TITLE
Adopt resolution directing staff to submit the ordinance amendments to the California Coastal Commission for a finding of conformance with the Certified Local Coastal Program; and
Accept Categorical Exemption CE-13-041. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On August 3, 2010, the City Council adopted a motion requesting staff to review the current sign ordinance and enforcement practices, determine what changes were necessary to prevent sign blight, and to encourage signs that present a positive image of the City to residents, businesses, and visitors. Planning staff has worked over several years to research and prepare an amendment to the Zoning Regulations (zoning code) pertaining to on-premises signs, regulated in Chapter 21.44 of the Municipal Code. This effort is now complete, and staff is pleased to present the new text to the City Council for review and consideration.
The revisions to the existing sign code relate to "on-premises" signs. On-premises signs include signs that identify a business, product, service, building, or other article that is located on the same site as the sign itself. This differentiates on-premises signs from what the zoning code considers to be billboards ("off-premises signs"), which convey a message related to an activity, service, or commodity found somewhere other than where the sign is located. The most common example of an on-premises sign would be a sign for a business, at the business location.
The intent of the new sign regulations is focused on three major areas: (1) modernizing the regulations to deal with a number of problems and shortcomings in the current zoning code; (2) enhancing the ability to facilitate creativity and allow flexibility in the design of signs; and (3) raising the standard for overall sign quality in the City.
Summary of Proposed Changes
A large amount of new text has been included in this zoning code update and the entire On-Premises Signs chapter is restated and completely reorganized on top of ...
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