Revision allows for more business-friendly signage
Carlsbad Chamber officials are applauding the Carlsbad City Council for revising the city's sign ordinance to include several provisions that will help businesses in the city maintain a competitive edge and better advertise their businesses.
At its Aug. 27 meeting, the Council adopted the revision, including Chamber-supported recommendations that dealt with digital signs and wall signs on large businesses.
Under the adopted ordinance, digital signs, or "electronic message boards", previously prohibited in Carlsbad, could be allowed at regional commercial centers such as Westfield Carlsbad and Car Country Carlsbad that are next to a freeway (either Interstate Highway 5 or State Route 78). The Council required that digital signs be addressed as a part of a Specific Plan, establishing design standards that would require approval of a Conditional Use Permit by the City Council for the actual development of a digital sign.
A Specific Plan Amendment to allow a digital sign at Car Country would have to be approved by both the City and the state Coastal Commission because Car Country is in a Coastal Zone.
The Council also adopted a provision recommended by the Chamber that would allow large buildings that are more than 50,000 square feet to put up more signs than those that are allowed under the old ordinance. The exact number will be determined based on the size of the building.
These revisions were among several that City of Carlsbad staff had suggested as part of a comprehensive update. According to a report from staff, the city had not reviewed its sign ordinance since 2001. The City Council disagreed with some of the revisions the Carlsbad Planning Commission made to the staff recommendation, seeking to keep the prohibition of digital signs in place and limiting the signs on large buildings. The Council understood the Commissioner's concerns, but believed that it was important to provide the opportunity to allow for digital signs subject to review and approval of the City Council. They also believed that the larger buildings in the office/industrial area needed the opportunity to provide more signage for their tenants.
At the meeting, Chamber President and CEO Ted Owen urged the council to proceed with the staff recommendation in its original form.
"We believe that the staff did a great job on balancing the needs of the business community and the City's concerns about a potential proliferation of signs," Owen said.
He added that the ability for larger buildings to have more signs is reasonable, and will make it easier for customers and clients to find buildings in Carlsbad's business parks.
"Many of the larger buildings have more than one occupant and need the ability for major tenants to have a visible sign on the building," Owen said. "Staff's original proposal was a fair and equitable solution which is especially relevant to large buildings that have more than one tenant."
After the meeting, Owen said that electronic message board signs "bring business to the locations that have them and allow them to compete with regional commercial centers in other jurisdictions."
These types of signs advertise regional commercial facilities throught the state and we believe that they should also be allowed in Carlsbad," he added.
Owen praised the council for its vote, noting that it's just another example of the city recognizing the importance of its businesses.
Carlsbad Chamber officials are applauding the Carlsbad City Council for revising the city's sign ordinance to include several provisions that will help businesses in the city maintain a competitive edge and better advertise their businesses.
At its Aug. 27 meeting, the Council adopted the revision, including Chamber-supported recommendations that dealt with digital signs and wall signs on large businesses.
Under the adopted ordinance, digital signs, or "electronic message boards", previously prohibited in Carlsbad, could be allowed at regional commercial centers such as Westfield Carlsbad and Car Country Carlsbad that are next to a freeway (either Interstate Highway 5 or State Route 78). The Council required that digital signs be addressed as a part of a Specific Plan, establishing design standards that would require approval of a Conditional Use Permit by the City Council for the actual development of a digital sign.
A Specific Plan Amendment to allow a digital sign at Car Country would have to be approved by both the City and the state Coastal Commission because Car Country is in a Coastal Zone.
The Council also adopted a provision recommended by the Chamber that would allow large buildings that are more than 50,000 square feet to put up more signs than those that are allowed under the old ordinance. The exact number will be determined based on the size of the building.
These revisions were among several that City of Carlsbad staff had suggested as part of a comprehensive update. According to a report from staff, the city had not reviewed its sign ordinance since 2001. The City Council disagreed with some of the revisions the Carlsbad Planning Commission made to the staff recommendation, seeking to keep the prohibition of digital signs in place and limiting the signs on large buildings. The Council understood the Commissioner's concerns, but believed that it was important to provide the opportunity to allow for digital signs subject to review and approval of the City Council. They also believed that the larger buildings in the office/industrial area needed the opportunity to provide more signage for their tenants.
At the meeting, Chamber President and CEO Ted Owen urged the council to proceed with the staff recommendation in its original form.
"We believe that the staff did a great job on balancing the needs of the business community and the City's concerns about a potential proliferation of signs," Owen said.
He added that the ability for larger buildings to have more signs is reasonable, and will make it easier for customers and clients to find buildings in Carlsbad's business parks.
"Many of the larger buildings have more than one occupant and need the ability for major tenants to have a visible sign on the building," Owen said. "Staff's original proposal was a fair and equitable solution which is especially relevant to large buildings that have more than one tenant."
After the meeting, Owen said that electronic message board signs "bring business to the locations that have them and allow them to compete with regional commercial centers in other jurisdictions."
These types of signs advertise regional commercial facilities throught the state and we believe that they should also be allowed in Carlsbad," he added.
Owen praised the council for its vote, noting that it's just another example of the city recognizing the importance of its businesses.