REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
2014-7023: Introduce an Ordinance Amending Chapter 19.44 (Signs) of Title 19 (Zoning) of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code relating to Temporary Non-Commercial Message Signs; Find the Project exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15061(b)(3)
Report
BACKGROUND
On June 25, 2013, the City Council adopted a revised sign code. Concerns were raised after the new code took effect concerning how the new regulations applied to temporary non-commercial signage (including election signs) in residential and non-residential areas.
Under the prior code, election signs had not been allowed in the parkway strip in residential areas during the election period, defined as 90 days prior and 10 days after a general election. The parkway strip is the landscaped area between the street and the sidewalk. Although the parkway strip is normally maintained by the adjacent homeowner, it is typically within the City's right-of-way. The revised code adopted by the Council on June 25, 2013, allowed the adjacent homeowner to place temporary non-commercial signs (including election signs) in the parkway strip. This led to some complaints from the community.
The prior code also allowed commercial and industrial property owners to put election signs in landscaped areas of their properties. However, the revised code prohibited the placement of portable, temporary signs in landscaped areas in order to reduce visual clutter along the street.
On September 24, 2013, the Council discussed community concerns with the new code and directed staff to develop modifications to address temporary non-commercial signs (see Attachment 1).
During the November 2013 election, staff also discovered that the revised code was causing confusion in that it allows temporary non-commercial signs in residentially-zoned landscaped areas but not in commercial and industrial-zoned areas. The confusion is especially problematic in cases where a property may...
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