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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004.0608.TCWSM.Packet��y1v NOTICE OF THE WORK STUDY SESSION N OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL that is Ai►"" Mayor Wally Nichols Vice Mayor Mike Archambault Councilwoman Keith McMahan Councilman John Kavanagh Councilwoman Kathleen Nicola Councilman Ed Kehe Councilman Jay Schlum WHEN: TUESDAY, JUNE 89 2004 TIME: 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. WHERE: COMMUNITY CENTER 13001 N. LA MONTANA DR. (BALLROOM #1) *, • CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL— Mayor Nichols ALL ITEMS LISTED ARE FOR DISCUSSION ONLY. NO ACTION CAN OR WILL BE TAKEN. The primary purpose of work session meetings is to provide the Town Council with the opportunity for in-depth discussion and study of specific subjects. Public comment is not provided for on the Agenda and may be made only as approved by consensus of the Council. In appropriate circumstances, a brief presentation may be permitted by a member of the public or another interested party on an Agenda item if invited by the Mayor or the Town Manager to do so. The Presiding Officer may limit or end the time for such presentations. nowma 1.) DISCUSSION of the permanent sign proposal. 2.) ADJOURNMENT. DATED this 4th day of June, 2004 141 Bevelyn J. Beytder��Town Clerk The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 837-2003 (voice) or 1-800-367-8939 (TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to attend this meeting or to obtain agenda information in large print format. Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the council with this agenda are available for review in the Clerk's office. EAC1erk\AGENDAS\WS\2004\1A1ork Session 6-8-04.doc Page 1 of 1 Last printed 6/4/2004 4:30 PM TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor and Town Council DT: June 7, 2004 FR: Denise Lacey, Planner throu Molly Bosley, AICP, Zoning Administrat RE: A -Frame Alternative Sign Plan .. N ., It is the recommendation of the Sign Committee that utilizing Uniform Addressing, Block Addressing, Business Area Signage, Sign Districts and Shared Monument signs will provide an acceptable/workable alternative to the A -Frame signs currently in use. Each element, when used in conjunction with each of the other elements will provide direction to the visitor and resident alike. The proposed plan outlines the town's responsibility to install and maintain block address and business area signage and the business owner's responsibility to install uniform address numbers and shared monument signage. Evaluation: On November 20, 2003, the Town Council directed staff to form a Sign Committee with the goal of developing an alternative to A -frame signs. Members of the committee were selected based upon their involvement in prior sign issues. It was staff's intention to include a Fountain Hills resident with no business ties and a representative from several different business areas. Members of the sign committee include: Kathleen Nicola, Councilperson Wayne Tall, P&Z Commissioner Sal Ripoli, Business Owner — Mama's Italian Kitchen Charlie Keller, Business Owner — Sorelli's on the Vine Jim Myczek, Business Owner — Grapeables Frank Ferrara, Chamber of Commerce Dennis Brown, Planning & Zoning Commissioner and Business Owner Lou Mirabella, Business Owner — Chocofin Sherry Sledge, Business Owner - Bodyworks Richard Frederick, Resident Molly Bosley, Town Staff Tom Ward, Town Staff A -Frame Sign Alternatives Sign Committee Recommendation The committee discussed why business owners use A -frame signs. The following challenges \► were identified: ➢ Visibility ➢ Saguaro frontage road ➢ Lack of addressing ➢ Sign maintenance ➢ Sign clutter The Committee met eleven times (during the January to May timeframe) to discuss alternative signage. After much discussion and collaboration, the Sign Committee met on May 18, 2004 and voted, unanimously, to propose the following alternatives to A -Frame Signs. Uniform Addressing Require all commercial buildings to display an exterior address number no less than 6" in height. These address numbers should be placed on the wall adjacent to the right-of-way. This action meets the goal of visibility by providing readable addresses. Block Addressing The Town of Fountain Hills shall install block address signage on Saguaro Boulevard and Palisades Boulevard. Exact design, colors placement and cost will be determined after approval of plan is given. In addition, the committee suggests that Town Council direct the street department to implement block addressing on all future street signs. Block addressing will assist in directing travelers and residents to the address of any business. This method will prevent confusion to travelers who are not familiar with our community and address the committee's concern for the lack of visible addresses. Business Area Signage The committee identified nineteen business areas within the town., eight of which do not have visibility from the main thoroughfares. These areas include Fountain Hills North, Avenue of the Fountains, Parkview, Fountainside, Colony/Panorama, Tower, Desert Vista and Amhurst. To assist in directing travelers to these areas the Town shall install sixteen business area sign panels (see attached detail and map). The committee worked diligently to determine placement of the proposed signage and utilized existing town signage posts where possible. 1140, This effort results in limiting the number of new sign post locations to three (see attached detail). Page 2 of 7 A -Frame Sign Alternatives Sign Committee Recommendation The committee proposes that the signs shall have a cranberry background with white trim and lettering providing differentiation in color from the existing town directional signage. Cost for the design has not yet been determined. However, in 1997 the Town of Fountain Hills installed similar signage with a cost of approximately $250 per sign panel (not including post installation). Based upon these figures, the approximate cost for the panels would be $8,500. Exact figures will be determined after completion of an RFP process. Staff suggests that Council budget the necessary funding to allow installation of business area signage no later than December 2005. This proposal meets the concerns of visibility and sign clutter. Business Sign District and Shared Monument Sims Shared monument signs will work in conjunction with the Business Area Signage to provide visibility to our local businesses. The committee recommends the following amendments to Chapter 6 of the Zoning Ordinance (sign ordinance) providing regulations to allow shared monument signs. Section 6.02 Definitions Add the following definitions. Business Area: A concentrated group of businesses located within specified areas of the Town. Business Block: A contiguous business area bounded on all sides by a public right-of-way, alleyway or adjacent property line. Sign District: A group of businesses within a business area, which have been organized into a coordinated group for the purpose of designing and installing a shared monument sign to be located within the business block. Sign District Plan The Sign District provides for a sign program intended to encourage shared monument signs. The intent of the Sign District Plan is to provide adequate identification and information for the sign district businesses, provide an aesthetically pleasing environment, promote traffic safety and is regulated to the extent necessary to be consistent with the purpose and intent of the sign ordinance. Section 6.08 Signs Allowed Add the following regulations to allow Shared Monument signs. (28) Shared Monument Signs are allowed as follows: a) Shared Monument Signs are allowed only for properties, which have formed a Sign District. Property owners may form a Sign District to propose and maintain a shared monument sign for additional signage as provided in this section. In no Page 3 of 7 A -Frame Sign Alternatives Sign Committee Recommendation event may the Sign District plan propose signage that is otherwise prohibited by this ordinance. i. A Sign District maybe formed by petition of at least 51% of property owners located in the same business block, within a recognized business area. ii. The Sign District Plan proposal must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator, or their designee, for approval. iii. The Sign District Plan proposal shall include a complete set of standards, including but not limited to, height, width, materials, placement, letter style, and design for the desired shared monument sign. iv. A Sign District shall coordinate the preparation and submission of the sign plan and shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of all signage and landscaping approved in the plan. v. A copy of the shared monument sign/Sign District agreement must be submitted at time of application. The agreement must include the following items: (1) Notarized agreement between sign district and owner(s) of property on which sign is to be placed, including the following information: a) Authorization for placement of sign on property. b) Statement of understanding that property owner(s) is responsible for maintenance or removal of sign if Sign District is dissolved. (2) All Sign District participants including business owner name, business name, address, and phone number. (3) Any change in Sign District participants requires that the Sign District file a notification of participant change with the Town of Fountain Hills. This notification must identify the name of the deleted participant and the business name, business owner, address and phone number of new participant. b) Proposed shared monument sign must follow the following design guidelines. Height may not exceed 8'. Sign height is measured from the grade directly beneath the sign. Sign height may exceed 8' with a maximum height of 10' if the following criteria are met: (1) The sign is on a slope that is lower in elevation than the adjacent finished roadway surface. (2) The proposed sign does not exceed 8' above an imaginary line created by a horizontal extension of the roadway -finished surface. Page 4 of 7 A -Frame Sign Alternatives Sign Committee Recommendation (3) Vehicular sight lines are not obstructed and road "clear zones" are established that are approved by the Town Engineer and meet with approved Traffic Engineering Standards. ii. Width may not exceed 4'. iii. Each sign may have a text area of no greater than 24 square feet. iv. Placement: Sign must be placed within private property. Sign is not allowed within the right of way. Notarized letter of authorization for sign placement must be submitted with design. Sign must be placed within business block for which it serves. Separation distance between signs must be no less than 150 feet. v. Maximum number of signs per Sign District is two. vi. Landscape Requirement: Minimum area of two square feet of landscaping per one square foot of monument sign shall be provided at base of monument sign. vii. The Zoning Administrator, or his/her designee, may approve placement other than described above. A written request must be submitted outlining the reason for the request and must include a detailed plan showing requested area of placement. The following criteria must be met to receive a determination of placement other than as allowed. (1) A special circumstance or condition must exist which does not exist on other properties within the business area. (2) The authorization is necessary to allow use of a shared monument sign. (3) The special circumstance or condition is not self-imposed (i.e. all locations within the proposed sign district have been reviewed for sign placement and it has been determined the only feasible location for placement is other than as allowed within the provisions of this ordinance). viii. Sign shall not be located in a manner that poses a traffic vision hazard. Sign may not be located within the sight triangle as defined in the Town of Fountain Hills Subdivision Ordinance Section III, Exhibit 16. ix. Sign may advertise only those businesses included in the Sign District agreement. x. Sign may advertise only those businesses possessing a valid Town of Fountain Hills Business License. xi. If a Sign District participant moves out of the Sign District or ceases operation of business, the portion of sign advertising that business, must be removed within 30 days. The vacated portion of sign should be maintained with a blank panel. Page 5 of 7 A -Frame Sign Alternatives Sign Committee Recommendation xii. If a sign district is dissolved, the owner(s) of the property on which the shared monument sign is located will be regulated by one of the following options. (1) Property owner(s) may establish a new Sign District following all required guidelines. (2) Property owner(s) may assume complete control over the monument sign with the understanding that the sign area of the sign will be counted toward the total aggregate square footage of signage allowed for that business. (3) Property owner(s) may modify the shared monument sign to meet the requirements of the total aggregate sign area calculations for that business. (4) Property owner(s) may remove the shared monument sign and return the property to its original condition. This proposal meets the goal of eliminating sign clutter and visibility. Summary: The Sign Committee recommendations address the challenges stated as follows: Visibility — With the combination of business area signs, shared monument signs, and uniform addressing, visibility will increase to commercial businesses. A business owner may advertise their location within the business area (i.e. "Visit our store located in the Parkview Business Area"). The business area signage will then direct travelers to the specific business area. Once in the business area a traveler can easily find a business with the help of monument signs and uniform addressing. Saguaro frontage road — Business area signage will provide clear indication that a traveler is entering into the designated business area enabling them to then follow block addressing signs leading them to identify the exact address by the required uniform addressing. Lack of addressing — This challenge is answered by requiring uniform addressing on all commercial buildings. In addition, block range addresses in the medians will assist travelers in determining their location and proximity to destination. Sign maintenance — This challenge is not addressed in this proposal. Per the Zoning Ordinance, Section 6.07 (D) outlines the requirement of maintenance on signs. This issue falls under Code Enforcement. In addition, the sign district proposal outlines the responsibility of the sign district regarding sign maintenance. Sign clutter — Business area signage will eliminate the need for A -Frame signs thereby reducing the sign clutter caused by such signs. Monument signs are currently allowed for each individual business/commercial lot within the Town. Based upon staff evaluation there are approximately 400 lots that would qualify for an individual monument Page 6 of 7 A -Frame Sign Alternatives Sign Committee Recommendation N sign on site. Based upon the criteria set forth by the proposed regulations, a sign district would require at least three lots to install a shared monument sign, resulting in the possibility of 143 monument signs. However, based upon existing monument signs this number decreases to approximately 60 potential shared monument signs, a drastic reduction in signage therefore, reducing sign clutter. Staff Evaluation and Recommendation: Staff feels that the Sign Committee did an excellent job defining the issues and providing possible solutions. Staff evaluated the proposal as provided in this report and would like to suggest the following additions/amendments to the Sign Committee recommendations. 1) Staff has concerns that the Shared Monument Sign regulations leave doubt as to whether or not the business would be allowed to install an additional monument sign on their property. Because the intention of the Shared Monument Signs is to eliminate sign clutter, staff suggests the following addition. Add the following requirement to Section 6.08 paragraph 28(a) Any business participating in a shared monument sign will not be permitted to install or utilize any additional freestanding or monument signs. 2) Staff surveyed the Town to determine compatibility regarding sign heights. Based upon the survey, staff is concerned that a height maximum of 8' is in excess of existing or currently allowed sign height maximums. In order to provide uniformity to signage throughout the town staff recommends the following amendment. Amend Section 6.08 paragraph 28(b)(i) by replacing it entirely with the following: i) Sign height maximums shall be determined as follows: (1) Three to four business participating allows a maximum height of 6'. (2) Five or more businesses participating allows a maximum height of 8' Staff recommends approval of the proposed alternative sign plan with the changes as listed above. 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