Summary:
Orange County Parks & Recreation (OCPR) has requested to replace an existing monument sign with a digital Regional Public Landmark Sign (one double-sided sign) at the southern entry to Barnett Park (4603 W. Colonial Dr.).
The City Council has previously approved the replacement of manual readerboard signs with digital signs for several area high schools and for Leu Gardens. The digital signs were approved utilizing Land Development Code (LDC) Section 64.320, Regional Public Facility Identification Signage, wherein OCPS high schools and Leu Gardens serve large areas within the greater Orlando metropolitan area. These signs are approved by ordinance for regional public landmarks/facilities as identified by City Council, and may include both on-site and off-site roadway/directional signage. The Section also provides that the ordinance approving signage for regional public landmarks shall include a determination by the Planning Official that: (1) the facility is a regional public landmark; (2) such signage fosters the public health, safety, and welfare by promoting safe and efficient public access to the regional public facility; and (3) such signage shall have no negative impact on surrounding land uses.
The relevant code section was amended in 2016 to only allow regional signs in the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), for privately owned regional facilities. The Code section is being amended again to remove the restriction for public regional facilities outside the Downtown CRA, with second reading/adoption of the ordinance (#2018-7) scheduled for February 12, 2018.
Operational Conditions - In reviewing signs for conformance with the Regional Public Facility sign regulations, the Planning Official considers the extent to which the proposed signs conform to city-wide sign regulations. To ensure that proposed digital public facility identification signs are generally consistent with City-wide sign regulations and has no negative impact on adjacent City or County land uses, five (5) operational conditions are proposed to restrict the messages displayed on the proposed Barnett Park facility identification sign, as follows:
1. Sign copy can change no more than every 8 seconds.
2. The sign can display colors, but messages cannot move, rotate, pulsate or cause distractions to passing motorists and pedestrians on W. Colonial Dr.
3. The sign may only display images related to events and activities occurring at Barnett Park (not events and activities occurring at other County parks).
4. Since Barnett Park is open from 8am to 8pm, the sign can only operate from 7 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week.
5. The sign must be equipped with automatic brightness dimming technology relative to ambient light conditions during the day and night hours.
Subject to the five (5) operational conditions presented above, the Planning Official has determined (via Planning Official Determination DET2017-10098) (Exhibits A & B) that:
1. Barnett Park is a regional public facility. Due to the size, function, location and unique features within the park, Barnett Park clearly serves residents of multiple neighborhoods within the City and County.
2. The proposed digital sign will foster the public health, safety, and welfare by promoting safe and efficient public access to Barnett Park. Events at Barnett Park have and will continue to attract innumerous attendees year-round. The proposed signage will improve safety and efficiency by better identifying the name of the facility and identifying daily and weekly events at the regional park facility.
3. The proposed digital identification signage is not expected to have a negative impact on surrounding land uses. Barnett Park abuts Central Florida Fairgrounds property to the east, west and north and light industrial and commercial uses to the south, across W. Colonial Dr. The main entrance to Barnett Park is on W. Colonial Dr., where the existing sign is and proposed sign will continue to be. The proposed sign should not impact traffic flow and should reduce confusion by more clearly identifying the property for visitors and by providing public notice of current ongoing or upcoming events. The proposed operational restrictions will help preserve the character of the immediate neighborhood, while accommodating the needs of a regional park facility that hosts multiple events throughout the week, month and year.
4. The proposed digital identification sign is eligible for designation as a Regional Public Facility Identification Sign, as provided in LDC Section 64.320. The same type sign is not allowed for lesser/smaller parks or other such institutions unless said locations and signs meet the criteria of LDC Section 64.270, Regional Public Landmark Signs.
5. The attached Determination only addresses the signage requested via the application/package submitted herein. City Council approval of an ordinance is required prior to issuance of a sign permit for the new digital sign. If the City Council opts not to approve the ordinance, the proposed digital sign will not be allowed.
The City Council approved this item on first reading on Mon. Feb. 12, 2018. |