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Planning staff previews canopy-sign amendment, sprinkler incentive and homeowner-help programs
Summary
Staff reported on a proposed zoning amendment for canopy signs at the Gin Hotel, updates to short-term rental standards, a downtown sprinkler-incentive program with outreach completed to property owners, and a forthcoming homeowner-helper program backed by council funding.
Planning staff told the commission Thursday that several non-legislative and legislative items are moving forward: a zoning-text amendment for canopy signs at the Gin Hotel, revisions to short-term rental standards following spot inspections, a sign and entrance-corridor application for Waddell Street, a homeowner-helper program being developed in partnership with the Economic Development Authority, and a downtown sprinkler-incentive program that is now accepting applications.
Staff said the canopy-sign amendment — prompted by the Gin Hotel owner’s request to allow internally lit letters up to 10–12 inches mounted on the hotel’s entrance canopy — will be presented first to the Architectural Review Board because the property is in the historic district and then come to planning for a public hearing as a zoning-text amendment. Staff noted the draft is not yet formally submitted and the applicant plans ARB review first.
On housing programs, staff said the homeowner-helper program is under development with EDA collaboration; council has already set aside funding and staff expects it will take several months to stand up. Separately, the city’s new sprinkler-incentive program has an application posted on the fire marshal’s web page and the EDA web page; staff said brochures and mailed materials were recently sent to downtown property owners to publicize the program. The incentive is intended to improve life-safety and encourage reuse of vacant upper-floor space in downtown buildings.
Staff also said they continue drafting short-term rental use and design standard updates in response to recent inspections; a draft will be brought back to the commission at a future meeting. The commission was told a sign and entrance-corridor application for Waddell will appear on the next meeting agenda.
No formal action was taken on these informational items at this meeting; staff will return with ARB feedback on the canopy sign proposal and formal drafts for zoning and code changes when they are submitted.
