PC Minutes-2008-12-1032400 PASEO ADELANTO
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675
(949) 493-9171
(949) 493-1053 FAx
www.sanjuancapistrano.org
A. CALL TO ORDER
December 10, 2008
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
SPECIAL WORK SESSION
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SAM ALLEVATO
LAURA FREESE
THOMAS W. HRIBAR
MARK NIELSEN
DR. LONDRES USO
Chair Cohen called the special work session of the San Juan Capistrano Planning
Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
None
C. ROLL CALL
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Sheldon Cohen, Vice Chair Gene
Ratcliffe, Commissioner Robert Cardoza, and Commissioner Ginny Kerr
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Tim Neely
OTHER MEMBERS PRESENT: Council Member Tom Hribar (Sign Committee Chair),
Deputy City Attorney Jason Reterrer and Assistant Community Development Director
Grant Taylor
D. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
NONE
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
NONE
F. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
San Juan Capistrano: Preserving the Past to Enhance the Future
no
0M Printed on 100% recycled paper
G. NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS
NONE
H. NEW BUSINESS
NONE
I. OLD BUSINESS
1. WORK -SESSION- COMPREHENSIVE SIGN ORDINANCE UPDATE. A review
of the draft ordinance updating San Juan Capistrano Municipal Code Section 9-3.543
regulating signs. The attached draft ordinance was approved by the Sign Committee,
includes comments from the July 8, and November 13, 2008 Planning Commission
meetings, and comments from the City Attorney's Office. (Applicant: City of San Juan
Capistrano)(Project Manager: Grant Taylor, Assistant Community Development
Director).
Staff Presentation and Recommendation
Assistant Community Development Director Grant Taylor presented a staff report
stating the City Council created a Sign Committee that has conceptually approved the
attached ordinance. The Sign Subcommittee addressed existing code provisions,
identified code deficiencies, considered the needs of the business community, and
addressed the aesthetic character of San Juan Capistrano pertaining to sign sizes,
materials, colors and illumination. Mr. Taylor commented a significant amount of the
San Juan Capistrano sign code was retained, and language from the cities of Santa
Barbara and San Luis Obispo were used. Mr. Taylor briefly summarized the following
code sections:
• 9-3.543(e) Prohibited signs;
• 9-3.543(f) Signs exempt from permits;
• 9-3.543(g) Sign Standards by Type and Zoning District;
• 9-3.543 (i) General Design Criteria;
• 9-3.543 0) Temporary Signs;
• 9-3.543 (m) Sign permit Revocation;
• Appendix A - Definitions.
Public Comments
NONE
Planning Commissioner / Sign Committee Questions and Comments
The Planning Commission, Sign Committee Chair and staff went through the track
change version of the draft sign ordinance page by page, pages 1 through 13, and
made the following edits and comments:
PC Minutes 2 December 10, 2008
1) Page 2, (a)(4)(B): Capital "T" in The primary purpose....
2) Page 2, (a)(4)(B): Delete "engage" and replace with "that promote" economic value.
3) Page 2, (a)(4)(D)(5): Add - Harmonize "with" the building architecture.
4) Page 2, (a)(4)(D)(2): Amend sentence to read "Generally provide for the
identification of business enterprises and shall not be used for general advertising
purposes;"
5) Page 3, (b)(2): Amend sentence to read "Commercial Sign Copy. The text or copy of
signs shall identify the name and/or location and/or address, and/or nature of the
business or center."
6) Page 4, (b)(4): Delete last word "discouraged" and replace with "prohibited".
7) Page 4, (b)(4)(A): Delete entire sentence "Plastic, aluminum, stainless steel and
other contemporary finished materials".
8) Page 4, (b)(4)(C): Amend sentence to read "Exposed spot lights, exterior neon tubing
and exposed electrical conduits."
9) Page 4, (b)(6): delete word "means" shall be limited as follows:.
10) Page 4, (b)(6)(A): At bottom of page delete "a" subdued lighting and shall....
11) Page 5, (b)(6)(A): Delete last sentence "Illumination of monument signs shall be
limited to external fixtures".
12) Page 5, (b)(6)(B): Delete end of last sentence - (TC) District. "and the area in the
Historic Town Center Master Plan". Also, add new subsection (b)(6)(C) to read "Light
Emitting Diode (LED) or other new technology in lighting shall be reviewed by the
Community Development Director".
13) Pages 5 & 6(b)(7): Figures 3-5, 3-6 and 3-7 shall be enlarged to be more legible.
14) Page 7, (c): Beginning of sentence shall be amended to read "Sign Permit
Required. Unless specifically exempted by Section 9-3.543(f), it is unlawful for any
person to erect, alter or relocate any sign within the City ....
15) Page 7, (d): Add language to "Sign Programs" to require a conceptual sign program
reviewed by the Planning Commission during review of any discretionary application
and require a final sign program prior to Certificate of Occupancy.
PC Minutes s December 10, 2008
16) Page 8, (e)(4): Delete proposed language and retain existing code language for
vehicle signs.
17) Page 8, (e)(5): Amend sentence to read "Off-site signs except directional signs that
have been permitted by the Planning Commission pursuant to an approved sign
program".
18) Page 8, (e)(12): Separate and amend to read - "Exposed neon signs exceeding
25% of the window area;" Create new subsection (13) to read "Exposed cabinet signs
(except "Open" or "Closed" window signs)".
19) Page 8, (e)(14): Amend sentence to read "Spot lights and search lights (except as
part of an approved community event) or as approved by the Community Development
Director."
20) Page 8, (e)(20): Add the wording — Any signs "including those signs" commonly
called snipe signs that are tacked....
21) Page 9, (e)(21): Add language to read — Bench signs "(except memorial or
dedication)."
22) Page 9, (e)(21): Delete entirely - "Signs which cover or interrupt architectural
features;"
23) Page 9, (f)(1): Delete duplicate wording "National and State flags".
24) Page 9, (f)(1): Amend sentence to read "National and State flags. A maximum of
one (1) flag each, not exceeding forty (40) square feet in area per flag;"
25) Page 10, (f)(2)(A): Add the word "Temporary" window/door signs that ....
26) Page 10, (f)(2)(C): Delete the end of the sentence - the following standards "(does
not include flags);"
27) Page 10, (f)(2)(C)(1): Amend sentence to read "No sign shall exceed six feet (6') in
height if freestanding, six (6) square feet in area, and located below the roof eaves if
building -mounted".
28) Page 10, (f)((2)(C)(2) & (3): at the beginning of both subsections delete "Each" and
replace with "No".
29) Page 11, (f)(2)(D): Staff erroneously combined subsections D & E. Subsections to
read as follows:
"(D) Development Application Signs. Signs posted on properties for discretionary
applications set forth by City Council Resolution 07-09-04-01 as may be amended."
PC Minutes 4 December 10, 2008
"E) Environmental Signs. Signs that must be posted in accordance with a mitigation
measure adopted pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act or as a condition
of approval for a specific development application."
30) Page 11, (f)(H): Amend sentence to read "Real Estate Sale or Lease Signs (not
including banners). One (1) property sale or lease sign if allowed on each street
frontage of the property. Such sign may be single or double faced and is limited to nine
(9) square feet for lots less than one (1) acre, not more than sixteen (16) square feet for
lots more than one (1) acre, and forty-eight (48) square feet for lots immediately
adjacent to the 1-5 Freeway, or up to sixty (60) square feet at the discretion of the
Community Development Director."
31) Page 12, (f)(1): Delete - "(1) Kiosk Signs;"
32) Page 12, (f)(7): Delete - but shall not include "tacked on devices" directional
arrows...
33) Page 12, (f)(10): Delete — and only one per "drive-thru and/or" entrance;
34) Page 13, (f)(12): Delete in its entirety — "Directional Sign. Any parking lot and other
private traffic directional sign that does not exceed two (2) square feet in area and is
limited to the guidance of pedestrian or vehicular traffic within the premises;"
35) Page 13, (f)(13): Amend sentence to read "Any street address stamped or painted
on a sidewalk or curb;"
36) Page 13, (f)(16): Delete in its entirety — "Any sign designating private business
parking stalls that include name of business. Said signs shall not exceed two (2) square
feet."
37) Page 13, (f)(17): Delete in its entirety — "Tenant interior signs not less than five feet
(6) from the interior of a window;"
COMMISSION / STAFF COMMENTS
NONE
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Cohen adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. to a sign ordinance work session on
December 15, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room #1.
Approved:
Grant Taylor,
Assistant Community Development Director
PC Minutes 0 December 10, 2008