HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-01-2009 Special
PLANNING & COMMUNITY
CITY OF ' *
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
UBUR:N
* WASHINGTON SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lynn Norman called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. in the Council Conference
Room located on the first floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA.
Committee members present were: Chair Lynn Norman, Vice Chair Nancy Backus and
Member Rich Wagner.
Staff members present included: Mayor Pete Lewis, Assistant Director Kevin Snyder,
Senior Planner Chris Andersen, City Attorney Dan Heid and Planning Secretary Renee
Tobias.
II. ACTION
A. Ordinance No. 6263 - Amendments to ACC 18.56 - Signs
Chapter 18.56 (Signs) of the Auburn City Code contains regulations and standards
for the use of different types of signage on private properties and publicly owned land
within the municipal limits of the City of Auburn. The Planning, Building and
Community Department and the Mayor's Office have received numerous requests
from local businesses for increased regulatory allowances for portable and
temporary signs to help stimulate local business activities during the current
significant economic downturn.
Staff met with the Planning and Community Development Committee on July 27,
2009 and the Planning Commission on August 4, 2009 to discuss issues and ideas
for possible amendments to Chapter 18.56 in response to these requests. Following
these meetings, City staff prepared draft amendments to ACC 18.56 addressing
potential additional flexibility for portable a-frame signs, temporary signs (i.e. special
event signs and banners) and off-site directional signs.
The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on August 25, 2009 on the
proposed amendments.
The Commission recommended that Council adopt the proposed amendments. As
part of its motion, the Committee recommended that the proposed amendments be
valid for a one year period from the effective date of adopting the ordinance with the
opportunity for two additional six-month extensions. The Commission further
recommended that a permit be required for the placement of temporary/portable or
off-site directional signs in the public rights-of-way. City Attorney Dan Heid noted
that any extension of times would be an administrative procedure and would not
have to go back to the Planning Commission for a public hearing. Planning
Commission further recommended that for signs placed in the public right-of-way,
there would be an easily-attained approval through the City via a permit.
Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 1, 2009
Assistant Director Kevin Snyder stated that Planning and Legal staffs have different
points of view to present to the Committee with respect to temporary and portable
signs in the public right of way, and whether they should be subject to a permit. Both
viewpoints were presented to the Planning Commission.
Planning staff stated that from a staff workload management standpoint, requiring
businesses to apply for a permit would create additional permit review
responsibilities for staff. Further, requiring businesses to apply for a permit and pay
permitting fees for signs in the right of way may not be economic development
friendly. Staff recommends that if a permit is required, there either there be no fee or
a low fee. Both Planning and Legal staff agreed that the authorization process
should not be onerous for the business owners.
City Attorney Dan Heid stated that the City Legal staffs' concern is that if a temporary
sign permit is not required, business owners might be able to make an argument that
they have a vested right under the code to continue placing their sign in the public
right-of-way. If the permit had a specific expiration date, this argument could not be
raised. A one-page form, signed by the owner, acknowledging permission to place
their sign in public right-of-way for a limited time, could be sufficient. Legal does not
have an issue with the implementation of the temporary signs or continued use, but
rather that some business owners may feel that they would have a legal basis to be
able to continue using the temporary and portable signs after the sunset of the
temporary amendments as a legal nonconforming use.
Committee asked about the work load on Code Enforcement as well as the fine for
having an unpermitted sign in the public right-of-way. Mr. Snyder responded that
Code Enforcement staff would carry the temporary sign forms to distribute to those
business owners who have not obtained a permit.
Planning Commission recommended that a permit would be required only for signs
placed in a public right-of-way. For signs placed on private property, the
Commissions felt that a permit was not needed. Staff noted that the current sign
code would still apply.
Committee discussed permitting signs in the public right-of-way and private property.
Committee agreed that the temporary sign permit process should be easy, and
further, that the permits would be required for signs placed both in the public right-of-
way and private property.
Staff related that limitation to size and number of signs for both single-tenant and
multi-tenant buildings have been written into the draft language (18.56.030.1). The
Planning Director has the discretionary authority to authorize additional portable
signs along a public or private street frontage if it will not substantively impact the
visual and/or aesthetic impact to the City and allowance is warranted by physical site
conditions.
Committee reviewed and discussed the proposed amendments and directed staff to
revise the proposed amendments to reflect the following:
• Temporary sign permits will be required for all temporary, portable, and off-
premises directional signs, whether in the public ROW or on private property.
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Planning and Community Development Committee Minutes September 1, 2009
• Temporary sign permits will have an expiration date of September 16, 2010.
• 18.56.030.B.2.b: The area of any single banner used by a single business on a
site shall not exceed 32 sq feet unless it spans the street.
• 18.56.030.I.f: Delete the proposed requirement that portable signs shall be
displayed during regular business hours only.
• 18.56.030.J.f: Off-premises directional signs shall have a maximum sign face
area of 12 inches by 24 inches.
• Banners and other temporary, portable, and off-premises directional signs will be
required to be maintained in good condition.
Following action by the Committee, Ordinance No. 6263 is scheduled for review by
the Public Works and Finance Committees and for possible City Council adoption on
Tuesday, September 8, 2009.
Member Backus moved and Member Wagner seconded to forward Ordinance 6263
with revisions onto full Council.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3-0
III. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Planning and Community
Development Committee, Chair Norman adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m.
APPROVED THIS I~ DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2009.
Lyn orman, Chair enee S. Tobias, Planning Secretary
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