City Council
MEETING DATE: 11/16/2015
TITLE:
Title
Zone Ordinance Amendment No. 15-001 - Billboards
End
FROM:
Pat Milos, Community Development Director
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Planning Commission recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to amend Chapter 9.62 (Signs) to add regulations and development standards for the construction of Billboards with digital display or changeable copy in the City of Cathedral City.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On October 21, 2015, the Planning Commission approved Resolution No. P15-0230 (Attachment 1), recommending that the City Council approve Zone Ordinance Amendment 15-001.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Cathedral City last amended the Sign Code (Chapter 9.62) in 2010. This amendment included an allowance for the construction of monument signs with electronic changeable copy through Planning Commission approval of a master sign program. The Planning Commission has approved a number of monument signs with electronic changeable copy.
The same technology is now being utilized in billboard signage, providing another method of advertising for local businesses. Billboards with digital display or changeable copy offer exposure to multiple businesses on the same billboard and the opportunity for multiple messages on the billboard by each customer.
Currently, the City’s Sign Code related to billboards (Section 9.62.070) only regulates static billboards with no mention of digital display or changeable copy. These regulations apply to billboards on land under the jurisdiction of the City, not including land controlled by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The Tribe has a separate ordinance (Ordinance 13) that allows for the establishment of static billboards and billboards with digital display or changeable copy on Tribal land.
Staff is proposing an amendment to the Sign Code to permit the use of digital display or changeable copy on any new or replacement billboards that are located on land under the jurisdiction of the City through the Planning Commission approval of a Conditional Use Permit. The proposal would add regulations and development standards related to billboards with digital display or changeable copy. In addition, staff is proposing other minor but related changes to the Sign Code as part of this amendment.
Furthermore, in 2009 and 2014, the City annexed a large area (North City and the North City Extended Specific Plan) north of Interstate 10, which is approximately 5,567 acres of land. Based on this proposed ordinance, an additional five billboards would be allowed on the north side of I-10, with a CUP, restoring the total allowed in the City to twenty-three on land under the jurisdiction of the City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Planning Commission Resolution
Attachment 2: City Council Ordinance