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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 02-16-21 7 CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION DEPARTMENT REPORT FEBRUARY 16, 2021 1. Docket No. PZ-2020-00119 OA: Sign Standards Amendments. The applicant seeks to amend the Unified Development Ordinance in order to amend Section 5.39 Sign Standards, Sections 7.11 & 7.12 Entryway Feature Standards, Section 5.66 Food Stand Use Standards, Section 1.29 Filing Fees, and Definitions for signage. Filed by the Department of Community Services on behalf of the Carmel Plan Commission. *Updates to the Dept. Report are in blue. Project Overview: The purpose of this proposal is to add new sign types, allow different sign types for various uses, promote pedestrian scale signage, and better tailor the recently adopted (2017) Unified Development Ordinance to meet Carmel’s signage needs. Please view the informational packet for the proposed ordinance. OneZone Carmel Business Issues Committee Involvement: The Department of Community Services has worked with OneZone on the proposed revisions. Three meetings have occurred in which the proposed ordinance amendments were reviewed and explained in detail. The OneZone committee did request that instead of using the language “Front Yard” when allowing certain sign types Staff instead use “set back from”. This is now consistent throughout the UDO. OneZone will provide a letter of support to Staff in the coming days. Ordinance Amendments : 1. Introduction of Construction Fence Signage This is signage meant to showcase upcoming projects and developments during the demolition and construction phases. 20% of an entire mesh area may be used for signage. As a result of this introduction new definitions are required to outline what this type of sign is and where it may be placed. In addition, a new filling fee was added to Section 1.29 because there is potential for this type of sign to be fairly large. 2. Canopy Signs Carmel’s core is quickly urbanizing, which has led to new building types present in the Midtown, Proscenium, and City Center developments. Canopy signs is signage installed at the ends of metal canopies. Currently Staff utilizes the Wall sign definitions to determine the size of these signs. However, because this sign type is becoming more prolific throughout Carmel and utilizing Spandrel Panel’s has led to mixed results, a promulgation is needed for this type of signage. Proposed is a maximum height of 24” based on other municipal sign standards and review of existing signs installed on canopies in Carmel. Width is determined by the size of the canopy. The proposed standards allows for appropriately sized signs that will be seen by slow moving traffic in these areas but are still at a pedestrian scale which are not out of context. 3. Residential Complexes Currently the Residential Complex section does not apply to subdivisions. This section is rewritten, along with a definition change, to apply to all residential uses including attached, multiple family, single family, and two-family dwellings. The section now contains all potential signage with corresponding number, type, sign area, location, and design requirements. Because there is stark contrast in the signage needs for subdivisions and larger apartment buildings, Staff is proposing allowing sign types based on the setback of buildings. A more detailed explanation of this can be found in the point below. Also included is a reference to Section 7.11 Residential Entryway Features 4. Allowing sign types based on building setback Staff is proposing allowing sign types based on the set back of buildings. An Entrance, Ground or Suspended sign is allowed only if a building or group of buildings is set back 15-ft. or greater. Blade, Projecting, or Wall signs are allowed regardless of setbacks. Staff works hard to create pedestrian scale environments. Often this involves bringing buildings closer to the street, which leaves little room for ground signs. After one factors in the planting of trees & landscaping, construction of a sidewalk or path, and possible on-street parking there are not many places for a ground sign to effectively meet its purpose compared to other signs types located on buildings. This will apply to Residential Complexes, 8 Single Tenant Buildings for Non-Residential Uses, and Multi-Tenant Buildings for Mixed-Use and Non-Residential Uses. 5. Blade & Projecting Signs Staff is proposing to differentiate between Blade and Projecting signs. Blade signs are larger vertically oriented signs that spans multiple floors on a building. Projecting signs are typically used for first floor or single-story tenants. Projecting signs have a maximum square footage of 20 sq. ft. while a Blade sign size is determined by a Spandrel Panel on the building. This allows a blade sign to fit cohesively with any architecture. A maximum square footage of 75 is allowed and is based on the sizes of all the Blade signs in Carmel. 6. Temporary Signs in C1 & C2 Districts Last year Staff amended the UDO in order to restore and clarify standards which previously applied to the C1 & C2 Districts but were left out during the conversion of the UDO. The Carmel Redevelopment Commission has asked that these standards also be applied to temporary signage. The CRC will have control of the location and number of temporary signs. The Sign Standards would then apply to classification, size, and design among other aspects. 7. Ground Sign Chart Staff is proposing a reduction of the overall size for Ground Signs. This occurs by decreasing the category sizes for distance of sign from the right-of-way and the maximum sign area allotment. Staff examined every new Ground Sign for the past 3 years (table contained on the following page) to make this determination. In practice signs are much smaller than they are allowed to be and typically as close to the right-of-way as possible. Of the signs with leftover square footage the average unused amount is 19.72. Of all the Ground signs reviewed only three were installed more than 50’ from the street right-of-way placing the signs in a higher category. Staff has determined this necessitates adoption of smaller categories. 8. Entryway Features Entryway Features were not present in the previous zoning ordinance and were introduced with the UDO in 2017. Entryway Features allow subdivisions and larger commercial developments to construct a structure which meets their theme or adds to the character of the area. This does not allow for larger or taller signage, but rather a taller structure. The proposed revisions are meant to mold these sections to better fit with the Sign Standards and the UDO. Specifically, a 5-ft. setback requirement is added, required ADLS or ADLS Amendment approval is added, reference to the Sign Standards is included, defined terms were capitalized, and both sections are reorganized like the structure of section 5.39 Sign Standards. Lastly a new definition was added for Entryway Features. 9. Other affected UDO Sections Sections 5.18 Home Occupation Standards and 5.66: Food Stand Use-Specific Standards now refer to Section 5.39 Sign Standards. When the UDO was adopted in 2017 and in subsequent amendments Staff has tried to consolidate all signage standards to one section of the UDO. 10. Addition of new definitions New definitions are proposed in order to allow for new sign types and differentiate between certain sign types and uses. October 20, 2020 Public Hearing Recap: Staff gave an overview of the project, specifically the overarching goals of the Sign Standards and the major amendments. This included adjusting the Entryway Features section to fit the Carmel Sign Standards, reduction of the Ground Sign chart, inclusion of additional signage to the Residential Complex section, introduction of Construction Fence Signs, and the addition of a 15-ft. setback standard to determine sign type. Because of the large number of amendments Staff recommended that a more thorough review of all the changes occur at Commercial Committee. The Commission asked questions regarding how the proposed amendments would affect existing signs, if has Staff considered amending the Window sign section, how can the City move away from commercial looking subdivision signs, explanation of the Ground Sign Table submitted with the packet, and the reasoning for the 25% allowable sign size for Construction Fence signs. The petition was sent to the Commercial Committee on November 5th and will return to the full Plan Commission for a final recommendation onto City Council. 9 December 1, 2020 Commercial Committee Recap: Staff gave an overview of the proposed amendments to the Filing Fees, Home Occupation, and Sign (subsections included Permanent, Exempted, Prohibited, Maintenance, and Purpose & Intent) sections of the UDO. The Committee asked questions regarding Spandrel Panels as they relate to signage, the Vehicles used as Signs section, why 75 sq. ft. is the maximum proposed size for Blade signs, the proposed 15-ft. setback requirement for determining sign type. Committee specifically requested that Staff reexamine the impact of the proposed 15-ft. setback requirement for determining sign type. January 5, 2021 Commercial Committee Recap: Staff gave an overview of amendments to the Permanent Sign Standards since the December 1st Commercial Committee. This included removing the 15-ft. setback requirement for Wall, Blade, and Projecting signs. Signs installed onto a building are permitted regardless of the setback. Ground, Suspended, and Entrance signs are only permitted when building(s) are set back 15-ft. or greater. Committee and Staff had a thorough conversation regarding the proposed new sign type, Construction Fence signs. Specifically, the question was raised, ‘How did Staff decide on the 20% maximum sign area and $0.25 fee?’ Because Staff cannot control what is printed on construction fencing, to an extent, limiting the sign area to 20% allows developers to advertise the new development, financer, and construction company while also staying with Staff’s overall policy of keeping focus on buildings and natural environment, not signage. Staff was also asked to further examine the fee associated with this new sign type. After reviewing neighboring municipality fee schedules, examining how fees would affect future permit costs, and researching the annual department fee increases it was decided that $0.25 was the most appropriate proposal. February 2, 2021 Commercial Committee Recap: Staff reviewed the last few sections of the ordinance amendment both new and old. This includes the decision-making process for the $0.25 Construction Fence fee, an allowance of additional signage for businesses with more than one drive- thru lane, the changes to the Ground Sign Chart, changes to the Food Stand Use standards, rewriting of the Entryway Feature Standards, and introduction of Canopy signs. Committee did not have many questions or comments during the presentation. Staff did request favorable recommendation subject to Staff’s final review of the Canopy signs. The proposed ordinance was forwarded back to the full Plan Commission with a favorable recommendation. Updates since Commercial Committee: The only changes are for the newly created Canopy signs. Staff rereviewed every sign that is considered a Canopy Sign in the city and is proposing a decrease in the allowable width from 80% or 70% for canopies that are larger than 14-ft., a maximum size of 70 sq. ft., and a limit to the length of any signage on a canopy face. All changes that have been made since the October 20th Plan Commission can be found highlighted in yellow. Green highlights indicate revisions since the February 2nd Commercial Committee. Recommendation: Once questions and concerns have been addressed, the Department of Community Services recommends forwarding this item to the Carmel City Council with Favorable Recommendation.