TA2008-07003, ORD 7997-08, August 19, 2008
~ Clearwater
To:
Community Development Board Members
Date:
Robert Tef~Kanager
August 07,2008
From:
RE:
Case: TA2008-07003 - Amendments to the Community Development Code
The Staffreport will be emailed to you on Thursday, August 14,2007 before 5:00 P.M.
Case: T A2008-07003 - Amendments to the Community Development Code Level Three Application
Applicant: City of Clearwater, Planning Department.
Request: Amendments to the Community Development Code to adopt criteria by which sandwich
board signs may be permitted in certain areas, provide a fee for such signage, and to add a definition
for traditional urban corridor.
Presenter: Robert G. Tefft, Planner III.
CDB Meeting Date: August 19, 2008
Case Number: TA2008-07003
Ordinance No.: 7997-08
Agenda Item: E. 1.
CITY OF CLEARWATER
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Amendments to the Community Development Code to adopt criteria, by
which sandwich board signs may be permitted in certain areas, provide a fee
for such signage, and to add a definition for traditional urban corridor.
INITIATED BY: City of Clearwater Planning Department
BACKGROUND:
The proposed amendments to the Community Development Code (CDC) have resulted from code
compliance issues with sandwich board signs and the like in the Downtown (D) District. As a result of
these issues, and the completion of the Cleveland Street Streetscape Project, the City Council directed
staff to prepare an ordinance that would allow such signage to be present on a temporary basis (not to
exceed one-year) in order to promote economic development in this developing area.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed ordinance would accomplish three things. First, the ordinance establishes several criteria
by which sandwich board or other “A” frame type signs may be permitted. Among these criteria are the
following:
Sandwich board signs may be displayed on the sidewalk only during hours of operation of the
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business and within the linear frontage of the specific business location being advertised. Under no
circumstance shall the sandwich board sign be stored exterior to the business location;
The size of any sandwich board sign shall not exceed 42 inches in height, 20 inches in width;
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No sandwich board sign shall be placed so as to block any public way, or within the visibility triangle
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of intersections or driveways. Placement may not reduce sidewalk width to less than four feet clear
area. Placement may not impede ingress or egress from a business entrance nor block access or
visibility of a fire hydrant;
The sandwich board sign shall be of a non-illuminated, freestanding, two-sided design comprised of
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metal, wood or synthetic materials such as chalkboard. The sign shall not be made from plastic or use
plastic lettering, and shall not include a whiteboard;
The sandwich board sign shall be professionally designed and may use shapes and forms indicative of
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the type of business and the services being advertised; however such signs may not include
sponsorships or advertisements for products;
Design must be reviewed and approved before placement. Placement prior to approval will not
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necessitate approval of the application as submitted; and
The sandwich board sign may not be attached to any structure or pole, and may not include any
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moving parts or attachments, including but not limited to: balloons, pennants and streamers.
However, attachable items such as a removable chalkboard, that is intended to be an integral part of
the sign and is not precluded by any other of these criteria, may be permitted.
Community Development Board – August 19, 2008
TA2008-07003 – Page 1
Second, the ordinance adopts a definition for the term “traditional urban corridor,” which is used in the
aforementioned criteria for determining where sandwich board signs may be located. And third, the
ordinance amends the Schedule of Fees, Rates, and Charges to establish a fee in the permitting of
sandwich board signs.
The proposed Ordinance No. 7997-08 is attached and includes each of the amendments. Within the
ordinance document, text that is underlined indicates proposed language and text containing
strikethroughs indicate deletions.
CRITERIA FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS:
CDC Section 4-601 sets forth the procedures and criteria for reviewing text amendments. All text
amendments must comply with the following:
1. The proposed amendment is consistent with and furthers the goals, policies and objectives of the
Comprehensive Plan.
Below is a selected list of goals, objectives and policies from the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan that
are furthered by the proposed amendments to the CDC:
Objective 4.1 All signage within the City of Clearwater shall be consistent with the Clearwater
sign code, as found within the Community Development Code, and all proposed
signs shall be evaluated to determine their effectiveness in reducing visual clutter
and in enhancing the safety and attractiveness of the streetscape.
Policy 4.1.1 Commercial signs in Clearwater shall be restricted to discourage the proliferation
of visual clutter, promote community aesthetics, provide for highway safety, and to
allow the identification of business locations.
2. The proposed amendment furthers the purposes of the Community Development Code and other City
ordinances and actions designed to implement the Plan.
The proposed text amendment will further the purposes of the CDC in that it will be consistent with
the following purposes set forth in CDC Section 1-103:
It is further the purpose of this Development Code to make the beautification of the City a matter
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of the highest priority and to require that existing and future uses and structures in the City are
attractive and well-maintained to the maximum extent permitted by law (CDC Section 1-103.D).
Provide the most beneficial relationship between the uses of land and buildings and the
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circulation of traffic throughout the City, with particular regard for safe and efficient vehicular
and pedestrian traffic movement (CDC Section 1-103.E.4).
REVIEW BY OTHERS:
Downtown Development Board (DDB):
At its meeting of August 6, 2008, the DDB reviewed the proposed ordinance and recommended a few
changes to the approval criteria for sandwich board signs. These comments, which dealt with allowable
materials, attachments and sponsorships/advertisements, have been incorporated into the current
ordinance language.
Clearwater Chamber of Commerce:
The Clearwater Chamber of Commerce has been provided with a copy of the proposed text amendment to
receive their input; however, to date no comments have been received.
Community Development Board – August 19, 2008
TA2008-07003 – Page 2
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION:
The proposed amendments to the Community Development Code are consistent with and will further the
goals of the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan and the purposes of the Community Development Code.
APPROVAL
Based upon the above, the Planning Department recommends of Ordinance No. 7997-08
that amends the Community Development Code.
Prepared by Planning Department Staff: __________________________________________
Robert G. Tefft, Development Review Manager
ATTACHMENT:
??Ordinance No. 7997-08
S:\Planning Department\Community Development Code\2008 Code Amendments\TA2008-07003 - Sandwich Board Signs\Ordinance No 7997-08
CDB Staff Report 2008 08-19.doc
Community Development Board – August 19, 2008
TA2008-07003 – Page 3