4.10.8. SIGNS IN SPECIAL COMMERCIAL SIGN STANDARD AREAS.
A. Purpose. The City Council determines that there are certain commercial areas in the City that warrant the designation as special commercial sign standard areas to permit a taller or larger ground sign because:
1. Such areas are characterized by intense commercial activity along major streets;
2. The uses to which such signs pertain have long street frontages;
3. Sign locations are buffered from residential areas;
4. The area is coterminous with other governmental jurisdictions that have less restrictive sign regulations; and/or
5. The signage otherwise permitted by this Section 146-4.10 would be obscured from visibility from public streets by light rail infrastructure.
B. Designation and Applicability. The City Council hereby designates special commercial sign standard areas along the frontage of the following streets for qualifying businesses having the requisite minimum frontage on such named streets:
1. Havana Street (South of Sixth Avenue);
2. Colfax Avenue (Outside of MU-OA-MS subdistrict and the MU-FB district);
3. Abilene Street; and
4. Parker Road.
C. Decision and Approval Criteria. The Planning Director shall approve the proposed sign, deny the sign, or approve the sign with conditions within 30 days after receipt of a complete application. The Director shall consider the following in making its determination:
1. Whether any negative offsite effects of the proposed sign are mitigated.
2. The extent to which the sign conforms to the associated design character of the development.
D. Appeal to or Call-up by City Council.
1. An applicant may appeal the decision pursuant to Section 146-5.3.13 (Appeals), or City Council may call up the decision pursuant to Section 146-5.3.11 (Call-ups).
2. If the City Council denies the appeal or does not call up the decision pursuant to Section 146-5.3.11, the applicant may seek prompt judicial review of the denial pursuant to Rule 106 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
E. Large, Integrated Development. The Planning Director may approve a sign that exceeds the height, area, or location limitations in this Section 146-4.10.8 if it finds such increase is appropriate because the sign relates to a large integrated development or development in an MU-R zone district.
F. Signs Allowed. The following sign standards apply to any property in a special commercial sign standard area:
1. Only monument style freestanding signs are permitted.
2. The maximum height of all monument signs in a special commercial sign standard area shall not exceed 20 feet above grade.
3. If the proposed use has a minimum single street frontage of 300 feet, then one ground sign shall be permitted in addition to the maximum number permitted elsewhere in this Section 146-4.10.
4. The maximum total sign area including the additional ground sign shall not exceed 800 square feet.
G. Installation and Design.
1. The supports for such sign shall appear as an architectural and/or integral part of the sign.
2. The Planning Director is authorized to adopt design guidelines to be applied in the evaluation of each sign permitted in the commercial sign standard areas. Prior to their application, the design guidelines shall be reviewed and approved by the City Council. (Ord. No. 2019-49 § 1, 08-19-2019)