HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Resolution 13-2813 RESOLUTION NO. 13 -2813
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
APPROVING PLN -12 -00302 (PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM) - A REQUEST FOR
APPROVAL OF THE COLOR, SIZE, AND LOCATION OF ALL SIGNS FOR THE WEST
DOWNEY PLAZA, LOCATED AT 7300 -7340 FIRESTONE BOULEVARD IN DOWNEY,
ZONED C -2 (GENERAL COMMERCIAL)
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Downey does hereby find,
determine acid declare that:
A. On December 17, 2012, Christopher Han, Turbo Sign, Inc. (authorized agent for
the property owner Richard Kil, West Downey Plaza, and hereinafter referred to
as "Applicant "), filed a Land Use Permit Application requesting approval of PLN -
12 -00302 regarding a sign program for the West Downey Plaza.
B. On February 7, 2013, notice of the pending public hearing was mailed to all
property owners within 500' of the subject site. Additionally, the public notice
was published in the Downey Patriot on February 7, 2013.
C. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on February 20,
2013, and after fully considering all oral and written testimony, facts, and
opinions offered at the aforesaid public hearing, adopted Resolution No. 13-
2813, approving PLN -12- 00302, subject to conditions of approval (Exhibit A).
SECTION 2. The Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares the
environmental impact of the proposed development has been reviewed and has been found to
comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is categorically exempt from
CEQA, pursuant to Guideline Section No. 15301 (Class 1, Existing Facilities).
SECTION 3. Having considered all of the oral and written evidence presented to it at
said public hearings, the Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares that:
A. The proposed sign is permitted within the zone and it complies with all
applicable provisions of this chapter, the General Plan, and any other
applicable standards.
The subject property is zoned C -2 (General Commercial) and it was developed
as a shopping center in 1984. The C -2 Zone permits the use of wall signs and
freestanding signs. Code Section 9610.04 states requires a Planned Sign
Program for any site having three (3) or more nonresidential tenants. The
Planning Commission shall approve the planned sign program before any sign
permit is issued. The owner /developer of the West Downey Plaza is attempting to
comply with this requirement by obtaining the City's approval of the sign program
PLN -12 -00302 proposes. However, the proposed freestanding sign is too large, t
it proposes too many tenant panels (18), and is too close to the clock tower.
Therefore, the Planning Commission imposed a condition of approval that limits
the size of the freestanding sign to 67 square feet, and limits the number of
tenant panels to six. With this condition in place, the proposed Planned Sign
Resolution No. 13 -2813
Downey Planning Commission
Program will comply with all applicable provisions of Chapter 6 (Signs) of the
Downey Municipal Code.
B. The sign is in proper proportion to the structure or site on which it is
located.
The proposed freestanding sign will be twenty -five feet (25') tall, which meets the
maximum height allowed for freestanding signs set back ten feet (10') from the
street lot line; however, the sign cabinets will contain approximately 170 square
feet of sign area, which is 103 square feet greater than the maximum sign area
allowed for freestanding signs at this location. The conditions of approval will
ensure that the proposed sign will be in proper proportion the buildings that
comprise the shopping center.
C. The sign materials, color, texture, size, shape, height, and placement are
compatible with the design of the structure(s), property, and neighborhood
of which it is a part.
The proposed sign will consist of an aluminum cabinet mounted on a single steel
mounting post. The Applicant requested eighteen (18) tenant panels beneath the
center name. Said panels will feature pushed through acrylic with translucent
vinyl letters. The panels will be twenty inches (20" tall), with white background
color. The aluminum components of the sign will be painted black. In staffs
opinion, the proposed colors of the freestanding sign are not compatible with the
design and colors of the shopping center. A condition of approval that addresses
the color of the sign ensures that the freestanding sign will be compatible with the
building signage and with the buildings on the site.
D. The sign's illumination is at the lowest reasonable level as determined by
the City Planner, which ensures adequate identification and readability, and
is directed solely at the sign or is internal to it.
The sign program proposes requirements for illuminated signs. It describes
illumination as 12 volts Tight emitting diodes (LED's). A condition of approval for
PLN -12 -00302 includes provision for the use of internal LED strands to illuminate
the signs. These lighting sources are set at the minimum standards needed to
ensure that there is adequate readability of the signs.
E. The sign is not detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, or welfare.
The height and placement of the freestanding sign will not create a detrimental
impact to the public interest, health, safety, and /or welfare.
F. The sign complies with Section 9624, Lighting and Design Standards.
All internally - illuminated signs on site will comply with Municipal Code Section
9624.
PLN -12 -00302 — 7300 -7340 Firestone Blvd.
February 20, 2012 -- Page 2
Resolution No. 13 -2813
Downey Planning Commission
L SECTION 4. Based upon the findings set forth in Sections 1 through 3 of this
Resolution, the Planning Commission of the City of Downey hereby approves PLN -12 -00302
s ubject to conditions of approval attached hereto as Exhibit A, which are necessary to preserve
the health, safety and general welfare of the community and enable the Planning Commission to
make the findings set forth in the previous sections. The conditions are fair and reasonable for
the accomplishment of these purposes
SECTION 5. The Secretary shall certify the adoption of t • Res• ution.
4.1
I i ii
Louis Mo ales, Chairman
City PI- ning Commission
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution adopted by the
Planning Commission of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof held on the 20 day of
February 2013, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lujan, Kiefer, and Morales
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: Flores and Rodriguez
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONER: None tl. v , ,
4 4 Mary C vanagh, Secreta 0
City Planning Commission
1
PLN -12 -00302 — 7300 -7340 Firestone Blvd.
February 20, 2012 -- Page 3
Resolution No. 13 -2813
Downey Planning Commission
EXHIBIT A
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
PLN -12 -00302 (Planned Sign Program)
1) The approval of PLN -12 -00302 (Planned Sign Program) approves the location, color,
and size of all signs at the West Downey Plaza, as provided in the Sign Criteria attached
as Exhibit "B ", in addition to providing standards and requirements for a freestanding
sign on the property located at 7300 -7340 Firestone Boulevard, Downey.
2) Approval of this Planned Sign Program shall not be construed to mean any waiver of
applicable and appropriate zoning regulations, or any Federal, State, County, and City
laws and regulations. Unless otherwise expressly specified, all other requirements of
the City of Downey Municipal Code shall apply.
3) The City Planner is authorized to make minor modifications to the approved preliminary
plans or any of the conditions if such modifications shall achieve substantially the same
results as would strict compliance with said plans and conditions.
4) All conditions of approval PLN -12 -00302 shall be complied with before the Planned Sign
Program becomes valid.
5) The Owner /Applicant agrees, as a condition of approval of this resolution, to indemnify,
defend and hold harmless, at Applicant's expense, City and City's agents, officers and
employees from and against any claim, action or proceeding commenced within the time
period provided in Government Code Section 66499.37 to attack, review, set aside, void
or annul the approval of this resolution, to challenge the determination made by City
under the California Environmental Quality Act or to challenge the reasonableness,
legality or validity of any condition attached hereto. City shall promptly notify Applicant of
any such claim, action or proceeding to which City receives notice, and City will
cooperate fully with Applicant in the defense thereof. Applicant shall reimburse the City
for any court costs and attorney's fees that the City may be required to pay as a result of
any such claim, action or proceeding. City may, in its sole discretion, participate in the
defense of any such claim, action or proceeding, but such participation shall not relieve
Applicant of the obligations of this condition.
6) Prior to the issuance of any building permit for a sign, said sign shall comply with this
Planned Sign Program, with exception of window signs and non - permit signs, which
shall comply with the requirements of the Downey Municipal Code.
7) The following changes shall be incorporated into the Planned Sign Program.
a) The sign criteria shall identify the construction materials and the colors of the
freestanding sign.
b) The colors, sign panels and design of the freestanding sign shall match the
colors, architectural style, and exterior building materials of the buildings at the
subject property.
PLN -12 -00302 — 7300 -7340 Firestone Blvd.
February 20, 2012 -- Page 4
Resolution No. 13 -2813
Downey Planning Commission
c) The Applicant shall provide samples of the allowed sign colors, within fifteen (15)
days of the approval of PLN -12- 00302.
d) Table 9 -1 shall be revised to provide accurate information about the existing wall
signs. The building frontage for the second floor of Building "A" totals 139 lineal
feet, (not 156 feet) and the total building frontage of Building A is 292 feet (not
309 feet).
e) The Sign Program's discussion of the fabrication details of existing signs is shall
describe the fabrication materials (aluminum cans with acrylic faces), and
mention the shade of green the sign cans should be painted.
f) The Sign Program's fabrication details shall discuss illumination for new can
signs as 12 volts light emitting diodes (LED's) in the same manner described for
the freestanding sign.
g) Sign Program shall express that all new tenant signs shall be can signs and
describe the sign cans in detail.
h) The Tenant Sign Details shall also include data regarding the existing can signs
and tenant frontages.
i) The wall sign details (Page 13) shall indicate the specific locations where the
maximum letter heights can occur on the property.
j) The background color for all can signs and all tenant panels on the freestanding
sign shall be ivory.
8. No signs shall be displayed on the clock tower.
9. The sign area of the freestanding sign shall not be greater than sixty -seven (67) square
feet, if the freestanding sign set back ten (10) feet from the street line as PLN -12 -302
proposes. The freestanding sign shall comply with all freestanding sign standards
described on Table 9.6.3 of the Downey Municipal Code.
10. The colors for the freestanding sign shall match the exterior building colors at the center.
11. The freestanding sign shall provide not more than six (6) tenant panels to identify not
more than six (6) tenants.
12. The Applicant shall provide five (5) copies of the revised Sign Criteria for the West
Downey Plaza to the City Planner, which contains all of the revisions required by these
conditions of approval, before the Planned Sign Program PLN -12 -00302 proposes,
becomes valid.
H: \Community Development \Davis\cases \Site Plan Review \PLN -12 -00302 (7300 -7340 Firestone) \Reso.doc
PLN -12 -00302 — 7300 -7340 Firestone Blvd.
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