City Council Agenda Report
July 16, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Alex Hamilton, Interim Community Development Director Sophia Tatlyan, Consulting Senior Planner
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 24-1748 - ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. 2024-02 TO AMEND VARIOUS SECTIONS OF TITLE 17 OF THE NORWALK MUNICIPAL
CODE AS IT RELATES TO SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICTS
Background:
A Special Sign District is an overlay containing multiple parcels reasonably grouped together that would allow for the approval of a freestanding sign. Freestanding signs are desirable to the City of Norwalk (“City”) as they provide opportunities to enhance the urban aesthetics and promote effective communication through controlled and cohesive signage.
City staff-initiated proposal, Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 2024-02, establishes a city-wide review process and regulatory framework for the creation of a Special Sign District. This item will be considered concurrently with Zone Change No. 2024-01 and Zone Text Amendment No. 2024-03, a request to approve the Special Sign District No. 1 (SD 1) overlay and SD 1 development standards.
On June 26th, 2024, the Planning Commission recommended that City Council approve ZTA No. 2024-02 and adopt Ordinance No. 24-1748 by a vote of 4-0. There were some in attendance stating concerns about this action. An email and a letter from Jordon R. Sisson, Esq., an attorney for Unite Here Local 11, were submitted to the record.
In summary their concerns were as follows:
1. Adequacy of CEQA reviewed for the action.
2. Concern that this action will allow for more projects, i.e. digital billboard signs, other accessory signs, etc.
Staff rebutted points raised by the opposition as follows:
City Council July 16, 2024
Ordinance No. 24-1748 - Zone Text Amendment No. 2024-02 to amend various sections of Title 17 Of The Norwalk Municipal Code as it relates to Special Sign Districts
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9 The proposed request is to establish the regulatory framework to create a Special Sign District for the purpose of providing more opportunities for creative and effective marketing with on- premise freestanding signs. Staff confirmed the request is not in conjunction with any active application to construct a second hotel in SP 1, a billboard or freestanding sign. Any future submittal to develop a second hotel would require approval by the Planning Commission with a Conditional Use Permit, and any future submittal to construct an on-premise or off-premise freestanding sign would require approval by the Planning Commission with a Sign Use Permit.
In either scenario, all the requests mentioned are discretionary applications and subject to an environmental review and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination at the time of their submittal.
Discussion:
The request consists of ZTA No. 2024-02 to amend Title 17 (Zoning), Chapter 17.02 (Approval Procedures), Article I (Procedure, Hearing, Notices) and Article V (Discretionary Approvals And Permits) of the Norwalk Municipal Code (NMC) to establish the review process to create a Special Sign District. The proposed will establish minimum site requirements, conditions, appropriate zoning, types of uses and a review process to create a Special Sign District.
Pursuant to the CEQA, this project is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Code of Regulations, also known as the “Common Sense Exemption” and Section 15311 (Class 11 – Accessory Structures) of the California Public Code, for the construction or replacement of minor accessory structures including on-premise signs. The project will not involve any construction nor have a significant effect on the environment.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Citizens Advised:
The public hearing notice was posted at the City’s three designated posting places and posted online. On July 5th, 2024, the notice was also published in The Norwalk Patriot. Social media accounts also promoted notification of the project for the hearing. As of the writing of this report, staff have not received any new public comments.
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
The recommended actions will further the City’s Strategic Plan Goals 2 and 3 to work in partnership with our community to achieve safe and livable neighborhoods and to create and sustain a resilient and economically prosperous City.
City Council July 16, 2024
Ordinance No. 24-1748 - Zone Text Amendment No. 2024-02 to amend various sections of Title 17 Of The Norwalk Municipal Code as it relates to Special Sign Districts
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9 Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council introduce by title only Ordinance No. 24-1748, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AMENDING TITLE 17 (ZONING), CHAPTER 17.02 (APPROVAL PROCEDURES), ARTICLE I (PROCEDURES, HEARING,
NOTICES) AND ARTICLE V (DISCRETIONARY APPROVAL AND PERMITS) OF THE
NORWALK MUNICIPAL CODE ALLOWING FOR THE CREATION OF SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICTS, and schedule for adoption.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 24-1748
2. Planning Commission Staff Report dated June 26, 2024 (without attachments)
3. Email and Letter of opposition received on June 26, 2024
4. Redlined Draft Ordinance