HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2009-07-27 Item 5A - Ordinance - Moratorium on SignageCAS Number 09-105
C.\'1'I ?G( )R\ Discussion Motion
.11tg Date 07/27/09 Altg Date
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EXPINDFI'URI RIQUIRI ?D
$N /A
Fund Source: N/A
Con,nzents: N/A
MTG. DATE
7/27/09
MTG. DATE
07/27/09
08/03/09
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COUNCIL A GENDA SYNOPSIS
Altg Date
Initials
Meeting Date Prepared by I Mayor's review
07/27/09 BM I AAA
08/03/09 BM
ITEM INFORMATION
ORIGINS \I, AGI?ND,\ D,\'I'1?: JULY 27, 2009
.\GI ;ND.\ ITI(\I TFFI,I? Renewing the City's Moratorium on the installation of certain types of signage.
Li Resolution Ordinance 1 1 Bid Award Public Hearing I 1 Other
Mtg Date 08/03/09 Altg Date
Mtg Date 07/27/09 Altg Date
Council review
ISI)( NS( IZ I Council n Mayor I Adm Svcs DCD ['Finance Fire E Legal P/'R I I Police n PW
On October 6, 2008 the City Council adopted Ordinance 2208 which established a 180 -day
moratorium on the installation of certain signage types within the City. The sign types
included, billboards, freeway interchange signs, dynamic signs, and freestanding signs
taller than six feet. In March, the City Council renewed the moratorium an additional 180
days until September of 2009. The moratorium is set to expire, and staff is proposing to
extend it an additional 180 -days.
RIVIk\VND HY COW Mtg. CA &P Cmte F &S Cmte Transportation Cmte
Utilities Cmte Arts Comm. Parks Comm.
DATE: 07/13/09
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR /ADMIN. Extend the moratorium
COMMJY1EE Unanimous Approval; Forward to Committee of the Whole
COST IMPACT FUND SOURCE
AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
$N /A $N /A
RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
4f
Planning Comm.
ATTACHMENTS
Informational Memorandum dated 7/6/09
Ordinance in Draft Form
Minutes from the Community Affairs and Parks Committee meeting of 7/13/09
ITEM No.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
ISSUE
BACKGROUND
City of Tukwila
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Mayor Haggerton
Community Affairs and P
Jack Pace, DCD Directo
July 6, 2009
Renewal of Sign Code Moratorium
The moratorium that the City has in place regarding the placement of certain
signage types will expire in early September. DCD staff is requesting that the
moratorium be renewed and extended an additional six months to allow additional
time to complete the sign code update.
In the fall of 2008, DCD staff realized that the Sign Committee recommendations
may conflict with the existing sign code. In October of 2008, the City Council
adopted a moratorium on the installation of certain sign types within the City.
The following sign types were covered under the moratorium:
1. Animated and electronic signs
2. Freestanding signs taller than six feet.
3. Freeway Interchange Signs.
4. Billboards
Throughout the past year, the City has been working extensively to write a new
sign code. During the summer of 2008, the Sign Code Advisory Committee met a
total of six times to review the various issues associated with sign regulations. On
January 29, 2009, the City Council and Planning Commission were briefed on the
recommendations of the Sign Code Advisory Committee. These recommendations
included new standards for freestanding signs and prohibition of certain types of
signage currently allowed under the existing sign code.
This spring Planning Staff sent out letters to individuals who were identified during
the Sign Code Update process as interested parties. Planning staff invited these
individuals to provide specific recommendations and policy guidance on the City's
sign regulations.
The current moratorium is set to expire in early September and the new sign code
will likely not come before the City Council until the new Shoreline Master Program
and the Tukwila Urban Center Plan work has been completed.
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
ANALYSIS
DCD noted the complexities associated with dealing with non conforming signs at
the joint meeting. The new sign code will render dozens of existing signs non-
conforming and DCD staff is hoping to work with these property and business
owners to reduce the impacts of the new code. The moratorium has prevented the
installation of new signs that may be rendered non conforming when the new sign
code is adopted and for this reason should be renewed.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is being asked to approve the ordinance renewing the moratorium an
additional six months. The Ordinance has tentatively been scheduled for the July
27, 2009, Committee of the Whole meeting and August 3, 2009 Regular Meeting. A
public hearing will be conducted at the July 27, 2009 meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
A: Ordinance in Draft Form
W: \Long Range Projects \Sign Code Update \CAP Memo, 2009.07.06.doc
W: \Word Processing\Ordinances \Sign Code Moratorium.doc
BM ksn 07/23/2009
DRAFT
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, RENEWING A SIX -MONTH MORATORIUM ON THE
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS FOR SIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND
ELECTRICAL PERMITS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF SIGNAGE WITHIN THE
CITY OF TUKWILA; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Title 19 of the Tukwila Municipal Code the Sign Code regulates
signage within the City of Tukwila; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has identified that the City's current Sign Code is out-
dated and needs to be updated, in order to address the complexity of development issues
within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to limit the number of signs that might be rendered
nonconforming by the Sign Code update, thereby limiting the financial burden to business
owners, property owners and the City imposed by a staged amortization program; and
WHEREAS, on June 4, 2007, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 2165, establishing
a six -month moratorium on the filing of sign, development, and electrical permits for
certain types of electronic signage within the City; Ordinance No. 2170 adopted the
Findings of Fact; the moratorium was renewed by Ordinance Nos. 2180, 2202, expanded by
Ordinance No. 2208, and renewed again by Ordinance No. 2225; and
WHEREAS, the City Council and Planning Commission were briefed on various sign
code issues at a joint meeting on October 25, 2007; and
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2008, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1656, which
called for the creation of a Sign Code Advisory Committee to assist City staff in the creation
of a new Sign Code; and
WHEREAS, since July of 2008 the Committee has met a total of six times to discuss the
various issues associated with the creation of a new Sign Code, and has developed
recommendations to limit certain types of signage, in order to improve the visual
appearance of the City; and
WHEREAS, on January 29, 2009, the Planning Commission and the City Council were
briefed on the recommendations of the Sign Code Advisory Committee. The
recommendations, if included in the new Sign Code, will prohibit the installation of some
sign types that are currently permitted within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City has received and will continue to receive applications for a variety
of signs that may conflict with the City's update to Title 19 and could potentially pose a
threat to public safety and add visual clutter to the City streets; and
WHEREAS, on July 27, 2009, the City Council conducted a public hearing on the
renewal of the moratorium;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings of Fact. The "Whereas" clauses above are hereby adopted by
reference as the City Council's Findings of Fact, as if fully set forth herein.
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this moratorium is to allow the City adequate time
to study and adopt regulations to update Title 19 of the Tukwila Municipal Code.
Page 1 of 2
Section 3. Moratorium Renewed. As expanded by Ordinance No. 2208, and renewed
by Ordinance No. 2225, the moratorium is hereby renewed on the filing of sign,
development and electrical permits for the erection, re- erection, construction, or alteration
of:
1. Any sign that would be classified as an "Electronic Sign" as defined under TMC
19.08.055, any sign that would be classified as an "Animated Sign" as defined under TMC
19.08.030, any sign that displays a "Holographic Display" as defined under TMC 19.08.105,
and any sign considered a "Scoreboard" under TMC 19.08.195. Nothing in this moratorium
shall be construed to prevent the maintenance of an existing sign, provided the
maintenance is consistent with the limitations specified in TMC 19.12.050, "Exceptions
Permits Not Required," and Chapter 19.30, "Staged Compliance Sign Amortization
Program." This moratorium shall not apply to any sign permit that was vested prior to the
moratorium's enactment.
2. Any sign that would be classified as a billboard under TMC 18.08.050. Existing
billboards may continue to replace their existing copy pursuant to the limitations
established under Title 19.
3. Any sign, taller than six feet in height, that would be classified as a "freestanding
sign" as defined under TMC 19.08.070. Height shall be determined pursuant to TMC
19.08.100. Nothing in this moratorium shall be construed to prevent the maintenance of an
existing freestanding sign, provided the maintenance is consistent with the limitations
specified in TMC 19.12.050, "Exceptions- Permits Not Required," and Chapter 19.30,
"Staged Compliance Sign Amortization Program." Existing freestanding signs that comply
with Title 19 of the Tukwila Municipal Code may have face changes and install panels
subject to the permit requirements of TMC 19.12.010 and other applicable sign development
standards found in Title 19.
4. Any "freeway interchange sign" as permitted under TMC 19.32.140 (E)(2).
Nothing in this moratorium shall be construed to prevent the maintenance of an existing
freeway interchange sign, provided the maintenance is consistent with the limitations
specified in TMC 19.12.050, "Exceptions- Permits Not Required." Installation of new sign
panels on existing freeway interchange signs or change of copy of the freeway interchange
sign shall not be permitted until the moratorium is no longer in effect.
Section 4. Effective Period of Moratorium. The moratorium renewed by this
ordinance shall be effective as set forth in "Effective Date" below, and shall continue in
effect for six months thereafter unless repealed, renewed or modified by the City Council
after subsequent public hearing and entry of Findings of Fact.
Section 5. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to be
invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the
remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to any other person or situation.
Section 6. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published in
the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five days after
passage and publication as provided by law.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a
Regular Meeting thereof this day of 2009.
ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED:
Christy O'Flaherty, CMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
Office of the City Attorney
W: \Word Processing \Ordinances \Sign Code Moratorium.doc
BM.ksn 07/10/2009
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Published:
Effective Date:
Ordinance Number:
Page 2 of 2
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
July 13, 2009 5:00 p.m.; Conference Room #3
PRESENT
Councilmembers: Verna Griffin, Chair; Joe Duffle and Kathy Hougardy
Staff: Brandon Miles, Rhonda Berry and Kimberly Matej
Guest: Jeremy Eide
CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Griffin called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
I. PRESENTATIONS
No presentations.
II. BUSINESS AGENDA
A. Renewal of Sian Code Moratorium
The current moratorium on certain types of signage throughout the City (animated and electronic,
free standing taller than six feet, freeway interchange signs and billboards) will expire in September
2009.
III. MISCELLANEOUS
The Committee briefly reviewed the status of the Council goals which have been assigned to the
Community Affairs Parks Committee. Second quarter updates to goals have already been submitted
to the Mayor's Office. Considering the Council workload at this time, Chair Griffin suggested that she
review the shared goals with the Finance Safety Chair as well as schedule an agenda item to discuss
accomplishing certain goals at an upcoming meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 27, 2009— 5:00 p.m. Conference Room #3
M•
Committee Chair Approval
KAM.
City of Tukwila
Community Affairs and Parks Committee
Currently, the City Council is reviewing the Shoreline Master Program and is then scheduled to
review the Tukwila Urban Center Plan. It is anticipated that Council will not have the opportunity to
consider the Sign Code update until after full Council review of the above two projects is complete.
Staff is requesting that the moratorium be extended for an additional 180 days (6 months) to allow
for completion of the Sign Code update. The moratorium prevents new signs from being installed
that may be in conflict with the updated code once it is complete. A public hearing, as required for
this issue, is set for the July 27, 2009, COW meeting. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD
TO JULY 27 COW FOR DISCUSSION.