Report Prepared by: Julie Nelson, Acting Planning Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Public Hearing - Sign/Zoning Ordinance Amendment #23-04, Initiated by the City of Merced; This Application Involves Repealing Chapter 17.36 - Signs from the Merced Municipal Code and Replacing Chapter 20.62 - Signs in its Entirety with a Comprehensive Update to the Existing Sign Regulations
REPORT IN BRIEF
This application involves repealing Chapter 17.36 - Signs from the Merced Municipal Code and replacing Chapter 20.62 - Signs in its entirety with a comprehensive update to the ordinance that would place all sign regulations in one chapter, bring the Sign Ordinance into compliance with recent court rulings, and make the sign requirements consistent throughout the City. The new ordinance would include new definitions, new regulations for sign area, temporary signs, digital/LED signs, signs in the public right-of-way, billboards, regional signs, freeway signs, and various other sign regulations. The proposed sign ordinance would categorize signs into four main types: permanent building signs, permanent freestanding signs, temporary building signs, and temporary freestanding signs. Each type of sign would be regulated by quantity, size, shape, type of illumination and location. Additionally, minor amendments to Chapter 20.90.020 - "Definitions" would be made to bring this section into compliance with the definitions provided in Chapter 20.62.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Adopting a Categorical Exemption for Environmental Review #23-27; and,
B. Introducing Ordinance 2549, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Merced, California, Amending Chapter 20.62 - "Signs," Chapter 20.90.020 "Definitions," and Repealing Chapter 17.36 - "Sign" of the Merced Municipal Code to Establish New Sign Regulations Within the City of Merced.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Introduce the Ordinance, as recommended by the Planning Commission and staff; or,
2. Introduce the Ordinanc...
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