report to the planning commission AWS
REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION Meeting Date:
November 8, 2017
Location
Citywide
Owner/Applicant:
City of Saratoga
Staff Planner:
Sung H. Kwon, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: Consider restricting lighting on temporary signs and enhanced enforcement provisions for off-site signs on public property.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: The Planning Commission approve the attached resolution 17-028 recommending that the City Council adopt changes to Sections 15-30.060 (Signs allowed in any zoning district without a sign permit), 15.30.110 (Temporary on-site signs on lots in any sign district), 15-30.120 (Signs on lots with institutional, public, or quasi-public uses), 15-30.140 (Temporary on-site sign on lots with residential properties actively marketed for sale or lease), 15-30.145 (Temporary on-site sign on lots with commercial properties actively marketed for sale or lease), and 15-30.190 (Sign conformance, violations and abatement of illegal signs) of the City Code.
BACKGROUND: The City Council, on October 18, 2017, approved the Planning Commission’s recommended changes to off-site signs in residential districts with the first reading of the ordinance. The second reading of the ordinance was approved on November 1, 2017 and the changes become effective 30 days thereafter. The Council further directed staff and the Commission to prepare amendments that would make uniform the Code’s lighting restrictions on temporary signs. In addition, upon review of Section 15-30.120 (Signs on lots with institutional, public, or quasipublic uses), staff discovered that this section of the code does not have limitations regarding attention getting devices. Therefore, to create consistency for lighting limitations on all temporary signs, the standard restriction on attention getting devices was also added to the recommendation. The City Council also directed staff and the Commission to develop enforcement tools regarding removal of illegal off-site signs on public property. Proposed changes include immediate removal of off-site signs in the public right of way. The revisions would require that a notice be mailed to the owner of the sign within 3 business days following removal of the sign. In practice, a reasonable attempt to identify a sign owner, if their name and address was not on the sign, would likely constitute an internet search to discover the name and address of the sign owner. Page 1
Proposed changes are provided in Resolution 17-028, Attachment 1. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed amendments to the City Code are Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline sections 15061(b)(3) – The general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential of causing a significant effect on the environment. The proposed amendments are also Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline sections 15311 – New Accessory Structures.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution recommending that the City Council approve the proposed amendments to Chapter 15-30 (Signs) of the Zoning Ordinance: Exhibit 1 - Revisions, with strikeout (deleted) and underlines (added) and replacement text.
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November 8, 2017
Location
Citywide
Owner/Applicant:
City of Saratoga
Staff Planner:
Sung H. Kwon, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: Consider restricting lighting on temporary signs and enhanced enforcement provisions for off-site signs on public property.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: The Planning Commission approve the attached resolution 17-028 recommending that the City Council adopt changes to Sections 15-30.060 (Signs allowed in any zoning district without a sign permit), 15.30.110 (Temporary on-site signs on lots in any sign district), 15-30.120 (Signs on lots with institutional, public, or quasi-public uses), 15-30.140 (Temporary on-site sign on lots with residential properties actively marketed for sale or lease), 15-30.145 (Temporary on-site sign on lots with commercial properties actively marketed for sale or lease), and 15-30.190 (Sign conformance, violations and abatement of illegal signs) of the City Code.
BACKGROUND: The City Council, on October 18, 2017, approved the Planning Commission’s recommended changes to off-site signs in residential districts with the first reading of the ordinance. The second reading of the ordinance was approved on November 1, 2017 and the changes become effective 30 days thereafter. The Council further directed staff and the Commission to prepare amendments that would make uniform the Code’s lighting restrictions on temporary signs. In addition, upon review of Section 15-30.120 (Signs on lots with institutional, public, or quasipublic uses), staff discovered that this section of the code does not have limitations regarding attention getting devices. Therefore, to create consistency for lighting limitations on all temporary signs, the standard restriction on attention getting devices was also added to the recommendation. The City Council also directed staff and the Commission to develop enforcement tools regarding removal of illegal off-site signs on public property. Proposed changes include immediate removal of off-site signs in the public right of way. The revisions would require that a notice be mailed to the owner of the sign within 3 business days following removal of the sign. In practice, a reasonable attempt to identify a sign owner, if their name and address was not on the sign, would likely constitute an internet search to discover the name and address of the sign owner. Page 1
Proposed changes are provided in Resolution 17-028, Attachment 1. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed amendments to the City Code are Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline sections 15061(b)(3) – The general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential of causing a significant effect on the environment. The proposed amendments are also Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline sections 15311 – New Accessory Structures.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution recommending that the City Council approve the proposed amendments to Chapter 15-30 (Signs) of the Zoning Ordinance: Exhibit 1 - Revisions, with strikeout (deleted) and underlines (added) and replacement text.
Page 2
