HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2013-08-26 Item 2C - Amendment - Sign CodeT{}:
City of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL U��U�^�������U�
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Mayor Haggerton
Community Affairs and Parks Committee
FROM: Jack Pace, DCD Director
BY: Courtney M. Johnson, Planning Intern
Brandon Miles, Senior Planner
DATE: August 21, 2013
SUBJECT: Amendments to the Title 19 "Sign Code"
ISSUE
Should businesses in the Manufacturing Industrial Center/Heavy (MIC/H) zone be permitted to
have larger flush mounted wall signs?
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
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19.20.050. A business is permitted to have one wall sign for each public entrance that the
business utilizes. Thus, if a business has four public entrances it would be permitted to have
four wall signs. The size of the wall signs is based on the total area of the wall where the wall
sign will be placed. A larger wall allows for a larger wall sign; however, most wall signs are
limited to a maximum size of 150 square feet. Some larger properties can utilize the provisions
of the Master Sign Program to install a wall sign of up to 250 square feet.
The current approach for wall sign area limitations works well for retail commercial areas of the
City, such as the Southcenter area and Tukwila International Boulevard. However, in areas that
have large buildings, and thus large walls, the current regulations severely limit the allowable
wall signage. Nearly all of these larger buildings are located in the City's MIC/H zone. A
business in the MIC/H zone, which has a wall area of 50,000 square feet, is only permitted
signage that occupies .3% of the wall area. Compare that to a business in the Southcenter area
that occupies 5.001 square feet, which is permitted to install a wall sign that occupies 2.99% of
the wall area.
The Boeing Company, a business that operates primarily iOtheCit/SM|C/HZ0Oe,h@G
requested that the City amend the Sign Code to allow larger wall signs. Boeing is requesting the
change in order to reflect the fact that it, like other large business owners in the MIC/H zone,
occupies large buildings, with large wall areas. Boeing has also requested that the City modify
the requirement that links public entrances to placement of wall signs.
The purpose of the MIC/H zone is to allow for heavy industry and bulk manufacturing, hence the
need for massive buildings with large wall areas, These types of businesses are likely to not
have public entrances similar to commercial businesses, such as those in the Southcenter area.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
POLICY OPTIONS
Staff would like input from the City Council on whether the City should amend the Sign Code to
address the request from Boeing. Staff has outlined two possible options below.
Option 1: No Change to the Existing Sign Code. Under this approach Boeing, as well as any
other building owners in the MIC/H area, would not be permitted to install a wall sign on a wall
that does not have a public entrance. If a public entrance is present, the size of the wall sign
could not exceed 150 square feet (250 square feet if a Master Sign Plan were approved).
Option 2: Amend the Sign Code to allow businesses in the MIC/H zone to have larger wall
signs on building faces without public entrances. Wall signs in the MIC/H zone would be
permitted up to 1'500 square feet in area for wall areas larger than 5'000 square feet by
adopting a new allowable Sign Area table as follows (This table would only apply in the MIC/H
Zone)
Area (LxH) of Exposed Building Face (EBF) in
Square Feet
Permitted Sign Area
5001-20'000
/EBF-5.0O[A)(.015+15O square feet
20.001-50,000
(EBF-2O'O0O) )(.D15+375 square feet
50'001-80'000
(EBF-5O'ODO))<.O15+825 square feet
80.001-100'000
(EBF-8O,OOO)}(.D1+1275 square feet
100'001 and above
1500 square feet max
The requirement to have a public entrance would also not apply in the MIC/H zones. A business
would be permitted to have a total of four wall signs; one for each cardinal direction, with only
one sign per direction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
If option 2 is selected a small number of additional buildings will be permitted to have additional
signs and thus the City would see a slight increase in permit revenue.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Option 2. If the Committee is agreeable, staff will come back to the
Committee on September 23, 2013 with a draft Ordinance. Staff would also like permission to
take the draft Ordinance to the Committee of the Whole for a public hearing and discussion that
same night.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
W:12013 Info Memos-Council \Flush Mounted Wall Signs, Increae in Area,.doc