HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.3 ApartmentTempSigns CITY CLERK
File # [~][~10 10 I-I~---~1~-I
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: December 3, 2002
SUBJECT: Report on Apartment Temporary Signage. Report Prepared by:
Andy Byde, Senior Planner
ATTACHMENTS:
1.City Council Minutes from October 1, 2002;
2. List of Apartment Commdnities;
3. Notice sent out to Apartment Owners/Managers;
4. Agenda for meeting with Apartment Managers and Owners
RECOMMENDATION"/Q/kr~// 1. Receive Staff presentation;
2. Provide direction to Staff regarding developing an ordinance
dealing with temporary signage for Apartment Communities;
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: No financial impact.
DESCRIPTION:
At the October 1, 2002, City Council meeting, the City Council directed Staff to meet with the owners and
managers of the apartment communities within the City, to discuss the current sign regulations in respect
to temporary signage and bring this issue back to the City Council for direction. On October 22, 2002,
City Staff sent out a notice to all the known apartment owners and managers of apartment projects (larger
than 10-units), that there would be a meeting held to discuss temporary apartment signage (see
Attachment 2 for a list of known apartments and Attachment 3 for the notice).
Current Signage Regulations
Currently, the City Zoning Ordinance (Section 8.84.030) does not permit temporary banners for any uses
within a residential zoning district, including apartment communities. Temporary banners are allowed for
business within commercial zoning districts for a period of 15-days through the approval of a zoning
clearance, which consists of an over the counter permit and a $25 fee (the banner then must be down for
30-days before reapplying for a new zoning clearance). The maximum allowed size for temporary
banners is 30" wide by 24 feet long (60 square feet). Additionally, apartments (and other not for sale
· housing) are not allowed to utilize off-site open-house signs, as are for-sale housing (Section 8.84.050).
However, on-site temporary for lease signs (Section 8.84.140.1) are allowed subject to the following
regulations:
1. Not exceed a maximum area of 16 square feet per side (i.e. 4-feet by 4-feet).
COPIES TO: Apartment Owners/Managers
G:\PA#~2002\02-060\CC Staff Report for direction.doc ' ITEM NO. ~
2. Be limited to one sign place for each 100-feet of street frontage, up to a maximum of 2-signs per
parcel.
3. Have a maximum height of 8-feet.
4. State that the property is for sale, lease or exchange by the owner, or his agent with the address and
phone number and directions.
5. Be constructed of wood, plywood, metal or other rigid material.
6. Not be placed on a private or public right-of-way.
Meeting with Apartment Managers and Owners
On November 7, 2002, City Staff held a meeting with apartment managers and owners, in which
approximately 15-people attended, to discuss temporary signage for apartments. During the meeting,
apartment managers and owners stated the following concerns with the existing regulations:
· Concerned that Banners are not allowed for Apartments.
· Concerned that A-frame signs are not allowed.
· Apartment Communities in Dublin have a higher reported average vacancy rate than other Tri-
valley Cities, and they feel existing signage regulations have exacerbated the vacancy rate.
· Holiday times are especially difficult with Iow foot traffic and low leasing rates.
· Some apartment communities within the City have limited visibility and need special marketing
tools to attract potential tenants."
· Concerned that apartments are treated differently than other commercially zoned business within
City (i.e. no banners allowed for apartments) and different than for-sale housing (i.e. no open
house signs allowed for apartments).
· Apartments need a variety of temporary sign types to meet individual site needs.
· Request uniform enforcement of regulations (i.e. apartment managers feel when an apartment
project is utilizing advertising methods that is not in compliance with City regulations, then that
apartment project has an unfair advantage over other apartment projects complying with the
regulations).
At the same meeting, apartment managers and owners requested the following possible solutions to their
concerns with the existing temporary signage regulations:
· Allow temporary signage similar to commercially zoned business.
· Request no regulation as it relates to the text or color of the banner (color and text is currently not
regulated for commercial business).
· Do not limit time limit allow the use of banners or other temporary signage as needed (i.e. when
there are vacancies).
· In lieu of no time limits, allow either: 30-days up and 30-days down or if that is not acceptable
allow 15-days up and 30-days down, identical to temporary signage regulations of commercially
zoned business.
· Allow, "stick signs" in landscaping (paper/cardboard signs on thin metal wire placed in
landscaping).
· Allow balloons larger than 15" in diameter (18"-20" diameter range).
Adjacent Cities and Temporary Banner Regulations
City Staff has conducted research regarding which nearby jurisdictions allow temporary signage,
specifically temporary banners. The following is a list of cities and regulations they impose on temporary
banners for apartment communities:
City Allow Banner How Large How Long
Danville Yes 20 sq ft 15-day consecutive (45-day max per year)
<1 ac=4 sq ft;
>1 ac-9.9ac=32 sq ft;
Livermore Yes 10+ac=128 sq ft 30-days per quarter
Pleasanton No N/A N/A
San Ramon Yes 12 sq ft 90-days per year
Walnut Creek Yes Not regulated 5-days consecutive (4-times per year for a total of 20-days)
City Staff has contacted the nearby cities to survey how each city regulates temporary banners for
apartment communities, of those cities contacted, one city does not allow temporary banners (Pleasanton)
and two cities allow them for 45-days and less, per year (Danville and Walnut Creek respectively).
Currently, the Dublin Zoning Ordinance does not allow temporary banners for any use within a residential
zoning district (which includes all apartment communities), however for commercially zoned business,
Dublin allows temporary banners to be displayed for 15 consecutive days (then down for 30-days). The
Zoning Ordinance allows a maximum size for temporary banners of 30" wide by 24 feet long or 60 square
feet. The provision which, allows banners to be up for 15-days and requires them down for 30-days,
allows temporary banners to be displayed up to approximately 120 days per year.
Process
If the City Council determines that modifications should be made to the existing Sign ordinance, Staff will
prepare an agenda statement and ordinance and bring them before the Planning Commission ,for review
and will then return to the City Council for two public hearings. The new ordinance would then be in
effect 30-days after adoption.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council: 1) receive Staff presentation; and (2) provide direction to Staff
regarding modifying the Temporary Signage regulations for apartment communities of the Zoning
Ordinance.
PUBLIC HEARING
PINN BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION~ INC., SILVERIA/HAIGHT/NIELSEN PROPERTIES
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PREZONING (STAGE I DEVELOPMENT PLAN) PA
$:01 p.m. 6.2 '(450~$0)
Mayor Lockhart opened the public hearin$.
Senior Planner Janet Harbin presented the Staff Report.
This is the second readin$ of an Ordinance which would approve a Planned
Development Prezonin$ (Stase 1 Development Plan) for 259 multi-family and single~
family homes on approximately 107.7 acres on the Silveria~ Haight and Nielsen
properties located south and east of the intersection of Tassajara Road and Fallon Road in
the Eastern Dublin Specific Hah area.
Andrea Ehresman, Quartz Circle, stated she felt there are still the same issues as the Iron
Horse Trail with this project. Is there going to be new schools built? She stated she has
concerns about the development of Dubhn and the diminishing open space available
and the quality of life.
Mayor Lockhart briefly discussed new schools, which are proposed to be built as
additional homes are built in the east.
Mayor Lockhart closed the public hearing.
On motion of Cm. Oravetz, seconded by Cm. Zika, and by unanimous vote, the Council
waived the reading and adopted
ORDINANCE NO. 15 - 02
AMENDING THE ZONING MAP TO PREZONE PROPERTY
AND APPROVING A RELATED STAGE I DEVELOPMENT PLAN
FOR 107.7 ACRES WEST OF TASSAJARA ROAD
AND AT THE INTERSECTION OF. FALLON ROAD PA 02-024
PUBLIC HEARING
CITY OF DLIBIJN ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS PA 02-040
8:06 p.m. 6.5 (450-20
MaYor Lockhart opened the public hearing.
Senior Planner Janet Harbin presented the Staff Report.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
VOLUME 21
REGULAR MEETING
October 1,2002 0"-~
ATTACHMENT
This is the second reading of an Ordinance amending various Chapters of the Dublin
Municipal Code (Zoning Ordinance) including Chapter 8.08 Definitions: Chapter 8.12
Zoning Districts and Permitted Use of Land; Chapter 8.$¢ Development Regulations;
Chapter 8.40 Accessory Structures and Uses Regulations; Chapter 8.64 Home
Occupations Regulations; Chapter 8.76 Off~Street Parking and Loading Regulations;
Chapter 8.84 Sign Regulations; Chapter $.104 Site Development Review Regulations;
Chapter 8.108 Temporary Use permit Regulations; and Chapter 8.144 Enforcement
Regulations to provide consistency and clarify minor land regulatory issues.
Mayor Lockhart explained that there was a first reading on this when the whole process
was reviewed and discussed. The second reading is generally a formality.
Mayor Lockhart read a statement submitted by Ki Hwang, North Lake Drive, "£ven
thou~,h my business is cate$o~zed as a muir-family dwelling and our rules &
resula~bns are the same as any other home owne~, we should be en~'tled to have
oppo~uni~'es as a ~business~ to p~omote ourselves by way of temporatyp~'omot~bnaI
s~gns. The resulat~bns were strict enough as it was. It would hinder abusinesses" to take
away that pm'viledse (sic). It helps to promote grow~ & spending in'Dublin & b~inSs in
mom taxpayers to our ci&. £1imina~'n~ this p~ledse (sic) will hurt our opportuni& to
brins people to Dublin. Every opporturu'& to market our business a41I help.~
Lisa Hirschhorn, 7100 San Ramon.Road, stated she is Community Director of the Springs
Apartments and has been there for I 0 months. They have made an obvious
improvement. She requested that the Council consider amending the current signage
regulations to all multi-family housing units. They can't utilize banners, flags or
balloons in temporary advertising aids. Surrounding communities allow this, but
Dublin does not. They should be afforded the same rights as other businesses. The City
should treat them as a business, just like McDonalds, Safeway and other businesses.
They help promote growth in Dublin.
Mayor Lockhart closed the public hearing.
Cm. Zika stated he did not realize they were excluded. He asked if a task force could be
set up to meet with apartment owners to study advertising opportunities.
Cm. McCormick stated she frequently passes apartment buildings with huge ~now
leasing" banners al1 over them. What is going on with this?
Ms. Harbin stated most are not in compliance and they end up getting cited. It could be
that their master sign program addresses banners.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
VOLUME 21
REGULAR MEETING
October 1,2002
PAGE 499
Mayor Lockhart reopened the public hearing.
Ms. Hirschhorn stated other communities do not follow.the, regulations. She feels
discriminated against because .of her location, close to the Chamber of Commerce. All
she is asking for is the ability to temporarily put up a banner that's in good taste. She
would come in with it and the City could approve it. Because she follows the rules, her
apartments have a lower occupancy than any other apartment complex in Dublin.
Mayor Lockhart again closed the public hearing.
Cm. Sbranti stated he felt they should get the opportunity to advertise within the same
guidelines as other businesses with temporary signage.
Cm. Zika stated he would also like to get more information about a master sign program.
Mayor Lockhart stated she felt it should be consistent and if some can and SOme can't do
it, this doesn't seem fair. Maybe we could have some criteria.
Ms. Harbin stated they could approve the Zoning Ordinance Amendments as they are
now and if they want to allow banners in multi-family or areas with 10 units or more,
Chapter 8.84 could be amended. It currently prohibits this, but it could be changed and
allowed with zoning clearance.
Mayor Lockhart stated her concern is we do this fairly for everybody. Make it as simple
as possible. We see people violating this every weekend. Can we simplify this? We
need to hear from people who have multi-family businesses. While it may be a business
for someone who oTM or manages, this is someone's home and this also needs to be
taken into consideration.
Cm. Oravetz made a motion to adopt the Ordinance without this section~ and to get a
task force of business and staff together to discuss multi-family signage.
Cm. Sbranti stated he reit this is a specialized area that needs further study;
Planning Manager Jeri Ram stated Staff could send out notices and go over this with
property owners and then bring this issue back to the City Council.
Cm. Oravetz withdrew his motion
On motion of Cm. Oravetz, seconded by Cm. Zika, and by unanimous vo~e, the Council
waived the reading and adopted
CITY COUNCIL NUNUq~S
VOLUME 2 I
REGULAR MEETING
October 1,2002
PAGE 500
Dublin Apartments
COMPLEX NAME MANAGER LOCATION PHONE #
Alders Apartments 7595 Amador Valley Blvd. n/a
Amador Lakes Ki Hwang 8105 N. Lake Drive 828-3666
Avalon Dublin Apartments Kathy Hall 7904 Fall Creek Road 551-8450
Amador Valley Apartments Debbie Hacker 7581 Amador Valley Blvd. 828-1394
Archstone - Emerld Park Jill Hammond 5095 Haven Place 325-0989
Cottonwood Apartments Michele Flechsing 6500Cottonwood Circle 833-0805
Cross Creek Apartments Sandy McDougal 7130 Cross Creek Circle 833-9145
Evan Alan Apartments Art McKimmon 7495 Donahue Drive 803-1813
Greenwood Apartments Debi DeVine 7323 Starward Drive 828-4616
Jefferson at Emerald Park Crystal Buss 5050 Hacienda Drive 870-0500
Park Sierra Apartments Rose Young 6450 Dougherty Road 560-0050
Park Wood Luxury Apartments Crystal Absmeier 7300 Parkwood Circle 829-8080
Springs Apartments Lesa Hirschhom 7100 San Ramon Road 829-9352
Waterford Place Apartments Lee Ann Piombo 4800 Tassajara Road 803-1811
Apartments at Ironhorse Ava Phillips 6233 Dougherty Rd 803-0411
ATTACHUENT
CITY OF DUBLIN
100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, California 94568 Website: http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us
October 22, 2002
Dear Apartment Owner/Manager,
Re: Temporary $ignage for Apartment Communities
At the October 1, 2002, City Council meeting, the City Council directed Staff to meet with the
owners and managers of the apartment communities within the City to discuss the current sign
regulations in respect to temporary banners. Currently the City Zoning Ordinance does not
permit temporary banners for apartment communities. The purpose of the meeting would be to
discuss current regulations and evaluate different options for temporary signage. The options
will then be presented to the City Council for review and further direction.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday November 6, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. in the Regional
Meeting Room at City of Dublin, Civic Center, 100 Civic Plaza.
What: Temporary Signage for Apartment Communities
Where: Regional Room, First Floor of Dublin City Hall at 100 Civic Plaza
When: Wednesday, November 6 from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Who: Apartment Owners and Managers and City Staff
Why: To evaluate different options for signage
ATTACHMENT
Area Code (925) · City Manager 833-6650 - City Council 833-6650. Personnel 833-6605 · Economic Development 833-6650
Finance 833-6640- Public Works/Engineering 833-6630. Parks & Community Services 833-6645 - Police 833-6670
Planning/Code Enforcement 833-6610 · Building Inspection 833-6620 · Fire Prevention Bureau 833-6606
Apartment Signage: Property Owner/Manager notification
October 22, 2002
If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to submit your comments on this issue,
please send them to us no later than November 8, 2002. If you have any questions regarding this
matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at (925) 833-6610. We hope to see you on
November 6th.
Sincerely,
Andy Byde
Senior Planner
Encl: Dublin Apartment List
cc: Richard Ambrose, City Manager
Eddie Peabody, Jr., Community Development Director
Jeri Ram, Planning Manager
Chris FosS, Economic Development Director
ATTACHMENT
CITY OF DUBLIN
100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, California 94568 Website: http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us
AGENDA
Meeting with Apartment Managers and Owners
Temporary Signage for Apartment Communities
Dublin Civic Center, Regional Meeting Room (downstairs)
Wednesday November 6, 2002
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1. Review existing sign regulations
2. Examine concerns with current regulations
3. Identify possible solutions
4. Discuss next course of action and timeline
5. Adjourn
ATTACHMENT