06-17-2015 CHB RPT 5 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MWIM Cultural Heritage Board TO: CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD MEETING DATE: June 17, 2015 ITEM NO: 4 SUBJECT: PLANNING CASE NO. P12 -0468: A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO TITLE 19 OF THE RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE TO RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 19.620 — GENERAL SIGN PROVISIONS. BACKGROUND: On July 24, 2012 the City Council directed staff to prepare a comprehensive update to Chapter 19.620 — General Sign Provisions, which is the portion of the Code that regulates signs on private property. The City Council's direction to staff specifically included the consideration of "best practices" for signage, and regulations that address the latest technologies. This direction to staff was provided in response to public concerns that the sign code was outdated and not business friendly. In August of 2013 the City Council authorized an agreement with a sign code consultant to prepare a comprehensive update, and the Council appointed members to serve on a Sign Code Review Committee (SCRC). This Committee is comprised of thirty -nine (39) members, including the chambers of commerce, realtor's /brokers, sign makers, business improvement districts, historic preservation representatives, the Riverside Neighborhood Partnership, City Council & Mayor appointed representatives, and the Chairman of the Planning Commission. Since December 2013 there have been a total of fifteen meetings of the members of the SCRC, including seven meetings of the 39- Member SCRC, and eight meetings of an 8- member SCRC Working Group appointed by the SCRC in June, 2014. On April 16, 2015 the 39- member SCRC recommended, by unanimous vote, that the City Council approve the Draft General Sign Provisions. ANALYSIS: The proposed amendment to Title 19 (Zoning Code) of the Riverside Municipal Code (RMC) will implement a comprehensive update to Chapter 19.620 - General Sign Provisions. The proposal involves: Re- organization and consolidation of existing Code provisions; Creation of new sections to address design principles, prohibited signs, and