COMPREHENSIVE SIGN CODE UPDATE. City of Topeka Planning & Development Dept. 2/26/19

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1 COMPREHENSIVE SIGN CODE UPDATE City of Topeka Planning & Development Dept. 2/26/19 1

2 WHY Reed vs. Town of Gilbert and content neutrality ruling 45% rated community s aesthetics/appearance below average or poor (Momentum 2022) Sign Code outdated VISUAL CODE UPDATE Audit of zoning codes affecting visual appeal Visual Appeal Survey (1,000+ responses, 866 comments) Proposals Landscape Regs Update approved Commercial Building Design Standards approved Comprehensive Sign Code Update - pending 2

3 SIGN CODE PURPOSE Regulate the design, dimensions, and placement of signs to: provide for effective communications by businesses and institutions enhance traffic safety enhance physical appearance of the community prevent visual clutter protect property values accommodate free speech 3

4 ISSUES WITH CURRENT SIGN CODE Outdated. Standards are from the 1960s Lacks clarity and is not user-friendly for sign companies, city staff, and the general public. Does not follow best practices to address traffic safety and aesthetic quality. Parts of it are not consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court case Reed v. Town of Gilbert, AZ (2015) and its requirement for content-neutrality Current sign code adequately addresses EMCs, Downtown, and billboards 4

5 Answered: 964 VISUAL APPEAL SURVEY How important the appearance of signs to the visual quality of a community? Very Important 62.34% 601 Somewhat Important 34.23% 330 Not Important 2.90% 28 Don t Know 0.52% 5 Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important Don t Know 97% 5

6 SURVEY FINDINGS Preference for short, monument-style signs over tall signs on poles Free-standing signs with cladding are more appealing than pole signs without cladding Sign size is less of a concern than height The use of multiple wall signs on buildings, especially those constructed of low-quality materials, is very visually unappealing Use of more than one temporary sign is very visually unappealing Portable message center signs are visually unappealing 6

7 Visual Clutter Partly a result of not having adequate restrictions on quantity, height, and size BETTER 7

8 TYPES OF SIGNS WALL SIGNS FREE-STANDING SIGNS PROJECTING SIGN CANOPY SIGN 8

9 WALL SIGNS Visual Appeal Survey Results 9

10 WALL SIGNS Visual Appeal Survey Results 10

11 WALL SIGNS INSTITUTIONAL USES IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS CURRENT WALL SIGN No limit on quantity WALL SIGN WALL SIGN Max 40 sq ft per sign PROPOSED WALL SIGN 1 sign per establishment on each façade 1.5 sf per linear foot of building frontage, max 100 sf per single sign 11

12 WALL SIGNS OFFICE & INSTITUTIONAL * CURRENT PROPOSED WALL SIGN WALL SIGN WALL SIGN WALL SIGN No limit on number 40 sf maximum per sign 1 per establishment on each façade 1.5 sf per linear foot of building frontage Max 100 sf per single sign; max 200 sf per sign on facades 300 or more from street right-of-way. *O&I-2, O&I-3 12

13 WALL SIGNS SIGN CODE COMPARISONS Wyandotte County Unified Govt. (KCK) Maximum of 3 wall signs; maximum 80 sf per sign. Maximum 1 sign per tenant on wall with entrance or facing public street. Maximum 5% of building wall area to which the Sign is attached, maximum. Others comparable to or more restrictive than KCK: Kansas City, MO Lawrence, KS Olathe, KS 13

14 WALL SIGNS COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS * CURRENT PROPOSED WALL SIGN WALL SIGN Max size per sign is 300 sq ft No limit on quantity of signs *C-3, C-4, I-1, I-2 Max 3.5 sf per linear foot of building frontage, maximum 200 sf per single sign; max 300 sf for signs on facades 300 or more from street right-ofway. 14 No limit on quantity.

15 WALL SIGNS SIGN CODE COMPARISONS Commercial Zoning (C-3, C-4) Wyandotte County Unified Govt. (KCK) Maximum of 3 wall signs; maximum 80 sf per sign. Multi-tenant Building: maximum 1 sign per tenant on wall with entrance or facing public street. All attached signs may not exceed 5% of building wall area to which the Sign is attached, maximum. Others comparable to KCK: Kansas City, MO Lawrence, KS Olathe, KS 15

16 FREE-STANDING SIGNS 72% Visual Appeal Survey Results 16

17 FREE-STANDING SIGNS 62% Visual Appeal Survey Results 17

18 FREE-STANDING SIGNS 65% Visual Appeal Survey Results 18

19 FREE-STANDING SIGNS 84% Visual Appeal Survey Results 19

20 FREE-STANDING SIGNS INSTITUTIONAL USES IN RESIDENTIAL DISRICTS* CURRENT Max 40 sq ft Max height 5 ft BUSINESS NAME PROPOSED Local & Collector Streets Max 40 sq ft Max height 7 ft BUSINESS NAME Max 60 sq ft PROPOSED Arterial Streets Max height 10 ft BUSINESS NAME * Includes schools, churches, etc. 20

21 FREE-STANDING SIGNS OFFICE & INSTITUTIONAL * PROPOSED Local & Collector Streets PROPOSED Arterial Streets CURRENT Max 40 sq ft Max 60 sq ft Max height 10 ft Max 40 sq ft Max height 5 ft Max height 7 ft BUSINESS NAME BUSINESS NAME BUSINESS NAME *O&I-2, O&I-3 21

22 FREE-STANDING SIGNS SIGN CODE COMPARISONS Office Zoning (O&I-1, O&I-2) Wyandotte County Unified Govt. (KCK) C-O (Nonretail Business District) Monument sign only. Maximum 1 per street frontage not to exceed 3. 5 minimum setback Height: 15 max at minimum setback. For each 1 foot of additional setback, 1 foot of additional height is allowed up to max height (highest point of nearest principal building s roof on the premises or 24 feet, whichever is lower.) Maximum Size: 50 sf Others comparable to or more restrictive than KCK: Kansas City, MO Lawrence, KS Olathe, KS 22

23 FREE-STANDING SIGNS COMMERCIAL * CURRENT BUSINESS NAME 35 max. height 200 sf maximum area PROPOSED.5 sf per linear foot street frontage; max 80 sf Max height 15 ft BUSINESS NAME *C-2 23

24 CURRENT BUSINESS NAME FREE-STANDING SIGNS 55 max. height 300 sf maximum area COMMERCIAL * PROPOSED.5 sf per linear foot street frontage; max 120 sf BUSINESS NAME NAME Max height 25 ft *C-3, C-4, I-1, I-2 24

25 FREE-STANDING SIGNS SIGN CODE COMPARISONS Commercial Zoning (C-3, C-4) Wyandotte County Unified Govt. (KCK) C-2 (General Business District) Monument sign only. Maximum 1 per street frontage not to exceed 3. 5 minimum setback Height: 15 max at minimum setback. For each 1 foot of additional setback, 1 foot of additional height is allowed up to max height (highest point of nearest principal building s roof on the premises or 24 feet, whichever is lower.) Maximum Size: 75 sf Others comparable to or more restrictive than KCK: Kansas City, MO Lawrence, KS Olathe, KS 25

26 FREE-STANDING SIGNS EXCEPTIONS BUSINESS NAME Signs Adjacent to Highway Interchanges: within a 700 foot radius of the intersection of the centerline of a highway with an arterial or collector street, or within 120 feet of where on off-ramp intersects with an arterial or collector street. D-1, D-3, or C-2 35 feet tall, 2X allowed sign area C-3, C-4, I-1, and I-2 55 feet tall, 2X allowed sign area Pole signs allowed over 35 26

27 FREE-STANDING SIGNS EXCEPTIONS BUSINESS NAME Signs for Large Retail Centers, Office, Institutional, and Industrial Parks: Applies to sites of 7 acres or more and having 5 or more tenants or 3 or more buildings. Each site is allowed 1 center sign allowed to exceed the baseline height and size standards for that zoning district. An approved master sign plan is required. Free-standing signs for individual buildings and lots would be allowed but could be more restricted than average. 27

28 NON-CONFORMING/EXISTING SIGNS Proposed: Existing signs that were lawful prior to adoption of the new regulations may be continued Change of copy will NOT trigger new standards Removal, replacement, or size/height changes WILL trigger new standards be phased in. Reduce height by 30 percent Reduce sign area by 30 percent 28

29 ABANDONED SIGNS Any sign which is located on a building, structure, or property which becomes vacant and unoccupied, and to which said sign pertains to an event, land use, or purpose which no longer applies shall be deemed an obsolete OR abandoned sign. 29

30 INCIDENTAL SIGNS 30

31 TEMPORARY SIGNS 31

32 TEMPORARY SIGNS 71% Visual Appeal Survey Results 32

33 TEMPORARY SIGNS 92% Visual Appeal Survey Results 33

34 TEMPORARY SIGNS Yard Signs: No change to height and size standards. 1 per 200 street frontage for most zoning districts (less restrictive). Duration limited by calendar days instead of event (a clearer standard). Free-standing Banners: Allow them. Currently not allowed. Height and size standards same as yard signs. 1 per 200 street frontage for most zoning districts Duration limited by calendar days. 34

35 TEMPORARY SIGNS Feather Flags Currently: Prohibited (height). Proposed: 1 per street frontage in residential & office districts; 1 per 200 street frontage in most commercial districts. Duration limited by calendar days and more restricted than other signs. Max 30 sf area and 16 feet in height 35

36 TEMPORARY SIGNS Non-freestanding Banners Currently: No limit on quantity The total of all banners shall not exceed 25% the area of the wall Placed flat on the building wall only; not allowed on fences, etc. Proposed: In most districts except single-family and Twofamily residential districts, the cumulative total of all temporary non-freestanding signs shall not exceed ½ of maximum signage allowed for permanent wall signs. Placement: flat on building only; placement on fences and other accessory structures not allowed. 36

37 PORTABLE MESSAGE CENTERS Visual Appeal Survey Results 37

38 PORTABLE MESSAGE CENTER SIGNS Currently: The sign code does not clearly allow portable message center sign of the size (32 sf or more) commonly used in Topeka. Proposed: Prohibit portable message center signs Why? Because they are often poorly maintained, misused as permanent signs, and they rank low on the Visual Appeal Survey. 38

39 PORTABLE MESSAGE CENTERS Sign Code Comparisons by City Topeka Wyandotte County Unified Govt. The sign code does not clearly allow portable message center signs based on the size (32 sf or more) commonly used in Topeka. Not permitted Lawrence Kansas City, MO Olathe Manhattan Ottawa Hutchinson Wichita Not permitted Not permitted Not permitted Permitted as a temporary sign only. As such, no restriction on size but are limited to one per zoning lot, and limited to C districts and LM-SC district. Allowed for no more than 30 consecutive days and no more than 60 calendar days per year. Flashing and strobing lights not permitted. Not permitted. Permitted as a temporary sign. Portable message centers permitted in a limited range of zoning districts and for institutional uses, and for commercial uses in other some other zoning districts. Flashing or strobing lights are not permitted. 39