The Eastern and Florence Avenues Facade design standards have been established to support and implement the facade rehabilitation program for the commercial businesses located along Eastern Avenue and Florence Avenue within the city. These requirements are necessary to ensure that the goals and policies of the Central City Redevelopment Project Area Plan are accomplished in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the community, thereby strengthening the physical and economic viability of Eastern and Florence Avenues as a community business district. The goals of this chapter are identified as follows:
A. 
To strengthen the economic viability of Eastern and Florence Avenues as a vibrant community business center.
B. 
To enhance the pedestrian character and orientation of Eastern and Florence Avenues.
C. 
To enhance the visual appearance and quality of design and improvements to existing and proposed structures.
D. 
To encourage the restoration of existing architectural resources and other structures with character and significant features.
E. 
To encourage modernization of nonsignificant structures through flexibility and consistency in design.
F. 
To encourage compatibility of new in-fill developments.
G. 
To provide for the protection and buffering of residential uses.
H. 
To continue the community business revitalization program as a commitment and incentive to property owners and business tenants.
(Ord. 806 § 1, 2007)
The Eastern and Florence Avenues business district encompasses all of Eastern Avenue and Florence Avenue within the city limits. The specific boundaries of the district are as shown on the adopted zoning map for the city.
(Ord. 806 § 1, 2007)
Except as herein modified, all signs shall conform to Chapter 9.40 BGMC, Signs.
A. 
The sign regulations prescribed herein shall not affect existing signs which were previously established and in accordance with this title. However, any proposed modifications and/or additions to existing signs, including size, shape, colors, lettering and location, shall conform to all current provisions specified herein.
B. 
All signs in a state of disrepair shall be repaired so as to be consistent with the standards of this title, or removed within 30 days from receipt of notification that a state of disrepair exists.
C. 
Wall Signs.
1. 
Shall be entirely flush-mounted and securely attached to a building wall and may only extend from the surrounding wall a maximum of 12 inches.
2. 
May not extend above the nearest roofline nor extend or protrude beyond the building face.
3. 
Each business in a building shall be permitted a maximum of two wall-mounted signs facing the street and alley frontage (or three signs if the business is on a corner or has a street frontage of more than 75 feet).
D. 
Building Tenant Information/Identification Signs.
1. 
Each tenant is allowed a maximum of two square feet of signage per directory, in addition to the allowed wall signage for business identification.
2. 
New building/business identification signage, applied to new construction or existing buildings, shall be limited to one sign per principal entrance per frontage, not exceeding a maximum of 15 square feet each.
3. 
All existing built-in signs (permanent, maintenance-free signs that are constructed as an integral part of the building fabric) which can be identified as in good condition are exempt from these sign provisions. Marquees and canopies shall not be considered to be built-in signs.
4. 
Metal plaques listing the building name and/or historical information, permanently affixed in a flush manner to the building and in good condition, are exempt from these sign provisions.
E. 
Prohibited Signs.
1. 
Animated, flashing, or audible signs.
2. 
Awning signs.
3. 
Billboards.
4. 
Exposed neon signs.
5. 
Freestanding pole signs.
6. 
Painted signs on the building surface or exterior window surface.
7. 
Roof signs.
8. 
Rotating, moving or other such signs that simulate motion.
F. 
Sign Size.
1. 
The total permitted sign area of all signs on a building or site is 10 percent of the building face.
2. 
Building face area is the height of the building (not including the parapet) multiplied by its frontage.
3. 
Maximum height of letters shall be restricted to 18 inches. Greater letter sizes shall require the written approval of the city community development department.
G. 
Sign Design. Design shall be subject to review and approval by the city community development department to ensure that:
1. 
Sign colors shall complement building colors and materials and be limited to three colors.
2. 
In multi-tenant buildings, signage colors used for individual shops shall be complementary with each other.
3. 
Lettering styles shall complement each storefront in a single building.
4. 
In multi-tenant buildings, the height and placement of signs shall be consistent for each business or storefront.
(Ord. 806 § 1, 2007)
Proposed improvements, renovations, and changes pertaining to the following design standards shall comply with the provisions of the applicable standard:
A. 
Materials.
1. 
Any exposed building elevation must be architecturally treated in a consistent manner, including the incorporation within the side and rear building elevations of some or all of the design elements used for the primary facades.
2. 
Consideration must be given to the adjacent structures so that the use of materials is complementary.
B. 
Colors.
1. 
Light earth tones, off-whites and light grays should be used as the primary or base building color.
2. 
Consideration must be given to the adjacent structures so that the use of colors is complementary.
3. 
Muted pastels or darker complementary colors could be used as trim colors, window and door frames, to accent architectural features or to coordinate graphic features.
C. 
Awnings.
1. 
Must be the same color and style for each opening on a single storefront or business.
2. 
Must be complementary in color and style for each storefront in a building.
3. 
Must be designed to coordinate with the architectural divisions of the building including individual windows and bays.
4. 
Must comply with California Building Code and fire department requirements.
5. 
In a state of disrepair, shall be repaired or removed within 30 days from receipt of notification that a state of disrepair exists.
D. 
Mechanical Equipment.
1. 
Individual air conditioning units for a building or storefront must be located to avoid interference with architectural detail and the overall design.
2. 
If air conditioning units have to be located in the storefront, then window units must be neutral in appearance and not project outward from the facade. The housing color must be compatible with the colors of the storefront. If possible, air conditioning units will be screened or enclosed by using an awning or landscaping.
3. 
Mechanical equipment located on roofs shall be screened by parapet walls or other material so that the equipment will not be visible from pedestrians at street level or by adjacent residential properties.
E. 
Prohibited Security Elements.
1. 
Chain-link, barbed and concertina wire fences are prohibited; tubular steel or wrought iron fences are acceptable.
2. 
All security bars or grilles shall be installed on the inside of the building.
3. 
Horizontally folding accordion grilles installed in front of a storefront or in the interior, if visible, are prohibited.
4. 
Roll-up-type shutters should be open, decorative grilles and concealed within architectural elements of the building. Solid-type shutters are prohibited.
(Ord. 806 § 1, 2007)