HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-266 Resolution No. 08-266
RESOLUTION
ADOPTING THE DOWNTOWN PROJECTING SIGN PROGRAM
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN,ILLINOIS,that it
hereby adopts the Downtown Projecting Sign Program dated October 2008 to fund the design and
installation of new projecting signs for Elgin's downtown commercial properties,a copy of which is
attached.
s/Ed Schock
Ed Schock, Mayor
Presented: November 5, 2008
Adopted: November 5, 2008
Yeas:Vote: 6 Nays: 0
Attest:
s/Diane Robertson
Diane Robertson, City Clerk
DOWNTOWN PROJECTING SIGN
PROGRAM
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October 2008
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PROGRAM INFORMATION
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INTRODUCTION The City of Elgin has committed itself to revitalization of its center city. This
commitment manifests itself in implementation of the Riverfront/Center City
Master Plan, a blueprint for redevelopment of Elgin's center core area. A vital
component to the success of this redevelopment effort is the involvement of private
property owners. The City hopes to encourage private investment in commercial
buildings of the area through a program which offers financial incentives to
businesses to improve the appearance and quality of their storefronts.
The program will serve to advertise and enhance the presence of local business in
downtown Elgin through the use of vibrant and contemporary designs and logos
within projecting signs.
TARGET AREA The program is intended to target owners of commercial property within the CC1
and CC2 Center City Zoning Districts. A map depicting the CC1 and CC2 zoning
districts is attached. The building for which assistance through the Downtown
Projecting Sign Improvement Program is sought must be located in the target area.
TYPE OF Only projecting signs are eligible to be funding through this program. Wall
ASSISTANCE mounted signs, free standing signs and window signs are not eligible for funding
under this program.
Applications for a grant for a projecting sign must be approved in advance of
the installation of such sign and each eligible sign improvement will be
funded only once.
The program will reimburse the initial$2,500 of the cost of the sign at 100%.
The remaining cost of the sign must be paid by the owner of the building or
the owner of the subject business.
Applicants shall obtain not less than two (2) written proposals for a proposed
projecting sign to be funded pursuant to this program.
OWNERSHIP Eligible applicants may be the owner of a commercial building or the owner of a
commercial business in the target area.
Business owners who are tenants of a building for which a projecting sign is planned
must provide written consent from the building owner for the installation of the
sign. Documentation in support of these claims must be included at the time of
submitting the application.
ELIGIBLE The Downtown Projecting Sign Program will fund the design and construction of a
IMPROVEMENTS sign according to the following requirements:
• Projecting Graphic: A projecting graphic shall be permitted only in the CC1
center city district and CC2 center city district zoning districts. An occupant
seeking to establish a projecting graphic shall be located at a ground level
location in the building on which the occupant is located. An occupant may
have a projecting graphic or an A-frame graphic,but not both. The building in
which the occupant is located and to which the graphic is attached shall be set
•
back no more than ten feet (10') from the sidewalk. The occupant shall have an
entrance for the public or patrons or service window that faces and is within ten
feet (10') of the sidewalk.
• Location: Projecting graphics may be located partially or entirely over a sidewalk
over a public right of way,and shall provide a minimum nine feet (9') of
clearance from the bottom edge of the graphic to the sidewalk or ground
surface.
• Size: No projecting graphic shall be more than ten (10) square feet in surface
area. The surface area of a projecting graphic shall be deducted from the total
allowable graphic surface area for wall graphics for each occupant or building on
each zoning lot.
• Illumination: Projecting graphics may be illuminated.
• Number: Not more than one projecting graphic for each individual street
frontage shall be permitted for each occupant on a zoning lot.
• Mounting: Projecting graphics must be pinned away from the wall at least nine
inches (9") and must project from the wall at an angle of ninety degrees (90°).
Projecting graphics shall not project above the roofline or eighteen feet (18'),
whichever is lower. A projecting graphic in a public right of way shall not
extend vertically above the windowsill of a second story
APPLICATION AND Applications for a projecting sign grant must be submitted to the Community
ADMINISTRATION Development Director. The program shall be administered by the Community
Development Director.
AGREEMENT Eligible Applicants will be required to sign an agreement with the City in a form as
approved by the City's Corporation Counsel as a condition to the approval of an
application.
DESIGN, All aspects of the design,materials and color of the projecting sign that are to be
MATERIAL AND funded pursuant to this program shall be subject to the review and approval of the
COLOR Community Development Director. The location, size, number and mounting of
projecting signs shall comply with the City Street Graphics ordinance as provided in
Chapter 19.50 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as amended. The design of
projecting signs shall comply with the guidelines contained herein or shall have such
an alternative design as approved by the Community Development Director.
The following guidelines shall also be considered by the Community Development
Director when considering the design of a proposed projecting sign:
• The signs may be designed using features,logos, text and backgrounds that are
vibrant,innovative,as well as contemporary in design.
• Materials for the sign face could be wood,aluminum,composite materials, or
acrylic with high quality paint coatings and finishes or other high quality
materials as determined by the Community Development Department.
• Materials for the brackets steel tube and plate with hot zinc galvanized and
dipped primer in black or other powdercoat finish. Exposed unpainted
aluminum is not acceptable.
• Lighting for a projecting sign,if any, should consist of exterior lighting or
internal illumination limited to letters only and would also be subject to the
approval of the Community Development Department.
• Corporate brand signage comprising of required corporate colors,logos,
materials and illumination,will also be acceptable provided the signs meet the
requirements of the City's sign ordinance.
LIBRARY OF Applicants are generally encouraged to refer to the library of projecting signs
PROJECTING maintained at the Community Development Department.
SIGNS However, staff is willing to consider designs of signs that meet the intent and
requirements of the program.
DURATION A projecting sign constructed using funding under this program shall remain
installed on the premises for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date of
final payment by the City. In the event the projecting sign is removed prior to the
expiration of the five (5)year period, the Grantee as named in the agreement with
the City shall reimburse to the City the grant funds provided by the City for the
projecting sign in question.
In the event of change in ownership,a new owner may be permitted to change the
face of the sign using a new design,materials and lighting.
Each eligible projecting sign will be funded by the program only once.
REQUIRED Required building permits must be obtained before the work begins. Questions
PERMITS regarding permit requirements should be directed to the City's Department of Code
Administration and Development Services.
After all necessary permits have been issued,work may proceed. Any and all change
orders must be approved by the Program Coordinator in writing.
A projecting sign shall also be designed, constructed and maintained in conformance
with the program guidelines and in conformance with all other applicable
requirements of law.
PROJECT Upon completion of the project, copies of all bids, contracts, and invoices must be
COMPLETION submitted to the Program Coordinator along with contactors waivers of lien (or
partial waivers of lien for individual discrete components of work). City staff will
inspect the work for compliance with City codes and conformance with the design
plans approved for this project.
REIMBURSEMENT If all of the requirements listed above are satisfied, a check will be issued from the
City to the applicant based on the actual total project cost. Note: payment will be
issued only upon completion of all work items as originally approved. Major changes
or elimination of certain items in the approved design plan must be approved by a
City staff review team.
CORRESPONDENCE All questions and comments regarding this Program shall be directed to:
Program Coordinator 847-931-5910
Community Development Department
City of Elgin
150 Dexter Court
Elgin,IL 60120-5555
NATURE AND The provisions of these program guidelines are intended to provide guidelines for
EFFECT OF considering applications from persons or entities that are seeking to participate in the
PROGRAM Downtown Project Sign Grant Program. The City Council of the City of Elgin
GUIDELINES expressly reserves the right and option to decide at any time whether or not to
provide continued or additional funding for this program. The creation or existence
of this program shall not be construed to create or provide any vested rights in any
person or organization to obtain approval of a program application,a program
agreement, any incentive,grant,rebate or other funding thereunder. Participation in
the program shall be further expressly limited by the amount of the funds,if any, the
City Council elects to budget for the program in its sole and exclusive discretion.
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GUIDELINES (applicants are also encouraged to refer to the library of projecting signs maintained at the Community Development
Department)
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ITEM OVERALL LENGTH SUGGESTED SIGN WIDTH ITEM OVERALL LENGTH SUGGESTED SIGN WIDTH
HM830 30' 18'-24• SW830 30 I8' 24
RM840 40' 26' 36' SW840 40' 26'-36"
104850 50- 34'•48' SW850 50' 34'.45'
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ITEM OVERALL LENGTH SUGGESTED SIGN MOTH ITEM OVERALL LENGTH SUGGESTED SIGN WIDTH
1W829 29' 1$'•24' S1833 33 18 34
TW840 40 26'-36' 01643 43
110352 525 S4'-45-' ST853 53 34 48
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September 18,2008 ,,, ,
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Olufemi Folarin, City Manager L..-A<< not; ; ;;
Sarosh Sailer, Urban Design &Preservation Specialist
SUBJECT: Proposed Downtown Projecting Sign Grant Program
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Mayor and members of the City Council with
information to consider a grant program to fund the design and installation of new projecting
signs for Elgin's downtown commercial properties.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize staff to proceed with implementing the
Downtown Projecting Sign Grant Program.
BACKGROUND
In keeping with the goal of promoting an "Alive Downtown," the City is considering developing
a program to fund the design and installation of projecting signs in downtown Elgin. The
program is intended to target owners of commercial property within the CC1 and CC2 Center
City Zoning Districts. A map depicting the CC1 and CC2 zoning districts is attached. The
program will serve to advertise and enhance the presence of local business in downtown Elgin
through the use of vibrant and contemporary designs and logos within projecting signs.
Projecting signs are currently permitted within the CC1 and CC2 districts under Chapter 19.50 of
the zoning ordinance entitled Street Graphics. Section 19.50.090E provides as follows:
E. Projecting Graphic: A projecting graphic shall be permitted only in the CC1
center city district and CC2 center city district zoning districts. An occupant seeking to
establish a projecting graphic shall be located at a ground level location in the building on
which the occupant is located. An occupant may have a projecting graphic or an A-frame
graphic, but not both. The building in which the occupant is located and to which the
graphic is attached shall be set back no more than ten feet (10') from the sidewalk. The
occupant shall have an entrance for the public or patrons or service window that faces
and is within ten feet (10') of the sidewalk.
Proposed Downtown Projecting Sign Grant Program
September 18, 2008
Page 2
1. Location: Projecting graphics may be located partially or entirely over a sidewalk
over a public right of way, and shall provide a minimum nine feet (9') of clearance from
the bottom edge of the graphic to the sidewalk or ground surface.
2. Size: No projecting graphic shall be more than ten (10) square feet in surface
area. The surface area of a projecting graphic shall be deducted from the total allowable
graphic surface area for wall graphics for each occupant or building on each zoning lot.
3. Illumination: Projecting graphics may be illuminated.
4. Number: Not more than one projecting graphic for each individual street frontage
shall be permitted for each occupant on a zoning lot.
5. Mounting: Projecting graphics must be pinned away from the wall at least six
inches (6") and must project from the wall at an angle of ninety degrees (90°). Projecting
graphics shall not project above the roofline or eighteen feet (18'), whichever is lower. A
projecting graphic in a public right of way shall not extend vertically above the
windowsill of a second story.
It has been determined that there are approximately 140 properties in the CC1 district and 79
properties in the CC2 district that could benefit from this program.
The City retained a local sign company, Ozark Sign Group, to prepare suggested designs for
projecting signs and to provide cost estimates for typical projecting signs which could be
installed under the City's ordinance. Attached is a report prepared by Ozark Design Group
which provides for a variety of recommended projecting sign designs and examples. Suggested
sign materials include redwood and aluminum with approved high quality paint coatings and
finishes.
Ozark Sign Group has also provided a cost estimate for a typical sign as displayed in the attached
report. Such a projecting sign sized to meet the requirements of the Elgin street graphics
ordinance constructed with a small twisted swing arm bracket, double face redwood sign panel
including installation would cost approximately $3,800. Exterior lighting for such a sign would
be an additional cost of approximately$1,000 resulting in a total cost of$4,800.
Based upon the foregoing, the following program guidelines are submitted for City Council
consideration:
1. The program could offer participants a grant amounting to 50% of the total cost up to a
maximum of$2,500, to design and install a new projecting sign on the building.
2. The location, size, number and mounting of projecting signs would be regulated by the
provisions of the City's street graphic ordinance. The applicable provisions thereof in
Section 19.50.090E are noted above.
Proposed Downtown Projecting Sign Grant Program
September 18, 2008
Page 3
3. The design of the projecting signs would need to comply with the recommended design
options as set forth in the Ozark Sign Group report dated June 1, 2008, or such alternative
design as approved by the Community Development Director. Sign materials would
need to consist of redwood or aluminum with approved high quality paint coating and
finishes or such other high quality materials as approved by the Community Development
Director. Bracket materials should be steel tube and plate with hot zinc galvanized and
dipped primer in black or other powdercoat finish. Lighting for a projecting sign, if any,
should consist of exterior lighting or internal illumination limited to letters only and
would also be subject to the approval of the Community Development Director. Property
owners will be encouraged to use a combination of text and graphics to create a vibrant,
but elegant sign that will not detract from the urban character of Elgin's downtown.
Corporate brand signage comprising of required corporate colors, logos, materials and
illumination, will also be acceptable provided the signs meet the requirements of the
City's sign ordinance.
To facilitate the process, the staff will create a library of projecting signs that will include
among other resources the Ozark Sign Group report that will be used to guide and inspire
property owners on the design, size and location of signs eligible for funding under the
program. A sample of acceptable design concepts for projecting signs encouraged under
the program is also attached to this document.
COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED
None
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approximately 140 properties in the CC1 zoning district and 79 properties in the CC2 zoning
district could benefit from this program. Based on an average grant amount of$2,500 per sign, it
is anticipated that there is a potential cost of approximately $550,000, representing the City's
share to fund this program. Annual participation for grants will be limited to available budgeted
funds.
For the remainder of 2008, it is proposed that the First Time Homebuyers Program be closed and
the remaining balance in the amount of$13,912 be transferred to this initiative. The First Time
Homebuyers Program has not seen activity in several years and the Council did not renew the
program's funding for 2008. This remaining amount is residual funding from previous years.
This will allow for sufficient funding in account number 275-0000-791.78-99 "Rehabilitation
Grants", Project#039779 "Projecting Sign Program". Any additional funding to the program for
2009 may be considered by the City Council during the upcoming budget process.
LEGAL IMPACT
If approved, an ordinance adopting the proposed downtown projecting sign grant program will
need to be created.
Proposed Downtown Projecting Sign Grant Program
September 18, 2008
Page 4
ALTERNATIVES
1. The City Council may choose to authorize staff to proceed with implementing the
Downtown Projecting Sign Grant Program.
2. The City Council may choose to reject the proposal to create the grant program.
Respectfully Submitted for Council consideration.
SS/mg
Attachments