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Home My WebLink About Downtown Parking Lots Comprehensive Sign PlanCommission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Andy Epple, Director of Planning Chris Kukulski, City Manager SUBJECT: Downtown Parking Lots Comprehensive Sign Plan MEETING DATE: October 19, 2009 AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the Downtown Parking Lots Comprehensive Sign Plan as Presented BACKGROUND: The Downtown Business Partnership (DBP -- applicant) and Intrinsik Architecture (representative), on behalf of the City of Bozeman and the Downtown Parking Commission (owners) have submitted the attached Downtown Bozeman Parking Lots Comprehensive Sign Plan. In conjunction with the recent opening of the Downtown Parking Garage, DBP has worked with Intrinsik to develop a coordinated, more visibly recognizable form of informational and directional signs for all City-owned downtown parking lots. Comprehensive Sign Plans may be approved by Administrative Design Review (ADR) per Section 18.52.070 of the Bozeman Municipal Code. ADR staff has reviewed the submitted material and finds it in compliance with applicable provisions of the City Sign Code and the draft Downtown Bozeman Improvement Plan. City Commission approval of the Comprehensive Sign Plan is needed per Section 18.02.080 BMC, which requires Commission approval of all development on City-owned properties. FISCAL EFFECTS: Design, fabrication, and installation of the proposed signs is being funded jointly through the Downtown Business Improvement District and the Downtown Tax Increment Finance District. The appropriation of these funds for this purpose was approved by the City Commission in 2009. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission. Attachments: Application materials; Comprehensive Sigh Plan Report compiled on: October 14, 2009 121 122 123 COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PLAN CHECKLIST A comprehensive sign plan shall be submitted for all commercial, office, industrial, and civic uses consisting of two or more tenants or occupant spaces on a lot(s) subject to a common development permit or plan. The purpose of the plan is to coordinate graphics and signs with building design. All signage must be within the permitted square footage as described in Chapter 18.52, Title 18 of the Bozeman Municipal Code The plan should include a written narrative explaining how the signs coordinate with each other and with the building design. The coordination could be achieved by: 1. Using the same type of sign supports or mounting. 2. Using the same type of design components such as: a. Font b. Color elements c. Materials. 3. Using the same form of illumination, or compatible forms of illumination. 4. Placing the signs in a balanced or appropriate location to reflect the building design. 5. Other types of coordination approved by the Planning Department. In addition the following are required: YES NO N/A 1. The name and address of sign approval authority (landlord, developer, property owner, design committee, or no approval necessary.) 2. The total square footage of signage allowed for the building(s) or development 3. Building elevations showing all proposed buildings and the size and location of existing and proposed signs. 4. Any special rules on temporary signs The plan should also include a statement that the approval authority agrees to the following: 1. Apply for and receive sign permits and/or approval from the City for all signs before they are erected. 2. Remove signs when a business leaves 3. Maintain all signs in a working and attractive manner. _______________________________________ Project Planner or ADR Staff _______________________________________ Andrew C. Epple, Director of Planning and Community Development 124 Photographs of Existing Surface Parking Lots Willson Parking Lot 1 125 Photographs of Existing Surface Parking Lots Willson Parking Lot 2 126 Photographs of Existing Surface Parking Lots Carnegie Parking Lot 127 Photographs of Existing Surface Parking Lots Bozeman Creek Parking Lot 128 Downtown Bozeman Parking Lots Comprehensive Sign Plan Table of Contents Section 1 – Intent Section 2 – Definition Section 3 – Sign Types Appendix A: Sign Details Appendix B: Sign Locations 129 Section 1 – Intent The intent of this sign plan is to promote a coordinated and consistent framework for informational and way-finding signage to identify and direct both residents and visitors to public parking lots in downtown Bozeman. Section 2 – Informational Signage Definition Signage indicating the location and regulations for public parking lots falls under the exempt informational signage category. Section 18.52.050 of the UDO describes signs that are exempt from permitting requirements in all zones: “Government and Public Utility Signs. Directional, warning, street, building identification, traffic control, informational or temporary special event signs that are erected, installed or placed by or on behalf of any federal, state, county, or city government…” (emphasis added) Informational signage is defined within this plan as: “On or off-site signage intended to convey non-commercial information about district amenities or resources.” 130 Section 3 – Sign Types There are three types of informational signage proposed for Bozeman’s downtown public parking lots. Please refer to Appendix A for more specifics regarding sign dimensions and details. Corner Directory Signs: These multi-directional powder-coated blue and gray steel fabricated signs would replace the existing large pole-style white and green signs. They are intended to easily direct visitors to the four major public surface parking areas downtown and are proportional to be seen over cars. Consistent use of the white “P” on a blue box (the same symbol used on the Bridger Park Parking Garage) will promote branding to increase the overall visibility of available parking. Corner Directory Signs can simultaneously serve as a way-finding tool to also distinguish each parking lot with a specific street or parking lot name on the lower section. One Corner Directory Sign is planned per public parking lot. Such signs may be located within a street vision triangle if the intersection is controlled by a traffic light or otherwise approved. Note that these signs may include soft internal back-lighting of the “P” in the future as power becomes available. Boundary Bollards: These bollards are designed to more subtly denote the perimeter of lots in certain cases where additional signage would otherwise be necessary. They also identify public parking with the use of the simple blue box brand. These bollards can also serve as bike parking and protect buildings in close proximity to parking spaces that do not have curbing. The number of entry bollards will depend on the configuration of the parking lot. Although not currently planned for lighting, these types of signs may include soft internal lighting in unique circumstances. Entry Bollards: These signs are intended to denote entrances and exits as well as to convey information regarding the rules and regulations for public parking lots once a driver has entered the lot. These assemblies can also function as gates (with cable or chain) should any events take place in the parking lot or should any maintenance, such as snow removal or striping, be necessary. Again, the number of entry bollards will depend on the configuration of the parking lot. 131 Appendix A: Sign Details 132 133 134 135 Appendix B: Sign Locations 136 137 138 139 140