July 2007

Recommended Revisions

to the Citywide

Sign Ordinance

Presentation to the City Planning Commission

January 22, 2009

January 2009

• 1986: Current sign ordinance adopted

• 2002: Off-site signs, supergraphics and murals prohibited; exceptions include Sign Districts. Lawsuits follow.

• 2002: Ordinance adopted enabling Sign Districts

• 2006: Settlements allow digital conversions

• Dec. 2, 2008: City Council’s PLUM Committee calls for new sign ordinance proposal by January

• Dec. 26, 2008: Interim Control Ordinance on off-site signs, supergraphics, and digital displays

Background

January 2009

• Motion #08-2020 instructed the Planning

Department to:

– “Revise the sign ordinance to toughen and

create easily enforceable time / place /

manner restrictions citywide to protect

neighborhoods”

– “Provide clear criteria related to land use

designations for sign districts”

Council Motion

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

• “Visual shouting match” is detrimental to both businesses and residents

• A hectic, stressful environment decreases quality of life, can impact health

• Neighborhood character is obscured

• Streetscapes, properties and neighborhoods are devalued

The Costs of Visual Clutter

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

Recommendation:Stricter Limits on Total Sign Area

Current Proposed

Total Sign Area(ratio of square feet of sign area per foot of street frontage)

More than 4:1 1:1, plus

premises sign area

Premises Sign Area

None 25 square feet per premises

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

• Sign area limited

to 80 square feet

• Sign height

limited to sign

area divided by 4

• An 80 square

foot sign could

be 20 feet tall

Recommendation:Stricter Limits on Pole Signs

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

• Wall signs to include supergraphics and mural signs

• Sign area limited to 100 square feet

• Height limited to 35 feet (applies to all signs)

• Not permitted to cover windows

• Can cover up to 40% of a wall

• Larger murals could be permitted as public art (under a separate ordinance)

Recommendation: Revised Limits on Wall Signs

January 2009

Example 1: Mini-mall (existing standards)

January 2009

Example 1: Mini-mall (proposed standards)

January 2009

Example 2: “Big Box” Retail (existing standards)

January 2009

Example 2: “Big Box” Retail (proposed standards)

January 2009

Example 3: High-Rise (existing standards)

January 2009

Example 3: High-Rise (proposed standards)

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

Digital displays have all of the impacts of other signage, plus:

• Exceptional Visual Intensity

• Roadway Hazards

• Light Pollution

• Light Trespass

• Energy Inefficiency

Recommendation: Prohibit digital displays

January 2009

The distinction is very difficult to enforce:

– Requires subjective judgment of sign

content

– Numerous examples of difficult

judgment calls

– Growing problem with switching of sign

copy after permitting

Recommendation:Remove “On-Site” vs. “Off-Site”

January 2009

Recommendation: Stricter Standards for Sign Districts

Current Proposed

Minimum Size

Smaller of 1 block or 3 acres

10,000 linear feet of street frontage

Zoning / Land Use

C or M zones, or R5 zones in Regional Centers

Only in Regional Centers / Regional Commercial areas

Ownership No requirement More than five property owners

Required Findings

Same as for Zone Changes

Zone Change findings plus unique Sign District findings

January 2009

Regional Centers

January 2009

January 2009

January 2009

• Sign Modifications– Review by Zoning Administrator

– Only for area and height requests up to 20%

• Prohibit roof signs

• Simplify formulas and sign types

Other Key Recommendations

January 2009

Comparison to Other Cities

Regulation Trends among other cities

L.A. standard (current)

L.A. standard (proposed)

Total Sign Area

In L.A. area:

Under 1:1 (2 cities); 1:1 to 2:1 (2 cities)

More than 4:1 1:1 plus premise sign area (25 sf)

Digital displays

All cities prohibit; 4 cities allow them in special districts

Before ICO, allowed everywhere

Allow in Sign Districts

Roof signs All prohibit, except Burbank

Allowed with strict limits

Prohibit

Twelve cities were surveyed: Boston, Burbank, Culver City, Glendale, New York City, Pasadena, Portland, San Antonio, San Jose, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood

January 2009

Comparison to Other Cities(continued)

Regulation Trends among other cities

L.A. standard (current)

L.A. standard (proposed)

Pole sign height

Most limit height between 15-25 ft

42 feet Sign area / 4 (max 20 feet)

Pole sign area

Limits range from 50 to 200 sq ft

400 square feet 80 square feet

Wall sign height

Limits range from 17 feet to roof level

No limit 35 feet

Wall sign area

Limits range from 50 to 200 sq ft

Complex formula

100 square feet

Wall sign coverage

3 cities limit wall coverage; 25 – 40%

No limit 40% of wall

January 2009

Questions / Comments

Conclusion