For your consideration is a request to amend Planned Development Ordinance No. 679 to allow for illuminated building signage on building elevations that is adjacent or abuts residentially zoned property in zone 3 of planned development only.  This would allow the Foliage Medical Building located at 15160 Foliage Avenue to put illuminated signage on the south and west building elevation.  The site abuts AutoZone and Discount Tire to the north, Home Depot to the east, Orchard Point townhomes  to the south, and is adjacent to the Gabella Apartments and Abra Auto Body and Glass Repair to the west.

The City's sign code currently allows for signage on the side of building that abuts business or industrially zoned property or a public street, except where the side of the building faces an adjacent public street that abuts residentially zoned property.  Currently, the building at the before-mentioned property is the only one affected by this sign code regulation.  In fact the portion of the west elevation located north of Gabella Street would be allowed illuminated signage.

Home Depot is the only other property that abuts residentially zoned property, but it is located in zone 2 of the planned development.  Therefore, that property would not be a beneficiary of the  proposed ordinance amendments.

The applicant would propose that the following conditions be applied to the amendment:

1. All signs facing west or south must be white.
2. All illuminated signs facing west or south must not exceed 112 nits in intensity.
3. All illuminated signs facing west or south must be turned off during the hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

The nit is the standard unit of luminance used to describe various sources of light. A higher rating means a brighter display.  The City typically uses foot-candles to measure illumination.  Staff would like the applicant to provide a comparison between a nit and a foot-candle and how many foot-candles would equal 122 nits.

City code states that:   In all districts, any lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area or sign shall be arranged so as to deflect light away from any adjoining residential zone or from the public streets. In residential areas, any light or combination of lights that cast light on any adjacent residential property shall not exceed 1/2 foot candle (meter reading) as measured at the property line. Lighting fixtures for new and renovated outdoor sports and recreational facilities that adjoin residential uses shall be designed to eliminate reflected glare and spill light from the bottom one-third of the reflector, and to shield the view of the arc tube from the residential property.  The applicant should present information that the proposed amendments will meet these requirements.

The Foliage Medical Building is approximately 300 feet from the Gabella apartments to the west and 400 feet from the nearest Orchard Point townhome.  The property where the office building is located approximately 14 feet higher than Foliage Avenue.  Information should be provided by the applicant on the impact of sign glare on the adjacent and abutting residential properties based upon the distance and height of those signs.