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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-02-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - MC 98 243 UDC AMEND (2)UNFINISHED BUSINESS 117:VY�A AGENDA REPORT February 9, 1999 City Manager Approval Item to be presented byL Jeffrey Lambert SUBJECT: Master Case No. 98-243, Unified Development Code Amendment No. 98- 003 Amendment to Chapter 17.19 of the City's Unified Development Code (Sign Regulations) and Chapter 17.07 of the Unified Development Code (Definitions); Request to Make the Sign Ordinance more User and Business Friendly ORDINANCE 99-01 DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services Department RECOMMENDED ACTION Receive report, receive testimony, discuss Council's requests of staff, and adopt Ordinance No. 99-01. BACKGROUND On December 8, 1998, the City Council certified the negative declaration and introduced Ordinance No. 99-01 for first reading. At the hearing, the City Council directed staff to return to the February 9, 1999, meeting not only with the second reading of Ordinance No. 99-01 but with responses to questions raised by the Council. These questions revolved Around the larger issue of signage and impacts of the amortization schedule's deadline on businesses in the community. Staff has prepared an action plan for compliance, herein attached, and will present detailed responses to the issues addressed by the Council. ISSUES RAISED BY COUNCIL At the December 8, 1998, hearing, the City Council raised issues relative to the Ordinance's impact on businesses in the City. The primary questions posed by the Council involved staffs plans to implement the ordinance in November of 1999, what the impacts to the City would be from possible fee waivers, and how staff would deal with signage of the merchants group present at the hearing. Attachment 2 to this staff report includes a proposed action plan that Adopted: 2 -g-4i9 Agendia ltema.--R— the Department of Planning & Building Services would employ, beginning now, to address compliance with the Code and Attachment 3 identifies potential costs associated with waiving fees and buying down interest rates for commercial loans. At the meeting staff will expand on the information contain herein and address other cities, which underwent similar amortization periods. Action Plan Although staff has been actively pursuing outreach to the community since October of 1996, the proposed action plan calls for most intensive focus to occur during the 11 months leading up to the close of the amortization period. Staff's efforts will involve a three-part notification that culminates with specific identification of non -complying signs. To better serve the public and speed along the process of obtaining compliance, staff proposes to hire additional code enforcement staff as well as contract planners to help shape and administer the compliance effort. Additionally, in response to the concerns raised by the City Council and small businesses, staff will be proposing additions to the Sign Ordinance that will quantify findings currently used by staff in Sign Review applications. A detailed outline of the action plan will be presented at the meeting, at which time staff will seek input from the Council. Fee Waiver/Interest Rate Buy -Down Attachment 3 of the staff report presents, as requested, a financial breakdown of impacts to the City from waiving fees and buying -down interest rates. As it is difficult to determine the exact number of requests the City would receive, staff has compiled a rough projection of costs to the City from waiving fees and from buying down interest rates. These projections could easily be exceeded if implemented. A more detailed explanation will be presented at the meeting. Santa Clarita Merchant's Association At the December 8, 1998, City Council hearing, representatives from the Santa Clarita Merchant's Association spoke of their concerns about the future regulations' impact on their businesses. Staff has met individually with the members to address specific signage concerns. Staff will continue to work with these business owners in the future to facilitate adequate exposure, while complying with the code. ALTERNATIVE ACTION The City Council may elect not to adopt the recommended Ordinance and allow the Sign Regulations to remain as they are presently. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to the City associated with the City Council adopting Ordinance No. 99-1. However, should the City Council elect to establish fee waivers, there would be a fiscal impact to general fund revenues. ATTACHMENTS Ordinance 99-01 Proposed Action Plan for Addressing Signage Potential Impact to City from Waiving Fees and Buying -Down Interest Rates S:\PBS\current\signage\98243-s3.doc PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 9, 1999, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita adopted Ordinance 99-01 entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTERS 17.07 AND 17.19 OF THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE, ADOPTING BY REFERENCE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC AMENDMENT 98-003). by the following vote: AYES: Klajic, Heidt, Ferry, Weste, Darcy NOES: None ABSENT: None A certified copy of the complete text of the ordinance is posted and may be read in the City Clerk's Office, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 301, Santa Clarita, and/or a copy may be obtained from that office. Dated this I lth day of February, 1999. J4,-L—X Dr Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk City of Santa Clarita STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) Sharon L. Dawson, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that she is the duly appointed and qualified City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita and that by Thursday, February 11, 1999, she caused a certified copy of the subject ordinance to be posted and made available for public review in the City Clerk's office and a copy of the ordinance summary to be published as required by law. Sharon L. Dawson, CMC, City Clerk City of Santa Clarita