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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNS-2117 - Amending Division 7 of Article XI of Chapter 41 of Santa Ana Municipal Code to Revise the Regulations Pertaining to On-Premise Commercial Advertising Signs and Displays in Downtown District 265 REL: 2/13/91 ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AMENDING DIVISION 7 OF ARTICLE XI OF CHAPTER 41 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE TO REVISE THE REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO ON-PREMISE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING SIGNS AND DISPLAYS IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: That Division 7 of Article XI of Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby repealed, and Article XI of Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new division, to be numbered 7, which said new Division 7 consists of sections 41-1020 through 41-1040 and reads a follows: DIVISION 7. DOWNTOWN DISTRICT SIGNS Sec. 41-1020. Application of division. The provisions of this division apply only to signs located in the downtown district. No person shall install or display any sign in the downtown district which does not comply with the standards set forth in this division, and no permit shall be issued for any such sign. Sec. 41-1021. General requirements and definitions. (a) A sign program shall be required as follows: (1) An approved sign program covering primary signs and secondary signs is required for all new buildings prior to the erection or instal- lation of any sign. (2) An approved sign program covering primary and secondary signs is required for all existing buildings when application is made for a new primary sign or replacement of an existing primary sign. (3) sign program applications shall be submitted in a manner prescribed by Article XI. 1 26 () ORDINANCE NO. NS-211 7 [ (4) subsequent to approval of a sign program, all new on-building signs shall be in conformance with the sign program. (b) The following definitions shall apply to Division 7 only: "Downtown district" means that area of the city of Santa Ana bounded by civic Center Drive on the north, French street of the east, First street on the south, and Ross street on the west. "primary sign" means the principal and dominant sign identifying a ground-level business and located on or attached to the building in which such business is located. ' "Secondary signage" means signs, other than a primary sign for a business, which identify or draw attention to such business or advertise the goods or services offered by such business. "Color and lettering board" means an exhibit drawn to scale that shows the lettering style, colors to be used (by name, sample and/or stock number of local manufacturer), dimensions, lighting characteristics, layout, and content of any proposed sign. .. "Pole sign" means a sign supported by a single support the width of which is less than 50% of the longest dimension of the sign. "Tenant" means the occupier of a distinct leasable space separated from others by floor to ceiling walls, and with a separate door or access point onto a public street. (c) All signs shall conform to the following general provisions: (1) Signage shall be consistent with the architectural design and proportions of the building and may not be placed on transoms, prismatic glass, insignias or any other architectural ornamentation. [ (2) Lettering on signs on buildings shall be appropriate to the period when the' building was built. Lettering styles that are similar in character to historic styles are allowed. (3) Colors may be contrasting, but shall be harmonious with the colors used on the building facade and 2 ~~ ORDINANCE NO. NS-2l17 ~m'( adjacent signs. (4) The design and manufacture of all signs must be of a professional quality and must be produced by a professional sign contractor licensed to do business in the city of Santa Ana as a sign contractor. Sec. 41-1022. primary siqns, qeneral standards. primary signs shall comply with the following standards: (1) Primary signs shall announce the name of the business uS1ng letters, graphics, symbols, logos or trademarks. The advertising of goods and services offered for sale, product logos, or product trademarks is not allowed. Directional information may be included in primary signs. (2) Roof signs, flashing, rotating, animated, automatic changing, digital, and inflatable display signs are not permitted. (3) only one tenant's street. primary sign shall be allowed for each frontage that faces directly onto a (4) A color and lettering board shall be submitted with each application for a sign permit. Sec. 41-1023. primary wall siqns. primary signs which are wall signs shall comply with the following standards: (1) The sign shall not extend more than six inches from the building plane. (2) The sign area shall not exceed two square feet per linear foot of each tenant street front elevation to a maximum of 100 square feet of sign area per tenant street front elevation. (3) The area of the sign shall not exceed 50% of the signable area for each tenant. (4) No sign shall have a horizontal dimension that exceeds 75% of the horizontal dimension of the portion of the building occupied by the activity identified by the sign, measured on the side of the building on which the sign is located. 3 268 [ [ ORDINANCE NO. NS-2ll7 (5) The top of the sign must be placed below the level of the second story window sills, but in no event higher than three feet above the ceiling level of the ground story, or above the roof line of the building. (6) Illumination of signs by incandGscGnt bulbs is allowed only if done by projecting light fixtures of historic character. Non-historical buildings may use incandescent, exposed neon and internal lighting. (7) sign types are limited to one of the following per building: a. Individual letters. b. Sandblasted or carved signs. c. Solid sign faces and backgrounds. d. Neon signs. e. Internally or backlit individual letters. (8) sign materials are limited to the following per building: a. 14 lb. or greater density foam finished with automotive lacquer or the equivalent. b. Paint. c. Wood. d. Metal. e. Acrylic or plexiglass. f. Neon. g. Other durable materials approved by the planning manager. Bee. 41-1024. primary projecting signs. Primary signs which are projecting signs shall comply with the following standards: (1) Horizontal projecting signs may not extend more than six feet beyond the property line or be more than 16 square feet in size. (2) Vertical projecting signs are permitted only on corner buildings. They must be loca'ted above the cornice line of the first floor and may not extend beyond the top of the roofline unless recreating a historic sign. Vertical projecting signs must conform to the size requirements of section 41- 1023(2) unless recreating an historic sign. 4 ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 I 26n' (3) Projecting signs shall be either of a horizontal or a vertical design. (4) Exposed guy wires must be painted black. (5) All projecting signs must be constructed of metal or wood and can be illuminated in one of the following ways: a. Neon; but only if it is in keeping with the age and character of the facade; b. Incandescent bulbs; c. Wall mounted illumination. external incandescent Sec. 41-1025. Secondary siqnaqe, qeneral standards. Secondary signage shall comply with the following standards: (1) Secondary signs shall be either window signs conforming to section 41-1026, neon signs conforming to section 41-1027, hanging signs conforming to section 41-1028, awning signs conforming to section 41-1029, or secondary wall signs conforming to section 41-1030. (2) permanently affixed logos, or other traditional symbols that identify the nature of a business, may be used. (3) Each tenant shall be limited to two secondary signs per tenant elevation. If the business name only is utilized for the secondary signs, it may appear once per window, regardless of the number of win- dows, but no other secondary signage shall be permitted. The tenant name shall be in a uniform location, and shall be of a uniform size. (4) Except in alleys, secondary signage may occur only below the transoms or, if none are present, below the uppermost portion of the display windows. (5) Where space limitations prohibit any primary signage, secondary sign requirements may be expanded upon special review and approval of the planning director. Approval shall be granted only if it is found that the standard secondary sign requirements do not adequately meet the signage need of the business. 5 2'70 [ ) ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 (6) Secondary signage on levels above the ground floor may be used only to announce the names of businesses on the upper floors. (7) Second story or above tenants are limited to one type of sign only per building. Sec. 41-1026. Window signs. Signs painted directly on the window surface, including showcase windows and glass-paned doors, shall comply with the following standards: (1) Letters shall not exceed nine inches in height or cover more than 25% of a window area, and shall not exceed a maximum size of 20 square feet. (2) S ignage is I imi ted to no more than two window areas, including street facing windows and windows in entry doors. . (3) Prismatic glass or glass block, including glass transoms, may not have a sign applied to it. (4) For windows above the first floor, window signs shall consist of individually painted letters or gold leaf letters. (5) A color and lettering board shall accompany all applications for window signs. Sec. 41-1027. Neon signs. Any vacuum tube sign lit by neon gas shall comply with the following standards: (1) Letters shall not exceed nine inches in height and sign area is limited to four square feet. (2) Any letter style is permitted as long as letters are continuous. Painted out spaces between letters are not permitted. (3) Neon bands may be used to frame the sign but must be contained within the allowable sign area. (4) The use of one neon sign per street front to adver- tise products by brand name, logo or trademark is allowed. 6 ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 I 271 Sec. 41-1028. Hanqinq or projectinq siqns. Any sign which is suspended by wire, chain, or cable from the underside of a roof or canopy structure or is hanging from a window shall comply with the following standards: (1) signs shall not exceed four square feet in size. (2) The sign must be behind the glass pane if used as a window sign. (3) Only one hanging sign per street facing window or entry area allowed, not to exceed two hanging signs per business. (4) Hanging signs in ground level storefront windows shall not interfere with eye level views to the interior. (5) Signs shall be made of wood or metal with raised letters, or letters painted directly on a wood or metal base, or shall be carved or sandblasted wood signs, or shall be neon in accordance with section 41-1027. (6) Exterior mounted signs must have a m1n1mum clear- ance of 7 feet, 6 inches above the finished surface of the pedestrian right-of-way beneath it. Sec. 41-1029. Awninq siqns. signs on awnings shall comply with the following standards: (1) The awning valence may be treated as secondary signage and used to announce goods and services. (2) The allowable area of signage on an awning may no exceed one square foot per linear foot for a maximum of 100 square feet. The maximum amount of sign area on the awning shall not exceed 20% of the available awning space. (3) The maximum letter height for the valence shall be six inches. (4) Awnings must project at a m1n1mum 15 degree angle from the face of the building. (5) Awnings may not cover transom windows. 7 272 I [ [ ORDINANCE NO. NS-2l17 Sec. 41-1030. Secondary wall signs. Secondary wall signs shall comply with the following standards: (1) No more than one secondary wall sign shall be permitted on no more than two elevations that so not face a public street but do abut parking areas, alleys, or service ways. I ~, (2) The area of any secondary wall sign shall not exceed the smaller of any of the following: a. Five percent of the business elevation area; b. Forty percent of the signable area; or, c. Fifty (50) square feet. (3) Secondary wall signs may be used by ground level tenants only. Sec. 41-1031. Freestanding signs. Freestanding signs (other than portable signs) shall comply with the fOllowing standards: (1) No freestanding sign shall be permitted on any site which does not have street frontage and vehicular access between such street frontage and parking facilities on the site. In addition, no more than one freestanding sign shall be permitted for each building side having frontage on a public street. (2) There shall be a minimum of 100 feet of separation between any freestanding signs. (3) A freestanding sign shall be located either in a landscaped planter at least twice the size of the sign face or on a decorative wall separating a parking lot from the public right-of-way, but in no case shall it be located in the public right-of-way. No freestanding sign shall be located in the triangular area(s) measured by a fifteen-foot diagonal cutoff where a driveway enters onto a street so as to create a safety hazard. (4) (5) No freestanding sign structure shall exceed five feet in height and 40 square feet in area. 8 ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 I , 278 ~-- (6) The size of one face of the sign shall not exceed 90% of the sign structure. (7) The copy area of the sign shall not exceed 75% of the face of the sign. (8) The sign copy shall be limited to the business name, address, and/or identification logo. (9) style must be consistent with the architecture of the main building and compatible with the surrounding historical structures. (10) Pole signs are not permitted. (11) Illumination may be provided by direct or indirect means from fixtures mounted directly on the sign housing, the ground or via neon tubing. (12) Internally illuminated signs are not permitted. (13) The sign must be constructed of similar or compatible materials to those used in the structure in which the business is located. Sec. 41-1032. Building identification signs. Building identification signs shall comply with the following standards: (1) There shall be no specific size requirements, but building identification signs shall be sized proportionately to the building being identified, and to the sign area in which it is located. (2) Building identification signs may contain the name of a building or describe its function, but may not identify any individual tenant of the building or any products sold. (3) Building identification signs shall not be lit. (4) Building identification signs may be made of nonilluminated individual letters applied to the building face, may be engraved into the building's material, or may be bas-relief. 9 274 [ [ ORDINANCE NO. NS-2ll7 Sec. 41-1033. Portable freestanding signs. Portable freestanding signs shall comply with the following standards: (1) Such signs are permitted only in the entryway of a business, outside of the public right-of-way, and located so as not to present a hazard to persons exiting the premises. (2) Such signs shall comply with such design as may be adopted by resolution of council. standards the city Sec. 41-1034. signs for churohes and residential development. signage for churches and residential developments shall comply with the following standards: (1) Signage must be appropriate to the building architecture. (2) Signage for residential developments shall comply with the regulations applicable to signs located outside of the Downtown District. (3) signage for churches shall be in keeping with secondary sign standards. Sec. 41-1035. special sale signs. Temporary signs announcing special sales shall comply with the following standards: (1) No more than two temporary signs per business are permitted. (2) Each sign shall individually, nor collectively. not exceed more than feet feet 'three six square square (3) Such signs must be conf ined to lower corners of windows. (4) Such signs may be posted for no more than 14 days during any 90-day period. 10 ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 "7~ ,;", ,) Sec. 41-1036. Real estate siqns. Signs advertising the sale or lease of buildings or building space shall comply with the following standards: (1) Such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in size. (2) No more than two such signs are allowed on any face of the building, with one sign being mounted in a ground floor window, and the other above the ground floor on any eligible signable area. (3) Lettering on real estate signs on historically contributive buildings shall be appropriate to the period when the building was built. Lettering styles that are similar in character to historic styles are allowed. (4) Such signs must be removed within 30 days after the building or building space to which they pertain has been sold or leased. Sec. 41-1037. Temporary banners. Temporary banners shall be subject to the regulations applicable to temporary banners located outside of the Downtown District. Sec. 41-1038. construction siqns. signs pertaining to construction activity shall comply with the following standards: (1) Such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in size. (2) Lettering shall be contemporary to the period of the building. (3) Such signs must be removed within 30 days after issuance of an occupancy permit, for the building. (4) The lettering on construction signs shall be com- patible with the historic character of the downtown district. Sec. 41-1039. Credit card and trading stamp signs. signs announcing credit card acceptance or trading stamps shall comply with the following standards: 11 27G ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 (1) No more than three such signs are allowed for each business. (2) Such signs shall not exceed one square foot individually nor three square feet collectively. (3) Such signs are permitted only in ground level windows. , Sec. 41-1040. Preservation of existing historic signs. (a) Historically significant painted wall signs shall be retained or recreated if possible. (b) Mounted signs announcing the name of a business no longer in existence at the sign's location and having historical significance may be salvaged and relocated. ~, (c) All architectural signage in place on the building announcing the original or historic name of the building, year of construction, or insignias, shall remain in place and shall not be removed, altered, or covered, under any circumstances. , (d) Historic signage shall not be calculated as part of the overall signage permitted pursuant to this division. SECTION 2: That sections 41-865.5, 41-869.5, 41-870.5, and 41-1001.5 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code are hereby repealed. SECTION 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The city Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that anyone or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 4: Neither the adoption of this ordinance nor the repeal hereby of any ordinance shall in any manner affect the prosecution for violation of ordinances, which violations were committed prior to the effective date hereof, nor be "construed as affecting any of the provisions of such ordinance relating to the ) collection of any such license or penalty or the penal provision applicable to any violation thereof, nor to affect the validity of any bond or cash deposit in lieu thereof, required to be posted, filed or deposited pursuant to any ordinance and all rights and 12 ORDINANCE NO. NS-2117 '27"'( . :! , , th d appertal.'ning shall continue in full force obll.gatl.ons ereun er and effect. ADOPTED this 18th day of March 199~. l.ce C. Guy lerk of the Counci] ATTEST: COUNCILMEMBERS: Young Pulido Acosta Griset McGuigan Norton Richardson Ayp Ayp Ayp Ayp Ayp Ayp Ayp APPROVED AS TO FORM: a.?~ Edward J. r city Attorney CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY & PUBLICATION State of California County of Orange I, JANICE C. GUY, Clerk of the Council, do hereby certify the attached Ordinance NS-2117 to be the original ordinance j I adopted by the city Council of the City of Santa Ana on 3/18/91 ; and that said ordinance was published in . accordance with the Charter of the City of Santa Ana. ~. < Y~f% lerk of the Counc'l, City of Santa Ana .3(/0/7'1 Date