DATE: OCTOBER 4, 2023
TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: COURTNEY GROSSMAN, PLANNING MANAGER
BY: THOMAS WILES, SENIOR PLANNER
TITLE: ZONING CODE AMENDMENT 2022-004; AMEND ZONING CODE SECTION 37-50.620 (ON-SITE SIGN REGULATIONS) OF CHAPTER 37 OF THE SALINAS MUNICIPAL CODE (ZONING CODE) TO ALLOW CONSIDERATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE INFORMATION, MARQUEE, CHANGEABLE COPY, AND OTHER SIGNS FOR PUBLIC/PRIVATE SCHOOL USES RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution recommending that the City Council find the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15305 and then adopt an Ordinance amending Chapter 37 of the Salinas Municipal Code (Zoning Code) to allow consideration of public service information, marquee, changeable copy, and other signs for public/private school uses.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Chapter 37, Article VI, Division 14 provides for a process whereby all Zoning Code Amendments are brought before the Planning Commission for a recommendation to the City Council for a final decision. The proposed Zoning Code Amendments (ZCA) would allow public service information, marquee, changeable copy, and other signs at public/private school uses.
BACKGROUND:
Zoning Code Amendment 2022-004 (ZCA 2022-004) proposes to amend Zoning Code Section 37-50.620 (On-Site Sign Regulations) to allow public service information, marquee, changeable copy, and other signs at public/private schools as defined by Zoning Code Section 37-50.430 as follows:
“School, Public/Private. A public and semipublic land use such as a private or public school (grades kindergarten through high school, or their equivalent), college or university qualified by the State Board of Education to give general academic instruction. Excludes trade and driving schools.” Palma School Foundation, a private school, is requesting the Amendment to allow marquee signs at private schools. There are currently at least six (6) private schools within the City of Salinas:
Anthem Christian School – 345 East Alvin Drive
Madonna Del Sasso School - 20 Santa Teresa Way
Melody Park Christian School – 1130 San Vincente Avenue Notre Dame High School – 455 Palma Drive
Palma School – 919 Iverson Street
Sacred Heart School – 123 West Market Street
Currently, the Zoning Code does not allow for public service information, marquee, changeable copy, and other signs at public/private school uses. However, various marquee signs have been constructed at several public schools throughout the City of Salinas pursuant to State of California regulations. Per Government Code Section 53094, a school district by a vote of two-thirds of its members may render a City of County Zoning Ordinance inapplicable to a proposed use of property by the district. The governing board of the school district may not take this action when the proposed use of the property by the school district is for non-classroom facilities, including but not limited to, warehouses, administrative buildings, and automotive storage and repair buildings. The Amendment would allow marquee and reader board signs for both public and private schools. These types of signs would only be allowed for public/private school uses as defined above but would not be allowed for other types of schools including, but not limited to, trade and driving schools and preschools.
A preliminary plan by Palma is attached to this report (see Preliminary Palma HS Proposed Marquee Sign). Staff notes that the plan requires revisions for compliance with the required visibility triangles at the driveway with the public street, and minimum clearance of 10 feet measured from the curb. Prior to issuance of a sign permit by the Permit Center, a Master Sign Plan must be obtained from Community Development per Zoning Code Section 37-50.570.
A public hearing notice for the Planning Commission meeting on October 4, 2023, regarding the proposed Amendment was published in the Monterey Herald on September 18, 2023.
DISCUSSION:
Analysis:
Currently, Zoning Code Section 37-50.620(e) allows theaters, cinemas, and religious assembly uses may install and/or construct marquee, changeable copy, another other signs as follows:
(e) Theater, Cinema, and Religious Assembly Signs. Signs deviating from the standards of this division may be allowed for theaters, cinemas, or religious assembly uses subject to the approval of a master sign plan. The master sign plan may allow marquee signs (for theaters and cinemas only), changeable copy signs, and other signs for cinema, theater, or religious assembly uses not otherwise authorized by this division, if the city planner or other applicable approval authority determines that such modifications:
(1) Would be consistent with the style and character of existing signs on the site; (2) Would be compatible with the character of signs on adjacent properties; (3) Would not detract from the use and enjoyment of adjacent properties; and (4) Would not have an adverse impact on the safe and efficient movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
The Amendment includes changes to subsection 37-50.620(d)(4) concerning Illuminated and Moving Signs in reference to movement, apparent movement, or intensity of illumination of a sign similar to those allowed in Zoning Code Section 37-50.620(e).
The Amendment is shown below (changes in strikethrough/underline format):
“(d) Illuminated and Moving Signs.
(1) Signs in an A, R, NU (NE, NG-1, and NG-2), CO, CO/R, P, OS, or PS district shall, if lighted, be indirectly and continuously illuminated. (2) Signs shall not have exposed fluorescent tubes or incandescent bulbs, unless such signs are approved as part of a master sign plan or a site plan review for a cinema or theater. (3) Signs visible from and within one hundred feet of an R or NU (NE, NG-1, and NG-2) district shall not be illuminated between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. unless approved as part of a master sign plan. In order to approve the master sign plan, the city planner shall determine that the proposed sign:
(A) Identifies a business or use that is open for business during those hours; and (B) Has been oriented, sited, or otherwise designed to minimize glare or lighting impacts on the adjacent R or NU zoning district. (4) No movement or apparent movement of or in a sign or change in intensity of illumination of a sign shall be permitted (including no changeable copy) except for public service information signs, marquee signs, and changeable copy signs for theaters, cinemas, religious assembly uses, public/private school uses, and service station price signs as provided for in this division. (e) Theater, Cinema, Public/Private Schools, and Religious Assembly Signs. Signs deviating from the standards of this division may be allowed for theaters, cinemas, public/private school uses, or religious assembly uses subject to the approval of a master sign plan. The master sign plan may allow marquee signs (for theaters, and cinemas, and public/private schools only), changeable copy signs, and other signs for cinema, theater, public/private schools, or religious assembly uses not otherwise authorized by this division, if the city planner or other applicable approval authority determines that such modifications:
(1) Would be consistent with the style and character of existing signs on the site; (2) Would be compatible with the character of signs on adjacent properties; (3) Would not detract from the use and enjoyment of adjacent properties; and (4) Would not have an adverse impact on the safe and efficient movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.” Findings in support of the proposed Zoning Code Amendment are incorporated in the attached Planning Commission Resolution.
CONCLUSION:
The proposed Zoning Code Amendment would allow Public/Private School uses to construct/install public service information signs, marquee signs, changeable copy signs and other signs pursuant to the Sign Ordinance.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The environmental impacts of the project have been analyzed in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The proposed Zoning Code Amendment is categorically exempt (Class 5) from further environmental analysis per CEQA Guidelines Section 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations).
TIME CONSIDERATION:
The proposed project is a request for a Zoning Code Amendment, which is a legislative act and not subject to the Permit Streamlining Act (PSA).
ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSION:
The Planning Commission has the following alternatives:
Affirm the findings set forth in the attached Resolution, recommending that the City Council find the Amendment exempt from CEQA and introduce and then adopt the Amendment with modifications; or Find that the amendment is not appropriate and establish findings at the public hearing recommending that the City Council deny the Amendment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Draft Planning Commission Resolution
Draft City Council Ordinance
Preliminary Palma HS Proposed Marquee Sign
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