locc signs of a successful downtown
DESCRIPTION
Presentation made to the League of California Cities Conference on September 22, 2011 in San FranciscoTRANSCRIPT
League of California Cities
Signs of a Successful Downtown
September 22, 2011
Signs of Successful Downtowns(or urban areas)
• Zoning and Use decisions• Building Form• Parking • Public Amenities• Signs
Signs in Successful Downtowns
What are the desired outcomes?•Business success•Project successful
image•Creating character•A sense of vibrancy
Avoiding blight is how we normally talk about signs
Projecting a Vibrant Image
Great Signage Exists
Peet’s Coffee and TeaSign Area: 8.5sq.ft (3’ * 2’)
Small Fin Signs Small Fin Signs (Sign Area: Max. up to 10’)(Sign Area: Max. up to 10’)
Starbucks at San Pedro St & Santa ClaraSign Area: 5.4sq.ft (28” * 28”)
Pizza My HeartSign Area: 4sq.ft (2’ * 2’)
Ben & Jerry’sSign Area: 4sq.ft (2’ * 2’)
Asian Gourmet Express Sign Area: 9sq.ft (3’ * 3’)
Pizza ChicagoSign Area: 14sq.ft (34” * 60”)
Laurel’s SandwichSign Area: 12sq.ft (2’ * 6’)
Medium Fin Signs Medium Fin Signs (Sign Area: Between 11sq.ft to 15sq.ft)(Sign Area: Between 11sq.ft to 15sq.ft)
SwirlsSign Area: 10.5sq.ft (3’ * 3.5’)
Peggy Sue’sSign Area: 20sq.ft (5’ * 4’) Big Fin Signs Big Fin Signs
(Sign Area: 20sq.ft or more)(Sign Area: 20sq.ft or more)
Johnny RocketsEstimated Sign Area: 28.3sq.f (3’ radius)
The Pita PitEstimated Sign Area: 20sq.ft
Original Joe’sApproximately Sign Area: 33sq.ft
ExamplesExamplesIlluminated Fin SignsIlluminated Fin Signs
Attached Signs
ROW Signs
ROW Signs
Building design often limits signage
Building design often limits signage
In some instances business owners opt for limited or no signage
Is more signage needed for these businesses?
How do you know what signage to accommodate in your City?
Do we want to be Las Vegas?
Visual Preference Survey
• Community and business focus group testing signage preferences
• Simulations of what signs would look like in various locations
• Types and quantities of business signage
Interactive Discussion
• Participate in the instant polling– Live results!– Anonymous– Do you have a response
card?
Amount of Signage in the Downtown
• Things to think about– How much signage there is for each
tenant– Where it is on the building– Scale of sign in relation to the building
Downtown Sign #1
Too m
uch s
ignag
e
Just
the
right
abou
t of..
.
Not e
nough s
igna
ge
0% 0%0%
1. Too much signage 2. Just the right about
of signage 3. Not enough signage
Downtown Sign #2
Too m
uch s
ignag
e
Just
the
right
abou
t of..
.
Not e
nough s
igna
ge
0% 0%0%
1. Too much signage 2. Just the right about
of signage 3. Not enough signage
Downtown Sign #3
Too m
uch s
ignag
e
Just
the
right
abou
t of..
.
Not e
nough s
igna
ge
0% 0%0%
1. Too much signage 2. Just the right about
of signage 3. Not enough signage
Downtown Sign #4
Too m
uch s
ignag
e
Just
the
right
abou
t of..
.
Not e
nough s
igna
ge
0% 0%0%
1. Too much signage 2. Just the right about
of signage 3. Not enough signage
Downtown Sign #5
Too m
uch s
ignag
e
Just
the
right
abou
t of..
.
Not e
nough s
igna
ge
0% 0%0%
1. Too much signage2. Just the right about
of signage 3. Not enough signage
Downtown Sign #6
Too m
uch s
ignag
e
Just
the
right
abou
t of..
.
Not e
nough s
igna
ge
0% 0%0%
1. Too much signage2. Just the right about
of signage 3. Not enough signage
Downtown Sign #7
Too m
uch s
ignag
e
Just
the
right
abou
t of..
.
Not e
nough s
igna
ge
0% 0%0%
1. Too much signage2. Just the right about
of signage 3. Not enough signage
Input from community meetings
• High-quality signs are valued
• Regulations should not inhibit creative signs
• Sign blight is a concern
• Enforcement of sign regulations needed
• Regulations should be equitable
Proposed RegulationsProposed RegulationsZoning Area
Commercial, Industrial and NBDs
Downtown Area Urban Mixed Use Area
Sign Area The sign maximum up to 10sq.ft is permitted by right without reducing total allowed sign area.
Allow 15sq.ft of maximum size of fin signs in the city by right that do not reduce allowable signage.
Any size of the fin sign reduces the total allowed sign area.
Allow 15sq.ft of maximum size of fin signs in the city by right that do not reduce allowable signage.
Any size of the fin sign reduces the total allowed sign area.
Allow 15sq.ft of maximum size of fin signs in the city by right that do not reduce allowable signage.
Project from the
wall
Maximum 3ft.
Allow maximum ½ of the width of the sidewalk or 7’6”, whichever is less.
Maximum ½ of the width of the sidewalk or 7’6”, whichever is less.
Maximum ½ of the width of the sidewalk or 7’6”, whichever is less.
High Between 7 feet to 12 feet from the grade.
Allow maximum of 30 feet higher from the grade level.
Maximum 30 feet higher from the grade or up to the height of the finished 3rd floor elevation.
Maximum 30 feet higher from the grade or up to the height of the finished 4rd floor elevation.
Illumination
Not allowed
Allow
Allowed Allowed
Electronic Signs
Implementing Quality Signage
• Good Sign Regulations• Sign Permit process• Education of Signage Options• Sign Grants for great signs• Enforcement of signage
A good sign is hard to kill.