HomeMy WebLinkAboutNotice of ActionNotice of Action
CITY OF ATASCADERO
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FROM: Bailey Sullivan, Assistant Planner MEETING DATE: 6/15/2022
FILE NUMBER: USE22-0051
PROJECT ADDRESS: 8120 EI Camino Real
The applicant, Carmen Garriazo, is proposing two new electrical channel letter wall signs
in the Downtown Commercial (DC) zoning district. The signs are for the business Belnano
Coffee at 8120 EI Camino Real. The storefront proposed sign is three -hundred and six
inches long and twenty-six inches tall (26" x 306"). The logo is 46 inches long by 46
inches tall. The total square footage for both the logo and lettering of the sign is 72 square
feet. The sign is centered horizontally between the two units being leased together. The
size of the storefront wall is 50 feet by 7 feet, causing the maximum width of the lineal
leased frontage to be 55%. The sign on the northside of the building is planned to be one
hundred and thirty-two inches long by twenty-six inches tall (26" x 132"). A Master Sign
Program was approved for this Center in 1999. This sign program varies from Atascadero
Municipal Code requirements.
The Master Sign Program for the center requires the following be met:
24 -inch maximum letter height with a maximum sign square footage of 40 sf.
• Signs are not allowed on the north side of the building
• Maximum width shall be equal to 75% of the lineal leased frontage and centered
horizontally.
Since the proposed letter height for the sign for Belnano Coffee is 2 inches above the
allowed maximum letter height in the Master Sign Program for this location, the applicant
is requesting the exception in order to maximize underutilized wall space alongside the
building. This wall has no current existing signs, as Belnano Coffee is a new business.
The applicant is also requesting an exception to the Master Sign Program to allow for a
second sign on the north side of the building.
EVALUATION:
The total aggregate signage area for the business is proposed to be 72 square feet for
the storefront sign and 24 feet for the north side sign. The LED wall sign would help
identify and promote this business and would be consistent with existing signage for the
building. In addition, this building is part of a planned center and is set back a considerable
distance from the adjacent rights-of-way. Larger signage will increase visibility from the
public way as well as from the adjacent parking lots. The proposed sign design is also
proportionate to the existing building wall.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Administrative Hearing Officer approve USE22-0051 to allow the
signage as proposed.
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Categorical Exemption CEQA - Guidelines Section
Statutory Exemption §§ 21000, et seq &
No Project — Ministerial Project
15311
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 centered above the existing leased storefronts and is large enough
to be visible to advertise the individual tenant's services.
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)
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." The proposed sign helps promote the downtown commercial corridor. General
Plan Goal LOC 4 states: "Provide for a strong and distinctive Downtown Area." This sign
Page 3
will help enhance and promote a commercial node in the downtown area, and allow for a
unique and distinctive sign design that will help frame street -facing businesses in the
downtown commercial zone. Additionally, the proposed sign complies 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 considered harmonious with the building.
Conditions
1. The design and location of the sign shall be consistent with Attachment 2.
2. The sign shall stay within the maximum proposed, which is 26 inches in letter
height.
3. The sign must remain horizontal and centered on the building wall.
Code Requirements
1. AMC 9-15 (Sign Ordinance)
2. AMC 9-1.112 Administrative Use Permit
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Location Map
Attachment 2 - Proposed Elevation
Action:
Approve
❑ Approve as modified
❑ Deny
❑ Continue to: to allow
❑ Continue indefinitely to allow:
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Attachment 2: Proposed Elevations and Sign
USE22-0051
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Positioning
• Sign to be centered vertically & Horizontally as shown above.
132 in
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