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HomeMy WebLinkAbout83-093REL:adg 7/22/83 7/29/83 RESOLUTION NO. 83-93 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA ESTABLISHING RECOMMENDED FACADE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OR DE- VELOPMENT OF PROPERTY That the certain document entitled "Recommended Facade Design Standards" dated August, 1983, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the Clerk of the Council, be and hereby is adopted pending completion of standards to be pro- vided by the Development Standards Review Committee. ADOPTED this ist day of Asst , 1983. ..�M R W, 5,*EBOURGER, Ma ATTEST: NICE C. GUY, lerk of the Council COUNCILMEMBERS: Luxembourger Ave Griset Ave Acosta Ave APPROVED A TO FORM: Bricken Ave Johnson Ave McGuigan Ave Young AveW R J. OPER, City tt dkrmt6 y 1 City of Santa Ana Interim Facade Design Standards _ CO CA t2� CO v C i TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Signage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. Awnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 III. Landscape Planters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 IV. Storefront Windows and Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 V. Facades and Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 VI. Color Schemes and Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 —ii— I. SIGNAGE The location and size of signs on any building should relate to the archi- tecture of that particular structure. Signs should not cover roof shapes, dominate trim or entire windows, nor should they tower over the building (fixed to the roof). Large projecting signs are not appropriate for achieving the desired character of the community. Such signs are out of scale with the street, visually disruptive, and do not relate to the pedes- trian. Flat signs, parallel to the facade, are excellent because they do not compete with the building. The following statements are general guide- lines relating to signage. 1) Appropriate Signing: The following types of signs are appropriate: wall, window, free standing, and small projecting or hanging signs. 2) Inappropriate Signing: The following types of signs are inappropriate for achieving the desired image and character belonging to the commu- nity: roof, revolving, special, animated, changeable copy, and inter- nally illuminated plastic signs. (� 3) Sign Location: Signs should be located at a level on the building v j where they can be seen below street tree foliage and primarily relate to the person walking on the sidewalk. Each type of signage is now discussed in more detail as related to applica- tion and design. i+ 1. wall Signs A) Locations: Wall signs should be located directly above the store or building entrance and yet placed low enough not to be obscured by street tree foliage. Signs located at this level can be easily seen by both passing motorists and pedestrians. A) Shape: Wail signs should have a rectangular shape and should be vr✓ applied horizontally directly above the storefront. when a (a1ti building Contains two or more businesses, the wall signs should complement one another in color and shape and be located in the same position over the storefronts. -1- C) Colors and Visibility: Colors should relate to and complement the materials or paint scheme of the buildings, including accent- ing highlights and trim colors. The number of colors on any sign should be limited to three. This heightens readability (visibil- ity); especially when one color is a dark hue, the second a medium hue, and the third a light accent color. These three combine to produce a highly legible sign. Additional colors only compete with one another. Fluorescent colors are not permitted as they do not complement a building. D), Lettering Styles: Lettering styles used on signage should be highly legible. Store signage is a form of advertising and therefore it is in the best interest of the business establishment to" have signage read clearly and attractively to the passer-by. Decorative styles of lettering can be successful when well designed and used to convey an additional meaning to a sign. The variety of the lettering styles also add individuality and character to each store. E) Methods of Construction and Materials: 1) wooden Signs: There are several ways to effectively utilize wooden signs. Raised letters can be applied to a wooden \ signage band. These letters can be metal or pre -cast and \�J molded. Pre -cast and molded letters can be painted or gold leafed. A wooden wall sign can be routed, carved, or sandblasted to get the effect of raised letters (with corresponding design, if desirable). Paint can also be directly applied to a flat wooden signage band. (A metal band, although more expensive, might be preferable because it offers greater longevity.) CO2) Metal Signs: Different applications of metal include: CV applying raised letters, as described above, on a metal A band; and paint and lettering applied, as described above. Galvanized or baked enamel finish is required to avoid rust- ing. -2- 3) Signage can be painted directly onto the facade of a ouiid- ing. This method resembles a signage band of wood or metal but instead of introducing another material, the painting is done directly on the building facade. Careful consider- ation should be given to the need for painting the entire wall surface prior to painting a new sign directly on the building. 4) Applied Lettering: Pre -cast letters (e.g. molded plastic) applied to a building surface also can be an effective sign- ing alternative. 2. window Signs Two types of window signs which are recommended utilize graphics painted on glass and vinyl letters applied to the glass, or a clear acrylic panel behind the windows. Such signage should complement the other signs and the design of the storefront. A) Location: window signs should be applied so that they do not obscure the visibility into a shop for the passer-by. Several techniques can be used. B) Colors: Complementary and suitably contrasting accent colors are O recommended for the painted window signs. Vinyl letter signs should be white or very light in color since windows have a ten- dency to appear dark. Every effort should be made to integrate \ window signs with store window displays. C) Methods of applying window signs: Painted graphics are usually hand painted by a sign painter directly onto the glass. Although expensive, this is the best method for applying a logo design or image onto the window. This is often an effective eye -stopper for passers-by. CO w Vinyl letters can be applied to glass directly or to a clear CO (Sacrylic panel behind the glass. Both of the above alternative window signs can be used to supple- ment information which cannot be accommodated by larger signs on J the building. Short messages on primary building signs gain more advertising impact than an endless jumble of verbiage. -3- 3. Projecting and Hanging Signs Projecting signs of a small scale or hanging icon signs are typical of pedestrian -oriented commercial areas. Icon signs depict a physical object, such as a shoe, contrasted with signs which utilize lettering to convey the sign message. These signs are colorful and exceedingly effective if oriented to the pedestrian. A) Location: The sign's location should be determined by visibil- ity. Such signs should be located carefully so that they are not obscured by trees or awnings of adjacent windows. B) Colors: As in other signage forms, the colors used should com- plement and accent existing wall and trim colors, and should be limited to three, so that the combination produces a highly read- able sign. Colors used in the hanging signs should relate to the other signs and elements on the building facade, including awn- ings and decorative architectural features. C) Lettering Styles and Images (Logos) in Icon Signs: Icon signs are effective both with and. without the usage of the store's name, although the former is preferable. If a lettering style is used, it should be highly legible. An icon sign which has only the symbol or image of the store should convey very clearly those services which are offered, or products which are sold inside the establishment. The store's name may accompany the icon sign as an additional sign. Some of these images or icons might be: 1) A symbol, i.e., a shoe for a shoe shop or shoe repair shop or a loaf of bread for a bakery. 2) 'Corporate" logos wherein an image or logo is designed spe- cifically for a store or business, including its letterhead and other applications. Such logos are used often in menu designs, packaging, and other advertising. -4- 4. Freestanding Signs Freestanding signs are used in situations where buildings are set back from the sidewalk area and some form of a front yard is present. These signs are usually constructed of wood and are supported by one or more wooden posts driven directly into the ground: A) Location: Freestanding signs should be located where they are CO not obstructed by landscaping and can be easily viewed by pedes- trians. B) Colors, lettering styles, materials, etc.: See description under wall signs and projecting signs. -5- 3) Effective hanging signs also can be limited Detachable "Sale" signs can be hung on the bottom of el permanent sign. This is an effective and tasteful way of announcing a sale and avoiding large hand painted scrawls in a store window. D) Methods of Construction and Materials: 1) Hanging signs are constructed largely of wood. The same methods described in the wooden signage section are appli- cable. 2) Hanging signs also can be constructed of tile and metal with an enamel design. E) Basic Methods for Attaching Such Signs to a Building: 1) Hanging designs can range from very simple to quite intri- cate and artful, e.g., double signs, one on top of the other. 2) Projecting icon signs which are supported from the store- front facade are direct in appearance and cannot swing back and forth, as the hanging method allows. \ (� F) Exterior Lighting for Signage: All of the signage discussed above should have the capacity of being lit externally for even- ing visibility. Signage bands, as well as icon signs, should be 1� JAI, lit. 4. Freestanding Signs Freestanding signs are used in situations where buildings are set back from the sidewalk area and some form of a front yard is present. These signs are usually constructed of wood and are supported by one or more wooden posts driven directly into the ground: A) Location: Freestanding signs should be located where they are CO not obstructed by landscaping and can be easily viewed by pedes- trians. B) Colors, lettering styles, materials, etc.: See description under wall signs and projecting signs. -5- 5. Miscellaneous Signage A) Temporary Signs: Temporary signs such as hastily hand painted "Sale" signs printed on course paper and plastered in windows are !, highly inappropriate and are to be discouraged. B) Hanging Banners: Banners and cloth signs can be an effective means of adding bright colors and a festive air. As materials and .cloth used in construction are vulnerable to the elements, they should be used primarily for special, festive occasions only. C) Street Address Numbers: Bold number graphics can be effectively designed and used not only to highlight the store's address and location, but also to add a bright touch of color to a building. This is especially effective when there is more than one shop per building. -6- co 0? 1* t J II. AWNINGS Cloth awnings add color and shade an area for signage. There are on various buildings. to a building's facade as well as provide several awning shapes that would work well A slanted awning looks attractive on most buildings, especially with sign- age painted on the awning's flap. When an awning is the main signage for a store, the flap should be a minimum of 12" wide with 8" letters so that the letters can be easily read from across the street. The end panels of angled awnings can also be used for signage if adjacent buildings do not have awnings obstructing them. Box awnings are used on buildings that do not require shade but need color and form. They should be in a solid color and may have lettering on them. The lettering should be close to the lower edge. A curved awning makes a strong architectural statement by giving an inter- esting form to a plain building. This shape is especially attractive in white or light colors in a translucent fabric. The colors of all awnings should complement the building color. When a building contains more than one store, each should have a different awning color for individual identification of that store, but all the awnings should relate to one another. if striped awnings are desired, there should only be two colors per awning. ,Patterned awnings are not appropriate. Lighting can be used to create interesting effects on awnings for nighttime drama. Metal and glossy vinyl awnings are to be discouraged. -7- III. LANDSCAPE PLANTERS Landscape planters and wooden window boxes with flowers, low bushes, or small trees located under shop windows or at the entrance, against the building, can be used to enhance a storefront and are highly encouraged. Planters can be movable so that they can be placed indoors at night. -8- IV. STOREFRONT WINDOWS AND WINDOW FRAMES Bare aluminum frames are not recommended where visible by the public as they appear hard, cold, and uninviting. Dark anodized aluminum blends with the glass around it and is less apparent than bare aluminum. For windows with existing bare aluminum, the addition of wood trim is recommended to "warm up" the store windows and building facade. Mirrored glass should be avoided. appropriate in certain instances. Tinted glass, preferably bronze, may be -9- i+. V. FACADES AND MATERIALS There are a number of materials which can be used in and around shop win- dows which are compatible with the strong stucco appearance in the city. 1) Tile is a natural choice with stucco. Flat, solid color tile is ap- propriate. Patterned or textured tile should be avoided.- 2) voided. 2) Another colorful addition to a storefront is a series of brightly colored pull shades inside the windows. The merchant can then control how much shade is desired. 3) Bold non-representational graphics can be used on storefronts to en- -10- T liven a plain facade. 4). Wood is also a good material under the store windows in a vertical or horizontal pattern. Stucco may also be used effectively. 5) Brick is an appropriate material if.brick was part of the original. \ building design, but generally should be avoided in other circum -- stances. Metal siding and precast aggregate panels are inappropriate, as they present a hard, uninviting appearance and do not fit in with the character of the community.. In of materials should be observed first summary, when the integrity and honesty making improvements to a facade. -10- T W VI. COLOR SCHEMES AND FAMILIES The colors selected and .recommended for use are based on the following conditions: 1) Muted colors are appropriate for large background areas, as opposed to Vibrant shades# because the brighter hues fade rapidly. 2) The intensity of heat and sun dictates that light, bright reflective colors should be avoided. The muted medium hues selected absorb light, thereby reducing glare on the street. 3) Light and dark accent colors (for awnings, signage, tiles) complement the medium background colors and highlight those colors by adding contrast. The following color choices are inappropriate and should be avoided: 1) Dark and primary colors as background colors because of their suscep- tibility to fading. 2) Dark and primary colors as accent colors because they do not comple- ment the muted tones desired. (� 3) Bright, light colors which are too 'reflective of heat and glare. Colors which are similar to the color of the sky on overcast hazy days. -11- M=