1. July 2007 Recommended Revisions to the Citywide Sign Ordinance Presentation to the City Planning Commission January 22, 2009

2. January 2009 1986: Current sign ordinance adopted 2002: Off-site signs, supergraphics and murals prohibited; exceptions include Sign Districts. Lawsuits follow. 2002: Ordinance adopted enabling Sign Districts 2006: Settlements allow digital conversions Dec. 2, 2008: City Council’s PLUM Committee calls for new sign ordinance proposal by January Dec. 26, 2008: Interim Control Ordinance on off-site signs, supergraphics, and digital displays Background

3. January 2009 Motion #08-2020 instructed the Planning Department to: –“Revise the sign ordinance to toughen and create easily enforceable time / place / manner restrictions citywide to protect neighborhoods” –“Provide clear criteria related to land use designations for sign districts” Council Motion

4. January 2009

8. “Visual shouting match” is detrimental to both businesses and residents A hectic, stressful environment decreases quality of life, can impact health Neighborhood character is obscured Streetscapes, properties and neighborhoods are devalued The Costs of Visual Clutter

9. January 2009

12. Recommendation: Stricter Limits on Total Sign Area CurrentProposed Total Sign Area (ratio of square feet of sign area per foot of street frontage) More than 4:11:1, plus premises sign area Premises Sign Area None25 square feet per premises

13. January 2009

15. Sign area limited to 80 square feet Sign height limited to sign area divided by 4 An 80 square foot sign could be 20 feet tall Recommendation: Stricter Limits on Pole Signs

16. January 2009

21. Wall signs to include supergraphics and mural signs Sign area limited to 100 square feet Height limited to 35 feet (applies to all signs) Not permitted to cover windows Can cover up to 40% of a wall Larger murals could be permitted as public art (under a separate ordinance) Recommendation: Revised Limits on Wall Signs

22. January 2009 Example 1: Mini-mall (existing standards)

23. January 2009 Example 1: Mini-mall (proposed standards)

24. January 2009 Example 2: “Big Box” Retail (existing standards)

25. January 2009 Example 2: “Big Box” Retail (proposed standards)

26. January 2009 Example 3: High-Rise (existing standards)

27. January 2009 Example 3: High-Rise (proposed standards)

28. January 2009

31. Digital displays have all of the impacts of other signage, plus: Exceptional Visual Intensity Roadway Hazards Light Pollution Light Trespass Energy Inefficiency Recommendation: Prohibit digital displays

32. January 2009 The distinction is very difficult to enforce: –Requires subjective judgment of sign content –Numerous examples of difficult judgment calls –Growing problem with switching of sign copy after permitting Recommendation: Remove “On-Site” vs. “Off-Site”

33. January 2009 Recommendation: Stricter Standards for Sign Districts CurrentProposed Minimum Size Smaller of 1 block or 3 acres 10,000 linear feet of street frontage Zoning / Land Use C or M zones, or R5 zones in Regional Centers Only in Regional Centers / Regional Commercial areas Ownership No requirementMore than five property owners Required Findings Same as for Zone Changes Zone Change findings plus unique Sign District findings

34. January 2009 Regional Centers

35. January 2009

37. Sign Modifications –Review by Zoning Administrator –Only for area and height requests up to 20% Prohibit roof signs Simplify formulas and sign types Other Key Recommendations

38. January 2009 Comparison to Other Cities RegulationTrends among other cities L.A. standard (current) L.A. standard (proposed) Total Sign Area In L.A. area: Under 1:1 (2 cities); 1:1 to 2:1 (2 cities) More than 4:11:1 plus premise sign area (25 sf) Digital displays All cities prohibit; 4 cities allow them in special districts Before ICO, allowed everywhere Allow in Sign Districts Roof signsAll prohibit, except Burbank Allowed with strict limits Prohibit Twelve cities were surveyed: Boston, Burbank, Culver City, Glendale, New York City, Pasadena, Portland, San Antonio, San Jose, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood

39. January 2009 Comparison to Other Cities (continued) RegulationTrends among other cities L.A. standard (current) L.A. standard (proposed) Pole sign height Most limit height between 15-25 ft 42 feetSign area / 4 (max 20 feet) Pole sign area Limits range from 50 to 200 sq ft 400 square feet80 square feet Wall sign height Limits range from 17 feet to roof level No limit35 feet Wall sign area Limits range from 50 to 200 sq ft Complex formula 100 square feet Wall sign coverage 3 cities limit wall coverage; 25 – 40% No limit40% of wall

40. January 2009 Questions / Comments Conclusion