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Consent
Item No. 4.
| MEETING DATE: 01/17/2023 |
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| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Susan Kim, Director of Community & Economic Development |
| SUBJECT: | INITIATE ZONE CHANGE 22-03 TO UPDATE THE CITY'S SIGN ORDINANCE
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council direct staff to initiate Zone Change 22-03 to update the City's Sign Ordinance.
DISCUSSION:
The Community and Economic Development Department is tasked with recommending updates to and implementing Title 15 (Buildings and Construction) and Title 18 (Zoning) of the La Habra Municipal Code (LHMC). Staff recommends updates to the City Council, as needed, to maintain compliance with Federal and State law and to reflect community expectations, as directed by the City Council. Pursuant to Section 18.78.010 of the LHMC, the City Council may initiate proceedings to amend said regulations. Staff requests that the City Council consider directing staff to initiate Zone Change 22-03 to allow for a comprehensive update to the City's sign regulations, which is long overdue for several reasons, as described below.
The City's current sign regulations, codified as Chapter 15.40 (Outdoor Advertising Signs and Structures) of the LHMC, were last amended in 2010. The sign regulations have not been recently updated for consistency with all Federal and State law requirements, including, but not limited to, relevant court decisions regarding freedom of speech, as provided for by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. In addition, the existing sign regulations have language that is outdated and difficult to implement as they reference obsolete sections of the California Building Code that have since been updated.
The existing regulations also contain design standards, typically found in Title 18 (Zoning) of the LHMC. Staff suggests the preparation and recommendation of new sign standards that better address the number, type, and placement requirements for said signs. The intent of the updated sign standards will be to help the community achieve aesthetically pleasing signage that references, rather than reiterates, the most recently adopted California Building Code, and is in compliance with all other State and Federal laws. Lastly, it should be noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City suspended enforcement of temporary sign regulations to assist local businesses. Since 2021, City staff have observed, and have had reports of, a number of unsightly temporary signs including various banners, flags, and other signs which, in some cases, may constitute a traffic hazard for drivers who are distracted by signs placed in a haphazard or un-permitted manner.
Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to draft new, compliant, sign standards with the goal of reducing sign proliferation, as well as reformatting sign requirements resulting in a user-friendly sign code that provides standards in a table format that is easier to understand and implement. Finally, staff recommends that sign regulations be appropriately placed under Title 18 of the LHMC.
The City's current sign regulations, codified as Chapter 15.40 (Outdoor Advertising Signs and Structures) of the LHMC, were last amended in 2010. The sign regulations have not been recently updated for consistency with all Federal and State law requirements, including, but not limited to, relevant court decisions regarding freedom of speech, as provided for by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. In addition, the existing sign regulations have language that is outdated and difficult to implement as they reference obsolete sections of the California Building Code that have since been updated.
The existing regulations also contain design standards, typically found in Title 18 (Zoning) of the LHMC. Staff suggests the preparation and recommendation of new sign standards that better address the number, type, and placement requirements for said signs. The intent of the updated sign standards will be to help the community achieve aesthetically pleasing signage that references, rather than reiterates, the most recently adopted California Building Code, and is in compliance with all other State and Federal laws. Lastly, it should be noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City suspended enforcement of temporary sign regulations to assist local businesses. Since 2021, City staff have observed, and have had reports of, a number of unsightly temporary signs including various banners, flags, and other signs which, in some cases, may constitute a traffic hazard for drivers who are distracted by signs placed in a haphazard or un-permitted manner.
Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to draft new, compliant, sign standards with the goal of reducing sign proliferation, as well as reformatting sign requirements resulting in a user-friendly sign code that provides standards in a table format that is easier to understand and implement. Finally, staff recommends that sign regulations be appropriately placed under Title 18 of the LHMC.
In the event the City Council approves these recommendations, staff would first present proposed modifications to the Planning Commission at a noticed public hearing for consideration and recommendation to the City Council. The City Council would then consider the proposed ordinance and Planning Commission's recommendation at a noticed public hearing. Once the ordinance has received a first and second reading and been adopted by City Council, it will become effective 30 days after said adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Costs associated with City-initiated amendments to the LHMC are included as part of the Planning Division's annual budget.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE/CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES:
The proposed recommendation achieves the following elements of the La Habra General Plan:
- Goal CI 3 Attractive Signage. A city characterized by its well-designed, high quality, and distinctive public and private signage that contributes to La Habra''s appearance as an attractive place to live, work, and trade.
- CI 3.3 Private Signage. Require that signage on private buildings be designed to exhibit a high quality of interest and visual appeal; be integrated into and reflect the building's architectural design character; and sized to not overwhelm its scale and mass.
- SM 1.5 Signage. Support building and site signage that is appropriate to the use and location and is not visually intrusive.
The proposed recommendation will achieve the following element of the FY2022-23 City Council Goals and Objectives:
- Goal 5 - Development Activity and Business Assistance
- Objective R: Review the Zoning Code on an ongoing basis and process amendments that ensure compliance with recent State legislation, streamline project processing, remove unnecessary regulations, and/or make the Zoning Code easier to implement.