HomeMy WebLinkAboutNS-2449 - Amending Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code Regulating Signs in the Downtown District185
ORDINANCE NO. NS-2449
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA AMENDING CHAPTER 41 OF THE SANTA
ANA MUNICIPAL CODE REGULATING SIGNS IN THE
DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: That Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-1021 is hereby amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 41-102i' General requirements and definitions.
(a) A sign program shall be required as follows:
(1)
An approved sign program covering primary signs and secondary
signs is required for all new buildings prior to the erection or
installation of any sign.
(2)
An approved sign program covering primary and secondary signs is
required for all existing buildings when application is made for a
new primary sign or replacement of an existing primary sign.
(3) Sign program applications shall be submitted in a manner
prescribed by Article XI.
(4)
Subsequent to approval of a sign program, all new on-building
signs shall be in conformance with the sign program.
(b) The following definitions shall apply to Division 7 only:
(1)
Downtown distdct means that area of the City of Santa Ana
bounded by Civic Center Drive on the north, French Street on the
east, First Street on the south, and Ross Street on the west.
(2)
Pdmary sign means the principal and dominant sign identifying a
ground-level business and located on or attached to the building in
which such business is located.
(3)
Secondary signage means signs, other than a primary sign for a
business, which identify or draw attention to such business or
advertise the goods or services offered by such business.
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(c)
(4)
Color and lettering board means an exhibit drawn to scale that
shows the lettering style, colors to be used (by name, sample
and/or stock number of local manufacturer), dimensions, lighting
characteristics, layout, and content of any proposed sign.
(5)
Pole sign means a sign supported by a single support the width of
which is less than fifty (50) per cent of the longest dimension of the
sign.
Ground Floor Tenants Space means the distinct leasable space
located on the ground level separated from others by floor to ceiling
walls, and with a separate door or access point onto a public street.
(7)
Second Floor Tenants Space means the distinct leasable space
above the ground floor tenant space separated from others by floor
to ceiling walls, and with a separate door or access point onto a
street.
All signs shall conform to the following general provisions:
(1)
Signage shall be consistent with the architectural design and
proportions of the building and may not be placed on transoms,
prismatic glass, insignias or any other architectural ornamentation.
(2)
Lettering on signs on buildings shall be appropriate to the period
when the building was built. Lettering styles that are similar in
character to historic styles are allowed.
(3)
Colors may be contrasting but shall be harmonious with the colors
used on the building facade and adjacent signs.
(4)
The design and manufacture of all signs must be of a professional
quality and must be produced by a professional sign contractor
licensed to do business in the City of Santa Ana as a sign
contractor.
SECTION 3: That Santa Ana Municipal: Code Section 41-1023 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 41-1023. Primary wall signs.
Primary signs which are wall signs shall comply with the following standards:
(1) The sign shall not extend more than six (6) inches from the building plane.
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(2) The sign area shall not exceed two (2) square feet per linear foot of each
tenant street front elevation to a maximum of one hundred (100) square
feet of sign area per tenant street front elevation.
(3) The area of the sign shall not exceed fifty (50) per cent of the signable
area for each tenant.
(4) No sign shall have a horizontal dimension that exceeds seventy-five (75)
per cent of the horizontal dimension of the portion of the building occupied
by the activity identified by the sign, measured on the side of the building
on which the sign is located.
(5) The top of the sign must be placed below the level of the second story
window sills, but in no event higher than three (3) feet above the ceiling
level of the ground story, or above the roof line of the building.
(6) Illumination of signs by incandescent bulbs is allowed only if done by
projecting light fixtures of historic character. Nonhistorical buildings may
use incandescent, exposed neon and internal lighting.
(7) Sign types are limited to one (1) of the following per building:
a. Individual letters.
b. Sandblasted or carved signs.
c. Solid sign faces and backgrounds.
d. Neon signs.
e. Internally or backlit individual letters.
(8) Sign materials are limited to the following per building:
a. Fourteen (14) pounds or greater density
automotive lacquer or the equivalent.
b. Paint.
c. Wood.
d. Metal.
e. Acrylic or plexiglass.
f. Neon.
foam finished with
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Other durable materials approved by the Downtown Development
Manager.
SECTION 4: That Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-1025 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 41-1025. Secondary signage, general standards.
Secondary signage shall comply with the following standards:
(1)
Secondary signs shall be either window signs conforming to section 41-
1026, neon signs conforming to section 41-1027, hanging signs
conforming to section 41-1028, awning signs conforming to section 41-
1029, or secondary wall signs conforming to section 41-1030.
(2)
Permanently affixed Iogos, or other traditional symbols that identify the
nature of a business, may be used.
(3)
Each tenant shall be limited to two (2) secondary signs per tenant
elevation. If the business name only is utilized for the secondary signs, it
may appear once per window, regardless of the number of windows, but
no other secondary signage shall be permitted. The tenant name, shall be
in a uniform location and shall be of a uniform size.
(4)
Except in alleys, secondary signage may occur only below the transoms,
except as noted per section 41.1026(4) or, if none are present, below the
uppermost portion of the display windows.
(5)
VVhere space limitations prohibit any primary signage, secondary sign
requirements may be expanded upon special review and approval of the
planning director. Approval shall be granted only if it is found that the
standard secondary sign requirements do not adequately meet the
signage need of the business.
(6)
Secondary signage on levels above the ground floor may be used only to
announce the names of businesses on the upper floors.
(7) Second story tenants are limited to window or projecting signs only.
(8) No sign is allowed for tenants above the second floor.
SECTION 5: That Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-1026 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
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Sec. 41-1026. Window signs.
Signs painted directly on the window surface, including showcase windows and
glass-paned doors, shall comply with the following standards:
(1)
Letters shall not exceed nine (9) inches in height or cover more than
twenty-five (25) per cent of a window area and shall not exceed a
maximum size of twenty (20) square feet.
(2)
Window signage is limited to no more than one (1) window area, including
street facing windows and windows in entry doors, except that businesses
with street frontages between seventy-six (76) and one hundred and fifty
(150) feet can have one additional window sign and that businesses with
street frontages over one hundred and fifty (150) feet can have one
additional window sign.
(3)
Window signage is allowed for ground floor and second floor tenants only,
with windows facing street frontage.
(4)
Prismatic glass or glass block, including glass transoms, may not have a
sign applied to it. Signs on transoms immediately over entry doors and
contained within the door frame are allowed and shall not exceed 25% of
the window area.
(5)
For windows above the first floor, window signs shall consist of individually
painted letters, gold leaf letters or neon per section 41-1026(6)(b).
(6)
Any vacuum tube sign lit by neon gas shall comply with the following
standards:
(a)
Letters shall not exceed nine (9) inches in height and sign area is
limited to four (4) square feet.
(b)
Any letter style is permitted as long as letters are continuous.
Painted out spaces between letters are not permitted.
(c)
Neon bands may be used only to frame the sign but must be
contained within the allowable sign area.
(7)
A color and lettering board shall accompany all application for window
signs.
SECTION6: That Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-1028 shall be
amended to read as follows:
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Sec. 41-1028. Hanging or projecting signs.
Any sign which is suspended by wire, chain or cable from the underside of a roof
or canopy structure or is hanging from a window or projecting beyond six (6) inches
shall comply with the following standards:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Signs shall not exceed four (4) square feet in size.
The sign must be behind the glass pane if used as a window sign.
Only one (1) hanging sign per street facing window or entry area allowed,
not to exceed two (2) hanging signs per business.
If used as a primary sign, see primary wall sign standards.
Signs shall be made of wood or metal with raised letters, or letters painted
directly on a wood or metal base, or shall be carved or sandblasted wood
signs, or shall be neon in accordance with section 41-1026.
Exterior mounted signs must have a minimum clearance of seven (7) feet
six (6) inches above the finished surface of the pedestrian right-of-way
beneath it.
Projecting signs identifying businesses above the ground floor may be
located along the second floor exterior wall. No projecting sign can be
located above the second floor.
No two (2) projecting signs may be placed closer than twenty-five (25)
lineal feet to one another.
SECTION 7: That Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-1029 shall be
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 41-1029. Awning signs.
Signs on awnings shall comply with the following standards:
(~)
(2)
(3)
The awning valance may be treated as secondary signage and used to
announce goods and services.
If used as a primary sign, see primary wall sign standards.
Duplicate sign copy is not permitted.
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(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
The allowable area of signage on an awning may not exceed one (1)
square foot per linear foot for a maximum of one hundred (100) square
feet. The maximum amount of sign area on the awning shall not exceed
twenty (20) per cent of the available awning space.
The maximum letter height for the valance shall be six (6) inches.
Awnings must project at a minimum fifteen-degree angle from the face of
the building.
Awnings may not cover transom windows.
Awnings must be appropriate to building architecture.
Transparent or semi-transparent awnings may not be internally
illuminated.
SECTION 8: That a new Section 41-1030.1 shall be added to the Santa Ana
Municipal Code to read as follows:
Sec. 41-1030.1 Building Directory Sign.
A directory sign identifying businesses above the ground level shall comply with
the following standard:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Must be located at the ground level and adjacent to the entry point for the
upper levels.
No more than one directory sign per ground level entrance.
The area of the directory sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet.
The directory sign may only identify the names of businesses above the
ground level.
Letter height shall not exceed two (2) inches.
.SECTION 9: That a new Section 41.1030.2 shall be added to the Santa Ana
Municipal Code to read as follows:
Sec. 41-1030.2 Service Entry Wall Sign.
(1) Must be located adjacent to the ground level service entrance.
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(2)
(3)
(4)
No more than one (1) service entry wall sign per business.
The area of the service entry sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet.
The service entry sign cannot face a public street.
SECTION 10: That Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-1033 is hereby
deleted in its entirety.
SECTION 11: That Santa Ana Municipal Code Section 41-1036 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 41-1036. Real estate signs.
Signs advertising the sale or lease of buildings or building space shall comply
with the following standards:
(1) Such signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in size.
(2)
No more than two (2) such signs are allowed on any face of the building,
with one (1) sign being mounted in a ground floor window and the other
above the ground floor on any eligible signable area.
(3)
Lettering on real estate signs on historically contributive buildings shall be
appropriate to the period when the building was built. Lettering styles that
are similar in character to historic styles are allowed.
(4)
Such signs must be removed within thirty (30) days after the building or
building space to which they pertain has been sold or leased.
SECTION 12: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of
this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of
any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby
declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection,
sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more
sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or
unconstituti(~nal.
SECTION 13: Neither the adoption of this ordinance nor the repeal hereby of any
ordinance shall in any manner affect the prosecution for violation of ordinances, which
violations were committed prior to the effective date hereof, nor be construed as affecting
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any of the provisions of such ordinance relating to the collection of any such license or
penalty or the penal provision applicable to any violation thereof, nor to affect the validity
of any bond or cash deposit in lieu thereof, required to be posted, filed or deposited
pursuant to any ordinance and all rights and obligations thereunder appertaining shall
continue in full force and effect.
ADOPTED this 16th dayof October , 2000.
A'FI'EST:
Patricia E. Healy
Clerk of the Council
COUNCILMEMBERS:
Pulido Aye
Lutz ~
Bist A_v~
Christy Absent
Franklin Aye
McGuigan Aye
Moreno Absent
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Joseph W. Fletcher, City Attorney
'~ary A. ,S~"~tz
AS sista_n_t C_t~.t~ Atto r n eye...__...)
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY & PUBLICATION
I, PATRICIA E. HEALY, Clerk of the Council, do hereby certify the attached Ordinance
No. NS-2449 to be the original ordinance adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Ana on October 16, 2000; and that said ordinance was published in accordance
with the Charter of the City of Santa Ana. ~
Date: /0 -/'~ -<C~C~ "C~erk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Ordinance No. NS-2449
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