Design Review Decision 10-0201.pdfpp EDS
D 0 CITY OF EDMONDS
r. ' �.N 121 5th Avenue North • Edmonds, WA 98020
Phone: 425.771.0220 • Fax: 425.771.0221 • Web: www.ci.edmonds.wa.us
4,� g90 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT: PLANNING DIVISION
ADMINISTRATIVE DESIGN REVIEW
- STAFF DECISION -
BLD -2010-0210 Project Proposal
Washington Federal has submitted an application for an internally -illuminated outline cabinet sign at their
1305 1h Avenue location. Two other existing monument sign faces will be replaced as will three existing
building ID signs (replacing former the `Horizon Bank' and `Horizon Bank Building' text with
`Washington Federal' and `Washington Federal Building'). Replacing the monument faces and building
ID signs is considered normal and ordinary maintenance of the signs per ECDC 20.60.010.C.
Property Owner
Washington Federal
PO Box 580
Bellingham, WA 98227
Design Review Process
Applicant
Clarity Signs, Inc.
7204 NE 175`h St.
Kenmore, WA 98028
Design review for signs is considered a Type I decision subject to the requirements of ECDC 20.01.003.
Because the sign is located in the BD -1 zone, the design standards in ECDC 22.43 apply in addition to
those general criteria found in the sign code (Chapter 20.60 ECDC) and the Comprehensive Plan.
Analysis
1. Design Standards. The Comprehensive Plan identifies the site as Downtown/Waterfront Activity
Center — Retail Core. The proposed sign satisfies the intent of the following goals and policies from
the Comprehensive Plan and the design standards in ECDC 22.43:
a. Downtown Design Objectives are found on pages 53-58 and are intended to encourage high
quality, well designed projects to be developed in the downtown waterfront area that reflect the
values of the citizens of Edmonds.
b. "Provide clear signage to idents each distinct property or business and to improve orientation
and way -finding downtown. " (page 56)
c. "Minimize distraction from the overuse of advertisement elements. " (page 56)
d. "Lighting of signs should be indirect or minimally backlit to display lettering and symbols or
graphic design instead of broadly lighting the face of the sign. " (page 56)
e. "Signage and other way -finding methods should be employed to assist citizens and visitors in
finding businesses and services. " (page 56)
f. "Signage should be designed to integrate with the building and street front. Combinations of sign
types are encouraged, which result in a coordinated design while minimizing the size of
individual signs. " (ECDC 22.43.040.B.8)
g. "Instead of broadly lighting the face of the sign, signage should be indirectly lit, or backlit to
only display lettering and symbols or graphic design. " (ECDC 22.43.040.B.11)
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File No. BLD -2010-0201
Washington Federal sign
2. Sign type. The proposed internally -illuminated outline cabinet sign is a conditionally -permitted wall
sign type in the downtown business area according to ECDC 20.60.020.L. The proposed sign
satisfies the applicable standards found in ECDC 20.60.020.M.2 through 20.60.020.M.5, in that: the
sign illuminates only the letters and not the background; it is mounted directly on the building; it does
not use exposed neon; and, it is not higher than 14 feet.
3. Size and height. An internally -illuminated outline cabinet sign is a wall sign. According to ECDC
20.60.030, wall signs may be no larger than 1 square foot per lineal foot of attached wall and may be
a maximum of 14 feet high or the height of the face of the building on which the sign is located.
Because the sign has interior illumination, it may be only a maximum of 14 feet high per ECDC
20.60.020.M.5. The proposed sign is 17.16 square feet (on a wall in excess of 100 feet long) and the
top of the sign must be 14 feet or less above grade.
Decision
Based on the facts and conclusions of this report, staff finds that the design review for this project (File
No. BLD -2010-0201) is APPROVED, with the following condition:
1) The internally -illuminated outline cabinet sign proposed for the south building fagade along
Dayton Street shall have the top of the sign no higher than 14 feet above grade.
IIhhave reviewed the application for compliance with the Edmonds Community Development Code.
4
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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