Kara Nails 12-7-07.pdfDecember 7, 2007
Kara Nails
Attn: Kyung Mi Hong
533 Main St.
Edmonds, WA. 98020
Case: # ZE-07-307 (COD20070105)
Subject Property: 533 Main St., Edmonds, WA. 98020
Dear Ms. Hong,
The City has received a complaint regarding a blinking sign and a reader board sign erected
without a sign permit at the subject property. The reader board sign appears to be erected as a
permanent sign and the blinking sign appears to be a temporary sign. However, blinking signs
are not allowed per Edmonds Community Development Code (ECDC) 20.60.020.E. According
to City records, a sign permit for the reader board sign has not been issued to Kara Nails.
The Sign section in the Edmonds Community Development Code reads as follows:
ECDC 20.60.010 Design review required.
A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, no permanent sign may be constructed,
installed, posted, displayed or modified without first obtaining design approval for the
proposed sign's size, design, location, and display as provided for in this chapter.
B. Design approval is not required for the posting of permanent signs in residential zones;
provided, that the restrictions and standards of this chapter are met. If additional signage is
requested for conditional or nonconforming uses in residential zones, the property owner shall
apply for design review. Design review is not required for any sign which does not require a
building permit.
C. A sign modification shall include, but is not limited to, relocations, modifications to size,
design, height or color scheme, or the replacement of 25 percent or more of the structural material
in the sign area. Normal and ordinary maintenance and repair, and changes to the graphics,
symbols, or copy of a sign, without affecting the size, structural design, height, or color scheme,
shall not constitute modifications for purposes of this section. [Ord. 3514 § 2, 2004; Ord. 3461 §
2, 20031.
Regarding the blinking sign and reader board signs, the ECDC reads as follows:
ECDC 20.60.020E. - No sign shall have blinking, flashing, fluttering or moving lights or other
illuminating device which has a changing light density or color; provided, however, temperature
and/or time signs that conform in all other respects to this chapter are allowed. Electronic reader
boards may have messages that change, however, moving messages are not allowed.
Messages that change at intervals less than 20 seconds will be considered blinking or
flashing and not allowed.
F. No light source which exceeds 20 watts shall be directly exposed to any public street or
adjacent property.
G. No illumination source of fluorescent light shall exceed 425 milliamps or be spaced closer
than eight inches on center.
H. No commercial sign shall be illuminated after 11:00 p.m. unless the commercial enterprise is
open for business and then may remain on only as long as the enterprise is open.
ECDC 20.60.020.M.
6. Reader board messages are limited to alphanumeric messages only.
7. Reader boards are only permitted for public uses or places of public assembly.
It is possible that the current movement or content of your reader board sign may not be
permitted.
Corrective actions required:
• Please contact me at your earliest convenience by December 12, 2008 to review the
corrective actions below.
• A Commercial Sign handout is enclosed for your review (BD1 Zone). Please submit a
complete application and fees for the reader board sign permit by January 10, 2007.
Your materials should include all signs at the business. A Permit Coordinator will accept
your application. The Planning Division can answer questions regarding the
requirements and process of design review.
• Please remove the blinking sign at your earliest convenience by December 13, 2007.
• If you prefer to not acquire a permit for the reader board sign, it can also be removed
instead by December 13, 2007.
Please call me at 425-771-0220 ext. 1716 if you have any questions regarding this letter.
Otherwise, a Permit Coordinator will process your application. Thank you in advance for your
cooperation and assistance.
Sincerely,
Mike Thies
Code Enforcement Inspector
thies @ ci.edmonds.wa.us