SA 2001-555 La Quinta Corporate Center (Original)DATE:
CASE NO.:
APPLICANT/
PROPERTY OWNER:
CONTRACTOR:
REQUEST:
JULY 10, 2001
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2000-669
JAMES R. PAUL
IMPERIAL SIGN
REVIEW OF A PROPOSED SIGN PROGRAM FOR AN
APPROVED MULTI -TENANT INDUSTRIAL/ OFFICE
BUILDING.
LOCATION: 79-440 CORPORATE CENTRE DRIVE WITHIN THE LA
QUINTA CORPORATE CENTRE (HIGHWAY 111 BETWEEN
DUNE PALMS ROAD AND ADAMS STREET)
GENERAL PLAN
DESIGNATIONS: ON SITE: COMMERCIAL PARK (CP)
NORTH: WATERCOURSE/FLOOD CONTROL
(W)
ALL OTHER: MIXED/REGIONAL COMMERCIAL
(M/RC)
ZONING
DESIGNATIONS: ON SITE: COMMERCIAL PARK (CP)
NORTH: FLOODPLAIN (FP)
ALL OTHERS: REGIONAL COMMERCIAL (CR)
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS: THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS
DETERMINED THAT THIS PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION
15311 (ACCESSORY STRUCTURES) OF THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
BACKGROUND:
On March 14, 2000, the Planning Commission approved Site Development Permit 2000-
669 for a 47,000 square foot multi -tenant industrial/office building. The site for this building
Page 1
falls into Specific Plan 99-036 (La Quinta Corporate Centre) approved by the City Council
-i on September 7, 1999. The applicant, James R. Paul, is now requesting approval of a
tenant sign program for said building.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Tenant Signs: The proposed tenant signs would consist of 3/4 inch thick acrylic letters in
helvetica font. These letters would be stud mounted directly to the building and would not
be illuminated in any way. The applicant is proposing a combination of black and gold
coloring to be integrated into each letter to provide interest and shadowing. (Attachment
#1) An example of this coloring will be available at the Planning Commission hearing.
Each tenant space in this building has 60 square feet of frontage. The applicant is
proposing 80% sign coverage per frontage, for a maximum sign size of 48 square feet.
The total height of all signs would not exceed 24 inches regardless if the sign consists of
one or two lines of type. The letters would be centered on the 4 foot tall fascia of the
building.
Monument Sian: The applicant is also requesting to modify the monument sign that was
previously approved by the Planning Commission as part of Specific Plan 99-036.
(Attachment #2) The proposed monument sign would consist of a base of approximately
4 inch thick Arizona Sandstone. The letters would be sandblasted into this base. The
sign, as proposed, would indicate the.name of the building and the address.
Directory Sign: The applicant is proposing an additional sign to be located on the rear of
the building to list the current tenants: The sign would be mounted to the top left hand
corner of the wall facing north toward the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel. As
proposed, the sign would be an aluminum cabinet, painted to match the building, with
changeable tenant panels. The proposed size of this sign is 64 square feet. (Attachment
#3)
MANDATORY FINDINGS:
The findings as required by Section 9.160.090(D)(3) (Sign Permit Review) of the Zoning
Code can be made as noted below.
Tenant Signs: The proposed tenant signs are consistent with the purpose and intent of the
La Quinta Sign Ordinance. The ordinance does dictate a maximum sign size of 1 square
foot per lineal foot of tenant frontage, up to a maximum of 50 square feet. The proposed
sign program uses the total square footage of the frontage instead of the linear dimension.
The maximum size would still be under the 50 square feet set forth in the Sign Ordinance.
In addition, the proposed tenant signs are visually related to the building on which they will
be placed, as well as the surrounding development(s).
Page 2
Although the applicant has not specifically addressed the use of logos in the proposed
tenant sign program, the issue should be addressed. Logo cabinet box signs have been
considered for previously approved sign programs if a part of a formally registered
trademark of the business. Logos are considered on a case-by-case basis, and usually
do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total sign area. Cabinet sign faces are required
to have opaque backgrounds and no exposed raceway. In this case, any proposed logo
would not exceed the 24 inch height maximum outlined above. (Condition #2)
Monument Sian: The proposed change to the previously approved monument sign is
consistent with the purpose and intent of the Sign Ordinance. The proposed monument
sign, while different in style to the approved sign, is more consistent with the style and
architecture of the building it represents. As approved by Planning Commission and City
Council, the monument sign was to indicate the name of the project (La Quinta Corporate
Centre), not the individual building name. Therefore, staff supports the proposed changes
to the style of the monument sign, but not the text. (Condition #3)
Directory Sign: The proposed directory sign was not a part of the originally approved sign
program with Specific Plan 99-036. The Sign Ordinance allows directory signs such as this
to be placed at the entrance of the building or complex, not on the back of a building as
proposed. Table 9-18 of the Zoning Ordinance states that directory "signs are to be
designated and oriented to direct pedestrian traffic As proposed, the directory sign is not
oriented toward pedestrian traffic, but toward vehicular traffic along Dune Palms Drive.
Therefore, staff recommends denial of this particular sign. (Condition #4)
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2001-_ approving Site Development Permit
2000-669, subject to the Findings and Conditions of Approval contained in the attached
Resolution.
Attachments:
1. Tenant Sign Program
2. Original Monument Sign
3. Proposed Monument Sign and Directory Sign
Prepared by: Submitted by:
Ch LL� Pd 3DO
Michele Rambo, Associate Planner Christine di lorio, Pla ning Manager
Page 3
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2001- 095
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2000.669
JAMES R. PAUL .
JULY 10, 2001
t • • _ • ' ' I��j�L
1. Prior to issuance of a sign permit, each tenant shall receive approval from the
Community Development Department prior to installing their signs.
2. The proposed directory and monument signs are nota part of this approval.
Page 1
LAQUWAPL.ANMW �OM&&
APPROVED
DATE --�/ 10 0t
QUINTI, CORPORATE CENTRE W GN PROGRAM
7,,-,-440 CORPORATE CENTRE DR. LA QUI NTA, CA. 92253
Prepared by Imperial Sign Company Inc.
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60 5Q. FT. FRONTAGE
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APPROVED 51GNAGE:
3/4" PAINTED BLACK ACRYLIC, LAMINATED
WITH 5HINY GOLD WK15CO METAL IN5ET 3/419
TO 5HOW BLACK BOARDER
5TUD MOUNTED INTO FLA5TER
WITH MINIMAL ADHE5IVE
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METAL FACE 5 uo
3/4" MOL NTED
Acrylic
24' LETTER&
OWNERS: MR & MRS JAMES PAUL
5UILDEK5: ORR 51JILDER5
ARCHITECT: KOBERT H. RICCIARDI
LEASING BY: LYLE COMMERCIAL
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SPECIFIC PLAN THE LA QUINTA CORPORATE CENTRE
Specific Plan 99-036, Amendment #2
Exhibit "A"
NOLINA PARRY]
DWARF MEXICAN GRASS TREE
RAPHIOLEPIS (.'SPECIES'
INDIA HAWTHORN
SALVIA G. 'SIERRA LINDA'
SAGE
SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS
JOJOBA
THEVETIA PERUVIANA
YELLOW OLEANDER
XYLOSMACONGESTUM'COMPACTA'
DWARFXYLOSMA
GROUNDCOVER
ANNUAL COLOR
SEASONAL FLOWERS
ACACIA R. 'DESERT CARPET'
TRAILING ACACIA
BACCHARIS CENTENNIAL
BACCHARIS
DALEA GREGG][
PROSTRATE INDIGO BUSH
LANTANA MONTEVEDENSIS
PURPLE PROSTRATE LANTANA
LANTANA M. 'GOLD SPOT'
YELLOW PROSTRATE LANTANA
OENOTHERA BERLANDIERI
MEXICAN PRIMROSE
ROSMARINUS O. 'LOCKWOOD FOREST'
DWARF ROSEMARY
SANTOLINA VIRENS
GREEN SANTOLINA
VERBENA RIGIDA
VERBENA
PALM SPRINGS'GOLD'
GRAVEL TAILINGS
WILDFLOWERS
DESERT WILDFLOWER MIXTURE
CALIFORNIA POPPIES, VERBENA, ETC.
Special Note: Palm trees inside the development shall be untrimmed to provide a
roosting site for bats per General Plan Biological Resources Program 3.3. The use of
lawn shall be limited to parkway and art piece areas, subject to review and approval by
the Planning Commission and/or City Council.
2.90 SIGNS
The City shall approve a comprehensive sign plan for each building complex prior to
the issuance of building permits. A preliminary sign concept including location, general
size, materials and lighting, shall be submitted with each site development plan or
conditional use permit application. The main principles of the comprehensive sign plan
shall be compliance with the sign regulations of the La Quinta Zoning Ordinance,
except as otherwise set forth herein. Only channel letter building signs are permitted.
The concept being presented represents an integrated approach to center identification
for such a large parcel. Overall center identification is achieved with an entry statement
on Highway 111 and entry monumentation on each of the secondary street frontages.
These "Centre" identification signs will create an address for the individual tenants who
are not permitted to have freestanding identification signs. The La Quinta Corporate
Centre plan has four signs, two on Highway 111 and two on Dune Palms Road (Exhibit
12)•
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