SHORELINE — City Council members painted a theoretical billboard during a Jan. 3 workshop meeting discussion favoring future modifications to the city’s sign code.
The Council has not yet voted on a staff-proposed amendment allowing exceptions to the off-site sign prohibition in conjunction with the Aurora Corridor Project. There are several signs along Aurora that are permitted now but could not be replaced under the prohibition if they are removed for construction.
“When you start the Aurora Project, most signs will be non-conforming,” business owner Daniel Mann told the Council. “This is lying in the background in the shadows; it is a huge issue.”
Mann supported the amendment to allow exceptions to the off-site sign prohibition, and said it was a legitimate request from owners of the former QFC store site on North 185th St., near Aurora. He felt the sign code discriminated against small businesses in general and encouraged the Council to make more changes since all businesses in the city could benefit from leniency.
Planning director Tim Stewart said the amendment to be considered by the Council was generated after working with business owners on the Aurora Corridor Project.
“Sign codes are typically one of the most complicated to regulate,” Stewart said. “They regulate size, content, and what types of signs might be excluded.”
Stewart said if non-conforming signs are removed during construction, they must later be replaced by signs that conform. The amendment would allow an exception to the prohibition against off-site signs for businesses that have access from, but not frontage on, a commercial street.
Stewart said that to use the exception, adjacent business owners would have to work out an agreement for a sign package to be placed on commercial street frontage where businesses would be accessed. It would be possible in some instances for businesses to have sign packages on both Aurora Avenue and side streets.
“The intent is not to give a bonus for combining,” Stewart said. “But a cumulative effect.”
One example is Goldie’s Casino and 24 Hour Fitness, according to city documents. Goldie’s would no longer have southbound left-turn access after the Aurora redevelopment, but since it is located on a parcel of land south of a proposed intersection at 152nd Street and Aurora Avenue N., potential customers could access Goldie’s traveling southbound from 24 Hour Fitness’ driveway. A joint access agreement, therefore, could be beneficial, and would require an off-site sign for 24 Hour Fitness on Goldie’s Casino property.
Cindy Ryu, Shoreline Chamber of Commerce vice president, quoted a letter to the Council, written by past president Diana Stephens. The letter encouraged the Council to carefully consider any eventual changes to the sign code, to ensure amendments would be beneficial to property owners. Ryu also mentioned that the amendment as written was not objective, which could interfere with predictability when owners apply for signs. Ryu is a property owner along Aurora and Stevens is an owner of Highland Ice Arena, also on Aurora.
Council member Bob Ransom was not concerned about the request to alter the sign code, but said he felt city staff has not been lenient enough in the past. He also questioned the requirement in the amendment that businesses must have joint access.
Deputy Mayor Scott Jepsen said he has assessed signs in neighboring cities and noticed that few businesses rely on large signs that can be seen from I-5, but rather use smaller signs. He encouraged business owners to let city staff know what types of signs they prefer to utilize.
Council member Rich Gustafson favored the leniency of the amendment, and stressed that it was previously passed by the Planning Commission.
“I want to work to provide common access,” Gustafson said. “I think that will give them more flexibility; it looks like a reasonable thing.”
Council member Maggie Fimia inquired about the timeline of adopting the amendment. She also questioned how much input the business owners have had on the sign code.
Aurora Corridor Project manager Kirk McKinley said there are no immediate time constraints, although staff is attempting to respond to concerns from business owners.
The discussion is scheduled to continue at the next workshop meeting.
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