BACKGROUND:
Section 9.62.070 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code (CCMC) allows up to 23 billboards to be erected on non-tribal land within the City. Billboards on tribal land are not subject to City regulation. The City currently has 20 billboards. The Code also contains development standards for billboards, including height, lighting, spacing, and face size regulations. Existing billboards may be replaced and reconstructed to current standards in substantially the same location. Digital billboards are allowed with a conditional use permit both for newly constructed billboards and replacement billboards.
The City Council held study sessions on August 18, 2021, and November 30, 2021, on the subject of billboard regulation and amortization. At the conclusion of the November 30, 2021, study session, the Council directed that an ordinance be prepared that prohibited new billboards in the City except for along Interstate 10, and prohibited existing static billboards from being converted to digital. The Council further directed that the number of billboards permitted along Interstate 10 be capped at the number that exists currently (not including any billboards that are on tribal land).
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance on March 2, 2022, and voted to recommend the Council adopt the proposed ordinance. Three Commissioners thought that the Council should consider continuing to allow existing static billboards to be converted to digital, but no formal recommendation was made to modify the proposed ordinance.
Furthermore, just prior to the Planning Commission meeting, staff confirmed with the local billboard company, Lamar, that there are no existing billboards on non-tribal land along Interstate 10. Therefore, the Planning Commission included in their motion to revise the proposed ordinance to prohibit billboards on non-tribal land along Interstate
10. The ordinance has been revised.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed ordinance amends Section 9.62.070, paragraph A, of the CCMC to implement the direction provided by the City Council on November 30, 2021, and Planning Commission’s motion to prohibit billboards along Interstate 10. The ordinance prohibits new billboards in the City including along Interstate 10 on non-tribal land.
Existing billboards erected in compliance with City requirements will become legal nonconforming uses and will be allowed to continue to be operated and maintained in accordance with the City’s regulations of legal nonconforming uses in Chapter 9.66 of the City Code. These regulations do not allow legal nonconforming uses to be intensified. The proposed ordinance expressly states that the conversion of an existing static billboard to digital would be an intensification and not allowed. As noted above, three Planning Commissioners indicated that the Council should consider allowing existing static billboards to be converted to digital. While conversion to digital may improve the aesthetics of an existing billboard, it also will likely extend the life of the billboard.
The proposed ordinance eliminates the development standards applicable to new billboards as no new billboards will be permitted. No changes were made to the existing regulations on cannabis advertising on billboards.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The adoption of the proposed ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines 15301, 15303 and 15061(b)(3). The ordinance allows existing legal nonconforming billboards to be maintained and prohibits new billboards. Further, it can be seen with certainty that the ordinance would not have a significant effect on the environment. If adopted, the proposed ordinance would result in fewer billboards being able to be constructed within the City than under current regulations.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION:
A public hearing notice was published in accordance with the City Municipal code.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff and City Attorney costs have been incurred in drafting and reviewing of the Ordinance.