Revised Ordinances of Honolulu(Link to original Word Processing Version)
TO AMEND CHAPTER 21, REVISED ORDINANCES OF HONOLULU 1990, AS AMENDED (THE LAND USE ORDINANCE), RELATING TO SIGNS.
BE IT ORDAINED by the People of the City and County of Honolulu: SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to amend certain Land Use Ordinance provisions relating to sign regulations, with the intention of increasing the efficacy of sign master plans and improving equity in the application of certain sign regulations, and with particular regard for the Waikiki Special District. SECTION 2. Section 21-2.140-1, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 1990, as amended ("Specific circumstances"), is amended by amending subsection (n) to read as follows: "(n) Sign Master Plan. A sign master plan is a voluntary, optional alternative to the strict sign regulations of this chapter, intended to encourage some flexibility in order to achieve good design (including compatibility and creativity), consistency, continuity and administrative efficiency in the utilization of signs within eligible sites. Under this alternative, and subject to the provisions of this subsection, the director may approve a sign master plan that permits the exceptions to the sign regulations of this chapter set forth in subdivision (2). (1) Eligibility. Developments with three or more principal uses on a zoning lot, other than one-family or two-family detached dwellings or duplex units, shall be eligible for consideration of a zoning adjustment for a sign master plan. An applicant must have the authority to impose the sign master plan on all developments on the zoning lot. (2) Flexibility. The following exceptions to the sign regulations of this chapter may be permitted pursuant to an approved sign master plan. (A) Physical Characteristics. The maximum number of permitted signs, sign area, and the height and physical dimensions of individual signs, may be modified; provided: (i) No sign shall exceed any applicable standard relating to [number,] height or dimension by more than 20 percent; (ii) The total permitted sign area for signs which are part of a [building] sign master plan shall not be increased by more than 20 percent beyond that otherwise permitted by the underlying sign regulations for the site; and
(iii) [When] The total number of signs which are part of a sign master
plan shall not exceed 20 percent of the total number of signs otherwise
permitted by the underlying sign regulations for the site; provided that when computation
of the maximum number of permitted signs results in a fractional number, the
number of allowable signs shall be the next highest whole number.
(B) Sign Types. The types of business signs permitted for ground floor establishments may
include hanging, marquee fascia, projecting, roof and wall signs. (i) When marquee fascia signs are to be utilized, the signs may be displayed above the face of the marquee, provided the signs shall not exceed a height of more than 36 inches above the marquee face. (ii) When wall signs are to be utilized, signs displayed as individual lettering placed against a building wall are encouraged. (C) Sign Illumination. (i) Where direct illumination is not otherwise permitted by the underlying sign regulations for the site, sign copy and/or graphic elements of business and/or identification signs for ground floor establishments may be directly illuminated, provided any remaining sign area shall be completely opaque and not illuminated. (ii) Signs for second floor establishments may be indirectly illuminated. [(C)](D) Sign Location. An appropriate, consistent pattern for the placement of regulated signs within the project site shall be approved in the sign master plan, provided all signs shall be located on the building containing the identified establishment, and no ground sign shall be located within a required yard except as may be permitted by this chapter.
[(D)](E) The standards and requirements for directional signs, information signs and parking lot
traffic control signs may be established by the director, as appropriate. (3) Sign Master Plan Approvals. The director may approve a sign master plan only upon a finding that, in addition to the criteria set forth in Section 21-2.140-2, the following criteria have been met: (A) The proposed sign master plan will accomplish the intent of this subsection;
(B) The size and placement of each sign will be proportional to and visually
balanced with the building facade of the side of the building upon which
it is maintained;
(C) All signs regulated by this chapter and maintained upon the site will feature
the consistent application of not less than one of the following design elements:
materials, letter style, color, shape or theme; and
(D) In all respects not adjusted by the sign master plan, all signs regulated
by this chapter and maintained upon the site will conform to the provisions
of this chapter.
The director may impose conditions and additional controls as may be appropriate.
(4) Implementation.
(A) The director shall maintain a copy of the approved sign master plan for
each project to facilitate the expedited processing of sign permits for that project.
The director shall review each sign permit application for an individual sign within
an affected project for its conformity to the approved sign master plan. Upon
determining that the sign permit application conforms to the approved sign master plan,
the director shall issue the sign permit for the sign. (B) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (B), no sign shall be maintained upon a site subject to an approved sign master plan unless the sign conforms to the sign master plan. If a site has existing signs which will not conform to the approved sign master plan, the master plan shall specify a reasonable time period, as approved by the director, for conversion of all existing signs to the design scheme set forth in the approved master plan, provided that in no event shall the time period for full conformance exceed one year from the date of approval of the sign master plan."
SECTION 3. Section 21-7.20, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 1990, as amended ("Definitions and
general sign standards"), is amended by amending the definitions and/or general sign standards
for "Building frontage," "Directional signs" and "Wall signs," and adding a new definition
and general sign standards for "Small sign," to read as follows:
a. ""Building frontage" means that portion of the principal building of an establishment which
faces a street. If the principal buildings are arranged on the lot in
such a manner as to face a parking area, or walkway or open
space accessible to the general public, then the area facing the parking area,
walkway or open space may be considered the building frontage[.] for an establishment,
provided that establishment has an entryway on that frontage. Signs may be placed
facing the street or the parking area, walkway or open space in any
combination, but shall not exceed two signs." Standard: No more than one sign per entrance or exit[,]; and, when the name, emblem and/or address of an establishment on the premises where the directional sign is located is included, the identification portion of the sign shall not [to] exceed [30 inches in height and] one square foot in sign area."
c. ""Wall signs" means signs affixed to an exterior wall of any building.
Standard: Not to project more than 15 inches from the building wall, not
to extend above the exterior wall of the building and not to exceed
a height of 20 feet or the third floor level of buildings over
two stories in height, whichever is the [lower] higher height.
d. ""Small signs" means diminutive identification signs and/or signs advertising the days/hours of operation
of an establishment (other than as may be permitted as window displays). SECTION 4. Section 21-7.40, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 1990, as amended ("Specific district sign standards"), is amended by amending subsection (l) to read as follows: "(l) Waikiki District. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, the following signs may be permitted for each ground floor establishment with building frontage, provided the signs shall not be directly illuminated, and may be wall, marquee fascia or hanging signs. (1) Apartment Precinct and Apartment Mixed Use Subprecinct.
(A) In connection with any principal use permitted, other than one-family and two-family dwellings,
only one identification sign per building frontage, not exceeding 12 square feet in
area.
(B) If all buildings on the street frontage of the zoning lot are set
back a minimum of 50 feet from the property line on their entry
sides, one ground identification or directory sign, not directly illuminated and not exceeding
eight square feet in area, shall also be permitted for each entry side.
These ground signs shall not be located in any required yard. In lieu
of one of the above signs, one garden sign may be permitted.
(C) In addition to the above, the following may be permitted in the apartment
mixed use subprecinct: (i) One directory sign per zoning lot, not exceeding 12 square feet in area, which may be a ground sign not exceeding six feet in height, a wall sign or a garden sign; and (ii) One building identification sign per building frontage, not exceeding four square feet in area.
(2) Resort Mixed Use and Resort Commercial Precincts.
(A) In connection with any principal use permitted, other than one-family and two-family dwellings,
only one business sign, per building frontage, with a maximum area of one
square foot per [two] one linear [feet] foot of the building frontage or
[24] 36 square feet, whichever is less.
(B) In addition to the sign referred to in paragraph (A) above, [the following
may be permitted:
(i) One] one building directory or identification sign per [zoning lot,] building frontage may
be erected, not exceeding 12 square feet in area, which may be a
ground sign not exceeding six feet in height, a wall sign or a
garden sign[; and (ii) One building identification sign per building frontage, not exceeding four square feet in area]. (3) A permitted outdoor vending cart, kiosk or similar vending structure, when visible from a street, sidewalk or public space, may be permitted the following: (A) One business identification sign not exceeding three square feet in area; and
(B) One price sign, not exceeding two square feet in area, to advertise the
cost of goods and services provided by the establishment.
These signs shall be wholly attached to the vending structure. (4) For each second floor establishment with building frontage in the apartment mixed use subprecinct, resort commercial precinct and resort mixed use precinct, one wall identification sign may be permitted. The maximum sign area shall be six square feet and the sign shall not be illuminated. (5) All signs shall feature English or Hawaiian as the dominant language thereon; other languages are permitted but the lettering thereof must be subordinate to the English or Hawaiian lettering." SECTION 5. Section 21-7.60, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 1990, as amended ("Permits and fees"), is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) No permit shall be required nor shall district sign regulations apply to the following types of signs: subdivision construction signs; pump island information signs, not to exceed three square feet in sign area; gasoline price signs, not to exceed one square foot in sign area and located on a gasoline pump; temporary signs; public signs; flags; plaques; small signs and address signs; directional signs; and political campaign signs." SECTION 6. Ordinance material to be repealed is bracketed. New material is underscored. When revising, compiling, or printing this ordinance for inclusion in the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, the revisor of ordinances need not include the brackets, the bracketed material, or the underscoring. SECTION 7. This ordinance shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY:
Todd Apo
December 31, 2008
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
APPROVED this day of , 20____.
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