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* COVID-19 NOTICE *
Consistent with Executive Orders N-25-20 and No. N-29-20 from the
Executive Department of the State of California and the San Luis Obispo
County Health Official’s March 18, 2020 Shelter at Home Order, the AUP
Meeting will not be physically open to the public and Planning Staff will be
teleconferencing into the meeting.
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3 minutes of speaking time. If a comment is received after the agenda item is heard
but before the close of the meeting, the comment will still be included as a part of the
record of the meeting but will not be read into the record.
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Administrative Use Permit agendas and staff reports may be viewed on the City's
website: www.atascadero.org. Final Action Reports will be available after the
meeting, and upon request from the Community Development Department.
Copies of the staff reports or other documentation relating to each item of business referred to on
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C ITY OF A TAS CADERO
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
6500 PALMA AVE ▪ ATASCADERO, CA 93422 ▪ (805) 461 -5035 ▪ FAX 461-7612
Administrative Use Permit Hearing
A G E N D A
*MEETING WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY*
The City of Atascadero’s Zoning Hearing Officer will hold a public hearing
at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 2, 2021 at City Hall to consider the
following projects.
1. 6950 EL CAMINO REAL, (USE21-0062); The application for the project is to
allow for signs for an ATM that exceed size limitations in the Downtown
Commercial Zoning District. (Mechanics Bank/AAA Facility Services)
(Mariah Gasch, Assistant Planner)
PLEASE NOTE: Any court challenge to the actions taken at the public
hearing may be limited to considering only those issues raised at the public
hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence to the City of
Atascadero at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Any decision of the Hearing Officer is final unless a ppealed to the Planning
Commission within 14 days of the action. Any person aggrieved by the
decision may file an appeal. Appeal forms are available in the Community
Development Department or on the City’s website (www.atascadero.org).
The fee for filing an appeal is $806 and must accompany the appeal
documentation.
C ITY OF A TASCADE RO
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Administrative Hearing Agenda Report ITEM # 1
FROM: Mariah Gasch MEETING DATE: August 2, 2021
FILE NUMBER: USE21-0062
PROJECT ADDRESS: 6950 El Camino Real
SITUATION:
The owner, Mechanics Bank, is proposing the installation of a new ATM canopy and ATM
machine to replace an existing ATM machine at 6950 El Camino Real. The new canopy
and ATM machine both include new signage for the business, Mechanics Bank. The
existing ATM machine has a cover with vinyl sign graphics on all four sides of the header.
In addition to the current ATM signs, Mechanics Bank has three existing wall signs and
one monument sign. The existing total amount of commercial signage currently exceeds
the fifty (50) square foot limit for the Downtown Commercial zoning district. The total area
of signage for the existing ATM is approximately 71 square feet. Overall signage for the
site is approximately 156 square feet. In addition, the proposed ATM canopy and machine
signs are larger than what is existing. Therefore, the additional signage requires
Administrative Use Permit approval.
EVALUATION:
The total aggregate signage area for the business exceeds the fifty (50) square feet
allowed in the Downtown Commercial Zoning district. The proposed detached canopy is
Mechanics Bank’s corporate maroon color with backlit panels for their logo and the “ATM”
identification. The ATM machine itself is also maroon, as opposed to the existing tan
machine which is consistent with the main building, and includes Mechanics Bank logos
on the top and bottom. Staff has added a condition that the canopy color be modified to
be tan to match the existing primary building. Allowing the canopy structure to be a
corporate color greatly increases the sign size. This also allows a future tenant to paint
the structure another corporate color. Requiring the canopy to be tan will ensure that its
appearance stays consistent with the building. The business name, maroon color and
logo symbol are all counted toward the aggregate signage. The existing ATM and
attached canopy are large, bulky and worn down. The proposed ATM signs would be an
aesthetic improvement to the site and help identify this business. They would also be
consistent with existing signage for the building. In addition to this, the size of the
proposed free-standing canopy is also consistent with the pedestrian scale of the
downtown. The free-standing canopy and ATM will be of similar size and scale to the
existing ATM structure. Staff has added a condition that the backlit logos be as dim as
possible to ensure visibility but reduce offsite glare.
1
C ITY OF A TASCADE RO
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ATM sign
size (total)
ATM logo
size
Canopy sign
size (total)
Canopy logo
size
Total
proposed
signage
Without
maroon
canopy
~71 square
feet
~4.5 square
feet
~135.5
square feet
~25.5
square feet
~236.5
square feet
~101 square
feet
2
C ITY OF A TASCADE RO
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Existing ATM
Proposed ATM with Canopy
3
Page 4
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Administrative Hearing Officer approve USE21-0062 to allow the
signage as proposed.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
☒ Categorical Exemption CEQA – Guidelines Section 15311
☐ Statutory Exemption §§ 21000, et seq & ________________________
☐ No Project – Ministerial Project
Findings
AMC 9-15.011 requires the Hearing Officer to make the following 4 findings:
1. The sign is consistent with the purposes set forth in Section 9 -15.002;
The proposed sign helps meet needs that are based in the following purposes outlined in
section 9-15.002 of the AMC. Section 9-15.002(a) intends to “Maintain and improve the
aesthetic environment and overall community appearance to foster the City’s ability to
attract sources of economic development and growth .” Section 9-15.002(c) intends to
“implement quality sign design standards that are consistent with the City’s General Plan,
Zoning Ordinance and Appearance Review Guidelines;” Section 9-15.002(e) intends
to “minimize possible adverse impacts of signs on private and public property in order to
maintain property values and to maintain a positive City image;” Section 9-
15.002(g) intends to “generally limit commercial signage to on-site locations in order to
protect the aesthetic environment from the visual clutter associated with the unrestricted
proliferation of signs, while providing channels of communication to the public.” Finally,
Section 9-15.002(h) intends to “limit the size and number of signs to levels that
reasonably allow for the identification of a residential, public or commercial location and
the nature of any such commercial business.”
2. The opportunity to combine signs for more than one (1) use on a single sign
structure has been considered;
The proposed sign is on a standalone ATM. There is no viable opportunity to combine the
proposed signs with existing signs.
3. For freeway-oriented signs, the sign area and height are the minimum needed to
achieve adequate visibility along the freeway due to highway ramp locations and
grade differences; and
The proposed sign is not freeway-oriented.
4. Conformance with all other applicable codes and ordinances of the City, including,
but not limited to, the Zoning Ordinance, General Plan and its several elements,
and the appearance review guidelines. (Ord. 604 § 2, 2016)
4
Page 5
The sign conforms with applicable codes and ordinances of the City, including Framework
Principles of the General Plan that call for improving the appearance and character of
Atascadero through signage. General Plan Policy 1.3 states: “Enhance the rural character
and appearance of the City, including commercial corridors, gateways and public
facilities.” Additionally, the proposed sign is in compliance with the City’s appearance
review manual guidelines related to signs. Specifically, the sign is in scale and proportion
in its visual relationship to the building and surrounding structures, and can be co nsidered
harmonious with the building.
Conditions
1. The design and location of the signage shall be consistent with Attachment 2.
2. The canopy’s color shall be tan to match the existing primary building.
3. Backlit logos shall be as dim as possible to ensure visibility but reduce offsite glare.
Lighting compliance shall be reviewed prior to issuance of building permits and a
night lighting inspection shall be required prior to final.
Code Requirements
1. AMC 9-15 (Sign Ordinance)
2. AMC 9-1.112 Administrative Use Permit
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Location Map
Attachment 2 - Site Photo
Attachment 3 - Proposed Elevations
Action:
Approve
Approve as modified
Deny
Continue to: _______________ to allow _________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Continue indefinitely to allow: __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
Phil Dunsmore, Hearing Officer
5
Aerial Map
Attachment 1: Location Map
USE21-0062
6
View from El Camino Real (showing existing ATM)
Attachment 2: Site Photo
USE21-0062
7
Elevations
Attachment 3: Proposed Elevation
USE21-0062
8