HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2007-08-28 Item 2C - Update - Sign Code
City of Tukwila
Steven M. Mulle0 Mayor
Department of Community De1Ielopment
Steve LancasteT; Director
TO:
Mayor
Community Affairs and park~
Jack Pace, Acting Director \
Brandon Miles, Assistant Plann
From:
RE:
Sign Code Update
DATE:
August 20, 2007
BACKGROUND
As part of the 2007 budget the Mayor and City Council allocated $45,000 for the update
ofthe City's sign code. Planning staffhas begun the preliminary work and is ready to
proceed with the update.
The City's existing sign code was written in 1982. Throughout the years there have been
piecemeal changes to the sign code to address specific areas of interest, such as signs at
public facilities; standards for electronic and animated signs; and signage at the mall.
However, no comprehensive update has occurred. The landscape of the City has changed
significantly since 1982. The City concluded several large annexations including the
annexation of Tukwila International Blvd and the Manufacturing Industrial Center areas.
Additionally, the City is completing the Tukwila Urban Center plan which will allow a
development pattern that would have unique sign needs not easily addressed in the City's
existing Sign Code.
Additionally, the City's sign code needs to be examined to ensure compliance with the
legal limitations placed on City's ability to regulate signs.
Some specific items with the sign code that should be examined with an update:
1. Are signage needs different in the various zones of the City? For example, should
the City have different standards for signs within the TUC compared to standards
in the MIC?
2. Should comer parcels be allocated more signs than they are currently permitted?
Currently, a comer parcel is permitted to have one freestanding sign. However,
comer parcels have multiple entrances from two public streets, perhaps additional
signage is warranted.
3. Does the City want to prohibit animated and electronic signs?
Created by B. Miles
H:\Sign Code Update\MEMOS\CAP, 2007.08.07.doc Page I on
6300 Southcenter Boulevar~ Suite #100 · Tukwila, Washington 98188 · Phone: 206-431-3670 · Fax: 206-431-3665
4. How should temporary displays and signage be regulated?
These are just few items that need to be examined with the sign code update.
DISCUSSION
Planning staff envisions a grassroots process in updating the sign code. Any update of
the sign code should involve City residents, property owners, and business owners.
Planning Staff proposed a minimum of three public workshops to address signage issues
within the City. These public workshops would be in addition to the required public
hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council.
Planning staff proposes the creation of a sign code committee to work on the specific
details of the new sign code. The sign code committee will be present at the public
workshops and will prepare a draft sign code which will be presented to the City Council
for consideration.
The make-up of the sign code committee could include the following:
· Two City Council persons
· Two Planning Commission members (selected by Mayor and Council
President)
· Two Tukwila Business/Property owners (selected by the Mayor)
· One Tukwila resident (selected by the Mayor)
All meetings ofthe sign code committee will be open to the public.
In October, Planning staff would like to conduct a workshop with the City Council and
the Planning Commission to conduct a visual use survey of some of the issues related to
signage within the community. It would be useful to see examples of signage in other
communities. The workshop will also allow planning staff and those members of the
City Council and Planning Commission that will be assigned tothe Sign Code
Committee the opportunity to gauge important issues and concerns of other Council
members and Planning Commission members related to the sign code update. The
workshop will occur on a separate night from regular City Council meetings.
Preliminary Schedule
The following is a tentative schedule of the sign code update:
September 3, 2007-BriefCity Council on the proposed update schedule and if approved,
request volunteers from City Council members to serve on the sign code committee.
September 27, 2007-BriefPlanning Commission on the proposed update and request
volunteers to serve on the sign code committee
Created by B. Miles
H:\Sign Code Update\MEMOS\CAP, 2007.08.07.doc
Page 2 of3
October 17, 2007 -Hold joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission
to hold a visual use survey of signage issues (Dinner will be served).
October 24, 2007 -Hold a public open house for residents, business owners, and property
owner to solicit comments on sign issues related to the community.
November `07- February -Sign code Committee workshops and public open houses.
February `08 -Staff prepares draft Sign Code
February `08 -Draft is presented to Sign Code Committee
March `08 -CAP and COW are briefed
April `08- Planning Commission is briefed, Public Hearing held
May '08- Regular City Council meeting, public hearing, possible adoption
NEXT STEP
Staff recommends that the matter be referred to the September 3, 2007 meeting for
consideration.
Created by B. Miles
HASign Code Update \MEMOS \CAP, 2007.08.07.doe Page 3 of 3