HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda (11-27)April 28, 2011
Regular Agenda
UDO Amendment for Corridor Overlay Signage'Requirements
To: . David Neely, City Manager
From: Bob Cowell, AICP, CNU-A, Director of Planning & Development Services
Agenda Caption: Public hearing, presentation, possible action, and discussion on an
ordinance amendment to Chapter 12 'Unified Development Ordinance," Section 5.8.A(2)
"Corridor Overlay District, Signs" specifically related to sign requirements.
Relationship to Strategic Goals: Goal III. Diverse Growing Economy - Promote business -
friendly attitude
Recommendation(s): At their meeting on April 7, 2011, the Planning and Zoning
Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of the amendment. Staff recommended
approval of the Ordinance amendment.
Summary: Section 5.8.A "Corridor Overlay District" of the Unified Development Ordinance
(UDO) currently outlines the standards for development within the City's Corridor Overlay.
Originally adopted in 1991, these standards were implemented as part of the City's
University Drive Corridor Study. The sign requirements developed at the time were to
ensure harmonious signage that promoted an attractive University Drive as a primary
gateway into the community. Since the development of these standards, the City has
enacted a more comprehensive sign ordinance (2003) and non-residential architectural
standards making the Corridor Overlay District sign requirements less necessary to maintain
the visual appeal of the corridor.
This amendment will remove sign font and color limitations for signs in the overlay, except
for colors expressly prohibited by the City of College Station Color Palette. Currently, the
standard allows only two fonts and three colors be used on a sign.
The amendment will continue to maintain the height requirement that restricts the
maximum height of a sign in the overlay to the height of the adjacent building to keep with
the intent of the original ordinance of maintaining a sense of openness and continuity along
major gateway corridors and entry points into the City.
Budget & Financial Summary: N/A
Attachments:
1. Draft Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
2. Ordinance
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AGENDA
Amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance
and
Site Design Standards
Public Meeting
March 31, 2011 at 5:30 pm
City Hall Council Chambers
1. Introduction of Staff
2. Presentation of proposed amendments:
• Signaae in the OV Corridor Overlay District
Section 5.8.A.(2)
Currently, the standard allows only two fonts and three colors to be used on a sign in the
Corridor Overlay. One of the colors used in the sign must match a color used on the
building that is associated with the sign. This amendment will remove font and color
limitations, except for colors prohibited by the City of College Station Color Palette
• Non -Residential Architectural Requirements for Accessory Structures
Section 7.9.13.2 'Building Mass and Design"
Currently, the non-residential architecture standards provide a list of qualifying
architectural design elements and require that two different elements be used for every
45-foot section of a fagade facing a public right-of-way and two different elements for
every 60-foot section of all other fagades. This amendment proposes to remove the
requirement for architectural relief elements for "freestanding structures that are
accessory to a primary use, where all fagades are equal to or less than twenty-five
horizontal feet (25') in width, and where each fagade incorporates the same building
materials and colors as the primary structure."
Sign Visibility
Site Design Standards
Currently, a sign's visibility is determined by the size of its copy/logo in relation to the
sign's distance from the property line. If a sign is not "visible", it is exempt from the
City's sign regulations. With this proposal, non -visible copy/logo will still be determined
by the sign's distance from the property line, but allowable height for the copy/logo will
be increased.
3. Upcoming public hearings:
• Planning and Zoning Commission
Thursday April 7, 2011
• City Council
Thursday April 28, 2011
4. Questions and Open Discussion