Division 4 — DESIGN REVIEW SIGN REQUIREMENTS

The following reviewing bodies shall make decisions on the design review sign applications provided for in this article. All reviewing bodies shall be responsible for the design review sign applications indicated in Table No. 30-725.A.

DCD—Director of Community Development—Approval Body

PC—Planning Commission—Approval Body

CC—City Council—Approval Body

X—Indicates the reviewing and/or the Approval Body

Table No. 30-725.A. Responsible Reviewing Bodies

Reviewing Body Appeal Body

(Ord. No. 1868, § 9(Att. 2), 5-25-21; Ord. No. 1974, § 4(Exh. A), 9-9-25)

(a)

Application required. All design review sign applications shall be filed on the forms provided by the Community Development Department, together with all required fees and all other information and materials specified by the application requirements list provided by the Community Development Department. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide evidence in support of the findings required by this division for the applicable design review sign approval.

(b)

Business license required. Where a commercial sign is affiliated with a business, that business shall have a valid business license prior to issuance of design review sign approval.

(c)

Hearing notification and appeals. Hearing notification, posting, and appeals shall comply with requirements for Planning Commission hearings as outlined in Sections 30-23 through 30-30.

(d)

Expiration and extension of design review sign approval.

(1)

Design review sign approval expires 12 months after the date of approval unless the sign has been installed or a different expiration date is stipulated in the approval. Notwithstanding these dates, the expiration date of the design review sign approval shall be automatically extended to concur with the latest expiration date of the companion building permit or other applicable permits.

(2)

Prior to the expiration of a design review sign approval, the applicant may apply to the Director of Community Development for one extension of up to an additional 12 months from the original date of expiration. In response to an extension request, the Director may make minor modifications to the original approval or deny further extensions.

(e)

Revisions to design review sign approval. The Director of Community Development may approve minor modifications to an approved application for design review sign if the intent of the original approval is not affected. Revisions that would substantially deviate from the original approval shall require the approval of a new/revised application by the responsible reviewing body.

(f)

Permit Streamlining Act. The reviewing bodies shall make decisions on design review sign applications in compliance with the Permit Streamlining Act as referenced in California Government Code Section 65920.

(Ord. No. 1868, § 9(Att. 2), 5-25-21)

The following sign design principles shall be used as criteria for review and approval of design review sign applications by the responsible reviewing body:

(1)

Architectural compatibility. A sign (including its supporting structures, if any) shall be designed as an integral design element of a building's architecture and shall be architecturally compatible, including in terms of color and scale, with any building to which the sign is to be attached and with surrounding structures. Where more than one sign is provided, all signs shall be complementary to each other.

(2)

Character context. A sign shall be sensitive in context to nearby uses in terms of height, sign type, quality, and type of illumination, as well as other factors that may be defined by the Director of Planning.

(3)

Downtown character. Where a sign is located within the boundaries of downtown, new signs shall contribute to an integrated appearance of the district. Character-defining treatments shall include:

a.

Use of pedestrian-oriented projecting and suspended signs.

b.

Use of floor inlay signs or graphic projection signs, which are allowed only in downtown.

c.

Use of sign colors and materials that are coordinated with building architecture.

(4)

Route 66 character. As part of the design review or administrative site plan entitlement for development of properties located on the historic Route 66 (Foothill Boulevard), Route 66 themed signage shall be incorporated for one sign per property in the following locations:

• Southeast Corner of Ilex Street and Foothill Boulevard.

• Properties at the intersection of Cherry Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

• Properties north of the intersection of Beech Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

• Properties at the intersection of Citrus Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

• Properties at the intersection of Sierra Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

• Properties at the intersection of Alder Avenue and Foothill Boulevard

• Properties at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

Character-defining treatments shall include:

a.

Sign design that is consistent with and reminiscent of historic Route 66 signage.

b.

Use of approved Route 66 logo on signs of at least 24 inches in height.

c.

Use of sign colors and materials that are coordinated with building architecture.

d.

Character-defining treatments can include Route 66 theme signage exceeding the maximum sign area, including height, with Planning Commission approval.

(5)

Legibility. Signs shall be designed to provide clear, legible information that indicates the proposed sign's purpose. The size and proportion of the elements of the sign's message—including logos, letters, icons and other graphic images—shall be selected based on the average distance and average travel speed of the viewer. Sign messages oriented toward pedestrians shall be smaller than those oriented toward motor vehicle drivers.

(6)

Readability. A sign message shall be easily recognized and designed in a clear, unambiguous, and concise manner so that a viewer can understand or make sense of what appears on the sign. Colors chosen for the sign text and/or graphics shall have sufficient contrast with the sign background to be easily read during both day and night.

(7)

Visibility. A sign shall be readily distinguishable from its surroundings so a viewer can easily see the information it communicates.

(8)

Graphic interest. Sign colors and materials shall be selected to contribute to legibility and design integrity.

(Ord. No. 1868, § 9(Att. 2), 5-25-21; Ord. No. 1969, § 4(Exh. A), 5-27-25)

(a)

Applicability and exempt activities. A design review permanent sign approval is required to erect, move, alter, replace, suspend, display, or attach a permanent sign (general sign, freeway sign, and electronic message sign), unless otherwise specified in this article. The following sign activities are allowed without a design review permanent sign approval; however, any required building permit shall be obtained prior to the installation or modification of a sign:

(1)

The normal maintenance of a sign, including cleaning, repainting, or repairing, except when prohibited for a nonconforming sign by Section 30-776; and

(2)

Changes to the face or copy of a sign with changeable copy.

(b)

Compliance with standards. The following standards are required to be found in compliance in order for the responsible reviewing body to approve a design review permanent sign application, with or without conditions:

(1)

The sign complies with the standards of this article and any applicable specific plan or precise development plan;

(2)

The sign is in substantial compliance with the design principles outlined in Section 30-727;

(3)

The sign will not impair pedestrian and vehicular safety from right-of-way; and

(4)

The sign's design or proposed construction will not threaten the public health, safety, or welfare.

(Ord. No. 1868, § 9(Att. 2), 5-25-21)

(a)

Applicability and exempt activities. A design review temporary sign approval is required to erect, move, alter, replace, suspend, display, or attach a temporary sign, unless otherwise specified in this article.

(b)

Compliance with standards. The following standards are required to be found in compliance in order for the responsible reviewing body to approve a design review temporary sign application, with or without conditions:

(1)

The sign complies with the standards listed in Division 7 of this article;

(2)

The sign was reviewed and approved through an associated temporary use permit;

(3)

The sign is in substantial compliance with the design principles outlined in Section 30-727;

(4)

The sign does not impair pedestrian and vehicular safety; and

(5)

The sign's design or proposed construction will not threaten the public health, safety, or welfare.

(Ord. No. 1868, § 9(Att. 2), 5-25-21)

(a)

Purpose. The purpose of design review creative sign (minor) approvals is to encourage permanent signs that exhibit extraordinary aesthetic quality, creativity, and/or innovation through a minor increase to the maximum allowed sign area.

(b)

Applicability.

(1)

Location. An applicant may submit a design review creative sign (minor) request in the following areas:

a.

Within the downtown boundary;

b.

General commercial (C-2) designated properties; or

c.

On properties with frontage on Baseline Avenue, Foothill Boulevard, Sierra Avenue, or Valley Boulevard.

(2)

Requirements. An applicant may request design review creative sign (minor) approval to employ standards that differ from the standards applicable to signs established in this article but comply with the specific provisions of this section, consistent with the following:

a.

Permanent signs may deviate no more than ten percent from the applicable maximum sign area standard established in this article.

b.

A modification permitted by this subsection shall not allow a general advertising sign where it is not otherwise allowed.

c.

A modification permitted by this subsection shall not be additive to any other modification allowance permitted by this article.

d.

A design review creative sign (minor) approval shall not authorize any prohibited sign type or feature set forth in Section 30-722 except where specifically authorized.

Figure No. 30-730.1

Example of possible design review creative sign (minor) application

(c)

Findings and decision. The following findings are required to be made by the responsible reviewing body for approval of a design review creative sign (minor) application, with or without conditions:

(1)

The proposed creative sign complies with the design principles set forth in Section 30-727;

(2)

The proposed creative sign will provide strong graphic character through the effective use of color, graphics, proportion, quality materials, scale, and texture;

(3)

The proposed creative sign contributes a substantial aesthetic improvement to the site and has a positive visual impact on the surrounding area;

(4)

The proposed creative sign is located and designed so as not to cause light and glare impacts on surrounding uses, especially residential uses; and

(5)

The proposed creative sign utilizes or enhances the architectural elements of the building and is placed in an appropriate location in relation to the overall composition of the building's façade.

(Ord. No. 1868, § 9(Att. 2), 5-25-21)