February 23, 2017 Mr. Manjeet Ranu, Director...February 23, 2017 Mr. Manjeet Ranu, Director Planning and Development Services 201 North Stone Avenue, 3rd Floor Tucson, Arizona 85701

February23,2017Mr.ManjeetRanu,DirectorPlanningandDevelopmentServices201NorthStoneAvenue,3rdFloorTucson,Arizona85701Re:UpdatedRevisedSignCodePreliminaryDraftasof2-1-17(CleanCopy)DearMr.Ranu:Thebusinesscommunityis/hasalignedtorepresenttheinterestsofcurrentbusinessesandprospectiveinvestorsinourcommunity.WeagreewiththeCitythatcommercialsignageisgovernedandprotectedundertheFirstAmendmentrighttofreedomofspeech.TheTucsonMetroChamber,MetropolitanPimaAlliance(MPA),andSouthernArizonaHomebuildersAssociation(SAHBA)representnearly2,000locallybased companieswith approximately 175,000 employees. These businesses own significant property;landandbuildings,andpayprimaryandsecondarypropertytaxes.Theiremployeesareresidentsthatbuyhomes, liveandshopintheCityofTucson.Ourmembersaretheresidentialandcommercial landownersanddevelopers,commercialrealestatebrokersthathelpnewbusinessownersfindabuilding,homebuilders and contractors that construct the buildings, and businesses investors themselves thatchoose Tucson. Collectively, our member businesses generate a significant portion of the tax base,including Transaction Privilege Tax which provides funds for the City of Tucson General Fund. Ourmembers are important contributors to the local economy and signage is important to ourmemberbusinesses. While recognizing the need to balance community standards and the importance ofaesthetics, businesses are by far the greatest users of signage and are therefore the impacted usersmostaffectedbymodificationstotheTucsonSignCode.As vested community partners, a goal of ourmemberships is to have a predictable, streamlined SignCode, eliminate unnecessary process and provide ample signage with clearly articulated sign designelements. Theeconomicbenefits to the communityofproperly signedbusinesses cannotbe ignored.These include the benefits of reducing vehicle trips on streets, when businesses are located forconvenient service delivery and the benefits of legible directional signs for way-finding. The City ofTucson has a highly impoverished community and there have beenmany recent successful strides ingrowing the tax base to better support the community. The ability of a business or organization tocommunicatetheirmessageisthebasicfoundationtocommercialviability.Signageisoneofthemostbasic and effective marketing avenues available to businesses and the ability to attract customer’sresults inhighersalesandhighersalestranslateto increasedsalestaxrevenue. GrowingTucson’staxbaseisgoodforTucson.AstheCityofTucsonleadershipconsidersrevisionstotheSignCodeOrdinance,weencouragetheCityto incorporate the voters’ approved Plan Tucson which contains a Focus Area: The EconomicEnvironment,withstatedGoalsandPolicies:

• “Recruit,retainandexpandbusinessandindustry…”• “Supportandexpandentrepreneurship…”• “Continue to develop and implement local strategies, services and incentives to enhance

Tucson’sbusinessclimate.”• “Promote and support local,minority-owned, independent, and small businesses involved in

thesaleandpurchaseoflocallyproducedgoodsandservices.”• Foster the success of commercial areas, including downtown, major corridors; and the arts,

entertainment and business districts through targeted investment, incentives and otherrevitalizationstrategies.

In conjunction with revisions to the sign code, we encourage the City of Tucson to concurrentlyincorporate signage as a componentof City incentives offered to commercial interests thatmeet thevoter-approvedPlanTucsonGoal tohave“Aneconomythat supportsexistingbusinessesandattractsnewbusinesses to increaseemploymentopportunities, raise income levels, expand the taxbase, andgeneratepublicandprivateinvestmentleadingtohighqualityoflifeinthecommunity.”Additionally, Plan Tucson identified future Growth Areas of the City. We recommend that the CityevaluatespecialdistrictswithinthePlanTucsonGrowthAreastoensureconsistencywithPlanTucson,andmakechanges,includingthosethatimpactthesigncode,asappropriate.BelowyouwillfindempiricalevidencelinkingimpactsofsignageuponsalesincludesstudiesconductedbyboththeUniversityofSanDiegoandUniversityofCincinnati.Theirfindingsinclude:

• Changessuchasaddingsignsorreplacingoutdatedorinoperablesignshadpositiveeffectsonsales,numberoftransactionsandprofits.Roughly60percentofbusinessesstudiedreportedanaveragesalesincreaseof10percent.

• Many survey respondents indicated that the addition of signage and resulting revenue led inincreasesinemployment.

• Justoneadditionalsignyieldedsalesincreasesof4.75%,animpactgreaterthanbroughtonbyalargerbuilding,longerhoursofoperationorlocationlongevity.

• 49.7 % of American consumers have driven by a desired business without finding it due toinsufficientsignage.

• Amodel suggested that theadditionofonemoresignateach fast food restaurant in theLosAngelesmarketwouldraisealmost$10millioninadditionaltaxrevenue.

• Digital signage is rapidlybecomingoneof themosteffectivemethodsof communicatingwithcustomers.

As part of the hundreds of hours of work our respective organizations and members have spentreviewingtheCode,wecontinuetohaveissueswithlanguagethatisdeemedtobeabarriertobusinessgrowth.Whilewearestillreviewingthecode,thoseissuesinclude:

1.) Page10/7A.6.4SIGNCOPYCurrentLanguage:“C.Adigitalsignispermittedtohavearateofchangeofsigncopy,graphic,orinformationnotmorethanonceanhour”

Recommendation:Stakeholders recommend thatdigital signsarepermitted tohavea rateof changenotexceeding more than once every minute in conjunction with the International SignAssociationaswellasbeingconsistentwithotherdigitalsignslikeclocksusedlocallybymanybusinessessuchasViscountandNovaHomeLoans.Shouldthecommitteechooseto use iminute increments as suggested, digital clocks would be out of compliance.

2.) Page10/7A.6.5SIGNHEIGHTMEASUREMENTCurrent Language: “A. The sign height is measured as the vertical distance from theaverage finished grade beneath the sign to the topmost sign copy of the sign; exceptthatifthesignlocationhasanaveragefinishedgradelowerthantheadjoininggradeoftheroad, thesignheight ismeasuredfromthetopof thecurb (orhighestpointof theroadnearestthepropertyifnocurbexists)tothehighestpointofthetopmostsigncopyon the sign.. Average finished grade refers to themean average elevation of groundafter site preparation at the bottom of a sign structure, measured five feet from thebottomofthesignstructureatfive-footintervals”Recommendation:InworkingtobeconsistentwiththePimaCountySignCode,stakeholdersareinsupportoftheintentoftheproposedrevisionsbutencouragethatthissectionbeclarifiedandrewrittenasshownbelow:

A.Thesignheightismeasuredastheverticaldistancefromtheaveragefinishedgrade (5’ radius from the centerof the sign)beneath the sign to the topmostsign copy of the sign; except that if the sign location has an average finishedgrade lower than theadjoininggradeof the road, thesignheight ismeasuredfromthetopof thecurb(orhighestpointof theroadnearest thepropertyorthecrownoftheroad)tothehighestpointofthetopmostsigncopyonthesign.

3.) Page12/7A.6.11PREMISE

Current Language: “A premise is all contiguous land used and occupied by a use orbusiness. All buildings, parking, storage and service areas, and private roads ordriveways that are an integral part of the use or business are considered part of thepremise. Commercial shopping centers, office complexes, commercial or industrialsubdivisions, or similar developments are a premise to the extent such lands areidentified as a single site that may contain one or multiple development plans orpackages”Recommendation:Stakeholdersareinsupportoftheproposedrevisionsbutencouragethatthissectionbeapprovedwiththefollowingrevisionstothelastsentenceasshownbelow:

“Commercial shopping centers, office complexes, commercial or industrialsubdivisions, or similar developments are a premise to the extent suchlands are identified as a single site that may contain and/or one or multipledevelopmentplansorpackages,parcelsorownerships.”

• This section should also be referenced in 7A.3 (DEFINITIONS),which starts onpage3.(e.g.Premise:seeSec.7A.6.11).

4.) Page12/7A.6.12ILLUMINATION

CurrentLanguage:“Unlessotherwiseprohibitedinthesesignstandards,allsignsmaybeilluminatedsubjecttotheprovisionsofTucsonCode,Chapter6,ArticleIV,Division2,"OutdoorLightingCode."Recommendation:Stakeholdersareinsupportoftheproposedrevisionsbutencouragethatthissectionbeapprovedwiththefollowingrevisionstothesentenceasshownbelow:

“Unless otherwise prohibited in these sign standards. All signs may beilluminated subject to the provisions of Tucson Code., Chapter 6, Article IV,Division2,"OutdoorLightingCode."

5.) Page 13 / 7A.7.1 MASTER SIGN PROGRAM—PERMANENT SIGNS / E. DESIGN

STANDARDS/1.ALLSIGNSCurrentLanguage:a. Illuminatedcolorsshallbepredominantlythosecolorsthatreducelighttrespass

andofferprotectiontodarkskiesincompliancewiththeCity’soutdoorlightingstandards.

b. A signwith lists of categories, tenants or organizations or similar listed itemswithinpanelsorseparatelymountedsigncopy,shallhavebehindthecopy, i.e.words,names,numbersorsymbolsusingaspecific logoor federally registeredtrademarkcolorsaunifyingandproportionaloutliningbackgroundcolor;

c. Forasignwith lists, thesignpanelsand/or theseparatelymountedsigncopy,i.e.,signcopymountedwithoutpanelsonastructureorwall,itshallbemountedorplacedsoastobereasonablyproportionalinsize.”

Recommendation:a. Illuminatedcolorsshallbepredominantlythosecolorsthatreducelighttrespass

andofferprotectiontodarkskiesincompliancewiththeCity’soutdoorlightingstandards.

b. A signwith lists of categories, tenants or organizations or similar listed itemswithinpanelsorseparatelymountedsigncopy,shallhavebehindthecopy, i.e.words,names,numbersorsymbolsusingaspecific logoor federally registeredtrademarkcolorsaunifyingandproportionaloutliningbackgroundcolor;

c. Forasignwith lists, thesignpanelsand/or theseparatelymountedsigncopy,i.e.,signcopymountedwithoutpanelsonastructureorwall,itshallbemountedorplacedsoastobereasonablyproportionalinsize.”

StakeholdersrecommendthatE.1beremovedinitsentirety.Thecurrentlanguagerefersto“standards”within theOutdoorLightingCode. Thesestandardscouldnotbeclarifiednorcan we find where they exist. The business community does not support any mandatedrestrictions relating to the color of signage or requisite standardization of color amongsignage.Decisionsonsignagecolorshouldbeleftuptotheindividual/businessundertheirtrademark and copyright rights and in accordancewithbest practices for promoting theirbusiness. This also keeps the Sign Code restricting companies that have federallytrademarkedlogosfromutilizingtheircolors.

6.) Page 14 / 7A.7.1 MASTER SIGN PROGRAM—PERMANENT SIGNS / E. DESIGN

STANDARDS/2.GROUND-MOUNTEDSIGNS/b.SIGNHEIGHTCurrentLanguage:“1.The sign height and sign structure setback for a freestanding sign should be at aheightanddistance from the rightofway tobeeasilydetectableandgiveavehicleareasonabletimetoadjusttotrafficconditions.2.Thesignheightshallbecompatiblewiththesurroundingbuildingheightprofileoftheproperty and surrounding area. The sign structure shall not obstruct significant scenicviewsfromtherightofway.3.Thesignheightshallnotbegreaterthan20feettalland100squarefeetinarea.4.Theheightofthesigncopyshallnotbesetsoasnottobeobstructedbylandscapingoraparkedvehicle.”Recommendation:Freestanding Signs – TheMaster Sign Program should include a cap regarding height.Stakeholdersbelievethiscapshouldbeanincreaseof100%.Theuniquenessofvariouspropertiesmandatelargersignsinordertoprovideadequatevisibilityfortheirtenants.

7.) Page 14 / 7A.7.1 MASTER SIGN PROGRAM—PERMANENT SIGNS / E. DESIGN

STANDARDS/2.GROUND-MOUNTEDSIGNS/c.SIGNDESIGNELEMENTS/1.STRUCTURALCOMPONENTSCurrentLanguage:“Afreestandingsignshouldbecomprisedofadesignsuchasabottommiddleandtopcomponent.Asignblendingwallandgroundmountedcomponentsmayusethebestpracticeoptionnotedbelow.The design context of the components shall use the architectural style of thedevelopmentbeingidentified.Featurestobeusedindesigningthecomponentsincludecolors, materials, textures and shapes of the development’s architecture. The bottomcomponentshallbedesignedwithamonument-stylebaseorsimilarwide-basedesign.”

Recommendation:• Stakeholders are in support of the proposed revisions but encourage that this

section be approved with the following revisions to the first sentence as shownbelow:

“A freestanding sign shouldbe comprisedof design elements consistingoftwo or more components a design such as a bottom middle and topcomponent.Asignblendingwallandgroundmountedcomponentsmayusethebestpracticeoptionnotedbelow.

• In addition, thebusiness community requests adiagramand/or images to furthersubstantiatetheintentofthissection.

• The City should consider that certain commercial projectswith defined attributes

andeligible forCity incentives, beexpected toutilize theMaster SignProgramasthe best means to provide adequate signage and balance the total amount ofsignage,placementanddesign.

8.) Page21/7A.10.1GENERALLYPERMITTEDSIGNS/C.INTERIORSIGNSEXCEPTION

CurrentLanguage:“Interior Sign Exception: A Signwithin a premise, that has a two-way communicationmechanismmustbesetbackatleastthirtyfeetfromaresidenceorresidentialzone.Awall-mountedpermanentorportablesign,thatiswithinapremise’sboundaries,outsideabuildingorenclosedarea,viewablefromtherightofway,andhasasignareagreaterthantwelvesquarefeet, iscountedaspartoftheapplicablesigntype’smaximumsignarea.”

Recommendation:

Stakeholdersareinsupportoftheproposedchanges,butwiththefollowingrevisions:“Interior Sign Exception: A Sign within a premise, that has a two-waycommunicationmechanismmustbesetbackatleastthirtyfeetfromaresidenceorresidentialzone.Awall-mountedpermanentorportablesign,thatiswithinapremise’s boundaries, outside a building or enclosed area, viewable from therightofway,andhasasignareagreaterthantwelvesquarefeet,iscountedaspartoftheapplicablesigntype’smaximumsignarea.”

Stakeholders request that the proposed distance stipulation be removed as it waspreviously neither in the code nor are there documented concerns related this itemunderthecurrentcode.Additionally,futureprojectsandassociatedissuesthatrelatetothosethathavetwo-waycommunicationmaybediscussedduringtherezoningprocessandaddressedatthattime.

9.) Page 24 / 7A.10 SIGN TYPES AND GENERAL STANDARDS / 7A.10.3 PERMANENTSIGNS—MAXIMUMSIGNAREAANDSPECIALZONESTANDARDSPERZONECATEGORYCurrentLanguage:(SeeTable2onpage24)RecommendationforTable2--Residentialsection:Churches or those businesses allowed within residential zones that are also on anarterial or collector, should be considered as part of the General Business categorywithinTable2.RecommendationforTable2--Non-residentialsection:6.IlluminationandColor-removelanguagethatdetailstheuseof“lowpressuresodiumlighting.”

10.) Page 29 / 7A.10.4 PERMANENT SIGNS—ADDITIONAL SIGN TYPE STANDARDS / b.

FREESTANDINGSIGNS,ALLTYPESCurrentLanguage:1.Onefreestandingsignforeachstreetfrontage.2.Oneadditionalfreestandingsignonthatstreetfrontageforeachadditionalonehundredfifty(150)feetofstreetfrontageinexcessofthefirstthreehundred(300)feet.3.Foreachsignplacedonthefrontageofalocalstreet,thetotalallowablenumberoffreestandingsignsforthearterialorcollectorstreetfrontageshallbereducedbyone.”Recommendation:Weareinsupportof1and2aswritten,recommenddeletionof3.

11.) Weunderstand theneed to reclassifycertainsigncategories inorder toachieveReedcompliance. However, placing the existing Real Estate sign allowances into the newPortable Sign category and significantly reducing the amount of aggregate signageavailablebyzonerunscountertothestatedphilosophyofretainingsignuser’sexistingrightsundertheseproposedchanges.(Seeattachment)ThecurrentlanguageundertheMasterPortablesignprogramistoovagueandopentofutureinterpretationanddoesnotensureuser’sexistingrights.Recommendation:Werequestmaintainingthetotalamountofsignageandpermittimesavailableunderthecurrent signcodeor,ataminimum, increase themaximumallowable signagepercategory under the portable sign section and/or establish a formula that provides anadditionalamountofon-sitesignagebaseduponfrontage.

12.) Page27/7A.10.4PERMANENTSIGNS—ADDITIONALSIGNTYPESTANDARDS/CANOPY

SIGNGENERALSTANDARDS

CurrentLanguage(1)Canopysignsarenotallowedtoextendbeyondtheroofline.(2)Canopysignsarecountedasapartofthewallsignallotmentforthesesignstandards.

Recommendation:Asperourpreviousrequest,Stakeholder’srequestedthatsections4Cthrough4Ioftheprevious proposed draft be removed andwe recognize that those sections have nowbeen removed as part of the most recent proposed draft. We are in full support ofkeeping these sections removed and we fully support the new proposed verbiage asstatedabove.

13.) Page48/7A.11.3SCENICCORRIDORZONE(SCZ)DISTRICT.CurrentLanguageE.Permittedsigns:1.SignsgenerallypermittedandsigntypeslistedinSec.7A.10,exceptasmodifiedbythissubsectionforthisdistrict,andsignsexemptunderSec.7A.8(ExemptandProhibitedSigns).2.Awningsigns.3.Freestandingsigns,monumentandlowprofileonly.

a.Maximumnumberperpremises:(1) Scenic route: One (1) for the first four hundred fifty (450) feet ofscenic route street frontagewithone (1) additional sign for every fourhundred(400)feetofadditionalscenicroutestreetfrontage.(2) Arterial street:One (1) for the first four hundred fifty (450) feet ofarterial street frontage with one (1) additional sign for every twohundredfifty(250)feetofadditionalarterialstreetfrontage.(3)CollectorStreet:One(1)forthefirstfourhundredfifty(450)feetofcollector street frontage within the premises, with one (1) additionalsignforeverytwohundredfifty(250)feetofadditionalcollectorstreetfrontage.

Recommendation:Stakeholders recommendthe“maximumnumberperpremises;”sectionberevised tobeconsistentwiththeGeneralBusinessDistrict.AnexampleofhowtheexistingScenicCorridor Zone District restrictions have impeded business is the Houghton RoadCorridor.WeproposethefollowingrevisionstosectionE.3below:3.Freestandingsigns,monumentandlowprofileonly.

a.Maximumnumberperpremises:(1) Scenic route: One (1) for the first four hundred fifty (450) threehundred (300) feet of scenic route street frontage with one (1)

additionalsignforeveryfourhundred(400)onehundredfifty(150)feetofadditionalscenicroutestreetfrontage.(2) Arterial street: One (1) for the first four hundred fifty (450) threehundred (300) feet of arterial street frontage with one (1) additionalsign for every two hundred fifty (250) one hundred fifty (150) feet ofadditionalarterialstreetfrontage.(3)CollectorStreet:One (1) for the first fourhundred fifty (450) threehundred(300)feetofcollectorstreetfrontagewithinthepremises,withone (1) additional sign for every twohundred fifty (250) onehundredfifty(150)feetofadditionalcollectorstreetfrontage.

Inaddition,werecommendaddingverbiagetoeitherthissectionand/ortotheMasterSign Program section that theMaster Sign Code standardswill supersede any specialdistrictorzonestandards.

14.) Definitions:ThedefinitionofParapetshouldbeaddedandreferredtoasawall.Thesamedefinitionshouldbeusedasawall.

Otheroutstandingissueswerequestberemediedinclude,butarenotexclusiveto:- SignDesignReviewCommittee–Weare in supportof structural changes to this committee.

Wehighlyencouragedefinedtermlimits, inclusionofcommercialbusinessinvestorsandmorediverseappointments,andopen-meeting lawstoallowtheapplicanttoworkdirectlywiththecommittee members and if needed, provide additional input to the design options, provideclarification,and/orcommunicatedirectlywithcitystaff.

- ExpeditedReview/StreamlinedApprovalProcess–ownerdecisionsonwhethertoexpandorlocateabusiness inTucsonaremadewithindefinedtimelines. Delayscausedbygovernmentprocessesmayresultinlostjobsandsalestaxrevenuetothecommunity.

- Notification Requirements- We oppose the addition of any additional neighborhoodnotificationrequirementsoranyadditional“rezoning”typenotificationrequirements.

- 18Month Evaluation – Language is needed that requires staff & stakeholders to review 18monthsafterthenewcodegoesintoeffect.Clarificationisneededonhowthisprocesswillbeimplemented, who will serve on the review committee, and what the review and approvalprocesswillentail.

- “LeastRestrictive”References–All sectionsthatcall for the“mostrestrictivestandardof thezonecategory”tobeappliedshouldinsteadstate“theleastrestrictivestandard”.

- Distance Restrictions –We oppose any distance restrictions on off-site signage. (Gem Showexample)

- QuantityastheKeyMetric–Incommercialareas,weopposeasignstandardthatishasasitspremise a signage allowance that is less than national industry standards for the amount ofsignageandasystemofdeductionsforcustomaryadjustmentstotheamountandplacementofsignageinresponsetositeconditionsandbusinessneeds.

TheSignCodemustmakeTucsoncompetitivewithotherurbancitiesandattractivetobusinessesandemployers considering expansion or relocation. Commercial signs directly impact the ability of abusinesstomakeessentialcontributionstotheCityofTucson’sTransactionPrivilegeTaxandpropertytaxwhichareimportantfundingsourcesforpublicsafetyofficers,police,fire,parksandothervaluableservicesenjoyedbyallcitizens.Ourmembershipsincludemorethan100,000localresidentswithinourcommunitythatactivelysupporteconomicdevelopmentimprovementsfortheretentionandexpansionof local businesses. Empirical evidence clearly suggests commercial signage is a critical element insupportingour business community,which is alsomadeupof local neighbors. As representatives ofthose businesses, we strongly encourage the committee and staff to include our changes. Theseproposed changes represent real-world situations with regards to design and installation, and havetakenintoaccountcommunityaesthetics,theOutdoorLightingCode,andpublicsafety.

Thankyoufortheopportunitytoprovidecommentandmakerecommendations. WelookforwardtoworkingwiththeCityofTucsonandthegreatercommunitytopromoteadequate,well-placedsignagethatiseffectiveforlocalbusinessesandattractiveforresidentsandvisitors.

Sincerely,

RobertMedlerAmberSmith,MPADavidGodlewskiVicePresident,GovernmentAffairsExecutiveDirectorPresidentTucsonMetroChamberMetropolitanPimaAllianceSAHBA Attachment:RealEstateSignsvs.PortableSignsChartCC:MayorJonathanRothschildMr.MichaelOrtegaCityofTucsonCityCouncil

AttachmentARealEstateSignsvs.NewPortableSignCategory

Current Proposed Max

Allotment LocalStreet

(Residential/Multifamily)CollectorStreet

(Residential/Multifamily)ArterialStreet

(Resdiential/Multifamily)

Announcement 32sq.ft.perface(Max2faces)

1perfrontage 64sq.Ft.

16Sq.Ft 32SqFt 64sq.ft

Construction 32sq.ftperface(Max2faces)

1perfrontage 64sq.Ft.

LocalStreet(Commercial/Industrial)

CollectorStreet(Commercial/Industrial)

ArterialStreet(Commercial/Industrial)

Development [email protected].–[email protected].

MajorStreetsw/in2milesofProject

300sq.Ft.

32sq.Ft. 64sq.ft. 128sq.ft.

Directional 4sq.ft ForSale/Lease 4sq.ft

(Residential)32Sq.Ft.(Non-Residential)

1perfrontage

Identification 20sq.ft. 2perentrance 40sq.Ft.

Subdivision 200sq.ft. Ipersubdivision 200sq.Ft