Dale Coulam explained that some issues have come up about commercial signage. The current ordinance prohibits off-site signage entirely. There was a legal non-conforming sign for Tuacahn located at the corner of Snow Canyon and Center Street, with an illegal off-site sign underneath the sign. It was an A-frame sign advertising the "Saturday Market." Those have been removed and replaced with way finding signs. Tuacahn has expressed a desire to put banners under the way-finding signs to advertise the "Saturday Market." Initially, the City's response was the space should be reserved for City events and registrations. However, somehow it was allowed for the Kayenta Street Painting Festival, a non City event that was approved as a Special Event. If the signage is allowed, under what conditions should it be allowed. Would it just be a banner, what size of banners would be allowed, and what would the criteria be to determine which businesses are allowed to advertise? The City should have first priority for events or registration banners. During times when it's not being used by the City, do we want to open it up to other businesses?
Second issue is the Family Dollar Store's representatives visited with Kevin Rudd and me to talk about the property next to Lightfoot's as a possible site for a store. A stucco building is being proposed and the front would have rock accents which has a nice appearance. The issue has become signage and how big of a sign will the City allow on a business. They are not insisting on a large sign but it may be over 100 square feet. Applying the current ordinance to this building, which is over 100 feet wide, would only allow a 6' x 6' sign (36'). The ordinance allows thirty square feet (30') plus one extra foot for every ten feet (10') above fifty feet (50') of roof. This would be a small size for a standalone 100' building. The formula works fairly well in a strip mall type environment so that every sign doesn't over power the other signs. Currently, the City doesn't allow strip mall designs. Another issue is a monument sign in front of the building.
Kevin Rudd advised the ordinance allows a monument sign seven foot (7') wide with sixty square feet (60') total mass and forty square feet (40') for the sign within the mass.
Dale Coulam stated that is smaller than the Family Dollar Store wanted for a monument sign. We need to discuss whether to change the Zoning Ordinance to allow different standards for the signs on commercial buildings. The ordinance is very restrictive and could be a deal killer not only for Family Dollar but for other businesses.
Commissioner Anderson asked about lighting.
Dale Coulam advised that they were very flexible on the lighting. They were willing to put some shielded lights that shine back on the sign or put lights inside the lettering. They were flexible on everything but the size of the sign on such a large building. The plan submitted was over a 100 square feet with signs as low as 90 square feet.
Chair Murphy commented the sign would look funny if it is too small but she had concerns about having bigger monument sizes in front of the building.
Commissioner Anderson asked what the height was for the 100 foot wide sign.
Dale Coulam stated that examples presented were long but they showed us the logo and name on a sign that fits under an arch of the facade instead of a triangle sign. It looked nice. They have come up with some up-scale designs but they are three times the size the ordinance allows.
Commissioner Loris calculated some heights of signs based on square footage and had some discussions on heights.
Dale Coulam advised he would try to get a copy of the picture they presented, and noted that Family Dollar Stores have been modifying the outside of their stores to meet city requirements.
Commissioner Scott agreed that a thirty-six foot (36') sign on a 100 foot building is pretty small. He liked Commissioner Anderson's suggestions to keep it centered and create some clean area around it. He was in favor of making changes to the sizes on signs for commercial buildings.
Commissioner Anderson agreed that on a single building it would be okay but with a bunch of buildings we don't want large signs.
Kevin Rudd referred to strip malls and asked if they wanted to allow the signs based on store area. Example: A strip mall at 150 feet with each business building at 30-50 feet. How would it look based on square foot per building? A good starting point would be to set maximum square feet such as 150 square feet but that may be too much.
In regards to the off-site banners, there is a Class I Temporary Use Permit for a commercial sign. A temporary commercial sign can be approved by the Building and Zoning Administrator based on a twenty foot (20') sign. He suggested having a temporary sign for off-site signs with some guidelines such as twenty square feet (20') for a specific period of time and specific location.
Commissioner Loris asked how a temporary sign would differ from off-site commercial logos and advertising such as Ence Homes' subdivision. What's the difference in that commercial and this commercial advertising?
Commissioner Anderson explained that Ence is advertising real estate which is short term advertising for a permanent business. The events are put on by several businesses. The Tourism Council's idea was to allow temporary signs but not allow the signs all the time because it takes away from the look of the sign. That has been discussed and Chuck Gillette designed the signs to have banners. The first priority is always the City and next for a special event but not for store advertising. Signs should come down after the special event is finished.
Dale Coulam stated that he didn't think that Tuacahn has a special event permit for their "Saturday Market" because it is all on site. It doesn't require any services by the City such as parking issues or traffic control. However, they could be required to go through a special event process. The signage could only be for special events, City functions, registrations or advertising of City events.
Commissioner Anderson suggested keeping it simple because we want people going to the farmer's market, street painting, etc.
Chair Murphy did not want someone using the sign to advertise a sale at their store. The question is distinguishing who can and who cannot have a sign.
Kevin Rudd felt it should be limited to special events.
Chair Murphy commented that Tuacahn may have to get a special event permit. She asked if they would be taking the "Saturday Market" signs down within a reasonable time.
Kevin Rudd stated the weekly event is tough to determine and he gave an example.
Commissioners Anderson commented no one particular business benefits from the farmer's market. It's a community effort. Tuacahn is giving up their place and not benefiting from it.
Chair Murphy stated that Tuacahn does benefit by selling booths.
Commissioner Anderson stated that everyone benefits from it but not one individual business. A special event is to promote the General Plan and the community.
Dale Coulam asked if the Commissioners preferred to leave the prohibition against off-site commercial signage in place and perhaps make an amendment to the special event permit or require Tuacahn to come in and obtain a Special Event Permit.
Chair Murphy stated that the booth charge at Tuacahn is a minimum of $20 a booth. If it is not a special event, there could be all types of things advertised. She gave some examples.
Commissioner Anderson gave an example such as obtaining a Special Event Permit for a bicycling event but the business wants to promote yogurt at the event. It's still an event which brings people to the community.
Commissioner Loris noted that Kayenta and Tuacahn are the only two businesses that have special events.
Dale Coulam advised that the City generates a lot of special events. The Special Event Permit is $100 which may discourage some people. The City waives some application fees for certain events. He understood that the Commissioners like the prohibition of the off-site commercial signage ordinance and did not want to touch the monument ordinance but would be willing to look at the sign ordinance as far as the signage on the face of commercial buildings. He suggested Staff bringing back some language for the Commissioners to review.
Commissioner Anderson stated there are different types of special events. Tuacahn is not going to pay $400 per month. It needs to be a special class.
The Commissioners discussed when and how long the City displays their registration signs, etc. and how often other events will display their signs. The City has approximately five large way finding signs in different areas. The City displays their signs until the event is over and usually at the roundabout entrance and in other areas also.
Chair Murphy was concerned that with special events that they would want a sign in each location. She wasn't in favor of Tuacahn having signs up for 9-10 months a year in each location every weekend.
Commissioner Loris asked about the duration of leaving the signs up. The City keeps their signs up several weeks prior to the event but what about the Farmer's Market.
Chair Murphy stated that with the old signage it was put up the night before and they were consistent about taking it down afterwards.
Dale Coulam suggested allowing re-occurring events to choose one location.
Commissioner Anderson noted that the smaller events put the signs up in the morning and take it down at night. The larger events last 3-5 days and it is a benefit to the community to have more advertising. The goal is to bring people to Ivins and maybe we should look at the cost based on that.
Kevin Rudd suggested having a temporary event sign ordinance that Staff approves laying out the perimeters. It could be a Special Event that would go through the Technical Review Committee (TRC). We haven't had a problem with these types of signs.
Chair Murphy agreed that the signs could be submitted for the TRC to review.
Dale Coulam commented that he didn't think they should lower the fee because it still has to go through TRC as a Special Event. If it is the same sign and re-occurring, maybe the sign could be up a specified number of days a month. It could be up the day of and the day before, or it could go up a few days before the event but cannot be left there all the time.
Commissioner Anderson commented on the fee that if it is re-occurring it only needs to go to TRC one time.
Dale Coulam stated it would be less processing but they should get a permit for each month. The permit is only for a month and for so many days. The days could be used all at one time or for each weekend but if it is the same event that's already been approved it could be a lesser fee. If they change the sign, it's back to the full fee.
Commissioner Loris asked about the regulations for yard sale signs.
Kevin Rudd advised technically off-site yard sales are illegal. Unless he is directed differently by the City Council we basically disregard the signs on Friday and weekends. However, if they are left up on Monday, the code enforcement officers pick them up. If it is put up in the middle of the sidewalks or roundabout, we take them back to them and asked them not to put them in those locations. The City Council seems to be sympathetic to yard sales.