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Home My WebLink About6828 ORDINANCE NO. 6828 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF PORTABLE SIGNS, AND AMENDING' SECTIONS 18.29.060, 18.29.070, 18.56.030 OF THE AUBURN CITY CODE AND VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE DOWNTOWN URBAN CENTER DESIGN STANDARDS WHEREAS,temporary signs, including portable signs, are prohibited throughout the City except for certain locations including the Downtown Urban Center(DUC); and WHEREAS, portable signs are permitted in the DUC zoning district, subject to the regulations contained in ACC 18.29.060(I)(4) and the DUC design standards; and WHEREAS,Auburn has experienced challenges with portable signs and wishes to address these challenges by clarifying, improving, and reinforcing the portable sign standards; and WHEREAS, until such time City Council adopts a fee, portable signs will require a sign permit for no fee; and WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 36.70A the proposed code language contained herein was transmitted to the Washington State Department of Commerce, which performed an expedited agency review. The state agency comment period expired on July 6, 2021 and the City did not receive any agency comments; and WHEREAS,the code amendments were reviewed according to the process established by the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS)was issued on June 24,2021, and the City observed a fourteen-day public comment period; and Ordinance No.6828 July 27,2021 Page 1 Rev.2020 WHEREAS,the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed amendments and considered the effect of the changes on public and private property owners at its June 8, 2021 meeting; and WHEREAS, on July 20, 2021 the Planning Commission held a public hearing, after receiving no public comment letters regarding the proposed amendments, and afterwards forwarded a recommendation for approval to the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN as follows: Section 1. Amendment to City Code. Sections 18.29.060, 18.29.070, and 18.56.030 of the Auburn City Code are amended to read as shown in Exhibit A. Section 2. Amendment to City Code. Section five of the Downtown Urban Center Design Standards is amended to read as shown in Exhibit B. Section 3. Implementation. The Mayor is authorized to implement those administrative procedures necessary to carry out the directives of this legislation. Section 4. Severability. The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or portion of this ordinance, or the invalidity of the application of it to any person or circumstance, will not affect the validity of the remainder of this ordinance, or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances. Ordinance No.6828 July 27,2021 Page 2 Rev.2020 Section 5. Effective date. This Ordinance will take effect and be in force five days from and after its passage, approval, and publication as provided by law. INTRODUCED: AUG 1 6 2021 PASSED: AUG 1 6 2021 APPROVED: AUG 1 6 2021 ANCY : KUS6OR AT EST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: 71 AVIA 041 Shawn Campbell, MMC,'v i \Clerk Kendra Comeau, City Attorney Published:6( ' L ) tuirk ta,701 Ordinance No.6828 July 27,2021 Page 3 Rev.2020 EXHIBIT A Chapter 18.29 DUC DOWNTOWN URBAN CENTER DISTRICT 18.29.060 Development standards. I. Signs. The design of all signs shall be in conformance with the design standards referenced in ACC 18.29.070.Allowable types, numbers and sizes of signs shall be as follows: 1. Freestanding: not allowed,except for monument signs as described within the"Downtown Auburn Design Standards"; no more than one per street frontage; maximum size:64 square feet, calculated at a rate of one square foot of sign area per lineal foot of site frontage; minimum entitlement shall be 32 square feet;maximum height:five feet. 2. Wall signs: maximum area of 150 square feet per building facade,calculated at a rate of one squarefootof sign area for every lineal foot of facade; minimum entitlement shall be 16 square feet. 3. Suspended signs attached under a marquee or canopy:one double-faced sign, no greater than three square feet per face allowed for each building entrance; minimum clearance above grade: eight feet. 4. Portable Signs.Arte-pPortable signs may be allowed for each business entrance, not to exceed - __ - - - - _ _.• _• - - _. ••- ,subject to the following: a. Signs M4may be placed within the public right-of-way,.within 12 feet of a business entrance, subject to the guidelines provided by the director in consultation with the city engineer such that sign placement does not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, does not create a sight hazard,and conforms to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act._ Additional portable signage may be authorized in order to support downtown events that are permitted or sanctioned by the City. b.The sign shall be in accordance with the provisions of ACC 18.56.030(L). lac. The sign area cMay ted-Cannot exceed 36 42 inches in height-td-`329 inches in width, and be limited to two faces. d. Portable signs are not permitted to be affixed to City infrastructure located within the right-- of-way(e.g.street lights,fire hydrants,public art).This includes a prohibition of chaining or otherwise securing portable signs to such infrastructure. Ordinance No.6828 July 27,2021 Page 4 c. May not move,spin,flash,or otherwise be animated. ee. Signs mMay eakv-be displayed during business hours and shall not be displayed when the business is closed. f. No landscaping may be covered,cut, damaged,or modified to accommodate a portable sign. The City may require replacement of any damaged landscaping pursuant to Chapter 18.50 ACC. g.All portable signs shall have the permit number affixed to the back of the sign. 18.29.070 Design standards. Adopted by reference are the"Downtown Auburn Design Standards"and the"Auburn Junction Design Standards,"a copy of which shall bemaintained by the city clerk.These documents contain standards for development of the built environment in the DUC zone.The director shall have the authority to apply the standards to specific development proposals.These standards may be amended upon approval by the community development director c . (Ord. 6532§ 29,2014; Ord. 6419§2, 2012;Ord.6287§2,2010;Ord.6190§ 1,2008; Ord.6071§6(Exh.A),2007.) Ordinance No.6828 July 27, 2021 Page 5 Chapter 18.56 SIGNS 18.56.030 General provisions,all districts. I. Prohibited Signs. From and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter it shall be unlawful for any person to erect or place within the city,except as otherwise authorized: 1. A swinging projecting sign; 2. Portable signs,except as permitted by ACC 18.56.025 (Real estate signs)-an4, 18.56.040(E) (C-2 Zoning District) ,and ACC 18.29.060(1)(DUC); 3. Banners, pennants, ribbons,streamers,spinners, rotating or blinking lights,strings of lights,or similar devices,except as permitted by subsection B of this section(Temporary Signs); 4. Flashing signs,except as permitted in subsection D of this section (Sign Lighting Provisions); 5. Changing message center signs,except as allowed in the I, P-1,C-1, C-2,C-3, M-1 and M-2 zones; 6. Signs attached to,or placed on,a vehicle or trailer parked on private or public property that,is not associated with the business advertised on said sign(s).This provision is not to be construed as prohibiting the identification of a firm or its principal products on a vehicle used in the normal course of business.This does not include automobile for sale signs or signs attached to franchised buses or taxis; 7. Private signs placed in or on a public right-of-way,except for as expressly permitted by this chapter; 8. Any sign which constitutes a traffic hazard or detriment to traffic safety by reason of its size, location, movement,coloring,or method of illumination,or by obstructing the vision of drivers,or detracting from the visibility of any official traffic control device by diverting or tending to divert the attention of drivers of moving vehicles from traffic movement on streets, roads,intersections,or access facilities. No sign shall be erected so that it obstructs the vision of pedestrians by glare or method of illumination or constitutes a hazard to traffic. No sign may use words, phrases,symbols or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead,or confuse traffic; 9. Any sign or advertising structure or supporting structure that is torn,damaged,defaced or destroyed; Ordinance No.6828 July 27, 2021 Page 6 10. Signs attached to poles installed by governmental agencies,utility poles,trees, rocks or other natural features; 11. Signs attached to benches,garbage cans, or other street furniture located within the public right-of-way; 12. Rotating signs; 13. Billboards; 14. Any sign which does not structurally or materially conform to the requirements of the city's adopted International Building Code. Ordinance No.6828 July 27, 2021 Page 7 EXHIBIT B Downtown Urban Center City of Auburn Design Standards ADOPTED 2/12/07; AMENDED 4/14/08, 06/9/08, 06/16/09, 05/24/10, 2/21/17, 2/21/17; REVISION EFFECTIVE 03/01/2017 Ordinance No.6828 July 27, 2021 Page 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Definitions/Architectural Terms II. Guidelines Applicable to All Development Site Design Parking Lots and Garages --Screening and Landscaping --Pedestrian Connections --Width/Spacing of Driveways Shielded Lighting Screening Service Areas Public Plazas Building Design Entrances Ground Level Details Base/Middle/Top Upper Level Setbacks Treating Blank Walls Use of Neon Parking Structures Screening Rooftop Equipment Energy Efficiency Sign Design Integration with Architecture Creativity Landmark Signs Ground Signs Portable Signs III. Guidelines Applicable to Pedestrian Streets Site Design Limitation on Driveways Location of Parking Location of Drive-Through Lanes Building Design Land Use Mix Proximity to Sidewalk Ground Level Transparency Weather Protection Sign Design Pedestrian Orientation Ordinance No. 6828 July 27, 2021 Page 9 facilities are not damaged by other activity on the roof. C. The applicant shall install an outdoor speaker system and AM receiver, to receive the City's Main Street radio signal, on any new commercial structure within the Downtown Urban Center zone. The property owner and/or building owner shall be responsible for the outdoor speaker system and any repairs or maintenance. D. Utility equipment such as power and gas meters shall be painted to match the structure. E. Private utility cabinets (e.g. Comcast, PSE)shall be screened with landscaping where feasible. GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO ALL DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN Sign Design 1. LANDMARK SIGNS Intent:preserve the unique character of the downtown A. Retain existing historic signs(as determined by the City)that 1 = !J feature the character of the area, wherever possible. 2. INTEGRATION WITH ARCHITECTURE Intent: ensure that signage is a part of the overall design of a project and not additive or an afterthought A. The design plans for buildings and sites shall identify locations and sizes for future signs. As tenants install signs, such signs shall be in -• � conformance with an overall sign program that allows for advertising which fits with the architectural character, proportions, and details of the development. The sign program shall indicate location, size, and ,�µ, �` general design. t'4'1 Co C; 44 B. New signs shall not project above the roof, parapet or exterior wall unless part of an integral architectural feature. Signs mounted on a �..t= .. roof are not allowed. . . yy _ • tet() Ordinance No. 6828 July 27, 2021 Page 10 GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO ALL DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN Sign Design 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 4 I by the business in a bold, graphic form ,A taiK- cow B. If a projecting sign is designed by a graphic design 7%,' , •. professional and:includes a non-verbal,three-dimensional symbol �f4 t�� that succinctly conveys the nature of the business and constitutes ��. . a dominant proportion of the overall design,the sign may be i allowed to exceed the maximum area otherwise allowed by 50%. i 4. GROUND SIGNS Intent: ensure that signs are not principally oriented to automobile traffic A. All freestanding signs shall be ground (monument)signs no , ,e higher than five(5)feet. Pole signs are prohibited. B. The area around the base of any ground sign shall be rl planted with shrubs and seasonal flowers. ��} 4o6 g41, C. Backlit signs are permitted if the sign meets all other — standards for signage in this document and Chapter 18.29. D. Internally-lit signs are p permitted when located adjacent and oriented to Auburn Way North/Auburn r 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 �) L)� ��1A®141 1 67� other applicable standards for changing message 714_750_S4®0 center signs as described in this same chapter. L. E. Boxed cabinet signs are prohibited in the Downtown Urban Center zone. ,..rr`:, ; : . F. Outlined cabinet signs are permitted only if the sign meets all other standards for signage in this document and Chapter 18.29. � Ordinance No.6828 July 27, 2021 Page 11 GUIDELINES'APPLICABLE TO ALL DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN Sign Design 5. PORTABLE SIGN DESIGN STANDARDS ' i . Intent:to encourage finished appearance of portable signs iw __ A. Portable signage in the Downtown Urban Center should contribute to the r :,..., ;t - downtown's designation as a vibrant and pedestrian-oriented zone in the City. Signs c��' ., should be designed with the purpose of promoting nearby services and goods and =- - ---" street activity, and contribute to a lively street aesthetic. „'"`'- B. Signs must be professionally manufactured of durable materials. Sign copy shall -" ' ttil T . . be framed, board-mounted, or plastic laminated for a finished appearance. ,' ., 4 Chalkboard style A-frame signs and menu boards are permitted, provided text and io�• ¢` --,1::-.--,„,,,,alk, .n! ' i iel t,i, t graphics are tasteful. ' �t++ 8W aR „. lip,. .,�g1 'p` ESPRESSO i 1 'k ICE CREAM FUDGE C. Signs should convey the product or service offered with a highly graphic, _ _--- v,p D"D`DuTEaTEA expressive, and individualized design. 7 -C� '- ;, D. Sign may not include lighting, attachment, animations or move, spin, and/or flash. • .' . . +' Ordinance No. 6828 July 27, 2021 Page 12