HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM III-AMemorandum
WASHINGTON
To: Downtown Redevelopment Committee
From: Elizabeth Chamberlain, Principal Planner
CC: Cindy Baker, Planning, Building, and Community Director
Date: October 8, 2009
Re: Amendments to the Downtown Urban Center Design Standards
Backaround
At the September 22, 2009 Downtown Redevelopment Committee meeting, staff
brought forward questions about monument signage in the downtown and whether
backlit signs could be permitted under certain conditions. After review of the current
standards and some example signs, the Committee provided direction to staff on what ~
would be acceptable for monument and backlit signs within the downtown.
Proposed Chanaes
Attached to this memo are the proposed changes to the Downtown Urban Center
Design Standards related to monument and backlit signage.
Recommendation
Downtown Redevelopment Committee recommends approval of the proposed changes
to the Planning and Community Development Committee for action.
Page 1 of 1
AUBURN* MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
GUicELMEs nPPLicABLE ro ALL DEVELOPMEN7 irv oow,vroWN
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3. CREATIVITY
Intent: encourage interesting, creative and
unique approaches to the design of signage
A. Signs should be highly graphic in form, expressive
and individualized. Signs should convey the product or
service offered by the business in a bold, graphic form
B. If a projecting sign is designed by a graphic design
professional and includes a non-verbal, three-
dimensional symbol that succinctly conveys the nature of
the business and constitutes a dominant proportion of the
overall design, the sign may be allowed to exceed the
maximum area otherwise allowed by 50%.
4. GROUND SIGNS
Intent: ensure fhat signs are not principally
oriented to automobile traffic
A. All freestanding signs shall be ground (monument)
signs no higher than five (5) feet. Pole sipns are
prohibited.
B. The area around the base of any ground sign shall be
planted with shrubs and seasonal flowers.
C. Backlit siqns are permitted if the siqn meets all other
standards for siqnaqe in this document and Chapter
18.29.
D_Internally-lit signs are pFohdboted
when located adjacent and oriented to Auburn Way
North/Auburn Way South street frontages and only with
electronic message center signs in accordance with
Auburn City Code Chapter 18.56 Signs. If an internally
lit sign is utilized, the sign shall also conform to all other
applicable standards for changing message center signs
as described in this same chapter.
E. Cabinet siqns are prohibited in the Downtown Urban
Center zone.
Design Standards 11
Downtown Urban Center Zone
I i, ,,,o 16, 2009 October XX, 2009
ArJDdTIONAL Gt1IDELlNFS FOR DEVELOFMEN7 S1TES ADJACEfqT Tt7 PEDESTRIAN S7REETS
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1. PEDESTRIAN ORIENTATION
Intent: provide signs that activate and strengthen
the pedestrian realm
A. Signs shail be primarily oriented to pedestrians, rather than
people in vehicles. The following are types of signs are
encouraged along Pedestrian Streets:
1) Blade signs (projecting over sidewalk)
2) Window signs (painted on glass or hung behind glass)
3) Logo signs (symbols, shapes)
4) Wall signs over entrance.
B. PA12-riy.,s a.,.a o.,+ O .a +
.,or.,,;++,,d oeaos+r,.,., e+ + Monument siqns are
permitted on pedestrian streets onlv if the followinq are met:
. The siqn is setback from the back of sidewalkâ˘
. Does not create a siqht distance hazard;
. Does not block pedestrian access; and
. The siqn is providinq pedestrian wayfindinq and not
oriented to vehicles.
C. Signs shall be evaluated with respect to size, scale,
relationship to other signs, function, location and other factors.
Design Standards 15
Downtown Urban Center Zone
j.,.,o 16, 2nnoOctober XX. 2009
Pedestrian Streets
DOWNTO'wV' N
Design Standards 16
Downtown Urban Center Zone
j,,.,o 16, 20090ctober XX, 2009
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