Ordinance - 1810ORDINANCE NO. 1810
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE
BY AMENDING CHAPTER 26, ARTICLE VII, AS IT
• RELATES TO SIGNAGE REGULATIONS FOR
USES HAVING DESIGNATED OUTDOOR DISPLAY
AREAS ON APPROVED PRECISE PLANS.
(Amendment No. 221)
WHEREAS, by direction of the Planning Commission, the
Planning staff studied and analyzed the City's regulations for
detached signs and how they apply to uses with designated
outdoor display areas on approved precise plans.
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, upon giving the required
notice, did on the 1st day of March, 1989, conduct a duly
advertised public hearing as prescribed by law; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of West Covina has considered
evidence presented by the Planning Department, the Planning
Commission, and other interested parties at said public hearing
held on March 20, 1989; and
WHEREAS, studies and investigations made by this Commission
and in its behalf reveal the following facts:
1. The existing sign code does not differentiate between
uses with designated outdoor display areas and uses
conducted primarily indoors.
2. This lack of distinction has resulted in a
considerable discrepency between the permitted height
and face area of detached signs for uses with
designated outdoor display areas and uses conducted
primarily indoors.
3. In the past and even more recently the City
has received a number of variance applications from
uses with designated outdoor display areas for larger
and higher signs than what the existing code would
permit.
4. The granting of variances as a method of dealing with
an apparent code deficiency is not an acceptable
planning practice.
5. Separate signage standards which are.more appropriate
for uses with designated outdoor display areas can 'be
established in a manner which protects the City's
existing qualities and, at the same time, improve its
character.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of West
Covina, California, does ordain as follows:
SECTION NO. 1: Based on the evidence presented and the
findings set forth, Chapter 26, Article VII, is hereby amended
to read as follows:
Page 2
Section 26-309.5. Height
a. The height of a sign shall mean the vertical distance
measured from the adjacent street curb elevation to the top
of the highest element, including any structural element.
• Section 26-327.5. Detached Sign (Uses with designated outdoor
display areas on approved precise plans).
a. One double-faced or single -faced detached advertising or
identifying sign shall be allowed for a business located on a
75,000 square foot or larger site that has an approved
precise plan designating a minimum of 4,000 square feet of
the site for "outdoor display" area, as allowed under the
provisions of Section 26-597 of this Chapter, and a minimum
of 25,000 square feet of vehicular storage or parking area,
subject to the following provisions:
1. The detached sign shall not exceed 35 feet in overall
height.
2. The sign area shall not exceed 150 square feet per face.
One-half of the area of the sign shall be subtracted from
the total allowable signage on the front of the building
as described in Section 26-322.
3. The following types of detached signs shall be permitted:
a. Freestanding signs with a minimum of two vertical
uprights attached to the ground. Vertical uprights
shall be an integral part of the sign frame and
incorporated into the overall design of the sign
structure; or
b. Freestanding signs consisting of a solid masonry or
metal panel, or other materials as approved by the
Planning Director, that rests directly on the
groundor on a base resting on the ground.
4. All signs shall be designed to incorporate design and
building materials which compliment the architectural
theme of the building(s) on the site. No architecturally
untreated poles shall be permitted. Bases, poles and
other components shall be architecturally treated in a
way compatible with the architecture of the building.
b. An additional detached sign may be permitted subject to the
following provisions:
1. The total lot frontage exceeds 350 feet along a freeway,
arterial or collector street.
2. Such sign shall not be located closer than 75 linear
feet, measured along the parcel frontage, from any other
detached sign on the same site or an adjacent site as
provided by this section.
3. Such sign shall comply with the development standards as
specified in part (a) of this section.
Page 3
•
C. The maximum number of detached signs per development, as
provided by this section, shall not exceed two. Businesses
utilizing shared facilities shall be considered as one
development.
d. All detached signs shall be placed within a permanently
landscaped area of no less than 24 square feet surrounded by
a concrete or comparable curb of no less than six inches.
e. The general location and dimensions of the detached signs
shall be approved by the Planning Director unless fixed by a
precise plan or by the Planning Commission or City Council.
f. A sign permit is required as specified in Section 7-134 of
the Municipal Code.
SECTION NO. 2: Based upon the findings of an initial study, it
has been determined that the proposed project will not have a
significant impact on the environment. Therefore, a Negative
Declaration of Environmental Impact has been prepared for the
proposed project pursuant to the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act of 1970, as amended.
SECTION NO. 3: The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of
this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published as required
by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 20th day of March, 1989.
Mayor
ATTEST:'
V
City Cler
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF WEST COVINA )
I, Janet Berry, City Clerk of the City of West Covina, do hereby
certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 1810 was regularly
introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of
the City Council on the 20th day of March, 1989. That,
thereafter, said Ordinance was duly adopted and passed at a regular
meeting of the City Council on the 27th day of March, 1989.
by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Tarozzi, McFadden, Lewis, Bacon, Manners
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
--I# APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Cler
City Attorney
CERTIFICATION
I, JANET BERRY, CityClerk
of the City of West ,Covina, State of
California, do hereby certify that a true and accurate copy of
Ordinance No. v was published, p pursuant to law, in the
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, a newspaper of general circulation
published and circulated in the City of West Covina.
Janet Berry, City Clerk
City of West Covina, California
DATED:_ �4 —��--