PLANNING AND HOUSING COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: 2/26/2024
TO: Honorable Chair and Commissioners
FROM: Planning & Development Department
APPLICATION REQUEST:
Title
ZTA2024-0002: Zone text amendment to Title 17 of the Corona Municipal Code to amend the Sign Ordinance in Chapter 17.74 to prohibit temporary signs in the public rights-of-way. (Applicant: City of Corona)
End
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the Planning and Housing Commission recommend APPROVAL OF ZTA2024-0002 to the City Council, based on the findings contained in the staff report.
Body
BACKGROUND
The City’s Sign Ordinance is regulated by Chapter 17.74 of the Corona Municipal Code. Section 17.74.070 (I) prohibits temporary signs in the public right-of-way except from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Temporary signs placed in the public right-of-way during this time are required to adhere to certain criteria related to size and height, material, location, and quantity. The city does not regulate the content of the message on temporary signs, which is protected by the First Amendment.
Various entities have used temporary signs in the public right-of-way to advertise professional services, real estate open houses, special sales, and political campaigns. The following summarizes the criteria each entity must follow when placing temporary signs in the public right-of-way on Saturday and Sunday.
• Size: 2’ x 3’ and no higher than 3’.
• Material: Sturdy material, not single-layer cardboard, paper or bond stock, and shall be fastened to the ground on a single metal or wood support.
• Quantity: 3 signs per business, entity, or person on a single block.
• Location: No closer than 10’ from the corner and prohibited within the center street median.
Most of the time, real estate agents locate temporary signs in the public right-of-way to advertise open houses on the weekend. Over time, heavily traveled streets within certain neighborhoods have regularly become inundated with temporary signs on Saturday and Sunday. The temporary signs have diminished the aesthetic appearance of the landscaped parkways along city streets, resulting in visual clutter along major thoroughfares and local streets. In many instances, certain entities would leave their temporary signs in the public right-of-way in the days following Sunday resulting in Code Compliance personnel having to remove the remaining temporary signs.
City Council Fall Policy Workshop
The City Council at its Fall Policy Workshop on October 12, 2023, discussed possible changes to the regulations governing temporary signs in the public right-of-way. Most of the Council indicated other advertising platforms such as websites, social media and real estate websites are available instead of having temporary signs in the public right-of-way. Additionally, residents living in the city have voiced complaints regarding the large number of temporary signs in the public right-of-way on Saturday and Sunday and have expressed that the temporary signs diminish the aesthetic appearance and quality of their neighborhoods. Ultimately, most of the Council decided to prohibit temporary signs in the public right-of-way and directed staff to prepare the appropriate amendment to the sign ordinance.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
ZTA2024-0002 would add a definition for public right-of-way in Section 17.74.030 and amend Section 17.74.070 (I) to prohibit at all times temporary signs in the public right-of-way, except for those authorized by a recognized government agency. The following shows the text being amended in Sections 17.74.030 and 17.74.070 (I). Text shown in an underlined is added text with deleted text shown with a strikeout. The amendment is also provided as Exhibit 1.
17.74.030 Definitions.
"Public right-of-way" means the area in, upon, above, beneath, or across any of the following that has been dedicated to the public and is under the authority of the city that is located within the city limits: streets, roadways, highways, avenues, boulevards, lanes, alleys, courts, sidewalks, pathways, medians, parkways, easements, rights-of-way, or similar public property that the city from time-to-time authorizes to be included within the definition of a public right-of-way or street.
17.74.070 Prohibited signs.
(I) Signs in the public right-of-way except as authorized by a recognized government agency. temporary signs including human sign twirlers maybe permitted in public rights-of-way from 7:00 a.m. Saturday to 7:00 p.m. Sunday. Signs shall not be posted to create a safety or litter hazard by adhering to the following criteria:
(1) Sign shall be two feet by three feet in size and no more than three feet high from the ground; and
(2) Sign shall be securely fastened to ground on a single metal or wood support - not fixed to another sign, tree, structure, utility or mechanical equipment.
(3) Sign shall be placed no closer than ten feet from the corner to preserve driver site visibility. Signs shall not be placed within center median unless parking is provided adjacent to the median; and
(4) No more than three signs per business, entity, or person shall be located on a single block; and
(5) Sign shall be constructed of substantial sturdy material, not single layer cardboard, paper or bond stock; and
(6) Signs placed in the public right-of-way posted outside the criteria or times permitted, will be subject to removal by the city with the costs to remove borne by the responsible party in accordance with § 17.74.200 <https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/corona/latest/corona_ca/0-0-0-54632>.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
Per Section 15061(b)(3) of the State Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), ZTA2024-0002 is exempt from CEQA based on the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This amendment solely involves text revisions to the City’s Zoning Ordinance in the Corona Municipal Code, and there is no possibility that the amendment will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, a Notice of Exemption has been prepared for the project.
FISCAL IMPACT
ZTA2024-0002 is a city-initiated application. No application fee was paid to process this request.
PUBLIC NOTICE
A 10-day public notice was advertised in the Sentinel Weekly News and posted on the City’s website. Staff also notified The Inland Gateway Association of Realtors (TIGAR) of the proposed change to the Sign Ordinance. A representative from TIGAR also attended the City Council Fall Policy Workshop on October 12, 2023, and was aware of the City Council’s direction to prohibit temporary signs in the public right-of-way.
STAFF ANALYSIS
ZTA2024-0002 implements a policy decision by the City Council to prohibit temporary signs in the public right-of-way. Over the years, city staff has had to police and enforce the rules on temporary signs, and spend time traveling around the city to pick up temporary signs that were not removed on Sunday. Temporary signs in the public right-of-way have created visual clutter along city streets, diminished the aesthetic appearance of the city’s streetscape and adjacent neighborhoods, and placed a burden on city staff to regularly remove temporary signs that do not adhere to the time frame allowed in the municipal code.
The amendment will keep the city’s streetscape clean of visual clutter and preserve the quality of residential neighborhoods and commercial properties.
FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL OF ZTA2024-0002
1. A preliminary exemption assessment has been conducted by the City of Corona and it has shown that this project does not require further environmental assessment because the amendment solely involves text revisions to the City’s Zoning Code in the Corona Municipal Code, and there is no possibility that the amendment will have a significant effect on the environment.
2. The proposed amendment is consistent with the General Plan for the following reasons:
a. The proposed amendment is consistent with General Plan Goal LU-5 for distinct and well-maintained neighborhoods and districts that contribute to the identity, character, and image of Corona as a livable, diverse, innovative, and environmentally sustainable community because it will prevent the visual clutter of temporary signs in the parkway and maintain the aesthetic appearance of the landscaped parkways along city streets.
b. The proposed amendment is consistent with Land Use Policy 5.9 which requires adherence to the design and development guidelines as subsequently stipulated by this plan’s policies for each land use district, as well as implementing ordinances and specific plans because CMC Chapter 17.74 establishes objective development standards for signage and would specifically prohibit the placement of temporary signs in the public right-of-way.
3. The proposed amendment is consistent with the intent of Title 17 of the Corona Municipal Code for the following reason:
a. The amendment continues to enhance the city’s objective development standards in Title 17 (Zoning Code) of the CMC to promote orderly development and provide well planned neighborhoods in the city.
4. The proposed amendment will provide for the public health, safety, and welfare for the following reasons:
a. The amendment will prohibit temporary signs in the public right-of-way, which will prevent visual clutter and minimize distractions for travelers along major thoroughfares and local streets.
b. The amendment will maintain the aesthetic appearance of the city’s landscape parkways along city streets and enhance the quality of life for city residents and businesses.
SUBMITTED BY: JOANNE COLETTA, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
EXHIBITS
1. Exhibit 1 - Proposed amendment.
2. Exhibit 2 - Environmental documentation.