Design Review Decision 10-0542.pdf°F FD "°ti CITY OF EDMONDS
121 5"' Avenue North • Edmonds, WA 98020
Phone: 425.771.0220 • Fax: 425.771.0221 • Web: www.ci.edmonds.wa.us
i„ xqo DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT: PLANNING DIVISION
ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN REVIEW
- STAFF DECISION -
BLD -2010-0542 Project Proposal
Swedish Hospital has submitted an application for a wall sign at their 21601 76"' Avenue West location.
Property Owner
Swedish Hospital
21601 76`x' Avenue West
Edmonds, WA 98026
Design Review Process
Applicant
BB&T Sign Services
16212 Bothell -Everett Highway
Bothell, WA 98012
Design review for signs is considered a Type I decision subject to the requirements of ECDC 20.01.003.
Applicable design standards include those general criteria found in the sign code (Chapter 20.60 ECDC)
and the Comprehensive Plan. While the site is zoned Medical Use (MU), allowable signage for the site is
determined according to the Neighborhood Business (BN) criteria.
Swedish Hospital is also the subject of a phased sign package, the first part of which was approved by the
Architectural Design Board on August 18, 2010 (PLN -2010-0052). The first phase examined the subject
wall sign and refacing two monument signs on the site. Refacing monument signs does not require a
building permit in this case but the wall sign does. The sign package was required due to the number of
signs on the site and due to the size and complexity of development at the location. The first phase of the
sign package contained no specific design standards for signage at the site and so the proposed wall sign
will be reviewed against the applicable code and Comprehensive Plan requirements only.
Analysis
1. Design Standards. The site is designated Hospital/Medical and overlain by the Medical/Highway 99
Activity Center and the North Highway 99 Hi -Rise Node. General Design Objectives are located on
pages 90 — 98 and are intended to encourage the development of high quality, well-designed projects
that reflect the values of the citizens of Edmonds. The proposed sign satisfies the intent of the
following goals and policies from the Comprehensive Plan:
a. "Protect the streetscape from becoming cluttered." (page 93)
b. "Minimize distraction from the overuse of advertisement elements." (page 93)
c. "Provide clear signage for each distinct property." (page 93)
d. "Use graphics/symbols to reduce the need to have large letters." (page 93)
e. "Signs should be related to the circulation element serving the establishment." (page 94)
f. "Where multiple businesses operate from a central location, tenants should be encouraged to
coordinate signing to avoid the proliferation of signs, each competing with the others." (page 94)
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File No. BLD -2010-0542
Swedish Hospital wall sign
g. "Signs: Less conflict and confusion among signs. Visible from a distance at speeds of 35-45 mph.
Pole signs no higher than 20' maximum height. Design approval of signing as a condition of
approval for highrise buildings in "nodes". (page 97)
2. Sign type. Wall signs are permitted sign types in all zones according to ECDC 20.60.020.L.
Internally illuminated signs are a permitted sign type on parcels with the SR -99 designation (this
includes the Medical -Highway 99 Activity Center). The proposed signage meets code requirements.
3. Number of signs. A sign package was required for the Swedish site because the total number of signs
at the site exceeds the maximum number of signs allowed per ECDC 20.60.025.A (three per site or
individual subtenant). However, the Design Board may review signage in excess of that allowed by
the code according to ECDC 20.60.015.B as part of a sign package. The first phase of the sign
package for Swedish only discussed refacing two monument signs and the subject wall sign.
4. Sign size and location. According to ECDC 20.60.030, the maximum area for a wall sign in the MU
zone (BN signage) is I square foot of signage per lineal foot of attached wall and the maximum
height is 14 feet or the height of the face of the building. The subject wall sign will be mounted
below the top of the West Tower at the northeast corner of the building and the logo and lettering will
total 84.6 square feet.
The eastern -most fagade of the main hospital building contains both a public entrance and emergency
entrance along a wall of approximately 400 lineal feet. Using this distance to determine the total
permanent sign area, there could be approximately 400 square feet of signage to be divided among the
buildings on the entire site. The wall on which the proposed sign will be installed is approximately 1/2
the length of the entire eastern fagade or about 200 square feet. As a result, the proposed wall sign
meets the size and location requirements.
5. Colors. The proposed signage will use white and blue colors typical of the Swedish Medical Center
corporate theme. The wall sign will consist of an internally -illuminated white logo and `Swedish'
channel lettering. The refaced monument signs have similarly styled white lettering and logos on a
two -toned blue background.
Decision
Based on the facts and conclusions of this report, staff finds that the design review for this project (File
No. BLD -2010-0542) is APPROVED.
I have reviewed the application for compliance with the Edmonds Community Development Code,
Mike Clugston, Planning Division Date
Appeals: Design review decisions by staff are only appealable to the extent that the applicable building
permit or development approval is an appealable decision under the provisions of the ECDC. Design
review by staff is not in itself an appealable decision.
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