Presenter
Presented by Mr. Ferlo
Title
An Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title Nine, Zoning, Article VI, "Development Standards", Chapter 919, "Signs", to prohibit roof signs and signs extending above the roof line or parapet wall, and to revise regulations regarding business signs and identification signs; and Article VIII, "Review and Enforcement", Chapter 922, "Development Review Procedures", to require approval of a Project Development Plan by the Planning Commission for any new sign installed over 40 feet above grade in the Golden Triangle, Downtown Riverfront and Public Realm Districts.
Body
Be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The designated sections of Title Nine, Zoning of the Pittsburgh Code, are hereby amended as follows:
A. Amend Section 919.01.E by adding the following to the list of prohibited signs:
919.01.E Prohibited Signs
6. Any roof sign or sign that extends above the roof line or parapet wall.
B. Amend Section 919.03.M.1 by adding additional standards for all business signs and identification signs:
919.03.M.1 General
(e) Except as where otherwise noted below, wall mounted signs are permitted provided that the total face area attached to a wall shall not exceed two (2) square feet of sign face area for each lineal foot of building wall width to a maximum of eighty (80) square feet, and shall be mounted no higher than forty (40) feet above grade except where expressly permitted. For buildings with multi-commercial tenants on the first and second floors with direct street access one (1) additional sign shall be permitted per tenant identifying the name of the tenant or business, the total fact area of which shall not exceed two (2) square feet of sign face area for each lineal foot of store frontage to a maximum of eighty (80) square feet per sign, and shall be mounted no higher than the second floor above grade.
C. Amend Section 919.03.M.2 by adding "DR" as follows:
919.03.M.2 Signs containing Animation, Rotation, or Illumination in the HC, GT, NDI, UI, GI, and DR Districts:
In the HC, GT, NDI, UI, GI and DR Zoning Districts, such signs may contain animation, rotation or illumination that flashes or is intermittent provided:
D. Amend Section 919.03.M.4 by deleting provisions for wall mounted and roof signs as follows:
919.03.M.4 HC Districts
In the HC zoning districts:
[(a) Wall mounted signs are allowed provided that the total face area attached to a wall shall not exceed one square foot of sign area for each four square feet of exposed wall area and shall not exceed a total sign face area per wall of 180 square feet;]
[(b)] (a) Ground signs shall be limited to one along each street frontage when the property frontage measures 150 feet or less, otherwise ground signs shall not be spaced within 150 feet of each other when located on the same zoning lot. Ground signs shall not extend more than 30 feet from the top of the sign to the grade beneath the sign and shall not exceed a total face area of 60 square feet;
[(c) One roof sign may be substituted for a permitted wall mounted sign as otherwise permitted under this subsection, provided the height of the sign is not greater than six feet;]
[(d)](b) Signs attached to gasoline dispensing pumps shall be limited to one sign
not exceeding four square feet in face area for each pump;
[(e)](c) Marquee or canopy sign is a sign attached to, painted on or inscribed upon
a marquee or canopy that otherwise complies with any other governmental
regulation; the face of such sign shall not project above or below the marquee
or canopy, shall not exceed eight inches in height, shall not project more than
six inches horizontally from the surface of such marquee or canopy, shall not
contain flashing lights or animation and shall not contain any advertising
except for the name of the owner, name of the building or the name of the
business.
E. Amend Section 919.03.M.5 by deleting provisions for wall mounted and roof signs, by deleting "SP-5" and adding "DR" as follows:
919.03.M.5 LNC, UNC, GT, CP, AP, [and SP-5] and DR
In the LNC, UNC, GT, CP, AP [and SP-5 districts:], and DR Districts:
[(a) Wall mounted signs are permitted provided that the total face shall not exceed one (1) square foot of sign face area for each five square feet of exposed wall area, shall not extend more than 30 feet above grade, except that the name of the building or business may be located above the 30 foot height limit;]
[(b)](a) Ground signs shall be limited to one along each street frontage
when the property measures 100 feet or less, otherwise ground signs shall not be spaced within 100 feet of each other when located on the same zoning lot. Ground signs shall not extend more than 40 feet from the top of the sign to the grade beneath the sign and shall not exceed a total face area of 150 square feet;
[(c) Roof mounted signs and signs attached to a building with a projection above the roof peak or parapet wall, whichever is lower, shall be limited to the name of the building so attached to or the name of the business establishment situated within the building:
(1) LNC, UNC, and SP-5 Districts
In the LNC, UNC, and SP-5 zoning districts, roof mounted signs and signs attached to a building:
(i) Shall not exceed four feet in height when attached to a one story building and have not more than a two foot space between sign and peak or parapet of roof.
(ii) Are not permitted when the building is more than a one story in height.
(2) GT, CP and AP Districts
In the GT, CP and AP zoning districts, roof mounted signs and signs attached to a building:
(i) Shall not exceed ten feet in height and have not more than a two foot space between sigh and peak or parapet of roof.]
[(d)](b) Marquee or canopy sign is a sign attached to, painted on or inscribed upon a marquee or canopy that otherwise complies with any other governmental regulation; the face of such sign shall not project above or below the marquee or canopy, shall not exceed eight inches in height, shall not project more than six inches horizontally from the surface of such marquee or canopy, shall not contain flashing lights or animation and shall not contain any advertising except for the name of the owner, name of the building or the name of the business.
F. Amend Section 919.03.M.6 by deleting provisions for wall mounted and roof signs as follows:
919.03.M.6 NDI, GI, and UI Districts
In the NDI, GI and UI Zoning Districts:
[(a) Wall mounted signs are allowed provided that the total face area attached to a wall shall not exceed one square foot of sign face area for each three square feet of exposed wall area;
(b) Roof mounted signs shall be limited to the name of the building so attached to or the name of the business establishment situated within the building and shall not exceed 15 feet in height;]
[(c)](a) Ground signs shall not extend more than 45 feet from the
top of the sign to the grade beneath the sign provided that no sign shall exceed 200 square feet in face area or a vertical measurement of 20 feet;
[(d)](b) Marquee or canopy sign is a sign attached to, painted on or
inscribed upon a marquee or canopy that otherwise complies with any other government regulation; the face of such sign shall not project above or below the marquee or canopy, shall not exceed eight inches in height, shall not project more than six inches horizontally from the surface of such marquee or canopy, shall not contain flashing lights or animation and shall not contain any advertising except for the name of the owner, name of the building or the name of the business.
G. Amend Section 919.03.M.6 by inserting regulations for wall mounted business and building name signs in the "GT" and "DR" zoning districts as follows:
919.03.M.7 GT and DR Districts
In the GT and DR zoning districts:
(a) Wall mounted business and building name signs are permitted above forty (40) feet provided that the total face area shall not exceed two (2) square feet of sign face area for each lineal foot of building wall width to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet and are subject to Project Development Review as provided for in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 922. One (1) building or business name sign is permitted per façade to a maximum of four (4) such signs per building.
H. Amend Section 922.10 Project Development Plans by inserting a requirement for approval of Project Development Plan for any new sign installed over 40 feet above grade and inserting a reference to design guidelines in the Review Criteria as follows:
922.10.B Applicability
In each GT, DR and Public Realm District, every new or changed use of land, all new signs installed over 40 feet above grade, and every structure hereafter erected, enlarged, demolished or externally altered except structures involving external alterations not in excess of $100,000 shall, in addition to conforming to any and all regulations pertaining thereto that are specifically set forth in this Zoning Ordinance, be in accord with a Project Development Plan approved by the Commission.
922.10.E.2 Review Criteria
In reviewing applications for Project Development Plan approval, the Planning Commission shall consider the extent to which the Project Development Plan addresses the following criteria. The Planning Commission shall not approve any Project Development Plan that, in the determination of the Planning Commission, does not adequately address one or more of these criteria in accordance with objectives contained in general or site specific policy documents adopted by the Planning Commission.
(l) The proposed development must address the project's compatibility and conformance with any overall master plans, design guidelines, or comprehensive plans approved by the City Planning Commission and designated by the Department of City Planning, which address downtown area development.