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There shall be a special sign district known as the "Market Street Special Sign District" in the vicinity of Market Street, from The Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard as designated on Sectional Map SS02 of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco. The original copy of said Sectional Map with this Special Sign District indicated thereon is on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors under File No. 112-70. With respect to said Special Sign District, the following regulations shall apply:
(1) In November 1962, the electorate of San Francisco voted approval of an investment in a City and regional rapid transit system that will run beneath Market Street. In June 1968, the electorate approved a bonded indebtedness of $24,500,000, including payment for reconstruction and improvement of Market Street from The Embarcadero to the Central Skyway overpass. The street has been completely rebuilt at public expense, with special paving, furnishings, plazas and landscaping. Market Street is the transit spine of the Downtown area, with heavy concentrations of pedestrians, and is a central domain of the people of the City and of the region. It is a purpose of the Market Street Special Sign District to further this public endeavor.
(2) Development and design efforts along Market Street rely upon the promise of a street of high quality. Both existing and new enterprises will be strengthened by the high standards of their environment and by the joint efforts of owners, residents, and business people.
(3) The character of signs along the street and of other features projecting from buildings is especially significant to street appearance and to the general quality and economic stability of the area. Opportunities exist to relate these signs and projections more effectively to the street design and to the design of buildings, and it is a purpose of these regulations to set a framework that will contribute toward those ends.
(4) The standards established by these regulations are reasonable standards related to the unique nature of the Market Street area and to its present and future needs.
(5) The standards established by these regulations are deemed to be minimum requirements, forming a basic framework for development and remodeling. They are not intended in any way to preclude further design refinement or review by individuals or duly constituted organizations which might consider more restrictive requirements as to any aspects limited herein, or as to additional aspects such as materials, color, graphics, types of representation, relationship of signs to one another and to architectural features, or the general quality of design. It is anticipated that private efforts along such lines will and should be made for the further improvement of Market Street.
(b) Controls.
(1) Projection of Signs and Other Features. Within said Special Sign District:
(A) No Projection shall exceed a horizontal distance of six feet beyond any Street Property Line. This limitation shall apply to Signs and to all other features including but not limited to Marquees, Awnings and Canopies, with the sole exception of flagpoles for flags of any nation or political subdivision.
(B) Projecting Signs for each establishment shall be limited to one Sign on each street frontage occupied by the establishment, in addition to any Signs that are placed flat upon or otherwise integrated in the design of Marquees and Awnings.
(2) Height. Within said Special Sign District, all of the following limitations shall apply:
(A) A projecting Sign with lettering or other inscription arranged in a vertical manner shall have a maximum height of 60 feet; except that a greater height shall be permitted, up to a maximum height of 100 feet, provided the Height of the Sign shall remain at least 20 feet below the Roofline of the building as measured directly above the Sign.
(B) Except as provided in Paragraph (D) below, all other Signs shall be located no higher than the windowsill level of the lowest story (if any) that has a window or windows on the building facade on which the Signs are placed, exclusive of the ground story and mezzanine, provided that no such Sign shall in any case exceed a height of 60 feet.
(C) In addition, except as provided in Paragraph (D) below, uniformity of height shall be maintained in both the upper and lower edges of Signs placed flat upon or essentially parallel to each facade of a single building.
(D) As to the requirements of Paragraphs (B) and (C) above, deviation from the requirements may be permitted to the extent an alternative placement of Signs is made necessary by the location of arches, entrances and other architectural features, as determined by the Zoning Administrator, or for the purpose of installing special lighting effects and temporary holiday decorations, or for the purpose of modifying or replacing currently existing noncomplying business Wall Signs as provided by Section 607(h).
(3) Temporary Signs. With the exception of holiday decorations, no Sign composed of paper or other temporary material shall be placed on the outside of any building or structure or affixed to the glass on the outside or inside of any window, unless such Sign is placed in a frame or on a structure specifically designed for this purpose.
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header, introductory material, and divisions (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(4) amended; former division (c) deleted, former divisions (d)-(f) redesignated as (c)-(e), and internal references adjusted accordingly; current division (d)(1) amended; Ord. 20-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. Division (d)(4) amended; Ord. 188-15
, Eff. 12/4/2015. Division (d)(4) amended; Ord. 188-15, Eff. 12/4/2015. Former divisions (b)(1), (b)(2), (d)(1), (e), (e)(2), and (e)(3) deleted; division (b) amended; former divisions (c)–(c)(2), (d), (d)(2)–(d)(5), and (e)(1) amended and redesignated as (b)(1)–(b)(1)(B), (b)(2), (b)(2)(A)–(b)(2)(D), and (b)(3); Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.
There shall be a special sign district known as the "Jackson Square Special Sign District," as designated on Sectional Map SSD of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco. The original copy of said Sectional Map with this Special Sign District indicated thereon is on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors under File No. [Ord. No.] 276-72.
(a) Purposes and Findings.
(1) In addition to furthering the purposes stated in Sections 101 and 601 of this Code, creation of the Jackson Square Special Sign District is intended to further the purposes of the Jackson Square Historic District created pursuant to Ordinance No. 221-72 and to foster the preservation and enhancement of said Historic District.
(2) The standards established by these regulations are deemed to be minimum requirements. They are not intended in any way to preclude further design refinement or review by duly constituted private organizations which might consider more restrictive requirements as to any aspects limited herein, or as to additional aspects such as materials, color, graphics, types of representation, relationship of signs to one another and to architectural features, or the general quality of design.
(b) Regulations. Within such Special Sign District:
(1) The Area of all Signs on a building shall not exceed an area of two square feet for each foot of street frontage occupied by the building, and shall in no event exceed a total of 100 square feet on each street frontage.
(2) No Projection shall exceed a horizontal distance of six feet beyond any Street Property Line. This limitation shall apply to Signs and to all other features including but not limited to Marquees and Awnings, with the sole exception of flagpoles for flags of any nation or political subdivision. All Signs, Marquees, Awnings and other features shall be supported entirely by a building; no Canopies shall be permitted.
(3) Projecting Signs for each establishment shall be limited to one Sign on each street frontage occupied by the establishment.
(4) All Signs shall be placed entirely below the level of the lowest cornice or strong horizontal element located above the ground story of the building, but in no event higher than three feet above the top of the ceiling level of the ground story.
(5) No Directly Illuminated Sign shall be permitted.
(Added by Ord. 223-72, App. 8/9/72; amended by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header amended; former divisions (b)(1), (b)(3), and (b)(4) deleted; former divisions (b)(2) and (b)(5)–(b)(8) amended and redesignated as (b)(1)–(b)(5); Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.
(a) General. There shall be a Special Sign District known as the “Stonestown Special Sign District” (“Stonestown SSD”). The boundaries of the Stonestown SSD shall be coterminous with the outer boundaries of the Stonestown Special Use District, as established pursuant to Chapter1 249.9, and shall also include the Stonestown Galleria Mall, as shown on Figure 608.10-1 and designated on Section Map SU3 of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco.
(b) Purpose and Findings.
(1) The Stonestown Development Project (Project) is a mixed-use, multi-phased master-planned development located on the west side of San Francisco, generally bounded by Eucalyptus Drive to the north, 19th Avenue to the east, San Francisco State University (SFSU) Campus to the south, and Buckingham Way to the west. It will provide several benefits to the City, such as a significant amount of publicly accessible open space, increased public access throughout the site, childcare facilities, extensive infrastructure improvements, and affordable housing, while creating jobs, housing, and a vibrant community.
(2) In addition to furthering the purposes stated in Sections 101 and 601 of the Planning Code, the Stonestown SSD is intended to further the purposes of the Stonestown Special Use District, established pursuant to Section 249.9. The Stonestown SUD, and the Stonestown Design Standards and Guidelines (DSG), implement the land use controls for the Stonestown Development Project, which is subject to a Development Agreement, approved by the Board of Supervisors in the ordinance contained in Board File No. 240410.
(3) The Stonestown Galleria Mall opened in 1952. Since that time, the mall has operated as a retail destination within the City. As of the enactment of the ordinance in Board File No. 240409 establishing the Stonestown SSD, the mall provides ample parking spaces. Because there are no structures in the surface parking lot, the mall is visible to pedestrians, transit riders, and travelers in cars and other motor vehicles from 19th Avenue.
(4) As part of the Project, the surface parking lots will be subdivided, and replaced with new development, streets, and open spaces. Portions of the newly built 20th Avenue, Buckingham Way, and side streets between 19th and 20th Avenues will be privately owned by the Stonestown Galleria Mall, or its affiliates. In addition to providing necessary circulation for and access to the mall, the private streets will provide on-street parking and access to additional parking for retail shoppers. The Stonestown Galleria Mall, or its affiliates, will also own additional contiguous open spaces, and pedestrian pathways throughout the site. These private streets and parcels will be contiguous to and abut the mall, providing parking access, and facilitate foot traffic to the mall, as well as accessible open spaces to shoppers and residents of the Project.
(5) The purposes of this SSD include: ensuring the orderly development of the Project; safeguarding and enhancing the value of the surrounding residential and commercial areas; protecting the distinctive appearance of San Francisco due to its unique geography, topography, street patterns, skyline and architectural features; providing an environment that promotes the development of business in the City; encouraging sound practices and lessening objectionable effects in respect to size and placement of signs; and reducing hazards to motorists and pedestrians traveling on the public way.
(6) To accomplish these purposes, this SSD sets controls for Signs within the Stonestown SSD area.
(c) Controls. The Sign controls shall be as follows:
(1) Signage Controls for the Stonestown Galleria Mall. As to the Stonestown Galleria Mall, Article 6 of the Planning Code shall apply, except as otherwise noted in this SSD. If there is an unavoidable conflict between the SSD and other applicable provisions of Article 6 of the Planning Code, this SSD shall prevail.
(A) Stonestown Galleria Mall Building Signage. Signs on the Stonestown Galleria Mall shall follow the number, area, height, and projection requirements as shown in Table 608.10-1.
Signage Type | Numbe r | Sign Area | Height (per Sign) | Projection (per Sign) |
Sign attached to building | No limit. | No limit, except at the southern façade of Stonestown Galleria Mall facing Buckingham Way (South) is limited to 100 square feet. | Lesser of the roofline immediately above the Sign, 60 feet above ground immediately below the Sign, or the applicable height limit. | 75 percent of horizontal distance from property line to the curb not exceeding more than six feet beyond property line or building façade. Projecting signs shall not extend above the roofline. |
Window Sign | No limit | Not to exceed one-third of the window area. Windows of active use shall comply with PC Section 145.1 (c)(6) | N/A | N/A |
(B) Video Signs. Video Signs shall be permitted on specified Stonestown Galleria Mall building walls, as shown in 608.10-2 below. Each Video Sign is limited to 30 square feet in size. No more than one Video Sign is permitted for each 100 feet of building frontage. Video signs shall be located entirely within 24 feet of the ground, with no portion higher than 24 feet from the ground. Video Signs may not change the visual representation, including animation, motion, other rolling static images, or any representation thereof, any more frequently than once every 60 seconds when fronting a publicly-owned right of way, or every 15 seconds when fronting a privately-owned public right of way. The limitations in this subsection (B) shall not apply when the video display is used for non-commercial purposes, which include movie screenings, community events, and interpretive historic, cultural, or art programming.
(C) Prohibited Signs. The following sign types shall be prohibited in the Stonestown SSD: General Advertising Signs (except as permitted pursuant to Planning Code Sections 603 and 611), roof signs, wind signs, revolving signs, balloon signs, inflated signs, and periodically, and repetitively flashing light signs that are not Video Signs.
(2) Signage Controls in the Stonestown SUD.
(A) Relationship to Planning Code. Except as provided in Planning Code Section 603, Signs on properties within the Stonestown SUD are subject to the controls set forth in this SSD and the DSG. No other provisions of Article 6 apply, unless specifically referenced in this SSD or DSG, but only to the extent and for the purposes stated in the SSD or DSG. Amendments to the Planning Code sections referenced in this SSD or the DSG made after the effective date of Ordinance 204-24 shall apply where not in conflict with this SSD, the DSG, or the Development Agreement.
(B) Relationship to Design Standards and Guidelines. Except as noted in this SSD, the signage controls for property located in the Stonestown SUD area are set forth in the Stonestown Design Standards and Guidelines (DSG), adopted by the Planning Commission by Motion No. 21565, and as it may be amended. A copy of the DSG is on file with the Board File No. 240410, is available on the Planning Department’s website, and is incorporated herein by reference. This SSD and the DSG shall be read and construed together so as to avoid any conflict to the greatest extent possible. If there is an unavoidable conflict between the SSD and the DSG, this SSD shall prevail. Amendments to the DSG shall be as set forth in the Stonestown SUD, established in Section 249.9.
(C) Permitting. All Signs on properties within the Stonestown SUD shall be subject to the permitting requirements of Section 604 of the Planning Code. Existing signage in the Stonestown SSD shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 604; provided, however, that an increase in area of an existing Sign including, but not limited to, any extensions in the form of writing, representation, emblem or any figure of similar character shall in itself constitute a new Sign subject to the provisions of this Section. For purposes of permitting Business Signs for tenants of the Stonestown Galleria Mall, “premises upon which such sign is located” means the Stonestown Galleria Mall along with contiguous parcels within the Stonestown SSD, including Parcels E2 and E6, that are under common ownership by the Stonestown Galleria Mall or its affiliate, and that are used primarily to provide pedestrian, bicycle, vehicular, or parking access to the Stonestown Galleria Mall.
(D) Banner signs on utility poles. Banner signs on utility poles including lighting fixtures shall be permitted throughout the SSD. On City-owned utility poles, banner signs shall be governed by Public Works Code Article 5.7.
(E) Portable signage. Portable signage that need not be affixed to the ground or other surface, such as sandwich boards and valet parking signage, is permitted on the private streets within the Stonestown SSD and is limited to one sign of no more than 24 square feet per business. All portable signage shall be located within Frontage Zones, Furnishing Zones, building setbacks, or open spaces fronting businesses. Portable signage in public right-of-ways must comply with the applicable provisions in the Public Works Code, Transportation Code, Police Code, or other law.
(Added by Ord. 204-24, File No. 240409, App. 8/1/2024, Eff. 9/1/2024, Oper. 9/1/2024)
(Former Sec. 608.10 added by Ord. 64-77, App. 2/18/77; repealed by Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015)
CODIFICATION NOTE
(1) Hospitals and medical centers are distinguished from other uses in R Districts in that they provide emergency medical care vital to the health and well-being of the people of the City. Where such facilities are in R Districts and adjacent to or across the street from NC, C or M Districts, their signs are substantially obscured, ineffective, and put to a significant disadvantage by the more intense signage allowed in the NC, C or M Districts nearby, making identification of emergency facilities difficult.
(2) Imposing the standards of Section 607 on only those hospitals and medical centers in R Districts adjacent to or across the street from NC, C or M Districts will allow for necessary and desirable signs to the benefit of the people in need of emergency care when such identification is most critical.
(3) The City Planning Commission in reviewing applications for signs under this Section 608.11 shall consider the needs of pedestrians and drivers approaching the applicant institution and the character and pattern of the immediate neighborhood and those neighborhoods affected by the proposed signs so that only such signs that are required for the identification of the institution, and that are not detrimental to the surrounding neighborhoods and any panoramas or vistas in such areas, are approved.
(b) Control. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 606 of this Code, a hospital or medical center in an R District and adjacent to or across the street from an NC, C or M District for a distance of at least 400 feet of total street frontage shall be subject to the provisions of Section 607 of this Code that apply to the NC, C or M District adjacent to or across the street upon approval by the City Planning Commission as a conditional use under the procedures and criteria set forth in Section 303 of this Code. The Commission, in considering an application under this Section, may permit signs, including signs located on the sides of a penthouse, that exceed the standards of Section 607 to the extent necessary to meet community needs for adequately identified medical institutions with the exception of moving parts, flashing lights and wind signs which are prohibited.
(Added by Ord. 30-85, App. 1/17/85; amended by Ord. 69-87, App. 3/13/87)
(a) Establishment of Special Sign District. The 555 9th Street Special Sign District (“555 9th Street SSD” or “SSD”), consisting of Assessor’s Block 3781, Lot 003, bounded by Bryant Street to the north, 9th Street to the west, Brannan Street to the south, and developed lots to the east, as shown on Sectional Map SSD of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco, is hereby established for the purposes and subject to the controls set forth in this Section 608.12.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the 555 9th Street SSD is to modify the sign controls that otherwise would apply within the SSD to allow for signage that is more typical for the type of structure that occupies the SSD, a large-scale shopping center with multiple tenants and a mix of smaller and larger-scale spaces (the “Shopping Center”).
(c) Controls. Signs within the 555 9th Street SSD shall be controlled by those provisions in Article 6 of the Planning Code applicable to Signs in the C-3 Zoning District, except as otherwise provided in this Section 608.12. In the event of a conflict between other provisions of the Planning Code and this Section 608.12, this Section shall control.
(1) No Sign attached to second-story portions of the Shopping Center fronting the internal parking structure shall exceed three square feet per foot of frontage along the parking structure occupied by the Shopping Center tenant to which the Sign directs attention. Such Signs shall be located along that occupied frontage and shall be no higher than 18 feet above the finished floor height immediately below such Sign or the height of the wall to which it is attached, whichever is lower.
(2) Video Signs. Video Signs shall be allowed within 10 horizontal feet of any pedestrian entrance from a street to an individual tenant space. Any such Video Sign shall not exceed an Area of 24 square feet or 10 feet in height. Video Signs shall direct attention only to the occupancy of the individual tenant space at which the Sign is located. Sign copy shall not be displayed in any fashion whatsoever during times that such entrance is not open to the public and at all other times shall not change copy in any way more frequently than once per hour.
(3) Illumination. Any Sign may be Nonilluminated or Indirectly or Directly Illuminated. Signs may only be illuminated during the hours of operation of the businesses in the Shopping Center.
(Added by Ord. 240-24, File No. 240438, App. 10/18/2024, Eff. 11/18/2024)
(Former Sec. 608.12 addedby Ord. 64-88, App. 2/18/88; repealed by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016)
Within the boundaries of the Rincon Hill Downtown Residential Mixed Use District set forth in Section 827 and generally bounded by Folsom Street, The Embarcadero, Bryant Street, and Essex Street, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, the existing Signs and/or Sign Towers may be changed, modified or replaced provided that all the following criteria are met:
(a) Such changed, modified or replacement sign is in the same general location as the existing signage;
(b) The total area and height of the changed, modified or replacement sign is not increased from the total area and height of the existing sign or sign tower;
(c) Such sign or sign tower may contain letters, numbers, a logo, service mark and/or trademark, and may be nonilluminated, or directly or indirectly illuminated;
(d) Such sign or sign tower may only reflect the identity of the owner or a tenant of the building, including a parent corporation, subsidiary and/or affiliate of the owner or of the tenant.
AMENDMENT HISTORY
(a) Restoration and Maintenance. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 604(h) of this Code, signs which depict in text or graphic form a particular residential, business, cultural, economic, recreational, or other valued resource which is deemed by the Planning Commission to be a cultural artifact that contributes to the visual identity and historic character of a City neighborhood or the City as a whole shall be considered a vintage sign and allowed to be restored, reconstructed, maintained and technologically improved on a property by Conditional Use authorization of the Planning Commission provided that: (a) the vintage sign to be restored, reconstructed or technologically improved depicts a use, person, place, thing, cultural icon or other valued character or characteristics of the City or a City neighborhood that, at the time of the vintage sign authorization, is at least 40 years old; (b) at least 50 percent of the area of the sign remains legible, (c) the sign does not visually obstruct or significantly impair or detract from, by glare or any other means, a City landmark or public vista; (d) the sign is not larger than the sign that existed prior to the vintage sign authorization and does not appear to be more visually prominent than the sign that existed prior to the vintage sign authorization; and (e) the sign is maintained in good condition, repair and working order. Designation as a vintage sign under this Section does not by itself protect the sign from being obscured or removed by future development projects.
(b) Application for Vintage Sign Authorization. Prior to the scheduling of the Conditional Use hearing before the Planning Commission required by subsection (a), the applicant for a vintage sign authorization shall provide to the Department evidence in the form of photographs and/or documents demonstrating that:
(1) the sign proposed for vintage sign authorization is at least 40 years old; and
(2) the sign is a cultural artifact that depicts a particular residential, business, cultural, economic, recreational, or other valued resource of the past that contributes to the visual identity and character of a City neighborhood or the City as a whole.
(c) Application of Other Article 6 Requirements. Once a sign is authorized as a vintage sign under this Section, it is subject only to the requirements of this Section 608.14 and is exempt from all other provision of Article 6. However, any change of copy from the vintage-copy authorized by the Planning Commission or any enlargement or alteration shall be considered an abandonment of the vintage sign authorization and the sign shall then be considered a new sign subject to all the provisions of this Article 6. The addition of a frame to a painted wall sign shall not be considered an enlargement or alteration under this section.
(d) Removal of Vintage Sign. Once designated as a vintage sign under this Section, the sign may not be removed without Conditional Use authorization of the Planning Commission.
(e) Relocation. A three-dimensional vintage sign may be relocated to a new location with Conditional Use authorization of the Planning Commission. Relocation of a general advertising sign is subject to the provisions of Section 2.21 of the San Francisco Administrative Code and may not be relocated under this Section 608.14.
(f) Referral to Historic Preservation Commission. If the application for a vintage sign authorization under this Section 608.14 is not otherwise required to be referred to the Historic Preservation Commission under the San Francisco Charter or this Code, it is not required to be referred.
(Added by Ord. 276-98, App. 8/28/98; amended by Ord. 160-11
, File No. 110277, App. 8/1/2011, Eff. 8/31/2011)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header and section amended; Ord. 160-11
, Eff. 8/31/2011.
There shall be a special sign district known as the "Northeast Waterfront Special Sign District." The boundaries of this special sign district shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the Northeast Waterfront Historic District, as established pursuant to Article 10, Appendix D of this Code by Ordinance No. 171-83, and any amendments thereto. A copy of said Ordinance and materials related thereto are on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in File No. 031034.
(a) Purposes and Findings.
(1) In addition to furthering the purposes stated in Sections 101 and 601 of this Code, creation of the Northeast Waterfront Special Sign District is intended to further the purposes of the Northeast Waterfront Historic District created pursuant to Board of Supervisors Ordinance No. 171-83, and any amendments thereto, and to foster the preservation and enhancement of said Historic District.
(2) The standards established by these regulations are deemed to be minimum requirements.
(b) Regulations within the Special Sign District:
(1) No Projection shall exceed a horizontal distance of six feet beyond any Street Property Line. This limitation shall apply to Signs and to all other features, including but not limited to, Marquees and Awnings, with the sole exception of flagpoles for flags. All Signs, Marquees, Awnings, and other features shall be supported entirely by a building. No Canopies shall be permitted.
(2) All Signs shall be placed entirely below the level of the lowest cornice or strong horizontal element located above the ground story of the building, and in no event higher than three feet above the top of the ceiling level of the ground story.
(3) No Directly Illuminated Sign, as defined in Section 602 of this Code, shall be permitted.
(4) Principal Signs. Only one principal sign shall be permitted per establishment per street frontage. In addition, the following provisions shall apply to principal signs:
(A) A projecting sign shall not exceed 10 square feet;
(B) If a flush sign contains lettering, the lettering shall not exceed 18 inches in height; provided, however, that in no event shall lettering exceed a size that can be read from any farther than across the street;
(C) On a brick surfaces, signs shall be mounted with a minimum number of wall penetrations.
(5) Secondary Signs. Only one secondary sign shall be permitted per establishment per street frontage. A secondary sign is intended to be viewable close-up. In addition, the following provisions shall apply to secondary signs:
(A) If lettering is placed on a door or window, such lettering may contain only the name and nature of the establishment, hours of operation, and other pertinent information;
(B) A projecting secondary sign shall not exceed two square feet in area if used in conjunction with a principal flush sign.
(6) The total area of all Signs on a building shall not exceed an area of two square feet for each foot of street frontage occupied by the building; however, in no event shall the total area of all signs on a building’s street frontage exceed 50 square feet.
(Added by Ord. 59-08, File No. 031034, App. 4/10/2008; amended by Ord. 217-16, File No. 160424, App. 11/10/2016, Eff. 12/10/2016)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Section header amended; former divisions (b)(1)–(b)(3) deleted; former divisions (b)(4)–(b)(6) and (b)(9) amended and redesignated as (b)(1)–(b)(3) and (b)(6); former divisions (b)(7) and (b)(8) redesignated as (b)(4) and (b)(5); Ord. 217-16, Eff. 12/10/2016.
(a) General. There shall be a Special Sign District known as the "City Center Special Sign District" in the block bounded by Geary Boulevard on the north, Masonic Avenue on the west, O'Farrell Street on the south and Lyon Street on the east, as designated on Sectional Map SSD of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco. The original copy of said Sectional Map with this Special Sign District indicated thereon is on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors under File No. 110448. Signs in the City Center Special Sign District shall be subject to the provisions of Article 6 except that the controls as provided in this Section 608.16 shall apply in lieu of the sign controls specified in Section 607.1. Further, in the event of a conflict between the provisions of Section 608.16 that authorize specified signs and other provisions of Article 6, the provisions of Section 608.16 shall prevail notwithstanding any provision of the Code to the contrary.
(1) The City Center was built in 1951 as an approximately seven-acre, single-tenant, multilevel Sears department store on a site spanning four city blocks bounded by Geary Boulevard, Masonic Avenue, Lyon Street, and O'Farrell Street. The Sears store historically maintained projecting signs on the north and south elevations of the building, on a centrally located sign tower, in alcoves below the roofline of the building, and above pedestrian entries. The signs were scaled and located to provide visibility from the wide roadways bordering the City Center.
(2) In 1994, the City Center reopened as a multi-tenant shopping center. Signs on the sign towers and in roofline alcoves were removed at that time, limiting the visibility of the City Center and its tenants from Geary Boulevard.
(3) The City Center has experienced significant vacancy in recent years since its conversion to multi-tenant use, resulting in a loss of sales tax revenue to the City. Adequate, well-placed signs on both the building and at parking entrances are necessary to ensure that the City Center remains a viable retail center providing goods and services to residents, while generating sales tax revenue for the City.
(4) The City Center has six separate surface parking lots with separate entrances accessible from Geary Boulevard, Masonic Avenue and O'Farrell Street, which are built at different grades and cannot feasibly be connected. Directional signs at parking lot entrances are necessary to direct motorists to the lot adjacent to the store they intend to visit and to minimize traffic congestion on surrounding streets.
(5) The City Center has multiple entrances and levels, with commercial units on the lower and upper stories with access to stores from streets or from one of the six separate surface parking lots. Signs and other advertising devices for on-site businesses are essential to the general quality and economic stability of the City Center. Current sign regulations, which are tailored to smaller storefronts typical of the City's neighborhood commercial districts, do not provide sufficient visibility for businesses located in the City Center, a large-scale development with a building height, bulk, appearance and site configuration that differs from that of other neighborhood commercial districts.
(6) Sign sizes, number, height and placement should take into account the configuration of the site development and the adjacent wide streets and an expressway, in order to provide visual relief to the large area of the building, visibility for its businesses and identity for the City Center as a whole.
(7) Additional projecting signs, wall signs, and directional signs at parking lot entrances would improve the visual appeal, identity, and long-term viability of the City Center, while improving access to its parking facilities and minimizing traffic congestion.
(c) Definitions. Within the City Center Special Sign District, the following definitions shall apply in addition to the applicable definitions in Sections 602 et seq.:
(1) Copy Area. On a directional sign, projecting sign, or sign tower, copy area shall refer to the entire area within a single continuous rectangular perimeter formed by extending lines around the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or any figure of similar character.
(2) Directional Sign. A directional sign shall mean a sign identifying the location of a parking lot entry and the names of the businesses accessible from such lot. A directional sign may also identify the number of parking spaces available in the adjacent parking lot and the name of the shopping center.
(3) Internal Wayfinding Signs. Internal wayfinding signs shall mean signs located entirely on private property which are intended to direct vehicles and pedestrians within the site. Internal wayfinding signs shall be designed to be minimally visible from any public right of way.
(e) Illumination. All signs may be non-illuminated, indirectly or directly illuminated. Signs may not be flashing, blinking, fluctuating or otherwise animated light.
(f) Business Signs. Business signs, as defined in Section 602.3, shall be permitted subject to the limits set forth below.
(A) Wall Signs Above Pedestrian Entries from a Parking Lot. For a business occupying 8,000 square feet or more, one wall sign up to 200 square feet in area shall be permitted above each pedestrian entry to the business from a parking lot. For a business occupying less than 8,000 square feet, one wall sign up to 75 square feet in area shall be permitted above each pedestrian entry to the business from a parking lot. The height of any parking lot entry wall sign shall not exceed 28 feet.
(B) Wall Signs Above Pedestrian Entries from a Public Sidewalk. The area of all wall signs located above pedestrian entries from a public sidewalk shall not exceed three square feet per foot of street frontage occupied by the use measured along the wall to which the signs are attached, or 150 feet for each street frontage, whichever is less. The height of any street entry wall sign shall not exceed 24 feet.
(C) Other Wall Signs. The following additional wall signs shall be permitted:
(i) Up to three additional wall signs shall be permitted on each of the Masonic Avenue and Geary Boulevard frontages. The area of each sign shall be limited to a maximum of 115 square feet. The height of such wall signs shall not exceed 48 feet.
(ii) At the intersection of Geary Boulevard and Lyon Street, up to 500 square feet of wall signs shall be permitted, provided that no wall sign for a single use shall occupy more than 80 square feet. The height of such wall signs shall not exceed the height of the wall on which they are located.
(iii) One wall sign shall be permitted in each of the two existing sign alcoves located below the roofline of the building on the primary west and east building elevations perpendicular to Geary Boulevard, subject to the following conditions: wall signs shall be no higher than the wall to which they are attached, shall have a maximum area of 170 square feet, and shall be identifying signs, as defined in Section 602.10, for the shopping center.
(2) Window Signs. The total area of all window signs, as defined in Section 602.1(b), shall not exceed 1/3 the area of the window on or in which the signs are located.
(3) Projecting Signs. A total of six projecting signs shall be permitted within the Special Sign District, subject to the following limitations, provided, however, that the limits on the number of projecting signs per business and size of projecting signs set forth elsewhere in this Code shall not apply.
(A) Projecting signs may be identifying signs for the shopping center or business signs or may contain seasonal messages.
(B) No projecting sign shall project more than eight feet over the property line or exceed the height of the wall to which it is attached by more than 10 feet.
(C) Five projecting signs shall be permitted on Geary Boulevard, each with up to 2 faces. One such sign shall be permitted to have an area up to 540 square feet per face and a maximum copy area of 240 square feet per face. Four such signs shall be permitted to have an area up to 470 square feet per face, and a maximum copy area of 240 square feet per face. As of the effective date of this ordinance, the building has one existing projecting sign on Geary Boulevard with an area of 540 square feet. The new projecting signs authorized by this section on Geary Boulevard shall be visually distinct from and subordinate to the existing projecting sign.
(D) One projecting sign shall be permitted on the building fronting the parking lot at the intersection of Masonic Avenue and O'Farrell Street. Such sign shall be permitted to have an area up to 752 square feet per face, and a maximum copy area of 240 square feet per face.
(4) Freestanding Signs and Sign Towers. Freestanding signs and sign towers shall be permitted as follows:
(A) One freestanding sign shall be permitted near the intersection of Masonic Avenue and O'Farrell Street. Such sign shall be located wholly on private property and shall identify the name of the shopping center and its tenants. Such sign may have up to 2 faces and shall be limited to a height of 35 feet, a total area of 260 square feet per face and a copy area of 140 square feet per face.
(B) One freestanding directional sign with up to 2 faces shall be permitted at each parking lot entry, up to a maximum of seven within the Special Sign District. Directional signs shall not exceed a height of 15 feet. The area of a directional sign tower shall not exceed 50 square feet per face, and the copy area shall not exceed 20 square feet per face.
(C) On the existing central sign tower, located approximately in the center of the property and adjacent to the rooftop penthouse, two signs shall be permitted subject to the following conditions: the copy area shall not exceed 240 square feet per sign, the height shall not exceed the height of the existing central sign tower to which they are attached, and such signs shall be limited to identifying signs for the shopping center.
(h) Temporary Signs. Signs authorized in Section 607.1(g) pertaining to temporary signs shall be authorized in the City Center Special Sign District.
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