10-0201 Plan Review Comments.pdfCITY OF EDMONDS - 1215"' AVENUE NORTH - EDMONDS, WA 98020
PHONE: 425.771.0220 - FAX: 425.771.0221 - WEB: www.ci.edmonds.wa.us
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT: PLANNING - BUILDING
March 24, 2010
Trish Nygreen
info@claritysigns.com
RE: PLAN REVIEW COMMENTS FOR PLAN CHECK # 2010-0201
SIGNAGE AT 130 5TH AVENUE SOUTH
Dear Ms. Nygreen,
I have reviewed the above building permit application for the Planning Division. Before I can
sign off on the permit, however, the following information needs to be clarified:
Sign Area: Please calculate the total sign area for all existing and proposed signs for
each of the tenants at the site. According to ECDC 20.60.025.A.1, "The maximum total
permanent sign area for allowed or permitted uses in the BN, BC, BD and CW zones
shall be one square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of wall containing the main
public entrance to the primary building or structure located upon a separate legal lot."
Based on the site plan submitted, since the main entrance is on 5t" Avenue South, it looks
like there is a total of 143 square feet of signage available for the BD -1 site. It appears
there may be several additional lineal feet of wall on the thin parcel to the north which
could ultimately yield another few square feet of signage for the site (Sheet 2 of 14).
2. Internal Illumination: The matrix in Section 20.60.020.L (ECDC) states that internally
illuminated signs are conditionally permitted in the Downtown area. Conditions that
must be satisfied are listed in ECDC 20.60.020.M and include:
2. Internally illuminated signs in the downtown area and neighborhood commercial areas may
only light the letters. The background of a sign face may not be illuminated.
3. Internally illuminated signs in the downtown area and the neighborhood commercial areas
must be mounted on the wall of the building, They may not be mounted on or under an attached
awning.
4. Internally illuminated signs that use exposed neon may only be located in the interior of
buildings in the downtown area and the neighborhood commercial areas.
S. Internally illuminated signs in the downtown area shall not be permitted to be higher than 14
feet in height.
Based on the information submitted, it appears that the wall signs and button signs light
the sign faces rather than just the letters. The one button sign (#10) is also proposed to be
mounted under the existing awning at the site. Also, their height will need to be
calculated.
3. Height: As indicated above, internally illuminated signs in the Downtown area may be a
maximum of 14' high. For attached signs, sign height is the vertical distance from the
highest point on the sign to the finished grade. Please provide height calculations for
each of the proposed wall signs to ensure that the top of all the signs meet the 14' height
requirement.
4. Design Standards: There are specific design standards for signs in the BD -1 zone.
Please refer to Section 22.43.040 ECDC for further details.
All referenced code sections are available through the City's website at:
http://www.mrsc.org/mc/edmonds/Edmondsnt.html.
Finally, we are in the process of working with the Planning Board and City Council to update
several sign code requirements particular to business and commercial zones in Edmonds.
Particularly, as it currently stands, individual sites are allowed a maximum of three signs and
sites with multiple tenants are allowed one sign per tenant (ECDC 20.60.025.A.4). We hope to
work these updates through the process quickly in order to provide some additional flexibility to
the sign code.
You may redline your existing plans or submit three copies of your updated site plan (one
reduced size) and two sets of any updated pages of the building plans. Please make all submittals
to a Development Services Permit Coordinator, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. If
you have any questions, please contact me at (425) 771-0220.
Sincerely,
Mike Clugston, AICP
Planner