SAPR 2018-0003 Washington Park, Amendment 3 (10.25.2018)
October 25, 2018
Mr. Jack Tarr
Washington 111, Ltd.
30240 Rancho Viejo Rd., Suite B
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
SUBJECT: SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT 2018-0003 (SA 2003-682 AMD 3)
WASHINGTON PARK
Dear Mr. Tarr:
The Design and Development Department has reviewed and approved your request
for an amendment to the Washington Park Sign Program. The approval is subject
to Conditions of Approval attached to the staff report. The appeal period for this
decision is 15 days and will end on Friday, November 9, 2018
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (760) 777-7069.
Sincerely,
Carlos Flores
Associate Planner
Enclosures:
o Staff Report with Conditions of Approval
STAFF REPORT
DATE: OCTOBER 25 2018
CASE NO: SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT 2018-0002 (SA 2003-
682 AMENDMENT 3)
APPLICANT: WASHINGTON 111, LTD
PROPERTY OWNER: WASHINGTON 111, LTD
REQUEST: APPROVE A SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT FOR
WASHINGTON PARK, AND FIND THE PROJECT
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
CEQA: THE PLANNING DIVISION HAS DETERMINED THAT
THIS PROPOSAL IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 15301 OF THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA),
IN THAT THIS PROPOSAL INCLUDES ON-PREMISE
SIGNS.
LOCATION: NORTH EAST CORNER OF AVENUE 47 AND
WASHINGTON STREET, BOUND BY HIGHWAY 111
AND SIMON DRIVE TO THE NORTH AND ADAMS
STREET TO THE EAST
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• The applicant proposes to amend the Washington Park Sign Program
(Program) to allow for additional square footage per sign for major
tenants.
BACKGROUND
Washington Park is a commercial development approved through the
Washington Park Specific Plan (SP 87-011) and multiple Site Development
Permits. Existing Washington Park major tenants, which are defined in the
Program as those businesses having square footage over 10,000 square
feet, include Target, Lowes, and Trader Joe’s. The original Program was
approved by the Planning Commission on April 8, 2003. Amendment 1 to
the Program was approved on April 14, 2009, which revised monument signs
and under canopy blade signs, and Amendment 2 was approved on July 23,
2015, which further revised monument signs.
PROPOSAL AND ANALYSIS
The applicant requests an amendment (Attachment 1) to signs for major
tenants to:
• Eliminate limitation on sign area square footage per lineal foot of
building frontage.
• Increase maximum square footage of total sign area from 150 to
200, per sign.
• Eliminate limitation of a maximum of 200 square feet for aggregate
sign area per tenant for major tenants. Signage will be limited to
one sign per exposure.
Major tenants in the commercial center lack visibility off Highway 111 due to
limited frontage and setbacks off Highway 111. The Program currently limits
major tenants to sign square footage that doesn’t exceed the lineal feet of
their building frontage, can’t exceed 150 square feet, and can’t exceed 200
square feet on aggregate for buildings with multiple exposures. Given the
orientation and location of the commercial center, the additional square
footage would be allowed to overcome a disadvantage and to increase
visibility for patrons traveling on Highway 111. The new Program would be
in character with the design of the existing signs and would be reviewed
against the same development standards of the existing signs (Attachment
2).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Design and Development Department has determined that this project is
exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing
Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act in that the proposed
project includes on-premise signs.
Report prepared by: Carlos Flores, Associate Planner
Attachment: 1. Proposed Sign Program Amendment Redlines
2. Proposed Final Washington Park Sign Program
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED OCTOBER 25, 2018
SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT 2018-0003 (SA2003-682, AMENDMENT 3)
WASHINGTON PARK SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT
Page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
FINDINGS
1. Consistency with General Plan
The project site is designated Regional Commercial on the General Plan
land use map and the proposed sign program amendment further promotes
Regional commercial uses at the center.
2. Consistency with Zoning Code
Sign program amendments are authorized by the Zoning Code and the
proposed sign program amendment is consistent with the purpose and
intent of Chapter 9.160.
The sign program amendment is in harmony with and visually related to:
a. All signs within the planned sign program, via the incorporation of
several common design elements such as materials, letter style, colors,
illumination, sign type or sign shape. The new tenant signs would be
similar in design with the existing tenant signs.
b. The buildings they identify. This may be accomplished by utilizing
materials, colors, or design motif included in the building being
identified. The amendment allows for larger identification for major
tenants.
c. Surrounding development. Implementation of the planned sign program
will not adversely affect surrounding land uses or obscure adjacent
conforming signs.
The sign program amendment would allow more square footage for
individual signs in order to overcome a disadvantage as a result of the
orientation and location of the commercial center and to increase visibility
for patrons traveling eastbound on Highway 111.
The sign program allows additional area in order to:
a. Overcome a disadvantage as a result of an exceptional setback between
the street and the sign or orientation of the sign location. The location of
major tenant buildings lack frontage off Highway 111 and has exposures
that face east and west.
b. Allow a sign compatible with other conforming signs in the vicinity. The
new sign will be similar in design with the other tenant signs on the
building.
c. To allow a sign to be in proper scale with its building or use. Major
tenants with significant amount of frontage and exposure will be allowed
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED OCTOBER 25, 2018
SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT 2018-0003 (SA2003-682, AMENDMENT 3)
WASHINGTON PARK SIGN PROGRAM AMENDMENT
Page 2 of 2
Page 2 of 2
to have additional area.
d. To allow a sign compatible with other conforming signs in the vicinity.
3. Compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The Design and Development Department has determined that this project
is exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 of the
California Environmental Quality Act in that the proposed project can be
characterized as an existing facility.
4. Surrounding Uses
As conditioned, approval of the application will not create conditions
materially detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare or
injurious to or incompatible with other properties or land uses in the
vicinity. The proposed sign program amendment design elements are
consistent in size and scale with the existing signage in surrounding
commercial centers.
GENERAL
1. The applicant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City of La
Quinta (“City”), its agents, officers and employees from any claim, action
or proceeding to attack, set aside, void, or annul the approval of this Sign
Program Amendment. The City shall have sole discretion in selecting its
defense counsel. The City shall promptly notify the applicant of any claim,
action or proceeding and shall cooperate fully in the defense.
2. Any changes to the sign program, including sign size, sign placement
and/or sign design, will require a sign program amendment application to
be filed with the Design and Development Department.
3. The applicant must comply with all conditions of approval from Sign
Program 2003-682, Amendments 1 and 2 (Washington Park).
SIGN SIZE PARAMETERS
(A) WALL SIGNS
•Tenant is allowed one (1) primary identification sign located above the store entrance in a specific area within
the confines of tenants storefront.
•Tenants with building elevations facing multiple exposures such as a parking lot or street may incorporate only
one (1) sign per face or elevation that is exposed. Additional signage per exposure subject to Developer's
approval.
•Sign may identify the business name and a minimum generic word description of the service.
No product identity or specific service descriptions may be displayed.
•Sign size is based upon the Tenants leased frontage, as measured in a straight line from lease line to lease line
for each elevation.
Tenants are allowed the following signable area:
(A) Major Tenants (Greater than or equal to 10,000 sq. ft.)
•Excluding Target, individual sign size allowance is limited to one (1) square foot of sign area per lineal foot of
primary building frontage up to a maximum of two hundred (200) one-hundred and fifty (150) square feet of
total sign area per sign per Tenant. No single tenant's aggregate sign areas shall exceed a maximum of two-
hundred (200) square feet of total sign area, if multiple signs are allowed.
•Target shall be allowed a total aggregate sign area of no greater that two-hundred and seventy-five (275)
square feet.
(A2) Minor and Pad Tenants (Less than 10,000 sq. ft.)
•Signs shall be sized to appropriately match the scale of secondary tenant's building wall/ fascia Sign size
allowance is one (1) square foot of sign area per lineal foot of primary building frontage. The letter height shall
be limited to 24" letters.
•Tenant's with building elevations facing multiple exposures such as a parking lot or street may petition
Landlord to incorporate one (1) additional sign per face or elevation that is exposed.
(B) FREESTANDING SIGNS
Exhibits A. 1 & A.2
•Maximum height 10’ - 0", total of five (5) Tenant panels and one (1) Tenant name/logo on column on each
freestanding sign.
ATTACHMENT 1
Exhibit B. 1
• Maximum height 9 1 - O", Corner Monument sign with a total of five (5) Tenant panels on each side.
• One side faces Highway 1 1 the other side faces Adams Street
Exhibits c.i - C.4
• Maximum height 71 - 2", total of six (6) Tenant panels and one (1) Tenant name/logo on column on each
freestanding sign.
ATTACHMENT 2
SIGN SIZE PARAMETERS
(A) WALL SIGNS
• Tenant is allowed one (1) primary identification sign located above the store entrance in a specific area within
the confines of tenants storefront.
• Tenants with building elevations facing multiple exposures such as a parking lot or street may incorporate only
one (1) sign per face or elevation that is exposed. Additional signage per exposure subject to Developer's
approval.
• Sign may identify the business name and a minimum generic word description of the service.
No product identity or specific service descriptions may be displayed.
• Sign size is based upon the Tenants leased frontage, as measured in a straight line from lease line to lease line
for each elevation.
Tenants are allowed the following signable area:
(A) Major Tenants (Greater than or equal to 10,000 sq. ft.)
• Excluding Target, individual sign size allowance is limited to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet of
total sign area per sign per Tenant.
• Target shall be allowed a total aggregate sign area of no greater that two-hundred and seventy-five (275)
square feet.
(A2) Minor and Pad Tenants (Less than 10,000 sq. ft.)
• Signs shall be sized to appropriately match the scale of secondary tenant's building wall/ fascia Sign size
allowance is one (1) square foot of sign area per lineal foot of primary building frontage. The letter height shall
be limited to 24" letters.
• Tenant's with building elevations facing multiple exposures such as a parking lot or street may petition
Landlord to incorporate one (1) additional sign per face or elevation that is exposed.
(B) FREESTANDING SIGNS
Exhibits A.1 & A.2
• Maximum height 10’ - 0", total of five (5) Tenant panels and one (1) Tenant name/logo on column on each
freestanding sign.
Exhibit B. 1
• Maximum height 9’ - 0", Corner Monument sign with a total of five (5) Tenant panels on each side.
• One side faces Highway 1 1 the other side faces Adams Street
Exhibits C.1 - C.4
• Maximum height 7’ - 2", total of six (6) Tenant panels and one (1) Tenant name/logo on column on each
freestanding sign.
PLANNING APPROVAL
ADMINISTRATIVE
CASE# ____________________
EXHIBIT# ____________________
INITIAL cflores
DATE 10/25/2018 1:29:08 PM
SAPR2018-0003