HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 Billboards Discussion AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 9/4/2018
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: David Bowlsby/DPW
Staff Phone No: 541-736-1029
Estimated Time: 20 minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Promote and Enhance
our Hometown Feel
while Focusing on
Livability and
Environmental Quality
ITEM TITLE: BILLBOARD DISCUSSION
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Work Session: Discuss billboard allowances, requirements and restrictions in
current sign code.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
Council requested information regarding the number of billboards allowed by the
current sign code and additional information such as fees involved, renewal
process, process to remove unmaintained billboards, the potential for a moratorium
on new billboard placement or a reduction in the cap, number of billboards allowed
within Springfield’s jurisdiction.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. ATT1 CBM - Response to Councilors’ questions
2. ATT2 Billboard District Section 8.260 Current Sign Code
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Information sharing regarding the city’s current policies on billboard placement in
Springfield, their financial contribution to the city and the overall impact on the
hometown feel livability and environmental quality within Springfield’s
boundaries. No financial impact.
M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield
Date: 9/4/2018
To: Gino Grimaldi COUNCIL
From: Tom Boyatt, Interim DPW Director
David Bowlsby, Building Official
BRIEFING
Subject: Billboard Discussion
MEMORANDUM
ISSUE:
Council requested information regarding the number of billboards allowed by the current sign code and additional information such as fees involved, renewal process, process to remove
unmaintained billboards, the potential for a moratorium on new billboard placement or a
reduction in the cap, number of billboards allowed within Springfield’s jurisdiction.
COUNCIL GOALS/
MANDATE:
Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel While Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality
BACKGROUND: On June 11, 2018, the City Council held a work session on an update to the Sign Code to remove content-based regulations. During that meeting, Council raised questions
regarding Billboards in Springfield. The information provided below responds to those
questions.
Number of Billboards
Current code restricts the number of billboards in city limits to 38 and 9 in Glenwood for a total of 47 within Springfield’s jurisdiction. The city is at that limit as of the last new sign permitted
in 2014.
Spacing of Billboards
Spacing of billboards along I-5 and I-105 is a minimum 500ft. In other areas spacing is a minimum 150ft between billboards.
Abandoned Signs
The billboard section of the sign code contains language to have abandoned signs removed after 90 days of vacancy or disrepair.
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 2
MEMORANDUM 8/27/2018 Page 2
Cost for Permit
According to SMC 8.218 (2)(2) sign permit fees shall be set by resolution of the council. The current fee methodology does not distinguish between billboards and other types of signs, such
as wall signs and monument signs, and only establishes fees based on the square footage of the
sign. Potentially billboards could have their own fee structure and annual fees, so long as that fee is reasonable and related to a public interest. The sign permit fee is at the discretion of council
whereas the structural permit fee component of a billboard is directed by the Oregon Building
Code Division to align with the statutory fee structure used in the Oregon Structural Specialty Code.
The cost to applicants to erect a billboard is comprised of a structural permit and a sign permit. Of permits issued in the last 10yrs the average is $1300 per billboard. At present this is a onetime fee and there are no annual fees associated with the presence of the billboard.
Approval Process
Billboards placed in Springfield’s jurisdiction are subject to Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) approval and guidelines. Applicants must obtain a permit from ODOT
as a prerequisite to Springfield approval. ODOT has not issued any “new” permits since May
2007 and basically only permits repair/replacement in an existing location and relocation of an existing sign. Our last billboard permit was a re-location from the Candlewood site in Glenwood
to property adjacent to I-5 near Skate World on Gateway Loop.
Discussion
At the work session, Councilor Pishioneri expressed a concern about the proliferation of billboards and wondered about decommissioning unmaintained billboards. Council could
amend the code to reduce the number of billboards allowed within the City. As signs are
abandoned, they would not then be allowed to be replaced.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None needed.
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 2
BILLBOARD DISTRICT EXCERPT FROM SIGN CODE
8.260 Billboard District. (1) Application. The Billboard District standards apply to all signs located in the
geographically bound areas in Map No. 3 that are greater than 200 square feet for a
single face and not otherwise permitted in this code. The number of billboards
contained in the Billboard District shall not exceed 38 signs within the City of
Springfield City Limits and 9 in the Glenwood Designated Billboard District. All
signs that are located outside of the designated Billboard District or fail to meet the
sign face requirements, shall be considered non-conforming. The billboard
standards shall apply to all billboards located in the areas designated on Map No.
3. Prior to any site work, the applicant must provide the City with an approved
permit from the State of Oregon for the placement of the billboard at the specified
proposed under the Oregon Motorist Information Act of 1971 (ORS 377.700 et
seq.)
(2) Spacing Between Billboards. All billboards located in the Billboard District
along I-105 and I-5 shall be spaced a minimum of 500 feet apart. All other
designated zones shall permit billboards to be located a minimum of 150 feet apart
as measured from the center line of the adjacent street.
(3) Height. All billboards shall be installed at a minimum of 16 feet, and a
maximum of 30 feet in height to the bottom of the sign. Interchanges located on I-
105 and I-5 may permit billboards to be installed at a maximum of 45 feet in height
to the bottom of the sign.
(4) Sign Face Requirements. All billboards installed along I-105 and I-5 shall be a
maximum of 14' by 48' (672 square feet total) or 10' by 30' (300 square feet total).
Double faced or one sided billboards shall be considered as one sign and each side
may not exceed the allowable size as listed above.
(5) Billboard District:
(a) Main Street and South A Street (North/South frontage):
(i) 11th Street to 46th Street.
(ii) Chapman Lane to 57th Street.
(iii) South A Street from 11th to the intersection of Main Street.
(b) Highway I-105:
(i) Eastbound only from Mohawk Boulevard to 42nd Street.
(ii) Westbound from 52nd Street to the intersection of Highbanks
Road (approximately 2,500 feet).
Attachment 2, Page 1 of 2
(iii) Westbound from 42nd Street to I-5.
(c) I-5 Northbound from I-105 to Old Coburg Road underpass.
(d) Beltline Road from Gateway Street to I-5. City of Springfield Sign Code
(e) Harlow Road from Gateway Street to 1-5. (f) Shelly Street westbound from Laura Street (southern street frontage
only).
(g) I-5 Northbound from milepost 190.5 to I-105, East side of I-5 only –
Glenwood Billboard District
(h) South side of Franklin Blvd from the west side of Henderson Avenue to
East Side of I-5 – Glenwood Billboard District.
(6) Relocation of Existing Billboards. The relocation of all billboards located
within city limits shall receive priority over signs currently located outside of city
limits.
(7) Abandoned Billboards. Billboards shall be considered abandoned and shall be
removed if left vacant and/or left in a state of disrepair for more than 90 days.
(Section 8.232(4) Springfield Sign Code)
Attachment 2, Page 2 of 2