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CITY COUNCIL
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Placentia Cit Council
AGENDA REPORT
SECOND READING AND ADOPTION
Ord No. 0-2022-04 Date 05/03/2022tem No. 1.d.
First reading approved on
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SE vend and Appro
Department Head
APRIL 19, 2022 Deputtyy City Clerk
04/19/2022 Item 2.d.
(Date)
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 0-2022-04, WHEREBY CHAPTER 23.90 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE SHALL BE AMENDED
REGARDING THE STANDARDS AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OF
TEMPORARY ADVERTISING DEVICES (ZONING CODE AMENDMENT 2022-01) FISCAL
IMPACT: NONE
SUMMARY:
City Council is in the process of creating the Placentia Buy Local Incentive Program, which will include several different components intended to boost Economic Development citywide. One of the anticipated components of the Buy Local Program will incentivize businesses to upgrade their permanent signs, and a Resolution waiving certain Planning and Building permit fees has been prepared to initiate this component of the program. Another component of the program relates to temporary signs (banners, etc.). Over the last several years, Staff has found that there are ambiguities and inconsistencies regarding the standards and regulatory requirements of temporary advertising devices, resulting in confusion for business owners who wish to utilize temporary advertising. In discussing the Placentia Buy Local Incentive Program as it relates to signage, the aforementioned issues surfaced, and Staff was directed to prepare an ordinance to clarify the temporary sign regulations citywide.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Open the public hearing concerning Ordinance No. 0-2022-04; and
2. Receive the staff report, consider all Public Testimony, ask any questions of Staff; and
3. Close the public hearing; and
4. Find that adoption of Zoning Code Amendment No. 2022-01 is categorically exempt from environmental review and direct Staff to file a Notice of Exemption, pursuant to CEQA Section 15061(b)(3); and
1.a.
May 3, 2022
2.d.
Apr. 19, 2022
City Council Agenda
April 19, 2022
5. Waive full reading, by title only, and introduce for first reading, Ordinance No. 0-2022-04, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Placentia, California, finding that approval of Zoning Code Amendment No. 2022-01 is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant To CEQA Section 15061(B)(3) and approving Zoning Code Amendment No. 2022-01 amending Title 23 (Zoning Ordinance) of the City of Placentia Municipal Code regarding the standards and regulatory requirements of temporary advertising devices as defined In Chapter 23.90 Signs - Advertising Structures; and
6. Adopt Resolution No. R-2022-24, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Placentia, California, establishing a temporary planning permit fee waiver and building permit fee waiver to promote and incentivize new signage at businesses citywide as part of the Placentia Buy Local incentive program.
BACKGROUND:
The Placentia Buy Local Incentive Program will include several different components intended to boost Economic Development citywide. One of the anticipated components of the Buy Local Program will incentivize businesses to upgrade their permanent signs, especially in those cases in which the signage is dilapidated or does not comply with current City standards. A resolution waiving certain Planning and Building permit fees has been prepared to initiate this component of the program.
Regarding temporary signs (banners, etc.), over the last several years Staff has found that there are ambiguities and inconsistencies regarding the standards and regulatory requirements of temporary advertising devices. For example, there are currently ambiguous regulations related to how often temporary signs are allowed, the limits on the size and type of banners/signs allowed, and the specific type of banners/devices that are allowed. In discussing the Placentia Buy Local Incentive Program as it relates to signage, the aforementioned issues surfaced, and Staff was directed to prepare an ordinance to clarify the temporary sign regulations citywide. The proposed, amended banner regulations will provide clarification for businesses regarding the placement of temporary banners and other temporary signs. This will also simplify the application process regarding temporary banners for business owners, and will reduce fees for recurring banners within the same calendar year.
DISCUSSION:
To compare the City's current temporary sign regulations with other jurisdictions, a survey was conducted including eight Orange County cities. Specifically these cities include Orange, La Habra, Buena Park, Fullerton, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Orange, and Brea. The survey included information on the temporary banner regulations of those respective cities regarding size, timeframe for display, and types of signs allowed, in order to provide recommendations on how to clarify the sections of Placentia's Municipal Code.
City Council Agenda
April 19, 2022
Draft Ordinance amending Chapter 23.90 of the Placentia Municipal Code (PMC) Please refer to Attachment 1 (draft ordinance) memorializing the changes below:
Time Period:
• The current code permits special promotion banners for eight (8) days each month, either consecutive or random. Registration fee is currently $52.56 for each occurrence.
New regulations will permit special promotion banners for no more than thirty (30) consecutive days. No more than three (3) special promotion permits per calendar year.
Change of ownership will not entitle the new business owner to additional banner permits beyond the three (3) per year allowed.
• There will be a reduced renewal fee for the 2nd and 3rd banner (75% of the initial registration fee — currently $39.42).
Size, Height, and Location:
• The current code does not specify the size and locational requirements of temporary banners
• New regulations will clarify size, height, locational requirements of banners, and specify what types of temporary advertising signs are permitted. • Banners shall not project above the roofline, and there shall be a minimum 8 -foot height clearance from the ground if banner is affixed to the storefront. • Banners shall only be attached to those portions of the building fronting a street or parking lot.
• Banner size shall not exceed one square foot per lineal foot of store or business frontage up to a maximum of 25 square feet, with the exception of large retail businesses with outdoor sales areas (i.e. dealerships) that will not be limited to the 25 square foot maximum size limit.
Types of Temporary Advertising Devices:
• The current code permits temporary banners and certain types of flags and pennants but is ambiguous in defining what types are allowed.
• New regulations will allow pennants only during grand openings, with the exception of large retail businesses with outdoor sales areas (dealerships). • Feather flags, air dancers, portable banners, streamers, etc. shall be prohibited.
Holiday Banners
• The current code permits holiday banners without a permit, with no registration fee on the following Holidays:
• New Year's Day, President's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving plus the day after, and Christmas • New regulation will extend the allowed holiday banner time period, with no registration fee, to fourteen (14) days surrounding the above Holidays:
• This will include the seven (7) days before the holiday, seven (7) days after the holiday, and the holiday date itself
City Council Agenda
April 19, 2022
Large Retail Businesses
• Large retail businesses with outdoor sales, such as auto dealerships, will have special regulations with more flexibility.
® Banners, balloons, and inflatables will be permitted, provided that the balloons and inflatables are not roof -mounted
• The allowance of one (1) grand opening permit and three (3) special promotion permits per year still apply.
Other Clarifications
A definition will be added to Section 23.90.10 of the Placentia Municipal Code (PMC). Temporary advertising devices will be defined as "pennants, banners, inflatables, and other similar temporary advertising devices".
Window signs that meet specific requirements do not require a building permit, but that is not explicitly stated in the current code. That specific section regarding window signs from PMC Section 23.90.180(9), Section 23.90.190(5), and Section 23.90.210(3) will be added to PMC Section 23.90.060 Exemptions. The definition of window signs will also be amended to exclude signs painted on banners.
All temporary advertising devices will require registration (permit) with the Development Services Department prior to installation. Language to this effect will be added to PMC Section 23.90.160.
CEQA:
The proposed zoning code amendment was reviewed by Staff in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). Based on that review, Staff and the Planning Commission both recommend that the City Council find that adoption of ZCA 2022-01 is exempt from environmental review pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Section 15061(b)(3) in that the proposed Code Amendments are not expected to create a negative impact on the physical environment and it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.
Recommending Body Determination:
On April 12, 2022, the City of Placentia Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended that the City Council adopt a Categorical Exemption for this project and approve ZCA 2019-04 with minor amendments to the draft ordinance as prepared by Staff. The commission recommended a slight change to the ordinance in Section 23.90.160 - Temporary Advertising Devices, to adjust the timeframe for holiday banners to allow the banners to be displayed within a 14 day period before or after a given holiday.
City Council Agenda
April 19, 2022
Prepared by:
Kat rine Kuo
Planning Technician
Reviewed and approved:
Damien R. Arrula
City Administrator
Prepared by:
4 eph
'rector of Development Services
Attachments:
1. Ordinance 0-2022-04 - Chapter 23.90 Signs - Advertising
2. Resolution No. R-2022-24 — Commercial Sign Fee Waiver Program