018-01.
E. The Planning Commission determines that the following findings, which
must be established in order to grant this Regional Planned Sign Program
pursuant to Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-885, have been
established for Regional Planned Sign Program No. 2018-01 to allow for
the variety of temporary and permanent wall and digital sign at the existing
regional science center:
1. The scale and intensity of the proposed signage is consistent and
harmonious with surrounding land uses and does not create
conditions that could contribute to visual or physical blight intrusion
or similar incompatibilities.
The proposed signage is designed to be consistent and
harmonious with the surrounding land uses and will not 3
contribute to visual or physical blight. The location and
height of the signs are needed due to the orientation of the
site toward the Santa Ana (1-5) Freeway. The freeways'
development, with a combination of at -grade and below -
grade configurations, limits visibility to the Cube. Additional
building signage opportunities will maximize view of the site
for pedestrians and cyclists on City streets and motorists on
the freeway. Further, signage will be oriented toward traffic
on the freeways, streets, and on -site travel lanes, which will
minimize impacts on adjacent uses. The digital sign
currently exists and will not be modified as part of this
proposal. In the past, the Cube has on numerous occasions
installed signage such as numerous rooftop inflatables on
the building, leading to visual blight. As part of this program,
rooftop inflatables and other signage not identified in this
program will be prohibited, with the exception of the
Bubblefest inflatable that will be installed for a three-week
period during spring break each year.
2. The location of the proposed signage will not contribute towards a
hazardous environment for pedestrians, cyclists or motorists on
City streets or freeways.
The proposed signs will be located on private property that is
adjacent to the Santa Ana (1-5) Freeway as well as a major
local arterial street (Main Street). The signs are designed to
be in scale with the surrounding streetscape, which will
minimize the potential for creating a hazardous environment
for pedestrians, cyclists or motorists travelling in the
immediate vicinity. Further, the new signs will not utilize
illumination, which will minimize impacts to the surrounding
uses.
3. The proposed signage is compatible with the scale, intensity, and
site development characteristics on which it is proposed, which may
be determined by height of existing or proposed buildings on -site;
the quantity of freestanding buildings, facades, and street
frontages; scale of buildings as they relate to pedestrian and
vehicular access surrounding land uses and transportation
corridors; visibility from streets, highways, pedestrian areas, rail
corridors bikeways other transportation routes, parks, and other
public spaces; architecture color(s), material(s), illumination, and
other site characteristics; the nature of business activities
conducted on -site; and, visibility from any property used or zoned
for residential purposes.
The proposed signage will be compatible with the scale and
site development characteristics on which they are proposed
as the signs will be placed in strategic locations intended to
maximize visibility. Further, the signs will be installed on
large building walls up to three stories in height, ensuring the
signs are in scale and compatible with the structure that they
will be mounted on. The signs will also be visible from local
streets and a freeway whose viewships are limited by
overcrossings, significantly wide rights -of -way, and below -
grade configurations. Further, the proposed signage is an
appropriate level of signage for a regional attraction such as
the Cube. Finally, the proposed signs will be architecturally
compatible with one another and with the building found at
the Cube.
Section 2. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and
the CEQA Guidelines, the proposed project is exempt from further review pursuant to
Section 15311. Section 15311 applies to structures accessory to a commercial use, with
the proposed on -premises signs serving as minor structures that are accessory to the
primary regional center use. The proposed signs are new elements that have been found
by the City's development review agencies to not create any adverse impacts. The signs
are proposed to be located on a site that is not designated by federal, state, or local
agencies to be an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern. The
cumulative impact of this proposal will not be significant as the property is already served
by roads and utilities, and will not create any adverse impacts such as noise, traffic, or
safety concerns. There is no reasonable possibility that the proposal will have a significant
effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. The proposed signage is not
located within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway and will not result
in damage to scenic resources. The project is not located on a site which is included on
any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. Lastly, the
signage is not on a site that is considered a historical resource or that is listed in the Santa
Ana Register of Historic Properties. As a result, Categorical Exemption Environmental
Review No. 2019-33 will be filed for this project.
Section 3. The Applicant agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the
City of Santa Ana, its officials, officers, agents, and employees, from any and all liability,
claims, actions or proceedings that may be brought arising out of its approval of this
project, and any approvals associated with the project, including without limitation, any
environmental review or approval, except to the extent caused by the sole negligence of
the City of Santa Ana.
Section 4. The Planning Commission of the City of Santa Ana after conducting
the public hearing hereby approves Regional Planned Sign Program No. 2018-01 as
conditioned in Exhibit A and in the locations as set forth in Exhibit B, attached hereto
and incorporated herein by this reference. This decision is based upon the evidence
submitted at the abovesaid hearing, which includes but is not limited to: the Request for
Planning Commission Action dated May 13, 2019 and exhibits attached thereto; and the
written or public testimony, all of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
ADOPTED this 13th day of May 2019 by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioners: Benavides, Cano, Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin,
Nguyen, Rivera (6)
NOES: Commissioners: None (0)
ABSENT: Commissioners: None (0)
ABSTENTIONS: Commissioners: Alderete (1)
4Mark G McLoughlin
Chairperson
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By: %%/ r--l. ,
Lisa Storck
Assistant City Attorney
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, SARAH BERNAL, Recording Secretary, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2019-16 to be the original resolution adopted by the Planning
Commission of the City of Santa Ana on May 13, 2019.
Date: '�) I �) Iq e4vtv '8-el�
Recording Secretary
City of Santa Ana
i
t
EXHIBIT A
Conditions for Approval of Regional Planned Sign Program No. 2018-01
Conditions for Approval
Regional Planned Sign Program No. 2018-01 is approved subject to compliance, to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Planning Manager, with all applicable sections of the Santa
Ana Municipal Code, the California Administrative Code, the California Building Standards
Code and all other applicable regulations.
The Applicant must comply in full with each and every condition listed below prior to
exercising the rights conferred by this sign program.
The Applicant must remain in compliance with all conditions listed below throughout the
life of the sign program. Failure to comply with each and every condition may result in the
revocation of the sign program.
A. Planning Division
1. All signs not identified within this sign program shall be prohibited. The general
location of each approved sign is as set forth in Exhibit B, attached hereto and
incorporated herein.
2. The maximum size of the signs shall be limited to the square footage identified
as follows:
SIGN
NAME
DIMENSIONS
SIZE
TYPE
DISPLAY
NO.
1
Cube
64 by 64
4,096
Banner
Temporary
s.f.
2
Freeway*
59 by 30
1,770
Digital/Static
Permanent
s.f.
3
Exhibit
50 by 18
900 s.f.
Banner
Temporary
4
Bubblefest
86 by 20
1,720
Inflatable &
Temporary
inflatable & event
58 by 11
s.f.
banner
date banner
638 s.f.
5
Exhibit/Program
70by20
1,400
Banner
Temporary
s.f.
6
Exhibit/Program
15 by 15
225 s.f.
Banner
Temporary
7
1 Project Name
50 by 8
400 s.f.
Channel wall
Permanent
3. The property owner shall comply with Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-
638.2 pertaining to graffiti abatement.
4. All signage shall comply with all federal, state and local laws, regulations and i
permitting requirements. 4
5. The electronic reader board sign shall incorporate "City of Santa Ana", "Santa
Ana" or the City logo into its electronic messaging. Further, the Project Name
signage (Sign No. 7) shall incorporate "Santa Ana" into the permanent signage.
6. The Cube banner shall be devoted to advertising a special display or event
occurring on the premises.
7. Roof top inflatables shall be permitted for a maximum of four months on the
premises, subject to City review and approval.
8. Illumination shall be prohibited on all temporary (banner and inflatable) signage.
9. Signage for public service announcements (PSA) shall be made available at the
request of the City. Any PSA sign to be installed shall be at the sole expense of
the City.
10.Any amendment to the regional planned sign program must be submitted to the
Planning Division for review. At that time, staff will determine if such amendment
is minor (such as a reduction in sign size) so that administrative relief is available
or if the approved sign program must be amended.
*:cu Sri 3
Overhead Site Plan depicting locations of Signage
Discovery Cube Orange County I Building Signage Program I Over -head Site Plan I April 2019
1
64x64'
Cube Barmer
Static
2
59'x30'
freeway Sign
Digital/Static
3
SY x 18'
Exhibition Banner
Static
4
56'x28'
Inflatable
Static
5
70'x20
Core Initiatives Banner
Static
6
15'x15'
Ticket Office Banner
Static
7
50' x B'
Bu4ding Name
Static
DiscoveryCub