§ 9-44.120. Rehabilitation Project Standards

A.

Applicability. The standards of this Section shall apply to a project that obtains a Zoning Clearance, Administrative Action, or Modification for a remodel of an existing commercial or industrial site and requests to reduce off-street parking in exchange for landscape site enhancements as specified in the following sections.

B.

Off-street parking conditions. Off-street parking shall be provided in compliance with Chapter 9-34 (Parking and Loading Standards) with the added provision that up to a 10 percent parking reduction may be granted by the applicable review authority where the project has provided one or more of the offsetting landscaping conditions outlined in Section C below. In no case shall any parking reduction be in addition to the reductions allowed in the LAAPO or TAPO Overlay zones.

C.

Landscape conditions. The landscaping requirements for the requested rehabilitation shall be satisfied by selecting one or more of the following options:

1.

The project provides equivalent site landscaping, for the square footage of lost parking stalls, including a minimum of three new trees of at least 36" box size to provide shading and cooling; and/or

2.

The project adds intervening planters every 15 parking spaces capable of supporting at least a 24" box size tree; and/or

3.

The project provides a new, pedestrian outdoor seating area that includes such features as a fountain, tables, benches, landscaping, and decorative paving; and/or

4.

The project adds a covered pedestrian paseo, or decorative arbor or pergola with blooming vines growing on it, that connects buildings within a center and allows pedestrian travel outside of the parking lot area; and/or

5.

The project adds an interior vehicular connection between sites or shopping centers, where none previously existed, that reduces the need to access the public street to travel between centers.

D.

Rehabilitation Sign Permit for a freestanding individual business identification sign. For structures in commercial zoning districts constructed before July 21, 1986, located on individual parcels and consisting of a single business, an applicant may elect to use either this Subsection or the provisions identified in Chapter 9-37 (Signs).

1.

In-lieu of a permanent on-building street frontage sign. One freestanding individual business identification sign may be installed in-lieu of a permanent on-building street frontage sign; provided, the parcel does not already have and does not otherwise qualify for a freestanding sign at the time the Rehabilitation Sign Permit is approved in compliance with this Subsection.

2.

Freestanding individual business identification sign criteria.

a.

A freestanding individual business sign as provided for in this Subsection is any sign in which the entire bottom is in contact with, or within one foot of, the ground, and is detached from any structure.

b.

The maximum height of the sign shall be seven feet.

c.

The maximum sign area for a freestanding sign shall be 0.25 square foot for every linear foot of parcel frontage, and shall not exceed 38 square feet in total area.

d.

The freestanding sign shall be located not less than one foot inside the property line, shall be oriented perpendicular to the street frontage, and shall not be located within the traffic safety area, if located on a corner parcel.

e.

The sign shall not be located so as to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

3.

Rehabilitation Sign Permit application. A request for a freestanding individual business identification sign in compliance with this Subsection shall require submittal of a Rehabilitation Sign Permit application.

a.

The Rehabilitation Sign Permit application shall be approved by the Director upon a showing of compliance with the requirements of this Subsection.

b.

The Rehabilitation Sign Permit application shall include a statement from the property owner acknowledging that the freestanding sign is being installed in-lieu of a permanent on-building sign.

c.

No permanent on-building sign shall be allowed during the duration of the Rehabilitation Sign Permit which authorizes the freestanding individual business identification sign.

(Amended during 3-07 supplement, as amended by § 4 (Exh. A), Ord. No. 1207, eff. March 28, 2013)